Andy,
I just flew a 7+ hour flight and missed diamond
distance by about 0.3 km or 11 ft height penalty.
My own stupid fault, I don't consider it an 'unreasonable
penalty'.

Agree with the rest of your comments.

But what about motorgliders with lights and big
batteries ? Are they allowed to have longer days than
the rest of us ?

Ian






At 13:54 08 September 2006, Andy wrote:
It is an unreasonable penalty to completely eliminate
a 10 hour flight
that landed 1 minute after sunset. To avoid this penalty
a pilot may
have to give up soaring an hour early to be sure of
getting home in
time, or should he landout a minute from home to save
the points.

As has been pointed out landing shortly before sunset
on a westerly
runway can be hazardous.

May I suggest that the end of soaring flight be determined
by landing,
engine start, airspace violation, or sunset time.
Points earned before
end of soaring flight should be scored as usual.

Perhaps the same scrutiny should be applied to sunrise.
I hear some
ridge flights start quite early.


Andy