Africa!

[JS]

On November 30th 2015, 45 pilots scored over 1000 points on OLC. 40 of those flights were distances "over 1000k".
Jim

[Steve Koerner]

On Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 7:09:50 PM UTC-7, JS wrote:
> On November 30th 2015, 45 pilots scored over 1000 points on OLC. 40 of those flights were distances "over 1000k".
> Jim

That's pretty remarkable. An interesting side observation is that not one of those 45 pilots flew a glider having wingspan less than 18m. In fact, you have to look all the way down to position #61 that day to find a lesser span. I guess if you're going to Africa, you don't take a knife to a gunfight.

[Tango Whisky]

Am Mittwoch, 2. Dezember 2015 05:46:16 UTC+1 schrieb Steve Koerner:

> That's pretty remarkable. An interesting side observation is that not one of those 45 pilots flew a glider having wingspan less than 18m. In fact, you have to look all the way down to position #61 that day to find a lesser span. I guess if you're going to Africa, you don't take a knife to a gunfight.

The reason for that is probably quite simple: There's no "local life" in these locations, so people are shipping their own glidern to Africa, and almost all gliders shipped there are selflaunchers. Which rarely come with less than 18 meters.

Bert
Ventus cM TW

[Dan Marotta]

Maybe because the local life is hungry lions rather than just angry farmers!

On 12/1/2015 9:46 PM, Steve Koerner wrote:
> On Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 7:09:50 PM UTC-7, JS wrote:
>> On November 30th 2015, 45 pilots scored over 1000 points on OLC. 40 of those flights were distances "over 1000k".
>> Jim
> That's pretty remarkable. An interesting side observation is that not one of those 45 pilots flew a glider having wingspan less than 18m. In fact, you have to look all the way down to position #61 that day to find a lesser span. I guess if you're going to Africa, you don't take a knife to a gunfight.

--
Dan, 5J

[WAVEGURU]

I was the only one to score any points in North America on the 30th with my open class 2 seater...

😉

Boggs.

[BruceGreeff]

On the contrary. Potchefstroom on the middle of South Africa is the
birthplace of the JS1. There are fair number of decent 15 and 18m ships
around. ASW27 - and Ventus and LAK17b - as well as a lot of JS1s...

The thing is - if you are spending a lot of money and time shipping a
glider to Africa from Europe or the USA - are you going to ship a 15m?

So - in the high energy thermal conditions - the highest wingloading and
high speed L/D is the key. The days are not that long - so you have to
go fast to get long distance.

Current state of the art and rules combined seem to favour 21m as the
sweet spot.

As noted - in Namibia, and much of South Africa, the ability to self
launch and motor home is a distinct advantage. A lot of the best soaring
country is very sparsely populated, relatively inaccessible by road, and
generally low on amenities like cold beer/water/beds etc.


--
Bruce Greeff
T59D #1771

[[email protected]]

On Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 3:35:02 PM UTC-5, BruceGreeff wrote:
>
> As noted - in Namibia, and much of South Africa, the ability to self
> launch and motor home is a distinct advantage. A lot of the best soaring
> country is very sparsely populated, relatively inaccessible by road, and
> generally low on amenities like cold beer/water/beds etc.
>
>
> --
> Bruce Greeff
> T59D #1771

Interested in motor homes sold in SA. If you wanted a MB Sprinter chassis, what make and model would you choose?

[Dan Marotta]

We have a Citation 24 by Thor mounted on a MB Sprinter. We're very
happy with it.

On 12/2/2015 3:21 PM, wrote:
> On Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 3:35:02 PM UTC-5, BruceGreeff wrote:
>> As noted - in Namibia, and much of South Africa, the ability to self
>> launch and motor home is a distinct advantage. A lot of the best soaring
>> country is very sparsely populated, relatively inaccessible by road, and
>> generally low on amenities like cold beer/water/beds etc.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Bruce Greeff
>> T59D #1771
> Interested in motor homes sold in SA. If you wanted a MB Sprinter chassis, what make and model would you choose?

--
Dan, 5J

[Tango Whisky]

Am Mittwoch, 2. Dezember 2015 21:35:02 UTC+1 schrieb BruceGreeff:
> On the contrary. Potchefstroom on the middle of South Africa is the
> birthplace of the JS1. There are fair number of decent 15 and 18m ships
> around. ASW27 - and Ventus and LAK17b - as well as a lot of JS1s...
>
> The thing is - if you are spending a lot of money and time shipping a
> glider to Africa from Europe or the USA - are you going to ship a 15m?
>
> So - in the high energy thermal conditions - the highest wingloading and
> high speed L/D is the key. The days are not that long - so you have to
> go fast to get long distance.
>
> Current state of the art and rules combined seem to favour 21m as the
> sweet spot.
>
> As noted - in Namibia, and much of South Africa, the ability to self
> launch and motor home is a distinct advantage. A lot of the best soaring
> country is very sparsely populated, relatively inaccessible by road, and
> generally low on amenities like cold beer/water/beds etc.
>
>
> --
> Bruce Greeff
> T59D #1771

Yeah, there is also a (very) nice club in Worcester, north of Cape Town.

However, most of the big flights are done in Gariep Dam, Kuruman, Kiripotib, Pokweni, Bitterwasser, which are more or less resorts for visiting pilots.

[Fox Sierra]

On Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 9:09:50 PM UTC-5, JS wrote:
> On November 30th 2015, 45 pilots scored over 1000 points on OLC. 40 of those flights were distances "over 1000k".
> Jim

Just got back from 10 days of flying in Bitterwasser, Namibia. I was there a little early to catch the strong weather of the past week, but even so the flights were spectacular. Here is the 1000km OLC flight we did on Nov. 19:

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html;jsessionid=D69B24AC88C22D6C9C03F2D F07061146?flightId=553986820

For those wanting adventure travel in a 4x4 camper, here is the best place to rent: http://www.ascocarhire.com/

[JS[_5_]]

On Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 6:09:50 PM UTC-8, JS wrote:
> On November 30th 2015, 45 pilots scored over 1000 points on OLC. 40 of those flights were distances "over 1000k".
> Jim

And they're off again!
But only about 20 1000km+ flights today.
Jim

[Tony[_5_]]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk5Dwg5zm2U

[WB]

On Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 1:49:27 PM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk5Dwg5zm2U

You are a strange man, Tony.

[John Foster]

On Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 12:49:27 PM UTC-7, Tony wrote:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk5Dwg5zm2U

What the H3!! does that video have to do with soaring?

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

It's a song about Africa, where they were flying long flights today.
;-)

[[email protected]]

Come on John, you've got to admire that high kick at 2:15. I know it got pretty weird with the accordion solo, but hey, the guy's name is Weird Al....

RC

[Whiskey Charlie]

On Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 2:49:27 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk5Dwg5zm2U


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w5ZHMwIzvY

[Papa3[_2_]]

We're obviously not in Kansas anymore Toto.

[[email protected]]

Nothing like Toto! Complete crap link!

[David Hirst]

On Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 3:30:52 PM UTC+13, Whiskey Charlie wrote:
> On Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 2:49:27 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk5Dwg5zm2U
>
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w5ZHMwIzvY

OK, I'll bite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SywaUbg5wU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJo1IXreVXI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGltmnWu8lk

and my personal favourite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuiwIFLKa2I

It's been a long week.

DH
TX

[Dan Marotta]

Somebody's got way too much time on his hands...

On 11/28/2018 10:58 AM, David Hirst wrote:
> On Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 3:30:52 PM UTC+13, Whiskey Charlie wrote:
>> On Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 2:49:27 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk5Dwg5zm2U
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w5ZHMwIzvY
> OK, I'll bite.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SywaUbg5wU
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJo1IXreVXI
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGltmnWu8lk
>
> and my personal favourite:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuiwIFLKa2I
>
> It's been a long week.
>
> DH
> TX

--
Dan, 5J

[kimobear]

No comment necessary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q260bjSiyq0&t=35s

[JS[_5_]]

On Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 8:24:07 AM UTC-8, kimobear wrote:
> No comment necessary
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q260bjSiyq0&t=35s

Only 26 thousand km plus flights today.
Wait a minute, one was in Canada!
Bob and Doug McKenzie videos? Not in Alberta.
Jim

[Paul T[_4_]]

At 01:23 17 December 2018, JS wrote:
>On Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 8:24:07 AM UTC-8, kimobear
wrote:
>> No comment necessary
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q260bjSiyq0&t=35s
>
>Only 26 thousand km plus flights today.
>Wait a minute, one was in Canada!
>Bob and Doug McKenzie videos? Not in Alberta.
>Jim
>

3 x 1000km in last month. Finally someone has woken up to the fact
they can do long cross countries year around in the lee wave off the
Rockies. Should be able to take Olhman's record with a bit of planning
and daring-do. Eastern B.C. and western Alberta some of the best and
most scenic soaring to be had in the world.