We have solved (in Poland) the problem of costs and time needed to =
compete in the contests by setting up a year-round "Bitner memorial" =
contest.
The rules are very simple: contest lasts for one calender year, and =
pilots willing to join it simply fill the "flight submission form" prior =
to take off, take a photo or write down the logger info, then fly the =
task. After the flight, they just put it into an envelope along with a =
photo film or floppy disk with file downloaded from logger and then send =
them for scoring. Each of pilots is allowed to submit three flights, =
freely selected by him - just those best ones. There's no limitation of =
glider type, and the pilots aren't divided for juniors or seniors. All =
the pilots fly when they want / have time to fly, what they want to fly =
(handicaps of couse are present here) and where they want to fly. The =
only limit is that the flight has to be done in Poland.

It really works here, this year competing have been some 150 pilots (and =
compare population of Poland and USA). There were some 40 editions of =
this contest. And the winners have right to enter the nationals, just as =
it they had won one of the regional contests.

I think it's a perfect formula for adding the World Class, at least in =
the USA more momentum. This means, that any PW-5 user could fly whenever =
want - after work, during weekend, and fly at the nearest airfield, =
where he keeps his little glider. This means no additional cost, no =
wasting of time for travel or waiting for the "right" weather. And it =
fits the idea of World Class - affordable glider, the same for all =
competitors and class which's purpose is to make gliding more popular by =
giving a chance to fly the contests as the equal competitor at low cost, =
and without extra cost or spending time.

Of course, the weather conditions in the US (and in other countries =
surely too) vary a lot, so there should be something like =
"regional/state handicap" which should make competition more equal =
countrywide. This could be a chance for 1-26 drivers willing to move up =
in performance and in technology (yes, I hear laugh of some guys from =
the back rows, but I am sure this is true).

That are my tro cents...

Regards,


--=20
Janusz Kesik

visit www.leszno.pl - home of the www.css-leszno.it.pl


With such a small percentage of pilots who compete, and the amount of =
tim=3D
e it consumes, and the amount of money it costs regardless of the ship =
be=3D
ing used-is their really any sort of demand for low cost "one design"? =
P=3D
articularly in light of sports class here in the USA. One design =
still r=3D
equires $4K+ of instruments/loggers/software/PDA to be competitive. =
It s=3D
till requires long travels and much(all) vacation time used up. =
1-26ers =3D
love their ships, but I am not so sure they would take that enthusiasm =
to=3D
another bird. And 1-26 racing involves different models of the ship =
whi=3D
ch makes the idea of an identical performing ship somewhat suspect. =
=3D20