I read Skip's, response last night and it occurred to me that with as
many Level 5's as there are now, Skip has a valid point about initiating a
Level 6.
I have to admit that I am not much interested in the thread that has
been being passed around on this forum the last week. Either you get it or you
don't, the LSF program is a personal achievement program that was designed to
enable the aspirant to gain as much experience as possible in all phases of RC
Soaring including competition, with other like minded pilots. The
program has stood the test of time, and requires commitment and
dedication to achieve the highest coveted levels. The wisdom of the founders
of the achievement program has proven that even with the performance
available in modern gliders, the program is still challenging, and the pilot
will gain much knowledge and piloting expertise as he climbs the ladder
of achievements. Level 5 is not designed to be easy, and is not a goal that
everyone will achieve. All arguments about the program being impossible
and extraordinarily hard are B.S.. It wasn't to hard for John Ericson who just
finished his level 5. So if you have decided that you don't have what it
takes to be a Level 4 or 5. You just can't invest the time, and in the
end it just is not something that you really want to do. Then admit
it and go on. Changing a valid program to match your circumstances just
isn't realistic or fair to those that have finished the program before
you.
How ever, with that said, several Level 5's have discussed the
possibilities of higher Levels in the past. Personally I have mixed
feelings about adding another level, as many Level 5's are not available
to compete in a modified program. A common occurrence is that Level 5's stay
focused for several years climbing the LSF ladder and then when they get level
5, they are frustrated that that is all there is. Some have gone on and
repeated the Level 5 tasks several times. If there were a Level 6, several of
our LSF leaders would show renewed interest in LSF and the achievement
program. These persons would, and could act as valuable mentors for other LSF
achievers working on the lower levels. Leadership comes from the top, If the
LSF can find a way to interest it's highest achievers in a new level, it might
just be the ticket to reinvigorate the whole program. Larry Jolly LSF
3579
