On Jan 20, 2:31 pm, Marc Ramsey wrote:
I'm curious, what exactly are you expecting the IGC or anyone else to
do? Are you really carrying a camera just in case someone randomly
decides to run a jamming test while you're in the midst of a world
record attempt?

Marc

I am trying to complete my third diamond, for distance, in my 1-26.

Last I heard, the SSA still (for another year?) will award badges/
diamonds with camera and photo documentation.

I mainly fly in the Owens' Valley, which has been subject to at least
a NOTAM indicating that the Navy might jam GPS for each and every day
I've been able to soar there in the last 3 years. They're not random
about it at all. No, I'm not convinced that the Navy is angry with me
over something I did to them -- but that doesn't mean they aren't
angry with me...

FWIW, each of my previous diamond flights set Regional 1-26 Class
records (absolute altitude & gain of altitude in one, and speed over a
300 km closed course for the other). I did not have an IGC logger
aboard for the altitude flight. For the speed record (since shattered
by 1-26 Legend Doug Levy) probably would not have been possible
without GPS.

That third diamond is my secondary focus in any and all of my soaring
activities. Having fun (safely) is my primary objective.

I find it odd that IGC (and soon SSA) have chosen to recognize only
the latest technology for documentation, especially considering that
very few submissions go in "the old fashioned way." Is it laziness?
Both IGC and SSA push the lions' share of responsibility onto the
Official Observer for validating claims and achievements. How
difficult is it to look at the picture, ESPECIALLY given the
popularity of tools that help OO's and IGC do this easily (e.g.,
Google Earth)???

Slightly off topic, all the politics notwithstanding, I really admire
Dennis Wright for getting his silver distance the REALLY HARD way,
flying a 1-26, off of an auto-tow launch, with a honkin' headwind on
the return leg of a declared out and return. Double
Tough...especially considering he could have put on a glass slipper
and damn near coasted.

There have been other threads suggesting that IGC revise the diamond
criteria to take account of glider performance. It would seem to me
that this would be a much higher priority for IGC if you consider the
fact that when the original diamond criteria were conceived, a 30:1
ship wasn't even in anybody's DREAMS. Though I sound bitter, I'm glad
they've left those traditions alone.

If a simple disposable camera can be used with a declaration form to
save a diamond (or in somebody else's case, a world record) from the
Navy's penchant for jamming GPS, then I'm all for it (using cameras
that is, not jamming).

Thanks for starting the topic (again?), Bill.

-Pete
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