Seniors Contest

Another thought on this subject from a non-completing
pilots perspective is the additional complication brought
on by the fact that other recreational pilots (some
without radios) may also be in landing patterns. If
there were a way to run contests to eliminate this
possibility then it’s only an issue for the competing
pilots. Other wise it’s an issue for everyone using
the airport.



At 05:30 10 March 2005, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Kilo Charlie wrote:
I've been flying for 34 years Eric and racing for
12. I see that you are
ranked 232 and I am 121....does that make me better
able to judge racing
rules?! Let's talk about the facts and not get into
a ****ing match about
experience.

My experience was not mentioned in the post - I was
wondering about
yours. I still make no claim about my experience. I
was responding to
your comment:

I am unaware of there ever being a mishap with the
gate finish Marc.

I first assumed you had been racing for a while, but
it then seemed
unlikely, since you weren't aware of finish gate problems.
I'm surprised
you've raced for 12 years without witnessing or at
least hearing about
accidents and close calls.

I'd appreciate the details of any and all mishaps
that you or others know
about that you feel are a result of finish gates.

I've seen several gear up landings, at least once with
pilots going
head-on at each other because one finished backwards,
some slow speed
pullups leading to a scary low turn to final a whisker
away from
cartwheeling, a pilot landing short in a rock-filled
field because the
'rolling finish' didn't make it to the pavement. There's
more that will
come to me after a bit, but those are some that I've
witnessed.
Thankfully, no bad injuries or fatalities.

I'm with Marc - I think I'm safer with the new high
finish cylinders
than the traditional ground-based gate. It was a thrill
bombing through
it at 50 feet off the ground, but I'm over that now.

--
Change 'netto' to 'net' to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA