Unique Thermal Contest Saturday the 30th of Sept.

[atjurhs]

Hey y'all,

I wanted to make sure to invite all ya all who have a thermal bird of any kind to come out an join us this coming Saturday the 9th of Sept. at Sharon Johnston State Park.

The contest is specifically designed to level the playing field between beginners and experts alike. Well there is no substitute for experience, but this is the most beginner friendly contest while still expert challenging contest that we could devise and we're hoping to have a large number of flyers show up to validate the unique design of the contest.

Check out the attached PDFs to get a visual of what the scoring curve looks like. The remaining 50 points per round will be awarded based on proximity to a landing spot. 25 points for being within 25foot radius and 50 if within a 10foot radius.

Hope to see you there!

[skankpile]

Time.. expected # of people.. any estimates?

[atjurhs]

I think the tradition is to have the pilots meeting at 9am and kick off the first round shortly thereafter.

Between the Huntsville and Tullahoma clubs, I'm expecting about 7-9 pilots, but hoping to have more.

Hope to see you there....

[GLIDERGIDER]

Skank,
Do you fly sailplanes?

Atjurhs: Of course I'll be there, and I'm looking forward to flying with your unique scoring setup. That's going to be fun.

Dave

[skankpile]

No sailplanes yet, but they are so sexy I cant help it. I'm trying to find a group local to learn some new stuff.

If I can get a good address I can google, or put in my nav.. I'll try to be there on the 9th.

[atjurhs]

There are plenty of ARF gliders out there to choose from and you could have one RTF by Saturday if Rick has one in stock or you have it overnighted. Or you might try to borrow one from someone who knows your flying abilities. In addition to the sawtooth scoring system, in this conntest there is also a handicap system is in place that enables the small woodies to compete against the fancy sexy sailplanes. This would be a great opportunity for someone wanting to learn sailplanes and try a contest.

[skankpile]

I've been wanting a 2/2.5M sailplane like the esprit model dreamliner. But I dont know wether to get a vtail or normal tail, dihedral, or composite all the normal questions. I figure if I get something I may as well bite the bullet and get something to take a hacker B20.. as it seems popular on the sailplanes..

[atjurhs]

A motor on a sailplane? Then it's not a sailplane, well I guess we could tape it's "wiskers" shut :D

[skankpile]

see... I have no idea..

How about that address?

[atjurhs]

Here are two maps to Sharon Johnston State Park.

The overview map (drawn by the park service) I believe to be incorrect as the park is on the South side of Coleman Rd. not the North.

In the Yahoo map I incircled the park. As you are heading N by NW on Winchester Rd. after you pass by the high school with the giant size statue of a buck, look for a small Chevron station on your left, and that should be Coleman Rd. Drive down it about 1/3mile and you should see us on the South side of the road.

[JoHowell]

.....I figure if I get something I may as well bite the bullet and get something to take a hacker B20.. as it seems popular on the sailplanes..

Hey SP! I gotta speak up here.

Electric launch is a viable alternative to winches and hi-starts. Obviously, you've seen a number of different positions taken, but to the extent that you use that Hacker B20 to get it up, and incorporate a folding prop, you can spend just as much time in pure soaring - as in unpowered - flight as any of the pure thermal sailplanes. I couldn't say that when I got started with electric launch back in the late '70's using Astro-Flight 050 ferrite motors and NiCad packs. But, today's equipment of brushless motors and LiPo packs permits the creation of electric launch sailplanes that have equivalent weights/wingloadings as today's mouldies.

Go out to Sharon Johnson Saturday and check out the beauty and grace of soaring flight and get hooked on the challenge of keeping one of these beauties aloft on nothing but hot air. Then,if you would like to see an electric launcher, give me a shout and I'll let you have a turn on the sticks of a 60" span electric launch that doesn't have to have the logistic support of winch or hi-start.

Later,
Jim Howell

[atjurhs]

Well the decision has been made to delay the contest till Saturday the 30th of September.

This particular Saturday (the 9th) a group of High School students have paid the money to reserve the field for a cross-country track meet. Being that our little sailplane club doesn't have deep enough pockets to reserve the field for every Saturday we usually don't pay the fee, and so we takes our chances at getting bumped. Well this time we got bumped :(

So get out your calendars and reschedule your availabilties (or ask for a new "kitchen pass") and I hope to see you all on the 30th!

[GLIDERGIDER]

I've got my pencil and Sept 30th is marked as the makeup day.

[atjurhs]

This is just a friendly reminder that next Saturday we will be having
our Monthly Contest Fly at SJ.

This is the contest that will feature the "Sawtooth Scoring" so it
should make for something different and fun.

From what I've heard so far, a number of local folks are planning to
show up and fly, and some flyers from TN are planning on coming down too.

Tune up your birds, and come have a fun time :)

[atjurhs]

Ok gents, here's the scoop:

Unfortunately, Saturday's Contest at Sharon Johnston will not happen. Toyota has rented one field, and the Civil War guys have the other.

We have decided not to postpone the contest to another weekend and not to cancel it, insteasd:

The contest will be held on Sunday starting at 1pm.

The question to you all is this, is there one field or another that would pre-clude someone from being able to attend? The two field options that we have at this time are Oakwood College and Sharon Johnston.

Please post back here if there is one field or the other that will keep you from being able to attend, OR enable you to attend where otherwise you might not have been able.

Look forward to hearing from you....