On Dec 14, 4:03*pm, John Cochrane
wrote:
On Dec 14, 3:25*pm, Sean Fidler wrote:









There is clearly a wide range of opinion on this subject. *I would like to get as wide a range of opinion as possible. *Please take a moment to respond.

I have heard all the arguments now:
AGAINST WATER BALLAST
1) Its unsafe. *Tow emergency's are greatly more dangerous with water..
- Counter: *Yet almost all European pilots & contest allow and use water regularly. *Where has the last accident occurred that was caused due to the glider being ballasted?
2) Its PITA (pain in the ass).
- Counter: *Yet with a little practice it takes 15 minutes to fully fill an 15/18 meter glider. *Those who dont want water are lazy.
3) Tow planes cant handle it and the tow pilots are inexperienced
- Counter: *Yet the same pilots and tow planes tow 1400 lbs Grob 103's regularly at most clubs (A fully ballasted ASG29 is 1300 lbs and a Lak17a is 1103 lbs).

NEUTRAL
Performance in a racing class with and without water is relative
- water adds no value to the competition and outcomes will be the same, if marginally slower.

FOR WATER BALLAST
1) The gliders do not handle well dry
- Counter: *Those against water say this is hogwash.
2) The gliders are designed to fly with water.
- Counter: *Those against water say this is hogwash.
3) The gliders actually fly better with water.
- Those against water say this is hogwash.
4) The gliders are more enjoyable to fly with water.
- Those against water say this is hogwash.
5) Tasks are shorter
6) I want to practice for Worlds and Nationals (which fly with water).

These are some of the arguments that I am hearing from either side. *Many are passionate about it.

It does seem as if the US SSA Regional contests are mainly dry while almost all European contests are without question with water. *What are your opinions and experiences?

1) Does a dry contest make you more interested in attending a contest or less?

2) Do you think flying with water is safe or dangerous? *Why?

3) How many times per year do you fly your glider with water?

4) How many times in the past 10 years have you flown your glider with water?

3) What US regional contests (other than Perry) allow water?

Thanks!

Sean (F2, Ionia, MI)

I like water, and a contest that allows it is more likely to attract
me to come. Think of it this way. An ASW27 with water easily outflles
an empty ASG29. So there's $80,000 worth of performance there, and all
you have to do is put some water in the wings!
Yes, we could all compete dry and the relative scores would be the
same. We could all compete in PW5s and the relative scores would be
the same. Why don't we? Because performance is fun! We're here more
than everything else to have fun, to see what our machines can do, to
fly as far and fast as we can.
That said, I tend to fly a lot lighter than most -- water really does
not help at 3 knots or less -- and I support no-water days when it's
perfectly obvious it isn't helping.
John Cochrane

I discovered the benefits of flying with water in South Africa several
decades ago. If I'm flying anywhere with turbulent conditions (ridge
or strong thermals), I hit my head on the canopy less often and not as
hard! Really nice in Arizona's strong turbulent thermals!

Mike