"Kilo Charlie" wrote...
The problem is that you may do your "non-adrenaline junky easy pullup" but
most of the pilots that fly contests will NOT be doing that either at one
mile, two miles or fifty miles. So the scenario that you described of
having someone come under you and pull up has exactly equal potential in
your cylinder finish. In fact I would go further and argue that it has MORE
potential since some pilots may continue to push fast toward home (you know
we dangerous, arrogant, hedonistic types) inside the cylinder then pull with
you now wafting around in your extended approach. The rules say nothing
about how you are to enter the pattern or when to pull up. But then silly
me.....I'm sure that's going to be on the table soon too!

We had a problem with this at the Tonopah regionals in 2001. The center of the
1 mile cylinder was at the exact center of the airport, which placed the edge of
the cylinder within the airport boundaries. Also many people (myself include)
did not trust their computers, or weren't clear on the fact that the finish
occurred at the edge of the cylinder, so they wouldn't pull up until they
reached the airport center.

By the 2002 regionals up here, everyone had pretty much figured how the finish
cylinders worked, the CDs were using 2 mile cylinders when appropriate, and the
pilots were all pulling up at the edge of the cylinder. Works a lot better.
Maybe you guys are just slow learners down there.

This also gets back to the crowd pleasing end as well. Frankly it would
suck to sit out in the heat all day only to have your pilot finish by
entering the pattern. Might as well go down to the local community airport
and watch the Pipers land.

I don't have a crew very often, but when I do, my wife and daughter are happy to
see me safely on the ground. They could care less about worm burning
finishes...

Marc