On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:21:12 -0700 (PDT), BB
wrote:

http://www.ssa.org/UsTeam/ustc%20pdf...2008%20(2).pdf
which shows which gliders are on both lists. Do you think it's viable
to run a club class in the US that excludes the ASW20, Schweitzer
1-35, etc?

The IGC's handicap list is not totally stable. A major modification
was debated and partially adopted during the last IGC's general
meeting (see the result in the Sporting Code
http://www.fai.org/gliding/system/files/sc3a.pdf )
The highest performing gliders admitted since then, have a handicap
factor of 1.09 (ASW20 and Discus, when fitted with winglets), followed
by the same gliders (no winglets) and the ASW24WL, SZD55 (f=1.08).
Then the DG200/202 etc, down to the lowest level (f=0.96) where
there's a group made of VSO10, Club Libelle (fixed gear), Astir CS.

IMHO, the gliders in the list belong mainly to one generation: the
Wortmann profiled wings of he very late '60s and the '70s. The most
relevant exceptions being the Discus and the ASW24 only.

In Italy, we have thus made a few additions based on analogy: some
old, higher perfomance gliders like the Kestrel 17 (1.09), 19 (1.11)
and the Nimbus2 (1.13), with a handicap factor that we consider fair
and appropriate.
Of course, the pilots who really have a chance to be selected for the
national team have agreed to fly one of the gliders accepted also in
the IGC list. And, of course, gliders are weighed daily, to make sure
the IGC rule is respected (no water ballast).
Nevertheless, Club Class competitions are not a huge success in Italy.
As of today, the most populated classes for the Nationals are the 18m
and the Standard class.

Maybe you can find an appropriate factor for the 1-35 and others, as
well.

cheers!

Aldo Cernezzi
(formerly in the Italian rules committee)