IDAHO FATALITY

On Aug 22, 5:18*pm, BobW wrote:

I've shared my (stupid, unjustifiable, indefensible) zoomie rationale. What
others might my fellow glider pilots have used or continue to use?

You might ask yourself the same question about contest flying in
general, cross-country soaring in general or soaring in general. They
answer in every case is "because of the enjoyment". Winning a contest
day is the ultimate "hey look at me", moment.

In every phase of soaring we need to look at the risk/reward -
remembering that each is, after all, in the name of a prima facie
frivolous activity.

On 9/1/2011 12:25 AM, Andy wrote:
On Aug 22, 5:18 pm, wrote:

I've shared my (stupid, unjustifiable, indefensible) zoomie rationale. What
others might my fellow glider pilots have used or continue to use?

You might ask yourself the same question about contest flying in
general, cross-country soaring in general or soaring in general.

Agreed. And I have/do.

They
answer in every case is "because of the enjoyment".

And maybe that's entirely sufficient. However...

Winning a contest
day is the ultimate "hey look at me", moment.

No argument - or philosophic problem - on this point, either.


....however - and perhaps the intended nuance which follows will not convey
very well - I think a good argument can be made that contest flying vs. a
'look at me' zoomie at the home field is somewhat similar to (say) driving
your (gotta abide by the organizers' rules/guidelines) car in an
autocross/gymkhana/'semi-sanctioned/organized' event vs. peeling out or
otherwise drawing (often, juvenile) attention to oneself and vehicle on the
street. There are probably a fair proportion of Dads who wish their teenage
sons nearing driving age had never been exposed to the latter, while sighing
and using such exposure as teachable moments.


In every phase of soaring we need to look at the risk/reward -
remembering that each is, after all, in the name of a prima facie
frivolous activity.


Yup and yup. Indeed risk vs. reward needs to be intelligently considered
beforehand...

Regards,
Bob W.