Waiting-on flights should be made when soaring conditions are optimal. True or False?

The assertion that waiting-on flights should be made when soaring conditions are optimal is more accurately understood as true. This practice is vital for falconers who are training and flying their birds under the best possible circumstances. Optimal soaring conditions maximize a bird’s potential for successful flights, allowing for effective training and beautiful demonstrations of flight behavior.

Soaring conditions refer to weather factors such as thermal updrafts, wind speed, and overall atmospheric stability, which help birds gain altitude with minimal energy expenditure. By choosing to wait for such conditions, a falconer ensures their bird has the advantage, leading to more rewarding and instructive experiences in the field.

If a falconer decides to fly during unfavorable conditions, it can lead to subpar performance, decreased safety for both the bird and the handler, and potentially frustrating experiences that do not reflect the true abilities of the bird. Therefore, it is essential to plan flights around optimal soaring conditions rather than dismissing them as irrelevant.