Silver Distance is the most difficult leg to achieve regardless of
what is being flown. The actual flying is relatively simple. The real
achievement is making the commitment to leave the comfort of the home
field and start off into the unknown. A no wind 50k in a Discus is a
one thermal and one long glide flight but the pilot still has to
believe it will work. There are plenty of pilots who have high
performance gliders and never venture out more then 5 miles from home
and admit they don't have the confidence to fly x/c. As cross country
pilots, think about what you take for granted now that seemed like
complete magic when you began flying sailplanes. This list is what the
pre-silver distance pilot is concerned about and then some. Any pilot
who achieves silver distance deserves great praise and should not
considered a cheater because they used a Nimbus 4 and not a primary.
Style should be last on the list and carry no weight when evaluating
this achievment. Berating a pilot who flies a high performance ship to
make this flight is doing nothing but supporting the idea that glider
pilots are snobs and this attitude only hurts our sport which is
trying to grow. Kevin