Roger Worden wrote:
I'm planning my Silver distance flight. After reading the Sporting Code and
several guides, I still have a question.

I'll be using a Volkslogger, and I'll be winch launching. My planned Finish
Point is lower than my Start Point, so I have to very be careful about the
1% rule. The guides talk about notching a barogram to make the release point
clear (when aerotowing). Is that necessary with a flight recorder and a
winch launch? I really don't want to lose 200' to create a notch, if I'm
releasing fairly low off a winch launch. Would a tight turn or circle right
after release from the winch be evidence of the Start Point, rather than a
loss of altitude? Or is it even necessary, since the cessation of climb
(from 45 degrees up, to level flight) should be pretty obvious?

Assuming you are in the US, a tight circle immediately following release
is considered acceptable for flight recorder documentation. In
practice, if you dive down 200 feet, you'll probably get back at least
150 when you pull up, but I've known people who've managed to notch
in-between fixes so it doesn't show in the IGC file, circling avoids
this possibility. You must either notch or circle...

Marc