New Competition Task

[flystoolow]

Flying 10 minute competition tasks makes one wonder how accurately the pilots' individual skill is being judged when so much importance lies in the performance of the plane and launch technique. After all, sailplanes are meant to cruise and thermal, not launch straight up and land pegged to the ground.

I think more demanding local contests should be held that really test the pilot's thermalling abilities. Here are some of the informal tasks we fly.

Mountain (or hill) flying:

1- All up, last down (only if conditions are marginal)
2- All pilots launch into a sink cycle, first above launch wins the heat.
3- First plane to cloud base (if conditions are good)
4- Best inverted climb in a thermal (if conditions are excellent)

Flat land flying:

1- A timed thermal flight, where the plane has to clearly round all four corners of the field twice before landing.

These are all fairly short duration contests where the pilot who is able to thermal most efficiently usually wins, no matter what plane he's flying.

Really, the cross country guys have the best skills contest, (especially the few who don't use varios!)

Anyway, great flying today, second best day so far this spring. :)

[becsta]

Hmm... I'm liking No.1 in the mountain flying list - though as a general TD task.

I've always wondered (coming into this hobby recently) why the launching in certain comps is performed the way it is - why mandate hand tows, for instance? Why not allow a pilot to go up any way they can? If they're good at hi-starts, and get good pings, why not allow them to go up this way?

If the contest is thermal _duration_, and the time starts from the time they release from the line, why mandate the method of launch? which is why I'd enjoy the all up/last down concept. Only problem would be to not prejudice the early launchers.

- Becsta