I still feel that your argument of a MG pilot heading off into the
boonies with no landing options is exactly on par with the non-MG
pilot doing the same -- stupid.

As for this proposal, it looks good on the outside, but there's a
major flaw regarding risk avoidance here.

What do I tell my insurance company after picking a fantastic looking
field, landing, and hitting a single hidden obstacle that damages the
glider? What do I tell my fellow pilots as their insurance premiums
go up?

The engine is a tool to be used during field selection to attempt to
avoid validating that selection.

A couple weeks ago, my engine battery was flat when I arrived at the
airport. So I took a tow and flew a nice XC, knowing that I had no
engine to back me up. The day got weak, and I got low. On two
occasions, I would have popped the engine due to my height over a
landing site. In both cases, at least a minute after I would have
been climbing away under power, I found that low save and got away.
So I would have gotten distance not speed points had this been a
contest flight.

If you really think there's a *problem* with the MG pilot having an
unfair advantage by flying over unlandable terrain, I have a solution.
Let's all agree that a contestant may ask the CD to examine the trace
of another competitor due to a percieved 'unsafe' action. A panel of
judges will play back the trace and the pilot will justify any
questionable actions. Procedures here could be similar to how we
currently lodge a formal protest.

This could even be turned into a learning experience with both parties
being required to give a 2 minute talk at the next day's plot's
meeting about the incident, no matter which way the outcome was. I'm
sure one or both parties may have learned something worth sharing with
all the contestants, and this would have as positive an effect as our
current 'safety talk'.

Tom Serkowski
ASH-26E (5Z)

(JJ Sinclair) wrote in message ...

Under my proposal, the MG would face the exact SAME decision that un-powered
sailplane pilots must make. i.e, "If I start this shaky glide, I may be forced
to land in a field, or worse." He would be in the same situation that the rest
of us are facing, " I may try a shaky glide, but if I don't find something, I
MUST land to get my distance points. I can land at a designated airfield and
get distance points + 25 bonus points OR I can start this shaky glide, but if
it doesn't work, I will have to find a place to land. If I crank up the
Put-Put, I will get ZERO points for all my work today."
The penalty for engine use could be a percentage of the daily winners score,
say 30%, but I think it must be substantial, or taking a chance and pulling it
off, with the engine as a back-up will continue to be an attractive option in
the minds of some MG pilots.

JJ Sinclair