"This whole matter is a sad tragedy..."

No it's not. Nobody got hurt, or died - perhaps because someone took
preemptive action. Embarrassment - yes. Tragedy - no.



At 17:37 30 August 2011, wrote:
On Aug 30, 12:47=A0pm, Bill D wrote:
On Aug 30, 7:42=A0am, GB wrote:





On Aug 29, 7:53=A0pm, Rex Mayes wrote:

Regardless of the people involved, I question the character of any
member of a sponsored team that stays out until midnight, let alone
4
AM.
I do not care if he is drinking or not. =A0A person sent to compete
a=
nd
represent should have the self control and dicipline to train,
study,
fly his best, rest and prepare to win the next day.
There really should not be much time for a party at this level of
competition. =A0Hopefully we choose the best pilots to represent
and
have the best chance for a USA win.
When I hear that any of the pilots are out past 2200 I wonder did
we
send them to fly =A0or party? =A0Should we say " oh they are just
kid=
s.
Let them have a good time? =A0I say not. =A0Not on My Dime.

I do not buy this crap about being ok because he is a nice guy and
ha=
s
friends and supporters. =A0We need to have standards.

Maybe I am just way to "Old Fashion".

I wonder if I am alone or will get a second from any others who
expec=
t
more from our youth.

Rex

Rex,

I agree with you completely.
Anyone who has contributed to the US =A0and other nation,s teams
should
be mad as hell.
I never condoned Devin action (witch none of us know =A0the exact
details)
What I objected to, was the mean-spirited original post.
It appears that many competitors (including the US team captain) were
out partying most night. Again, that is hearsay.

Gabe Bourbeau
Minden NV

I think we need to tone this down. =A0This whole matter is a sad
tragedy
made worse because it has become a public scandal. =A0These young
people
need our help and support not presumptive criticism. =A0No one, young
or
old, is immune to mistakes - try to put yourself in their positions.
We need to deal with it in a mature way and rise above the rhetoric.

I do not know the facts and, from this thread, it doesn't appear
anyone posting to r.a.s. does either. =A0I haven't had the pleasure of
meeting Devin but I do know the team captain and I respect Kathryn and
know her to have good judgement. =A0I also know Mitch Hudson as a
highly
respectable USAF officer.

That said, and speaking generally without any reference whatsoever to
these individuals or this incident, alcohol just doesn't mix with
flying. =A0The FAR 91.17 8 Hr "bottle to throttle" rule is way too
lenient. =A0 The German Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) 12 hour rule is much
better. =A0USN aeromedical research has even found degraded cognitive
performance 72 hours after consuming alcohol. =A0The stuff makes you
dumb and dumb doesn't win soaring competitions.

Bill Daniels

Just my $0.02- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Make that $2.00- well said.
I do know Devin, having coached him when he started racing.
I'm saddened by what we hear has happened.
I'm proud of the positive accomplishments he had at the WGC.
I will support him in the future as I trust he will learn from this
experience.
UH