Is this the future of our sport?

On Monday, November 12, 2012 7:46:26 AM UTC-7, Scott Alexander wrote:
On Nov 12, 2:51*am, gotovkotzepkoi

wrote:

I don't know whether this is the future but something needs to take

place fast that depicts gliding as exiting and cool. Otherwise this

sport is toast in the US. Look at how much publicity the World

Championship in Texas got: just about ZERO.



--

gotovkotzepkoi



Great point. Having live feed cameras, and the ability to watch the

entire race from the ground is a huge advancement in sailplane

racing. I thought that if any country in the world would do this, it

would be the good ole United States of America. Guess I was wrong!!!

Does anyone know if the WGC at Uvalde had at least a DVD made?

AFAIK there may have been a couple of independent video efforts. We'll see.. Live feeds will become increasingly doable and capable. Spot tracking was okay, though some of the competitors had daily 'malfunctions'. It's suggested that Delorme inReach will improve this significantly, but expect both Spot and inReach to be used for some time. Iridium NEXT begins launching in 2015 if it stays on schedule. That could also make live tracking of distance sporting events much more common. Whether it's a paradigm shift isn't clear. Yellowbrick works great for a GP format and inReach may come close at a fraction of the cost may be good for other racing formats also.

Frank Whiteley

On Monday, November 12, 2012 8:36:26 AM UTC-7, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Monday, November 12, 2012 7:46:26 AM UTC-7, Scott Alexander wrote:

On Nov 12, 2:51*am, gotovkotzepkoi



wrote:



I don't know whether this is the future but something needs to take



place fast that depicts gliding as exiting and cool. Otherwise this



sport is toast in the US. Look at how much publicity the World



Championship in Texas got: just about ZERO.







--



gotovkotzepkoi







Great point. Having live feed cameras, and the ability to watch the



entire race from the ground is a huge advancement in sailplane



racing. I thought that if any country in the world would do this, it



would be the good ole United States of America. Guess I was wrong!!!



Does anyone know if the WGC at Uvalde had at least a DVD made?



AFAIK there may have been a couple of independent video efforts. We'll see. Live feeds will become increasingly doable and capable. Spot tracking was okay, though some of the competitors had daily 'malfunctions'. It's suggested that Delorme inReach will improve this significantly, but expect both Spot and inReach to be used for some time. Iridium NEXT begins launching in 2015 if it stays on schedule. That could also make live tracking of distance sporting events much more common. Whether it's a paradigm shift isn't clear. Yellowbrick works great for a GP format and inReach may come close at a fraction of the cost may be good for other racing formats also.



Frank Whiteley

Frank, satellite tracking is not the only or even the best way to go. We currently have a FREE terrestrial system called APRS managed by the ARRL. For a Grand Prix race, we'd only need a "Ham" to supervise the in-glider units. They can provide real-time fixes every second or so with altitude, airspeed, rate of climb or whatever else you want. Virtually the entire US has coverage and special temporary ground station repeaters could be set up for the contest area if there are gaps in coverage. We should be doing this at every contest.

On Monday, November 12, 2012 11:15:36 AM UTC-7, Bill D wrote:
On Monday, November 12, 2012 8:36:26 AM UTC-7, Frank Whiteley wrote:

On Monday, November 12, 2012 7:46:26 AM UTC-7, Scott Alexander wrote:



On Nov 12, 2:51*am, gotovkotzepkoi







wrote:







I don't know whether this is the future but something needs to take







place fast that depicts gliding as exiting and cool. Otherwise this







sport is toast in the US. Look at how much publicity the World







Championship in Texas got: just about ZERO.















--







gotovkotzepkoi















Great point. Having live feed cameras, and the ability to watch the







entire race from the ground is a huge advancement in sailplane







racing. I thought that if any country in the world would do this, it







would be the good ole United States of America. Guess I was wrong!!!







Does anyone know if the WGC at Uvalde had at least a DVD made?







AFAIK there may have been a couple of independent video efforts. We'll see. Live feeds will become increasingly doable and capable. Spot tracking was okay, though some of the competitors had daily 'malfunctions'. It's suggested that Delorme inReach will improve this significantly, but expect both Spot and inReach to be used for some time. Iridium NEXT begins launching in 2015 if it stays on schedule. That could also make live tracking of distance sporting events much more common. Whether it's a paradigm shift isn't clear. Yellowbrick works great for a GP format and inReach may come close at a fraction of the cost may be good for other racing formats also.







Frank Whiteley



Frank, satellite tracking is not the only or even the best way to go. We currently have a FREE terrestrial system called APRS managed by the ARRL. For a Grand Prix race, we'd only need a "Ham" to supervise the in-glider units. They can provide real-time fixes every second or so with altitude, airspeed, rate of climb or whatever else you want. Virtually the entire US has coverage and special temporary ground station repeaters could be set up for the contest area if there are gaps in coverage. We should be doing this at every contest.

Actually, better systems may be on the horizon. Wireless mesh certainly has possibilities and is in current use by military and mining. I've watched APRS tracking. Doable.

Frank

Agreed Bill. We need better coverage although it is a big technical challenge and will take dedicated resources at a contest to manage (plus hardware and data costs, effort, etc).

Happy to help promote this technology.

Email smfidlerATgmailDOTcom.

On Thursday, November 15, 2012 2:59:51 PM UTC-7, Sean F (F2) wrote:
Agreed Bill. We need better coverage although it is a big technical challenge and will take dedicated resources at a contest to manage (plus hardware and data costs, effort, etc).



Happy to help promote this technology.



Email smfidlerATgmailDOTcom.

Solitaire has the technology and knowhow so that's no issue. What they're doing right now is lining up sponsors - something they've done many times in motor racing. However, if someone knows a contact in a company with "green" credentials who might be interested, let me know and I'll forward it to them.

Venue TBD but it has to be telegenic.

On Thursday, November 15, 2012 4:05:24 PM UTC-7, Bill D wrote:
On Thursday, November 15, 2012 2:59:51 PM UTC-7, Sean F (F2) wrote:

Agreed Bill. We need better coverage although it is a big technical challenge and will take dedicated resources at a contest to manage (plus hardware and data costs, effort, etc).







Happy to help promote this technology.







Email smfidlerATgmailDOTcom.



Solitaire has the technology and knowhow so that's no issue. What they're doing right now is lining up sponsors - something they've done many times in motor racing. However, if someone knows a contact in a company with "green" credentials who might be interested, let me know and I'll forward it to them.



Venue TBD but it has to be telegenic.

Correction: That should be Planetaire AB, not Solitaire

Sean,

If you want to take on the marketing manager/organizer role we can provide the site and contest organization (CD, tow pilots, etc) to support it. Just need someone willing to chase the contacts, sponsors and funds needed to do it right.

Late July to early August gives fantastic weather and the scenery doesn't get much better than Utah and Wyoming. As I said we can put a turn-point practically on top of the state Capitol. Watch a few of Bruno's videos. Scenery doesn't get much better than that. I think we can get a full field of 15m gliders. I have three ready to sign up already.

Tim (TT)

Tim, send me an email so I can call you on this!

On Friday, November 16, 2012 1:45:32 AM UTC-5, Tim Taylor wrote:
Sean,



If you want to take on the marketing manager/organizer role we can provide the site and contest organization (CD, tow pilots, etc) to support it. Just need someone willing to chase the contacts, sponsors and funds needed to do it right.



Late July to early August gives fantastic weather and the scenery doesn't get much better than Utah and Wyoming. As I said we can put a turn-point practically on top of the state Capitol. Watch a few of Bruno's videos. Scenery doesn't get much better than that. I think we can get a full field of 15m gliders. I have three ready to sign up already.



Tim (TT)

Tim,

Don't forget to make advance arrangements to publicize the funeral(s). Good coverage should really go a long ways toward promoting our sport as a highly exciting and dangerous activity.

TA