On 9/11/2013 10:53 AM, Soartech wrote:


Snip... I can't even imagine unfolding a map in the confines of my
sailplane.

Not to be contentious, but why would anyone seriously consider "unfolding a
map" in the confines of a sailplane? I certainly never did. I simply
pre-folded my sectional to place my launch site more or less in the middle of
a flat rectangle of map, folded wisely (as in, if I flew off the pre-selected
area, the next en-route area was no more than a fold away [sometimes two, if I
wished to keep my map rectangle the same size]), and occasionally hauled it
out as necessary (usually to double-check a town or distance). In less
familiar to me areas, I sometimes used my non-stick thumb to keep my place on
the sectional.

It's not as if glider XC speed-made-good is fast enough to warrant constant
refolding. Point being if refolding really is a problem, something needs to be
rethought...

Kinda-sorta related to the original question, try not and overthink XC issues.

Priority One is always to soar - as in, remain aloft. All the other stuff
merely tags along...navigation, can I get "there," O2 altitude (I know, not
generally a concern in FL), communication, speed made good, etc., etc.

Priority Two is to always be prepared (mentally and physically - as in you can
actually GET to your chosen field) to safely land along the way, because if
you fly XC you ARE going to make off-field landings, regardless of ship type.
To think otherwise is to make a serious mental error.

How you accomplish "priorities 3 through infinity" should reflect how you
think and interact with "all your soaring accoutrements." KISS is good, IMHO.

For example, I've never found it difficult/onerous to perform mental glide
calculations while on course. "X miles per thousand feet" and a decent
awareness of where I am (no cheating; you're AT wherever it is you're directly
above, NOT what you can see at some slight angle!) was/is dirt simple for me.
Where I can get from "there" sorts of "glider calculations" aren't
fundamentally different than is estimating where I plan to gas up the vehicle
when driving through western boonies...merely the view is distinctly more
pleasurable!

Bob - simple is good - W.

P.S. It would be fascinating to know the rates of airspace violations by
glider guiders, pre- and post-GPS. Even a cursory reading of contest reports
and scores on the SSA website quickly reveals a continuing litany of "airspace
violation penalties." GPS = "complete navigational precision?" Not!