OK all you ALES guys, CVRC is going to add a ALES class to the Fall Fest.
This will not be MOM but you will be scored against other ALES pilots.
150m limit.
Registration is now open. Go to <rcsoaring.com> click on "contests". You can either register on line or use the mail in form.
More information coming.

If it is not MOM then it is not an ALES contest.

It is modified ALES as the CD said, my god, give em a break!

Originally Posted by knormang

If it is not MOM then it is not an ALES contest.

Absolutely, categorically wrong. It may not be acceptable for the ALES league competition, but it certainly is an ALES event at a contest.

As I understand it ALES stands for "Alititude Limited Electric Sailplane". Nowhere in this definition does it say that the only way to fly an ALES event is by the ALES league rules.

The concept that the narrow definition which the ALES league lives by is the only possible way to utilize an ALES equipped plane is flawed and self-defeating. Placing this kind of artificial limitation on how an ALES event can be formulated and run is the easiest way to kill it before it really blossoms and becomes mainstream.

Time to start thinking outside the box and embracing the possibilities, not the elitist attitude of "my way or the highway".

JT (2012 SVSS Summer Soaring Challenge CD and instigator of the ALES inclusion into the contest)

I'd like to clarify something. The rules which you are referring to are not ALES League rules. They are the Altitude Limited Electric Soaring rules that have provisional status with the AMA and can be seen here. The ALES League follows those rules so that participants can compete on a level playing field.

Neither the ALES League nor the originators of the ALES format have ever claimed that this should be the only format of electric soaring based on altitude limitations just as RES or TD or F3J don't claim that they are the only form of winch based soaring.

Randy

If we are to see different types of contests for Altitude Limited Electric Sailplanes , then to prevent any further confusion on anybodys part , maybe we shall now have to add to the title of our events. The Ales we are presently flying and the type that is required by the ALES league will have to be posted as ALES MOM or maybe ALES League.Ken.

If we are to see different types of contests for Altitude Limited Electric Sailplanes , then to prevent any further confusion on anybodys part , maybe we shall now have to add to the title of our events. The Ales we are presently flying and the type that is required by the ALES league will have to be posted as ALES MOM or maybe ALES League.Ken.

Randy confirmed my understanding that ALES was a term created to describe a very specific Man-on-Man contest format using electric planes equipped with limiters. The League was formed to promote this new contest format and to recognize pilots that fly in events that follow the ALES rules.

Recently the flying community began to use the term ALES to describe the class of planes that meet the ALES contest requirements. Innovative CDs recognized this new ‘class’ of sailplanes and looked for ways to integrate them alongside their TD brethren.

The organizers of the League put many years effort developing this new contest format and like a good CD they are following the rules that they set out and only recognize events flown in the Man-On-Man format as specified in the first sentence of the ALES rules. I have gotten no sense of any elitist attitude associated with ALES, only the enthusiasm surrounding the introduction of a new contest format.

Originally Posted by rcbrust

I'd like to clarify something. The rules which you are referring to are not ALES League rules. They are the Altitude Limited Electric Soaring rules that have provisional status with the AMA and can be seen here. The ALES League follows those rules so that participants can compete on a level playing field.

Neither the ALES League nor the originators of the ALES format have ever claimed that this should be the only format of electric soaring based on altitude limitations just as RES or TD or F3J don't claim that they are the only form of winch based soaring.

Randy

Randy,
I'm fully aware of exactly how this came to be. I was the LSF Treasurer for the previous 4 years, have been part of the LSF-AMA Nats management team for nearly 20 years, and a CD for 31 years. Jim Deck and I tried (unsuccessfully) to try to incorporate electric launched sailplanes into the LSF soaring and accomplishment program.

The point of my reply was that artificial limitations are just that, artificial. This kind of thinking will not help electric launched sailplanes become commonly accepted and practiced within the general soaring competition community. The more options there are, the more rapidly various soaring communites will be able to adapt and adopt the concept.

Finally, I don't care if its called ALES, WALES, SNAILS or anything else. We're talking electric launched sailplanes, and until the acronym ALES contains specific language restricting it to one type of competition, it will continue to become a more mainstream term for electric launched sailplanes.

JT

Originally Posted by cflyer1

OK all you ALES guys, CVRC is going to add a ALES class to the Fall Fest.
This will not be MOM but you will be scored against other ALES pilots.
150m limit.
Registration is now open. Go to <rcsoaring.com> click on "contests". You can either register on line or use the mail in form.
More information coming.

It seems like a lost opportunity. The ability for MOM scoring is an attractive aspect of ALES. Too bad they can't fully showcase the fastest growing movement of our sport.
But that being said, hats off to the guys in Visalia for including ALES.
Good people.
Great flying site.
Fantastic air.

Scott

I suppose all this griping could be fixed by the CVRC club scrubbing the "ALES" from the Fall Fest, how would that make everyone feel? If I didn't know better, I would think there were a bunch of old women flying models, good grief, get a grip! (And those who know me know I am really holding back here!)

we are going to hold a MOM ALES event on Friday at the Fall Fest. This is a addition to the contest. Nothing changes for saturday and sunday.
Check post 33 in the sailplane events section regarding the Fall Fest for more info.

ALES Friday
We are going offer an ALES M.O.M. event on Friday the 5th before the Fall Fest.
So set your limiters for 200m and join in for another day soaring fun.
Kent Nogy <kentnogy@concentric.net> is the man with Mark Taylor and Al Strahm as backup.
We have three major sponsors for this event. Horizon Hobby, Soaring USA and Kennedy Composites. There donations will be what your flying for.
There will be a $20.00 entry fee. Sign up at the field Friday morning. Pilots meeting at 11:30 with flying at noon.
This should give all who need time to travel.
Nothing changes for Saturday and Sunday. This is an addition too.
The top lawn will be closed to all practice during the event. But the basin will be mowed and open for those who choose.
see ya at the field

Originally Posted by alstrahm

ALES Friday
We are going offer an ALES M.O.M. event on Friday the 5th before the Fall Fest.
So set your limiters for 200m and join in for another day soaring fun.
Kent Nogy <kentnogy@concentric.net> is the man with Mark Taylor and Al Strahm as backup.
We have three major sponsors for this event. Horizon Hobby, Soaring USA and Kennedy Composites. There donations will be what your flying for.
There will be a $20.00 entry fee. Sign up at the field Friday morning. Pilots meeting at 11:30 with flying at noon.
This should give all who need time to travel.
Nothing changes for Saturday and Sunday. This is an addition too.
The top lawn will be closed to all practice during the event. But the basin will be mowed and open for those who choose.
see ya at the field

Al, does this mean the ALES launch/landing could be playing dodge-plane with those play/practice flying from the basin? There are usually some on the north side basin with winches/histarts setup, and this could conflict.

JT

I'm sure that it will be less of a problem than having 30+ in the air at one time, with launches continuing as fast as we can.
That's a 40 acre basin with another 640 of farm land surrounding it.
don't see it as a problem.