Marc Ramsey wrote:
Stewart Kissel wrote:

For a distance task with 3 TP's and no Start Point
or Finish Point declared...does the release from tow
have to be the start or can it be declared post flight?
If so does the 1,000 meter tow penalty still take
effect?

The finish point can be declared afterward? It does
not have to be the landing? And the 1,000 meter difference
between start and finish is calculated from the post-flight
start and finishes?


You can't post-declare start or finish points for a distance task. If
you want a start point other than the point of release, or a finish
point other than the point of landing, you need to declare them before
flight, along with the turnpoints. The 1000 meter allowance is between
the start point altitude and finish point altitude, so if neither start
nor finish is declared, the difference in altitude between the point of
release and the point of landing must be 1000 meters or less to avoid
the penalty.

It's unlikely Stewart was talking about world records, but the Code says

1.4.3 Free distance performances for records only
The WAY POINT(S) of free distance record flight performances may be
declared post-flight.

Since the start and finish are way points, it sounds like they could be
declared post-flight. This would also work for USA State records, which
allow the free distance task.

For badges, it's pretty clear (note the last sentence):

1.4.5.b. DISTANCE USING UP TO THREE TURN POINTS
A flight from a START POINT via up to three TURN POINTS to a FINISH
POINT. If the FINISH POINT is the landing place it need not be declared.
The TURN POINTS must be at least 10 kilometres apart and may be claimed
once, in any sequence, or not at all. This course must be declared.

What I think is a quirk in the rules lets a motorglider pilot
effectively choose the end of the task by starting the motor, but the
unpowered glider pilot must either declare an end point or use the
landing point.
--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA