On Monday, April 29, 2013 4:02:50 PM UTC-5, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 4/29/2013 12:28 PM, Steve Leonard wrote:

On Monday, April 29, 2013 9:30:09 AM UTC-5, Waveguru wrote:

I would like to see how many points the motorglider guys would end

up scoring if their motor was rendered unavailable after launch.

Blah blah blah. It's definitely not a level playing field. Boggs



You are right, Gary. The playing field isn't level. And my flights

in mid-west thermals can't compete on a level playing field with Ely

thermals, Minden Wave Days, Parowan thermal days, or east coast ridge

days, either



It's true that having an easy retrieve, whether it's by an eager crew

person or a motor, will make a pilot bolder. But the performance of the

glider will also change how you fly. For example, would a pilot's flying

change if he was plucked from a Blanik and dropped into an ASG 29? Or

from Nimbus 4 into a 1-26? Oh, you betcha!



And how about launch methods? Would what the pilot could achieve change

if he had aero-tows available instead of a 1000' car launch? Suppose the

pilot is retired and can fly any day, lives 2 miles from the airport

instead 150 miles, and so on?



Equipment does make a difference, as do life circumstances and location.

Even though it's the OLC is a handicapped contest, there is no way for

the handicap system to provide a level playing field for all variations

in circumstances.



So, for people that think the retrieve problem is holding them back, get

a glider with a motor. No cash? Follow Henry Combs example, and burnish

your personality to a warm glow that convinces people to crew for you

every weekend, week after week, year after year, which is what allowed

Henry to amass 200+ 500K straight out distance flights!



--

Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to

email me)

There's a very lengthy discussion going on the Segelflug.de/forum (in German) regarding the question if motorglider and sustainer pilots should get an automatic handicap and how much of it. Since they have at least a factor of 10 or maybe 20 a multiple of these gliders vs. the US, the discussion is surely justified. They are pointing to the adventurous pilot who motors from the Bavarian flatlands into the Alps above the inversion to get an early start. Any honest motorglider pilot will tell you that they can take more risks in trying that really long task, flying till sunset but with the assurance of the aluminum thermal behind them. Especially in the OLC, there is doubtless a severe bonus for having an engine.
Herb