You are right on, performance is critical to glider competition. 40:1 is
the magic threshold (with a decent high speed polar for penetration, see
below for definition) for really going cross country, at least in the
Eastern US.
Ah, the endless World Class thread. Heck, its 22 degrees outsde, here's the
" whole story". Might help someone brand new to soaring.
As an avid one design sailor coming to soaring 10 years ago, I was an active
supporter of the PW-5 movement to the point that I bought a half share in
one. I did this against the advise of very experienced competition pilots
and ultimately found that they were right. I also had a 1/2 share in a Grob
102 (15 meter Standard Class, about 36:1). The PW was a delightful handling
ship with limited penetration ability (the ability to fly fast without
falling out of the sky, handy for going upwind which is essential for out
and return cross country) due to its high flat plate area (that upright
cockpit has a price) and a low L/D (32:1) due to its short wing span (13.6
meters). For me it was easier and safer to take the Grob cross country
since it penetrated better.
After a few years I bit the bullet, sold the 1/2 shares and bought my own
ASW-20 (15 meter class 42:1 machine with excellent penetration for its
span). After my first flight I got out saying that "this is a different
sport now". What seemed like unachievable flights before became almost
routine. The learning curve accellerated. After attending a few
competitions where it was difficult to get in three days in the 20, I
couldn't imagine trying to get in a decent competition in the PW.
Performance not only matters, but it is critical to get to the 40:1
threshold. Strangely, this fact is generally accepted, but somehow it was
set aside by the World Class Committee in the interest of lower cost. Also,
twice the performance of a 1-26 probably seemed pretty attractive to many
even though it didn't meet the 40:1 threshold.
I am now in the camp of those competition veterans I once ignored. One
Design cross county out and back racing makes some sense, but only in a
glider of at least LS-4 performance. I was always bugged by those that said
they would rather buy a used LS-4 rather than a PW since the supply of used
gliders is by definition finite. IMHO, if we want a One Design, let's make
it something like the LS-4 and put enough promotion and infrastructure
behind it to be able to realize some economies of volume. Better yet let's
make it the 20, that way I could keep what I got forever, something I'll
probably do anyway :-).
Hope this story helps someone out there.
Best Regards,
Steve Sovis
ASW-20CL "US"
"Papa3" wrote in message
link.net...
Scott,
One problem with this idea is that the difference in "performance" in
sailing has a different impact than in gliding. I used to race Lightnings
as well as Sunfish. Two very different boats, one MUCH higher
"performance." However, as long as the wind was blowing even a little
bit,
you could have a good, fair race regardless of the craft. So, we were
able
to race almost every time we went to the marina. And, we could even run
the same courses, just a little slower.
Now think about soaring. Especially outside of those few areas that have
ideal conditions most of the time, the difference between 30:1 and a
sharply
descending polar vs. 40:1 and a relatively flat polar is the difference
between going somewhere and flying locally. Already in the US, we've had
a
number of "World Class" competitions in conjunction with the other FAI
classes. Almost without fail, the World Class folks have struggled to get
in a day (even a drastically shortened course) while the FAI guys were off
doing 300K. In some cases, these World Class ships were flown by good
competition pilots.
My conclusion is that performance matters more in soaring than in sailing.
Given that, the next question that pops up is purely one of economics. If
I
can have much better performance for a similar price, making the ship
usable
not only for races but badges and fun flying as well, then . . .
"Scott Correa" wrote in message
...
All a one design class needs to be successful is a sanctioning
body making it THE choice for contests. Look at the olympics.
Solings for gods sake, tornado's and other low performance
boats. Very strict rules on planform and construction. IMHO
there are much better race boats in the world than what theey use.
The key is that they use them, have contests and promote it as a
class boat.
The PW5 only needs for the sanctioning body of soaring to adopt it
and have a world championship at the venue that the other classes
are held. There are people who would fly for a world title in the class
if it was flown and promoted that way.
Scott.
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