Jet stream velocities often reach 100 mph at 35,000 feet altitude, while the wind speed may be only 15mph at 5,000 feet. This condition occasionally exists in the desert region east of the Tehachapi Mountains, in the area around Mojave and California City. The rising air in a wave is unusually smooth. Since the wind velocity is usually close to the speed of the sailplane, the combined effect of smooth air and lack of motion relative to the ground creates an eerie non-flying feeling for the pilot. The rotating air in the rotor is unusually turbulent and can momentarily turn a sailplane upside down.
Waves can lift sailplanes to very high altitudes where oxygen is essential.
The current sailplane altitude record is over 49,000 feet.