Guys - all this whining is getting to me. Look at the top 25 at Visalia, or SWC - these are ALL seasoned veterans. These were not some kids that picked up a modern composite sailplane that can't fail to get it's time and kicked butt! These are guys that have been around, and know how to SOAR. They get their times all the time, no matter the conditions. It was the same story 20 years ago (so I hear). Damn that Skip Miller with that unbeatable Aquila with the secret mods... Hmmm Still finishing in the top tier - I wonder why that is - HE GETS HIS TIME - EVERYTIME! Joe and Daryl are at the top all the time - why - BECAUSE THEY GET THEIR TIMES - ALL THE TIME! It's all about soaring (with a few exceptions like add-em-up where you get a buffer for mistakes).
When these guys launch - everyone says "watch where they go..." because they know they will get their times. Just once I'd like to hear a pilot say to his timer "keep your eye on Jim and let me know where he goes..." :) I practice frequently with Skip and there is not a lot of discussion of strategy - it's a real simple game - Launch, fly exactly the task duration and land on the spot! Every time - every launch. And a no skeg rule would be foolish. I sat next to the landing zones at Visalia and saw a bunch of dangerous overskids all weekend. I can't image how bad it would have been without skegs! I believe that skegs provide way more safety than danger. As for energy management, I agree that is the goal, but the reality is that with the landing tapes marked at 3 inch intervals, folks will dork the airplanes to get the points, so the guys that can afford to break their planes will be at the advantage. I aspire to be in the top - I probably won't ever get there, but I am having a bunch of fun trying to be as consistent as those top guys. Because as Dave Thornburg said in his book - "The object of the game is to fly until you are ready to come down..." and I want to be ready at the end of the task. Jim Monaco Rocky Mountain Soaring Association Denver, CO -----Original Message----- From: Bob Johnson [mailto:bobj@;thesurf.com] Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 7:01 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Chuck Anderson Subject: Re: [RCSE] Triathalon > It could still be a good event if the turnaround was moved back so that a > typical modern composite sailplane could not launch high enough to get more > than about 5 minutes without finding lift. Chuck, By "if the turnaround was moved back" I assume that you mean shortening the winch line. I'll support shortening the winch line if you'll support removing those ugly skegs and sharks teeth. :) Unfortunately, the chances of either one happening are somewhere between little and none. Shorter launch lines means that you have to improve your thermal-finding ability in order to score well in a contest and removing skegs and sharks teeth means that you have to improve your landing ability if you want to score landing points. Very few people have the desire to actually improve their skills; most want their equipment delude them into believing they are better flyers. With long launch lines and vastly improved sailplanes, the only way to make the event more challenging is to increase the flight times as has been noted by others on this exchange. With increased task times, the number of rounds flown must necessarily decrease and that too creates a problem in that people who drive a great distance have the desire to fly as much as possible, which they equate to getting in as many rounds as possible. Again, I'll agree with you to shorten launch lines to make the flying task more challenging if you'll agree with me to outlaw landing arresting devices to make the landing task more challenging. Regards, Bob Johnson Fond du Lac, WI 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. 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.
