BobWa43 wrote on 4/11/2021 5:19 AM:
On Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 12:10:18 AM UTC-4, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Eric Greenwell wrote on 4/10/2021 8:32 PM:
I guess being in the Kuiper belt is not that bad. I guess us purist have a distinct habit of
staying away from home. I guess next year we will name or gathering the Kuiper Safari.

Don't read too much into the Pluto part: I just wanted some alliteration - Pluto/Purist,
Mars/Motorglider. :^)
I suggest "Kuiper Kamp" to keep the alliteration going.
--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1
Do I think that having or not having an engine is a predictor of piloting skills or testosterone levels? No, absolutely not. Do I think that having an engine provides a significant advantage in scoring OLC points? Absolutely, Yes. I have nothing against motor gliders, particularly the self launching variety,(I would like to own one except for the expense) but you have to admit that the sustainers have only one purpose and that is to save a flight that would otherwise end in landing out. How can anyone deny that this is a huge psychological advantage on the average OLC flight where there is nothing at stake but bragging rights. Bottom line, motor gliders should compete against motor gliders on OLC.

I had flown 2000 hours in unpowered sailplanes when I switched to a motorglider, and I did not
feel I had a huge psychological advantage. And when I fly at the Parowan motorglider event each
year, somehow my "huge psychological advantage" isn't enough to keep pilots like Rami Yanetz
and Thorsten Streple from clobbering me on the OLC! There is some advantage, but it's not huge,
or even big.

So, of all the factors that go into an OLC score, why do you focus only on the motor? The place
has a much larger effect, I think. Who has the greater advantage: the sustainer pilot launching
from Seminole lake, or the pilot launching from Ridge Soaring on a good ridge day? Or a pilot
in South Africa?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1