Badges ? ... We don't need no stinkin' badges

Jancsika wrote:
Eric Greenwell wrote:


Cameras and mechanical barographs are quite suitable for badge
flights. You can buy a usable 35 mm cameras in any thrift store for a
dollar or so, then you just have to find an "old timer" with a
barograph to loan you. You may know a person like that already, and he
might be a good choice for an official observer. Since he owns one, he
probably knows the procedures for badges using cameras and barographs.


Yes, but there is hugh disadvantage. While I just fly over the turnpont
and turn after the beep, the camera user has to fly well over the
turnpont - bank the glider - realize that it was not enough - go a
but further again - bank again - take one or two pictures. It's valid
for all turnpoints including start sector.

I don't think this is a huge disadvantage for a badge flight, where
speed is not the essence of the flight. I used cameras for my badge
flights, and had very little trouble. Easily identifiable turnpoints
should be chosen, and the pilot should practice taking pictures locally
before making the badge flights. With this practice, it takes perhaps a
minute or so longer to do it than with a GPS. That's a maximum of two
minutes extra on an O&R, four minutes extra on a triangle flight. This
is not what will keep a new pilot from success.

If the pilot is navigating with a cheap GPS, it may not even take a
minute extra at the turnpoint, but perhaps 20 seconds, based on my
experience.

For record flights (especially speed), for small clubs where an official
observer may be hard to get just before the flight, and for the
convenience of the OO, a logger is very useful. For free turnpoint
flights and the OLC, of course, it is a requirement.

--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA