FAI Sailplane Grand Prix USA 2017 - Orlando - March 19-25

Hello,

I am working on the new 2017 FAI SGP USA - Orlando website now. It takes awhile for me to "ramp up" from the blank shell CMS that we get from the FAI organizers.

The URL for the FAI SGP USA 2017 event website is: www.sgp.aero/usa2017.aspx

The content we have added so far is mainly in staging, so there is not much to see at this time.

I do have two important announcements:

1) MOVING EVENT BACK ONE WEEK! The new official dates are March 26-April 1, 2017. Reason, starting the event 2 days after the seniors was simply to ambitious and too tiring on the staff. Also many like to stay and fly OLC after the Seniors and this gives everyone some time to relax.

2) After struggling for several weeks, I have made a decision on what class we will officially compete in... 18 METER CLASS

Thanks to everyone who participated in the SGP USA "15m or 18m" poll and for the numerous phone conversations about this subject. My reasoning (and the reasoning of many others) ended up being that it was "fairest" to all competition pilots to simply alternate annually between 18 and 15. Last year, the event was held in 15 meter. Many 18m only pilots wanted to participate but could not. So this year the 18 meter folks will get their chance. Perhaps 20m would be a good choice at some point in the future. We may invite five 20m gliders for an exhibition event during the main 18m event (starting 15 minutes after the 18). More on this soon. Hopefully some other SSA Grand Prix events are scheduled soon in order to provide more North American sailplane pilots an opportunity to actually experience sailplane racing! It is really, REALLY fun!

That said, 15 meter gliders are VERY welcome to participate in SGP USA 2017.. As we all know, the 1-2% advantage that 18m gliders supposedly "enjoy" is often hard to realize or notice. A 15m sailplane can easily compete and win against 18m ships. Just ask Sarah Arnold, Rick Indrebo or Mark Keene among others. This is especially true at the very low wingloading that we will equalize the field at; around 9lbs/ft or perhaps slightly less. I know that 18m is not an ideal scenario for the 15m "only" folks but please feel welcomed and encouraged to register and compete. If you want to race in SGP USA, you should do it, regardless of 15 or 18 meter, IMHO. Or maybe you can borrow/rent a glider from one of the 18m boys who will be down at the Seniors.

Additional details on FAI SGP USA 2017 registration, fee's, payment deadlines, qualification process (US Ranking), etc., will not be ready until tomorrow. I will make another announcement here once that content is complete and published.

Facebook. Correct, the SGP USA Facebook page has not been updated much since the Ionia, MI event wrapped up this summer. Sorry about that. The good news is that it will be ramping up again in the next day. So will Twitter, YouTube, etc in the coming weeks.

I will NOT be updating RAS regularly. Please do not rely on RAS for updates on FAI SGP USA.

Please check the FAI SGP USA website and especially the FAI SGP USA Facebook page for updates. If you "like" the SGP USA Facebook page (link below), you will receive automatic updates in your Facebook notifications (whenever you log in) when we post news, photo's, video's, announcements, etc. Facebook may be the best way to keep yourself informed.

LINK to FAI SGP USA 2017's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FAISailplaneGrandPrixUSA/

Sincerely,

Sean Fidler
2017 FAI SGP USA Event Manager

FAI SGP USA Orlando REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.

Please read this short note on procedure first: http://www.sgp.aero/usa2017/news_add...tion-open.aspx

When ready to register, this is the official form: http://www.sgp.aero/usa2017/event-in...ontestID=28480

Feel free to contact me with any questions you have.

Thanks and we are looking forward to another great event (even better!).

Sincerely,

Sean
7T
FAI SGP USA Orlando Manager

***SGP USA Orlando Update***

We are up to 10 pilots registered including Jon Gatfield from GBR. Thank you pilots!

We have several other foreign pilots looking to borrow or trade for competitive 18m gliders. Please contact me if you are interested ).

Our current SGP USA 2017 Orlando pilot list can be viewed he http://www..sgp.aero/usa2017.aspx
along with all other information on registration, etc.

I expect 2-3 more bookings before the end of January (currently twisting my Canadian friend's collective arms here in Benalla), and I am hopeful that we will get up to the 15-16 pilot level by the weeks leading up to the event. We are entirely satisfied with 12-13 gliders. 15-16 is great, and any more are a bonus! Our absolute max limit is 20.

Please register as early as possible to help us with planning.

Sincerely,

Sean & Tiffany Fidler
SGP USA Organizer's

Rich Owen
Seminole Lake Gliderport Principle

Up to 11 pilots (20 max)

Our friend Uli Schwenk (Germany, Jaxidia Covers) is in search of an 18m ship to fly in the upcoming SGP Orlando (end of March). I hope that one of the Sr's would be able to leave their glider in Seminole for an extra couple weeks. Logistically this is fairly painless. I can arrange driving the glider home for you for example.

We would really love all to see the USA accommodate more of the foreign pilots trying to find gliders in order compete in the SGP Orlando. So far, this has been a bit of a challenge. We could use up to 4 more ships. So far, we have only been able to accommodate one foreign pilot dispite 3 serious queries :-(.

Please contact me ASAP if you are interested in renting/trading/loaning your ship to Uli. We don't have much time left for our foreign guests to plan and arrange travel, etc. When I hear from you (huge thanks in advance), I'll immediately put you in contact with Uli to discuss details and will (of course) help coordinate any post contest delivery in order to get your glider back home.

Sincerely,

Sean Fidler
smfidler A T gmail dot. c om
7T

From Uli in regards to trade...

"What I could offer to have training / coaching flights together with me in the Eta for the owner or his fellows of a 18 m ship.

We would fly from Münsingen, south of Stuttgart a region, where we could reach the European Alps and our beautiful countryside.

I am happy with all kind of competitive glider in 18 m class."

On Monday, February 6, 2017 at 5:16:00 PM UTC+3, Sean Fidler wrote:
Our friend Uli Schwenk (Germany, Jaxidia Covers) is in search of an 18m ship to fly in the upcoming SGP Orlando (end of March). I hope that one of the Sr's would be able to leave their glider in Seminole for an extra couple weeks. Logistically this is fairly painless. I can arrange driving the glider home for you for example.

We would really love all to see the USA accommodate more of the foreign pilots trying to find gliders in order compete in the SGP Orlando. So far, this has been a bit of a challenge. We could use up to 4 more ships. So far, we have only been able to accommodate one foreign pilot dispite 3 serious queries :-(.

Please contact me ASAP if you are interested in renting/trading/loaning your ship to Uli. We don't have much time left for our foreign guests to plan and arrange travel, etc. When I hear from you (huge thanks in advance), I'll immediately put you in contact with Uli to discuss details and will (of course) help coordinate any post contest delivery in order to get your glider back home.

Sincerely,

Sean Fidler
smfidler A T gmail dot. c om
7T

My photo of Uli in 2006, sharing war stories with Graham Parker after they both had bad days. Uli got stuck on the wrong side of the main divide and landed out (without damage) on a 4ED wheeltrack on the rocky bed of the Landsborough river.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/56/110...ce9a0751_o.jpg

What a great picture!

On Friday, January 20, 2017 at 6:27:16 AM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:
Up to 11 pilots (20 max)

up to 12 pilots (20 max)

Fellow soaring pilots and SGP fans,

Official FAI SGP USA Orlando event gear is now available.

Check it out he https://www.dropbox.com/s/qms9vxbbgq...20USA.pdf?dl=0

SoaringXX (official FAI SGP apparel supplier) has done a great job selecting high quality, attractive apparel and designing the placement of the event logos. As you will see in the PDF above, the choices are excellent and we have a wide range of both men and women specific items to choose from.

So far, the SGP USA Orlando event participants have ordered nearly 50 items! We still have time to add to that order. If you are interested in making a purchase, please hurry. Shipping costs can be held to an absolute minimum if we are able to ship everything in one order/box.

Please contact me at smfidlergmail dot com with questions or to place your order. Pricing, sizing and details are all included in the PDF above. For reference, todays exchange rate on 1 Euro is roughly $1.0536 US Dollars.

Sincerely,

Sean
2017 FAI SGP USA manager