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Old February 12th 18, 06:28 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)
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Default RIP Matt Wright (Balleka on YouTube)

I, s well, didn't know the main person in this thread.
Yes, I like the potential gains to the sport of Soaring that others may have seen.

Going to a post I made in another thread here, planning every landing at the home field as an off field landing (pick where you want to be, then do it!) is paramount.
As mentioned in the other thread, look to the rules for the Elmira/HHSC Snowbird contest. The main goal is "energy management", both in time as well as where to land at what speed.

It can be eye opening to peeps that, "land wherever, they will get me, or, I can roll to wherever.....".
This is NOT off field landing practice. Plan on where you want to touch down, then do it.
Yes, it's nice to rollout out of the way, maybe close to a tie down or a hanger.
Yes, when I was sharp and doing rides, the ground crew knew to just stand there with their left hand out facing the incoming glider. Our (commercial ride pilots) knew to land, shed speed, S-turn to the side, drop the left wingtip into the hand of the ground crew, mentioning to the ride that this is what we were going to do.

Yes, I have seen "contest pilots" land on a contest field and even with great brakes manage to over run the pavement and coast down a hill (visiting pilot at HHSC) or "taxi to tiedown" and hit both a towplane and tied up glider!

Sheesh.

None of us know what Matt was thinking that day, I am only trying to point out some of the mindset you SHOULD be doing every landing.

Train as you do, do as you train.