Really interesting programme. Does the Super Decathlon really only have a max climb rate of 3kts though?
Comments about Mountain Wave were interesting although I suspect it's unlikely that this would cause the pilot to CFIT. Something that wasn't mentioned about such conditions is rotor turbulence...and I'd suspect that's rather more likely. Having soared in the Sierra Nevadas I know what the conditions can be like and I can well believe it'd cause someone major grief if they were low level in a mountainous area.