On 2014-08-16 22:43:48 +0000, gliderpilotGR said:

My own preference, in the interest of realism and educational value
would be towards setting up simulated fences on the approach and the
far end and scoring for a touchdown in relation to the approach fence.

My club used to do this, usually on the day of the AGM.

A toitoi[1] fence is set up on the threshold, a domestic lawnmower used
to cut a super-short one pass wide stip down the centerline, and the
airsped and altimeter covered.

Contestents are judged by (from what I remember as a contentent, not a judge):

- releasing at a nominated height (1200 ft from memory)
- establishing a trimmed speed
- accuracy of speed control in a figure 8 turn
- starting the circuit at 800 ft
- appropriate crcuit/approach speed
- not hitting the fence
- touching down on and remaining on the center line
- stopping near a mark (no wheel brake).

I was fluky enough to win it a couple of times around the late 80s/early 90s.

Alas, I don't think the contest has been run for some time. I don't
know whether that is because the members who organised it moved out of
the area (fact); participation dropped (fact), possibly due to rising
cost of tows (speculation); the club moved from training in Blaniks to
Grob Twins (and then DG1000) (fact) and someone thought it was too
risky (speculation).

I think it may have been run a few times in the glass ships with
altimeter covered but not the airspeed.

We do still get students who are about to solo to do a flight or two in
the DG1000 with all front seat instruments covered, but without the
"marginal outlanding simulation" pressure. They are always surprised at
how much of non-issue it is.


However, I am concerned that this may lead to dangerously slow / full
brake approaches and heavy landings, either during the event or as bad
habits passed on.

Yellow triangle speed, close to max brakes is what you *should* be
doing. The hilarious (and dangerous) ones are those who do a slow
shallow approach and then try to bunny hop over the fence.


[1] NZ native plant. http://bit.ly/1oT7w8E