US FAI Sailplane Grand Prix Qualifier for 2016? Venue?

It looks like we have 15-20 great folks sincerely interested in participating in this event. I suspect that more will surface once the organization begins and a real event is scheduled.

I have been talking with Brian Spreckley and Eric Mozer for a couple years about this. Initially it seemed there was not enough interest. I think we have it now.

The second question is the venue. I am more than willing to host this in Ionia, MI. This might be a good place to work the kinks out of the process. FAI requires a fairly high standard of organization, media coverage and access, etc. On the other hand, Ionia might be to mundane to attract certain pilots.

With that I would like to offer the idea to the North American gliding community. The US (could be combined with Canada perhaps) qualifier for a FAI Sailplane Grand Prix (SGP) is an incredibly exciting opportunity. Many established clubs or commercial operations in our continents best flying locations could be interested in taking on an event like this. If you are interested in hosting the first event US SGP Qualifier (same thing as is currently happening with the South African SGP Qualifier) please let me know and I will get you up to speed.

If I get flat interest, it will be Ionia, MI 2016.

Sincerely,

Sean

Sailplane racing fans!

A formal bid for the first ever US Sailplane Grand Prix (SGP) qualifier is being completed (for Ionia, MI summer 2016) this week. We have tremendous international (and domestic) support behind the US joining this highly popular series. Thank you all! This will be an amazing event!

Keep in mind that SGP is limited to a maximum of 20 competitors. We are currently at 12-14 likely pilots. Over the next 6 months, I believe it is likely that we will reach the maximum of 20 gliders.

If you are interested in competing in the first ever "USA SGP Qualifier" please contact me (PM or email) now and communicate your glider configuration (15/18/Standard). I need to choose what class to employ for the event within days. My options are 18m, 15m or 15m standard. A combined 15m flapped/standard class is available if enough standard pilots raise their hand (the combined 15m class would then be wing loading limited to 50kg/m2).

I am leaning "very slightly" towards 15m flapped. The current numbers support 15m flapped roughly 65% to 35%. 18m is also very possible. I have only 3 potential pilots who are limited to standard class. I suspect that more potential standard and 18m competitors are out there. I need to hear from you soon. If you do not speak up now (contact me) I will be making the class decision on less than perfect information.

--- smfidler AAT gmail DOOT com

Thanks much.

Please join the 2016 US Sailplane Grand Prix Qualifier Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/USASailplaneGrandPrix

Thanks!

On Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 2:32:57 PM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:
Sailplane racing fans!

A formal bid for the first ever US Sailplane Grand Prix (SGP) qualifier is being completed (for Ionia, MI summer 2016) this week. We have tremendous international (and domestic) support behind the US joining this highly popular series. Thank you all! This will be an amazing event!

Keep in mind that SGP is limited to a maximum of 20 competitors. We are currently at 12-14 likely pilots. Over the next 6 months, I believe it is likely that we will reach the maximum of 20 gliders.

If you are interested in competing in the first ever "USA SGP Qualifier" please contact me (PM or email) now and communicate your glider configuration (15/18/Standard). I need to choose what class to employ for the event within days. My options are 18m, 15m or 15m standard. A combined 15m flapped/standard class is available if enough standard pilots raise their hand (the combined 15m class would then be wing loading limited to 50kg/m2).

I am leaning "very slightly" towards 15m flapped. The current numbers support 15m flapped roughly 65% to 35%. 18m is also very possible. I have only 3 potential pilots who are limited to standard class. I suspect that more potential standard and 18m competitors are out there. I need to hear from you soon. If you do not speak up now (contact me) I will be making the class decision on less than perfect information.

--- smfidler AAT gmail DOOT com

Thanks much.

Its official! The bid for the first ever US FAI Sailplane Grand Prix Qualifier has been approved by the FAI Board of Directors!

Here is a quick overview on the 2016 US Sailplane Grand Prix Qualifier...

PURPOSE: Besides great fun and pure sailplane racing, to qualify 2 pilots for the 7th FAI Sailplane Grand Prix World Championship
DATES: July 24-31, 2016
VENUE: Ionia, Michigan @ the Ionia County Airport (Y70) - http://www.airnav.com/airport/y70
COMPETITION CLASS: 15 meter
MAX # of COMPETITORS: 20 - 5 spots reserved for foreign pilots
WEBSITE: www.sgp.aero
about: http://www.sgp.aero/about-sgp-racing...contestID=1066
IGC GRAND PRIX RULES: http://www.sgp.aero/about-sgp-racing...contestID=2836
UNOFFICIAL EVENT FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/USASailplaneGrandPrix - This will "phase out" as we get closer to the event
OFFICIAL FAI SGP FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/faisgp - This will "phase in" as we get closer to the event

REGISTRATION: Registration for the first ever US SGP Qualifer will open later this year. I have been receiving a large number of inquiries and hope to have more information shortly. If you are planning on registering for the 2016 US SGP Qualifier, please 1) like the Facebook page, 2) send me a brief email and I will keep you informed. At this point it looks very likely that the event will fill quickly including the 5 reserved foreign pilot slots.

SPONSORS: The budget for this event will be well over $20,000 USD. SGP events are highly catered to local, national and international media. We will be contracting photographers, videographers, etc. Live broadcasts of the flying will be offered with the FAIs new sailplane tracking technology. We are already well into discussions with a number of great sponsors. We plan on making several announcements over the next few weeks and months. If you have any sponsorship idea's are are interested in sponsoring the 2016 US SGP Qualifier event, please let us know.

VOLUNTEERS: As always, we are looking for volunteers, help, support and assistance. Please contact me if you wish to participate in making this event a truly great one!

PRACTICE: We are looking into a weekend this August (2015) to run some practice tasks. We are also going to run a fun Grand Prix next spring to gain further, more official practice. These practice events will be open to all. I will make announcements as the dates are formalized.

Sincerely,

Sean
7T
SMFIDLER AT G MAIL DOT COM

Congratulations, Sean!

I wish you great success.

On 3/5/2015 11:05 AM, Sean Fidler wrote:
Its official! The bid for the first ever US FAI Sailplane Grand Prix Qualifier has been approved by the FAI Board of Directors!

Here is a quick overview on the 2016 US Sailplane Grand Prix Qualifier...

PURPOSE: Besides great fun and pure sailplane racing, to qualify 2 pilots for the 7th FAI Sailplane Grand Prix World Championship
DATES: July 24-31, 2016
VENUE: Ionia, Michigan @ the Ionia County Airport (Y70) - http://www.airnav.com/airport/y70
COMPETITION CLASS: 15 meter
MAX # of COMPETITORS: 20 - 5 spots reserved for foreign pilots
WEBSITE: www.sgp.aero
about: http://www.sgp.aero/about-sgp-racing...contestID=1066
IGC GRAND PRIX RULES: http://www.sgp.aero/about-sgp-racing...contestID=2836
UNOFFICIAL EVENT FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/USASailplaneGrandPrix - This will "phase out" as we get closer to the event
OFFICIAL FAI SGP FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/faisgp - This will "phase in" as we get closer to the event

REGISTRATION: Registration for the first ever US SGP Qualifer will open later this year. I have been receiving a large number of inquiries and hope to have more information shortly. If you are planning on registering for the 2016 US SGP Qualifier, please 1) like the Facebook page, 2) send me a brief email and I will keep you informed. At this point it looks very likely that the event will fill quickly including the 5 reserved foreign pilot slots.

SPONSORS: The budget for this event will be well over $20,000 USD. SGP events are highly catered to local, national and international media. We will be contracting photographers, videographers, etc. Live broadcasts of the flying will be offered with the FAIs new sailplane tracking technology. We are already well into discussions with a number of great sponsors. We plan on making several announcements over the next few weeks and months. If you have any sponsorship idea's are are interested in sponsoring the 2016 US SGP Qualifier event, please let us know.

VOLUNTEERS: As always, we are looking for volunteers, help, support and assistance. Please contact me if you wish to participate in making this event a truly great one!

PRACTICE: We are looking into a weekend this August (2015) to run some practice tasks. We are also going to run a fun Grand Prix next spring to gain further, more official practice. These practice events will be open to all. I will make announcements as the dates are formalized.

Sincerely,

Sean
7T
SMFIDLER AT G MAIL DOT COM



--
Dan Marotta

Its official! The bid for the first ever US FAI Sailplane Grand Prix Qualifier has been approved by the FAI Board of Directors!

Here is a quick overview on the 2016 US Sailplane Grand Prix Qualifier...

PURPOSE: Besides great fun and pure sailplane racing, to qualify 2 pilots for the 7th FAI Sailplane Grand Prix World Championship
DATES: July 24-31, 2016
VENUE: Ionia, Michigan @ the Ionia County Airport (Y70) - http://www.airnav.com/airport/y70
COMPETITION CLASS: 15 meter
MAX # of COMPETITORS: 20 - 5 spots reserved for foreign pilots
WEBSITE: www.sgp.aero
about: http://www.sgp.aero/about-sgp-racing...contestID=1066
IGC GRAND PRIX RULES: http://www.sgp.aero/about-sgp-racing...contestID=2836
UNOFFICIAL EVENT FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/USASailplaneGrandPrix - This will "phase out" as we get closer to the event
OFFICIAL FAI SGP FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/faisgp - This will "phase in" as we get closer to the event

REGISTRATION: Registration for the first ever US SGP Qualifer will open later this year. I have been receiving a large number of inquiries and hope to have more information shortly. If you are planning on registering for the 2016 US SGP Qualifier, please 1) like the Facebook page, 2) send me a brief email and I will keep you informed. At this point it looks very likely that the event will fill quickly including the 5 reserved foreign pilot slots.

SPONSORS: The budget for this event will be well over $20,000 USD. SGP events are highly catered to local, national and international media. We will be contracting photographers, videographers, etc. Live broadcasts of the flying will be offered with the FAIs new sailplane tracking technology. We are already well into discussions with a number of great sponsors. We plan on making several announcements over the next few weeks and months. If you have any sponsorship idea's are are interested in sponsoring the 2016 US SGP Qualifier event, please let us know.

VOLUNTEERS: As always, we are looking for volunteers, help, support and assistance. Please contact me if you wish to participate in making this event a truly great one!

PRACTICE: We are looking into a weekend this August (2015) to run some practice tasks. We are also going to run a fun Grand Prix next spring to gain further official practice. These practice events will be open to all. I will make announcements as these dates are formalized.

Sincerely,

Sean
7T
smfidler_AT_gmail_DOT_com


On Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 8:50:05 PM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:
Please join the 2016 US Sailplane Grand Prix Qualifier Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/USASailplaneGrandPrix

Thanks!

On Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 2:32:57 PM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:
Sailplane racing fans!

A formal bid for the first ever US Sailplane Grand Prix (SGP) qualifier is being completed (for Ionia, MI summer 2016) this week. We have tremendous international (and domestic) support behind the US joining this highly popular series. Thank you all! This will be an amazing event!

Keep in mind that SGP is limited to a maximum of 20 competitors. We are currently at 12-14 likely pilots. Over the next 6 months, I believe it is likely that we will reach the maximum of 20 gliders.

If you are interested in competing in the first ever "USA SGP Qualifier" please contact me (PM or email) now and communicate your glider configuration (15/18/Standard). I need to choose what class to employ for the event within days. My options are 18m, 15m or 15m standard. A combined 15m flapped/standard class is available if enough standard pilots raise their hand (the combined 15m class would then be wing loading limited to 50kg/m2).

I am leaning "very slightly" towards 15m flapped. The current numbers support 15m flapped roughly 65% to 35%. 18m is also very possible. I have only 3 potential pilots who are limited to standard class. I suspect that more potential standard and 18m competitors are out there. I need to hear from you soon. If you do not speak up now (contact me) I will be making the class decision on less than perfect information.

--- smfidler AAT gmail DOOT com

Thanks much.

Congratulations Sean! Put me down as a volunteer.
Don Grillo

Thanks Don & Dan!