Hi John,
Don't get you underwear in a bunch. I was only mentioning that the equipment
has played a minor part. The guys getting there Level 5 using Varios,
improved technology in radios may have played a part in some of the success.
I have heard at least one LV mention that the 2 hour thermal and CC were
greatly aided by the use of a Vario. That is where that information came
from. Others
Secondly, I was not implying that there was an abundance of Level 5's, I was
only asking the question.
Third, I'm not advocating changing the current program, but to add to the
existing program, to give the Level 5's something else to shoot for.
Darwin N. Barrie
Chandler AZ
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Erickson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Darwin N. Barrie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Larry Jolly" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
"Soaring List" <Soaring@airage.com>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: [RCSE] New LSF Thread Level 6
Level 6? Great timing on the suggestion, Larry :-) I work for about 3
years to get to Level V. I become all philosophic and relaxed about the
hobby. Then all at once a whole group of Sportsmen start talking about
Level V being impossible to attain if you don't get to contests, and on
the
other hand some top Experts suggesting Level V not being high enough?
Can't we leave LSF alone for a few weeks?
I've got to stay true to what I've been saying all along. It's a personal
achievement program. I just wonder for both sides if it is about
improving
and promoting the hobby, or just for recognition. We all like to be
acknowledged for what we've done; we're human and we have egos. That
being
said, I'm more interested in the challenge of the tasks rather than the
kudos.
I'd say it's a disservice to those who have completed the program to
change
it. If there are new ideas they should be in a new program, maybe not
even
associated with LSF. You can have The Sportsman Challenge headed up by
the
guys in RC Groups who want it in the first place, and you can have the
Team
Extreme Double Gold set up by the Soaring Titans, you know who you are.
One last item, Darwin, I disagree about equipment being responsible for
anyone getting their Level V. First off, in contests you are up against
everyone else flying the same stuff, no advantage there. 8 hour slope and
2
hour thermal? You can do those with a Gentle Lady if the conditions are
right. The slope flight is about keeping your concentration for that
length
of time and the thermal is about hopping around from thermal to thermal
for
a couple of hours. When the day is right (5 times a year?) you can do it
with any plane. XC has always used big planes, even when the LSF started.
They had varios. Personally, I turned the one I had off because I wasn't
interested in going higher than 3,000 feet because I couldn't see the
plane
anymore! What good is it having a vario to tell you that you're in great
air when you can't even see your plane?
As far as pilots being added to the Level V list, not sure what you mean
here. Not many this year. Marc Gellart and me so far. Joe Nave and Jon
Stone last year. By your argument shouldn't there have been many, many
more? In 1987 and 1988 there were a total of 17 guys who made it to V.
What did equipment have to do with it?
JE
--
Erickson Architects
John R. Erickson, AIA
From: "Darwin N. Barrie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 09:46:19 -0700
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <Soaring@airage.com>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [RCSE] New LSF Thread Level 6
I tend to agree with the possibility of a Level 6. When the LSF program
was
developed the equipment was archaic by todays standards. I know it is the
pilot but the equipment certainly has added a little advantage. How many
Level
5's have been added in the past year or so?
A Level 6 should be considered to reflect the evolution of the hobby. Not
quite to the standards Skip outlined but similar.
Darwin N. Barrie
Chandler AZ
Level 0
----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Soaring@airage.com
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 8:42 AM
Subject: [RCSE] New LSF Thread Level 6
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
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