Dynamic soaring in altitude region below jet streams

Dynamic soaring is a flight technique by which energy is extracted from horizontally moving air and transferred to the sailplane. This flight technique is considered with respect to the shear wind in the altitude region below jet streams. Focus is on the minimum shear wind conditions sufficient for dynamic soaring. It is shown that the minimum shear wind gradient required for dynamic soaring is of a magnitude that can be found in existing shear wind regions associated with jet streams and may even be significantly smaller. Results on optimum dynamic soaring trajectories are presented for a high-performance sailplane as a representative case. Furthermore, the effects of the maximum lift-to-drag ration and the wing loading on the minimum shear wind gradient required for dynamic soaring are shown.