Hanging in my hanger at 8NC8, 4 yellowing sheets of paper, NC State
Soaring Records:

1) 4/2/95 15 meter speed triangular course 60.7 mph
2) 4/2/95 open class speed triangular course 60.7 mph
3) 4/2/95 15 meter distance triangular course 188.2 miles
4) 4/2/95 open class distance triangular course 188.2 miles

William P Watson
LS6b
KHNZ KBUY KHRJ

Ray Lovinggood wrote:
Bill Daniels mentioned the cost of failed 300 km flights
due to instrument failure.

Well, I've flown our 'standard' 300 km route about
5 times now and I hope the fifth try 'brings home the
trophy'. But if The Badge Lady isn't satisfied with
my flight log or paperwork or whatever, I'll have a
good incentive to do it again. Each time, I've improved
my speed around the triangular course and each time,
the speed rises to almost respectible levels above
stall speed :-)

So, I don't see missing out on a 300 km flight as a
'failure' but as a chance to continue and improve.

My question to myself: If I am awarded the Diamond
Goal, will I continue to attempt the 300 km flight,
or will the incentive be lost? Will the prospect of
continuing speed improvement win out over doing something
that won't bring another badge?

I don't know. I won't have another chance to attempt
it until next Spring. Our late summer and fall soaring
weather has historically never been good enough to
successfully complete the 300 km flight.

For the record, the flight circumnavigates the Raleigh-Durham
International Airport Class C airspace. Turnpoints
are Harnett County Airport (Located about halfway between
Raleigh and Fayetteville), Ball Airfield (just on the
north side of Louisburg) and Burlington-Alamance County
airport (east of Greensboro).

One challenge: Fly the course in the clockwise direction.
All five of my flights have been counter-clockwise.

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
LS1-d, 'W8'