Ultimate soaring challenges or adventures

I had a goal of winning the Hilton Cup in my Woodstock. I was
encouraged to try by 2 previous winners in my region (one who has
sadly passed away, RIP John McGregor). I thought they were crazy but
I attempted the 400K triangle in amazing weather and made it around.
Lost by a few points to some glass on the ridges out east but it was a
flight of a lifetime for me. I'd still be trying for the Hilton Cup
if it was still happening.

Other challenges? Breaking flight level 400 in wave. Actually, the
world altitude record could be taken by someone without millions to
spare if they utilized a surplus pressure suit and got very very
lucky. It would be quite risky.

IMC soaring from towering cumulus to towering cumulus around huge
tasks.

And, that Morning Glory looks really cool. We occasionally have
undular bore waves like that cross the midwest and one of these days
I'm gonna snag one.

As seen in the film "Sun Ship Game", duplicate the final task (Marfa-
McCamey-Van Horn-Marfa) of 345 miles during the 1969 US Nationals,
where George Moffat and Wally Scott race through the big west Texas
sky past the scenic Davis Mountains for the US Championship in the
Open Cirrus B and ASW-12, respectively.

Or a bungee launch in an SG-38 primary glider at the Wasserkuppe.

Or both.

Burt
Marfa, Texas USA
www.flygliders.com

On Nov 10, 8:33*pm, Burt Compton - Marfa wrote:
As seen in the film "Sun Ship Game", duplicate the final task (Marfa-
McCamey-Van Horn-Marfa) of 345 miles during the 1969 US Nationals,
where George Moffat and Wally Scott race through the big west Texas
sky past the scenic Davis Mountains for the US Championship in the
Open Cirrus B and ASW-12, respectively.

Or a bungee launch in an SG-38 primary glider at the Wasserkuppe.

Or both.

Burt
Marfa, Texas *USAwww.flygliders.com

Bungee launch of an SG-38 in which you then fly the 345 mile McCamey
Van Horn Marfa task. With those killer west Texas thermals it would
be easy on the right day.

On Nov 11, 4:24*am, wrote:
On Nov 10, 8:33*pm, Burt Compton - Marfa wrote:

As seen in the film "Sun Ship Game", duplicate the final task (Marfa-
McCamey-Van Horn-Marfa) of 345 miles during the 1969 US Nationals,
where George Moffat and Wally Scott race through the big west Texas
sky past the scenic Davis Mountains for the US Championship in the
Open Cirrus B and ASW-12, respectively.

Or a bungee launch in an SG-38 primary glider at the Wasserkuppe.

Or both.

Burt
Marfa, Texas *USAwww.flygliders.com

Bungee launch of an SG-38 in which you then fly the 345 mile McCamey
Van Horn Marfa task. *With those killer west Texas thermals it would
be easy on the right day.

I'll list the initial ones I have so far this evening ( wrong PC here
at the moment ). Morning Glory and Barron Hilton right up there
already.

looking for more still

Ian

"Burt Compton - Marfa" wrote in message
...

As seen in the film "Sun Ship Game", duplicate the final task (Marfa-
McCamey-Van Horn-Marfa) of 345 miles during the 1969 US Nationals,
where George Moffat and Wally Scott race through the big west Texas
sky past the scenic Davis Mountains for the US Championship in the
Open Cirrus B and ASW-12, respectively.

We did duplicate that task at the 1991 USA Open Nats, but in the opposite
direction (Marfa-Van Horn-McCamey-Marfa). Competitors included George
Moffat, Dick Johnson, Ray Gimmey, John Byrd, and reigning 15m World Champion
Bruno Gantenbrink. I won the day in my Ventus, aided by the SSA's 3-year
experiment with handicapping the Open Class, and was intensely aware that I
was "living the dream".

In the "Sun Ship Game", the camera is pointing at the pilots in the morning
meeting as that task is announced, and shock or disbelief is evident on many
faces, including George's. In 1969, it was by far the longest assigned speed
task ever called in America (and probably the world). In 1991, it was just
an average task for the predicted good soaring weather, and we took it in
stride. That is quite a testament to the huge improvement in sailplane
performance during the intervening 22 years.

Gary Ittner P7
"Have glider, will race"

In the "Sun Ship Game", the camera is pointing at the pilots in the morning
meeting as that task is announced, and shock or disbelief is evident on many
faces, including George's. In 1969, it was by far the longest assigned speed
task ever called in America (and probably the world). In 1991, it was just
an average task for the predicted good soaring weather, and we took it in
stride. That is quite a testament to the huge improvement in sailplane
performance during the intervening 22 years.


Still one of my favorite parts of the movie is the guy getting in his
glider and crying out for help.

"I dont want to go..."

50K in a primary would be fun...