This whole thread has got me fired up to pickup where I left off on my LSF tasks. I'm working on level III and should complete it after the Visalia contest.
I want to complete the LSF program to challenge myself and learn from the experience but don't agree with changing the way it's currently setup. I want to be added to the list by completing what other level V pilots has completed. We have at least 10 pilots in our club working on their LSF tasks and some feel the same way as I do. I'm all for anyone willing to start a new achievement program to fit the needs of other pilots that cannot attend contests or just don't wish too. LSF is not broken, So don't try to fix it A level 6 ?? Bring it on!! That's my two cents; now let's put this thing to bed!! Andy Thonet AKA "Glidernut" LSF 7764 -----Original Message----- From: John Erickson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 10:38 AM To: Darwin N. Barrie; Larry Jolly; Soaring List Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format
