FES in Contests

On Sat, 15 Feb 2014 10:20:07 -0700, Dan Marotta wrote:

Personally, I don't like the regimentation that goes along with contest
flying so I choose not to fly in contests. I flew in three contests in
the past 25+ years, had a great time, placed all over the score sheet,
and decided it's not for me. I like to just go somewhere and have a
good time doing it. So, if you decide to fly in a contest at Moriarty,
I'll tow you or fly the sniffer and mark the first thermal, but then
I'll head off in a direction different than the task area.

I may have missed mention of this. but in the US or A for you allow 'hors
du concours' flying?

This is quite popular in the UK and is generally allowed at Regionals and
Inter-club League events. Translation follows in case you don't use that
term. It means that additional non-competing gliders can be added to the
rear of the grid and are launched after the competing pilots. Hors du
concours pilots will have attended the briefing and will fly the day's
task but are not scored and, IIRC do not affect the time when the gate
opens.

I think its a good thing for a qualified XC pilot to do, especially if
they are thinking about trying competition flying, because it lets them
get a feel for competing without committing to fly an entire competition
or feeling pressured into taking a launch on a poor day.

If you do this on your side of the pond it might be something that
son_of_flubber would like to try.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

I haven't heard of what you describe, Martin, but on this side of the pond,
non-contestants are allowed to takeoff before or after the grid. They're to
fly wherever they want. What you suggest sounds like a great idea for a
budding contest pilot to get his feet wet.


"Martin Gregorie" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 15 Feb 2014 10:20:07 -0700, Dan Marotta wrote:

Personally, I don't like the regimentation that goes along with contest
flying so I choose not to fly in contests. I flew in three contests in
the past 25+ years, had a great time, placed all over the score sheet,
and decided it's not for me. I like to just go somewhere and have a
good time doing it. So, if you decide to fly in a contest at Moriarty,
I'll tow you or fly the sniffer and mark the first thermal, but then
I'll head off in a direction different than the task area.

I may have missed mention of this. but in the US or A for you allow 'hors
du concours' flying?

This is quite popular in the UK and is generally allowed at Regionals and
Inter-club League events. Translation follows in case you don't use that
term. It means that additional non-competing gliders can be added to the
rear of the grid and are launched after the competing pilots. Hors du
concours pilots will have attended the briefing and will fly the day's
task but are not scored and, IIRC do not affect the time when the gate
opens.

I think its a good thing for a qualified XC pilot to do, especially if
they are thinking about trying competition flying, because it lets them
get a feel for competing without committing to fly an entire competition
or feeling pressured into taking a launch on a poor day.

If you do this on your side of the pond it might be something that
son_of_flubber would like to try.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |