The bystanders DONT like the landings???? I must dis agree. I think that is the one thing in TD soaring the bystanders do like! Go to some of the two days like Visalia/etc and youll notice many of the spectators oohing/awwing ejoying the landings along with many of the fliers too. Dont knock the landings/skegs/etc- landings are FUN-practice them, enjoy them, embrace the challange and DO them! --- GG
On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 23:05:38 Aradhana Singh Khalsa wrote: >Just a small chime in from an enthusiastic newbie: > >I like all your ideas, Gordy, except for the skeg part. My personal wish is >that we keep everything the way it is, but lose these devices. There is >something very ungraceful about the typical *splat* down to the ground of >most high scoring landings with skegs. Watch the bystanders as they react to >these high scoring arrests. They wince, they exclaim "Oh!". They don't like >it. I think they understand something important about our usually graceful >sport. > >I'll fly with skegs if you do, but I'd much rather shake hands, agree to do >without, and land with a soft hiss. It's even a little harder to max your >landing, and maybe that's a good challenge too. > >I know, it's a long-running debate. My turn to pick a side. > >Aradhana Singh Khalsa >New Mexico > > -----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 7:34 PM >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [RCSE] Emphasis or de-emphasis on landings > > > Imagine, I've had some time to consider the subject (driving miles and in >motels rooms:) and to talk it over with some of the smartest and best TD >pilots in the Midsouth.... > > The current whine about spot landings are completely wrong...at least >their justifier is wrong. > > Every guy who complains about trick landings, or point landings of all >kinds use the inarguable fact that full size sailplanes don't do those kind >of landings... but they DO! In fact its mandatory with EVERY full size >sailplane landing! > > One argument was that a guy gets all his time in the air (such a skilled >air reader:-) but comes in for the landing, hangs a wing tip (must have been >a ground thermal or gust) does a "ground loop" and ends up with a 20. >Another pilot misses his time by a full minute (obviously a terrible air >reader, short on soaring capability) but wins the contest!!! Oh the >unjustice.... > > Lets switch on the lights and take a close look at the full size analogy >argument. > The full size pilot comes in for a landing, he's right up the center of >the runway... but at the last second, hangs a wing tip, ground loops >....trashes his airplane and a few others, not to mention killing a couple >of the guys bragging up their landings who were standing next to those >wrecked planes. > > The point: Precision landings get more points because it shows that the >pilot is in complete control of his model...attitude, speed, altitude, all >in the enviroment happening at the time of his approach. (Don't bother >jumping in with "well no full size pilot would DORK!!! No argument..but we >have that option because we aren't in the sailplane, and have to suffer the >costs to our models by attempting the dork... in the case where a pilot >decides he 'knows' how to MAKE a dork landing and walk away...its still >skill...he knows his sailplane. In the case of the pilot who attempts the >dork but doesn't know his model, soil conditions in the zone... he pays. > > ...but what about skegs??? No full size uses big nose hooks to stop their >planes... > Imagine banning belly wheel brakes, as an unfair advantage to landings... > TD is a combination of understanding sailplane setup to realize its full >potential ; > reading air, and learning the best way to get your sailplane to take >advantage of different shapes and strengths of lift..and sink; > learning how to use all the energy stored in the winch battery, >transmitted thru the line so that every atom can be converted into altitude. > And finally... attempting to learn total control of your model...in wind, >turbulence.. and ground effect, so that no matter what task is assigned the >day you show up at a contest....you and your partner (that's your sailplane >by the way) can say "bring it on..dude :). > > Trick landings should be hoped for, 100 point tapes as an opportunity to >move up the score board, to bury the float around guys or those guys who >just have the knack for turning the right way off release....but once near >the ground, don't have a chance in heck of getting near that 100 spot. > > and if you're one of those soaring genius', make your mind up that, if >landings the game, you'll show them how to play...start practicing and >honing your near-the-ground sailplane handling skills. > > Pretty good post hey :-) > > Gordy > Inspired by a sweet day of soaring with Chuck, Brian and Herb, the thermal >wizards of Tullahoma, tn > ____________________________________________________________ Get 25MB of email storage with Lycos Mail Plus! Sign up today -- http://www.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus 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.
