Opps! I must amend one of the task TPs. Substitute Jerilderie A/F for Deniliquin A/F. I could say "just testing" (Deniliquin gives 904 km - I wish), but I would be lying. Sorry about that!
Incidentally, before GPS, and I can't pin the date when I got my first machine, we had to measure distances off a map: A paper map that might shrink or expand, depending on the atmospheric conditions! The formula existed to calculate great circle distances, but you needed to be a mathematical genius to use this, and have access to 7 figure tables to boot. Yeah, and the formula also changed from time to time too, depending on the model of the Earth that was being used at the time. Of course it wasn't called Earth - it was "a flattened oblate spheroid"... And in remote areas (no obvious landmarks), we had to fly on compass headings, and calculate drift etc. All I can say is thank God that this aspect of the "good old days" (just like the start gate), is gone forever. The introduction of GPS into gliding was without doubt one of the movements great boons. Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: gstev...@bigpond.com To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Sent: Friday, July 20, 2012 8:49 PM Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Club Class Records: unofficial Hi All, If you like a good story, here is Col's account of his 750 km flight (referred to by Bruce), as it appears on the Canberra Gliding Club's web site. Date is 7 Jan 1999. The 4th Jan 1999 was OK too. In Libelle BL did 764 k with a total flight time of 7h 59m: Benalla - Becom - Deniliquin A/F - The Rock - Urana - Benalla. Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: Bruce Campbell To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 10:55 PM Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Club Class Records: unofficial This really was a special run of weather. There were several great days in a row, but the last was the best as far as Temora went - and it was the only day I didn't have to work. There were at least four 750km flights in club class gliders on that day - Ziggy Kominek in Jantar Std 2 CQT, Col Vassarotti in Std Libelle BE, Gary Stevenson in Std Libelle BL, and myself in Std Cirrus AM. I think David Pietsch may have done a 750 also in ASW20 ZZ (not sure it was known as ZZ then) although at the time the 20 was a bit above club class. This was the same day that Tom Claffey set the Std Class Australian record for a 1000 (1016km) FAI triangle speed in Discus B FV. Gary and I did Temora-Hillston-Narromne-Temora - a 750km FAI triangle (756km). Mine was memorable for several reasons - a 12:25 launch after rigging with an optimistic 750 in the little black box, then cruising at 100 knots in a Cirrus to stay out of the streeting cloud at 11,000 ft on the first leg to Hillston, passing Tomas Suchanek and Tom at Forbes on the last leg (they were en route to Narromine), landing after 7:02 (107km/hr)......it was an awesome flight. 900 was possible in the Cirrus that day. Gary may recollect it too. I think that that may have been they weather cycle that got Harry from Keepit to Gawler, but not sure. The spoiler was the tug release point for me was on the wrong side of the airfield (en route) so I was never able to claim it. Oh well - I'll claim the 750 when I do my 1000 I thought. Never got there despite many attempts over 10 years (in Discus A D1 - best 925km but not claimable either due abandoning 2nd turn) - just needed that magic '99 day again. I watched weather closely whilst juggling work commitments (which as a water resources engineer also allowed me to get paid for weather watching!), but never saw a day lke it, so I don't subscribe to the 7 year cycle! Cheers Bruce Bruce Campbell On 18 July 2012 16:03, Harry <hw.medlic...@optusnet.com.au> wrote: Hi All, The amazing flights referred resulted from some rather special weather conditions.Most of you would remember the Sydney to Hobart fleet which ran into a ferocious storm of the Victorian coast and into Bass Strait. Some boats were sunk and lives lost. This abnormal low pressure system dumped billions of cubic metres of cold dry air over Victoria and much of NSW, much further north than the usual cold fronts which pass through at that time of the year and produce the usual good conditions which are centred along the line Waikerie, Tocumwal and Corowa . As the succeeding high pressure system went through this low dew point air warmed up day by day and produced the ideal temperature profile, including cloud bases of up to 14,000 ft. I remember it well. The rather wetter patterns of the last couple of years have been the result of the high pressure systems dragging in warm moist ocean air. the length of fetch has often extended over a 1,000 km resulting in dew points of up to and over 20 deg. The dew point of air from the southern ocean is usually below 10 an sometimes a minus number Harry Medlicott -----Original Message----- From: Matthew Scutter Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 1:52 PM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Club Class Records: unofficial Perhaps Adam is referring to the El Nino / La Nina oscillation, which has a large influence on Queensland's weather patterns. Very roughly 5 year cycles. -Matthew [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Ni%C3%B1o-Southern_Oscillation On Wed, Jul 18, 2012 at 1:10 PM, <gstev...@bigpond.com> wrote: WPP, "I think the weather cycle goes in 7 yr increments." Now that is a very brave statement indeed! Memory is a fallible thing, but I seem to recall (from many -30/40? -years ago), that the Dutch had to hand at that time, over 400 years worth of continuous weather records. This data (exactly what was available was not stated), was analysed for cyclic pattens. The result - NO PATTEN AT ALL COULD BE DEDUCED. Does anyone know about this or similar work, and can comment further? Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: "Adam Woolley" <aussiejuniort...@hotmail.com> To: <aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 12:50 PM Subject: [Aus-soaring] Club Class Records: unofficial G'day All, I've been keen to set up some unofficial club class records since getting my Cirrus. Hope you see the concept/idea as I've seen it. The reason behind it, As per '3.2' - All in good fun, to give those who can't go for official records due to financial reasons (eg, not being able to obtain a Discus 2, to go for a STD class record) or not being their preferred class. In 1999, Tom Claffey & others experienced some amazing weather conditions in AUS. I think that the weather cycle goes in 7yr increments. Now approaching 14yrs later, I think we could be in for a good season - cross your fingers, I & many others would love a regular great season for a change!!! All comments & potential additions on the below welcome. SeeYou, WPP www.facebook.com/W3Racing Unofficial Australian Club Club Class Records - Rules V1.0 Concept by Adam Woolley Written by Adam Woolley 1 - Philosophy: To provide a friendly and honest unofficial record list/rules for Australian pilots, whom race/fly in Australian airspace, in the gliders on the Australian Club Class Handicap list provided on the GFA website. 2 - RULES: Use the Australian Junior Record Rules (found on www.joeyglide.com.au & www.ajgc.org.au websites) if you want to go 'official official', as kindly put together by Andrew Maddocks. The below are amendments & simple reminders, in no particular order & are generally based on the KISS principle, with safety in mind! If you don't want to read the rules, & if your an honest person - the below will suffice. 2.1 - Entries Open: 18 JUL 2012. 2.2 - Eligable Gliders: Club Class Gliders, as found on the current years GFA Club Class Handicap list. 2.3 - Handicaps: the use of the current GFA Club Class Handicap list will be used for the flight (date) submitted. 2.4 - Reference Weight: the use of the current reference weight as provided by the GFA club class handicap list for the (date) submitted. 2.5 - After Market Modifications: No penalty will be given for the addition of winglets, wing fillets or extractor vents. 2.6 - Handicap Adjustments: 0.005 disadvantage per part there of 12kg over REFERENCE WEIGHT. No performance advantage given for gliders that fly below REFERENCE WEIGHT. 2.7 - Start Rule: 1km radius over pre-declared waypoint. 2.8 - Turnpoint(s): 500m radius. 2.9 - Finish: 3km radius from the pre-declared waypoint. 2.10 - Record submission: E-Mail your details appropriate for the flight (Start & Finish Point, Turnpoints (if not a free distance or height gain) inc waypoint details, glider type, approximate weight (or accurate if known)), & *.igc file to, agwool...@hotmail.com within 48hrs of 'end of roll'. 2.11 - Start/Finish Heights: You must finish at the predetermined finish point, within a 1000m of your start height & predetermined start point. For 'free distance' one way flights, you must start (predetermined point) below 1000m AGL & land safely at any point. 2.12 - Records: Each record will stay firm until beaten by the current years GFA handicap for the club class glider used. ie, won't be changed each season if the glider handicap or reference weights change. 2.13 - Declarations: A flight must be declared before going through the start circle, unless it's a Free Distance flight. 3 - GENERAL 3.1 - Remember, unofficial. If you cheat intentially or not being honest, you're only ripping your fellow mates off. 3.2 - All in good fun, to give those who can't go for official records due to financial reasons (eg, not being able to obtain a Discus 2, to go for a STD class record) or not being their preferred class. 3.3 - If the GFA thinks its a good idea, more than happy for the rules to be re-written officially. Though I would like to think that they'll accept the unofficial records, even of they have an unofficial column until the record is beaten officially - to reward the efforts that we've previously gone too! 3.4 - I know there's lots of holes in the above. Use your noggin for what you think is right and fair! 3.5 - It's just a game, have fun! 4 - Records obtainable 4.1 - An excel spreadsheet available on request, until I find a place to upload it to the web. 4.2 - Free Distance Free Distance Free Out & Retun Distance Free Three Turnpoint Distance 4.3 - Distance to Goal Straight Distance to Goal Three Turnpoint Distance Out & Return Distance FAI Triangle Distance 4.4 - Speed Speed Out & Return: 100km Speed Out & Return: 300km Speed Out & Return: 500km Speed Out & Return: 750km Speed Out & Return: 1000km Speed FAI Triangle: 100km Speed FAI Triangle: 300km Speed FAI Triangle: 500km Speed FAI Triangle: 750km Speed FAI Triangle: 1000km _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring ----- No virus found in this message. 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