Lessons from Another Sport about the Elite

snip...
"Frank Whiteley" wrote in message
...

Are there unapproachable elites in soaring? Yeah, some that wannabe, but
not names you'd recognize.

Frank Whiteley

Well, there was this asshole in Boulder who approached my partner and I just
to tell us that there shouldn't be a flag on the tail of our glider unless
we'd flown in the nationals.

The flag was on the LS-6a when we bought it. BTW, it was the one that DJ
flew in Rieti in '85.

Well, there was this asshole in Boulder who approached my partner and I just

to tell us that there shouldn't be a flag on the tail of our glider unless

we'd flown in the nationals.

Dan - I always thought the US flag on the tail was to indicate the pilot or the glider had represented the US internationally (WGC, etc.)???

In rowing, only current or former national team members shoudl row with oars painted with the US "flag" oars.

Tim EY

On Monday, March 18, 2013 4:35:56 PM UTC+1, wrote:


Well, there was this asshole in Boulder who approached my partner and I just



to tell us that there shouldn't be a flag on the tail of our glider unless



we'd flown in the nationals.



Dan - I always thought the US flag on the tail was to indicate the pilot or the glider had represented the US internationally (WGC, etc.)???



In rowing, only current or former national team members shoudl row with oars painted with the US "flag" oars.



Tim EY

I never heard that - and I've been flying with a US flag on my LS6 tail since 9/11. If someone doesn't like it - too effing bad!

Last time I checked, didn't have any oarlocks in my cockpit, either...

Kirk
66

(Who rowed stroke and 7 in wooden 8s, way back in high school, on the Potomac from the Watergate boathouse. Still got a busted oar in my garage...)

On Monday, March 18, 2013 1:23:45 PM UTC-4, kirk.stant wrote:
On Monday, March 18, 2013 4:35:56 PM UTC+1, wrote:





Well, there was this asshole in Boulder who approached my partner and I just to tell us that there shouldn't be a flag on the tail of our glider unless we'd flown in the nationals.


Dan - I always thought the US flag on the tail was to indicate the pilot or the glider had represented the US internationally (WGC, etc.)???

In rowing, only current or former national team members shoudl row with oars painted with the US "flag" oars.

Tim EY

I never heard that - and I've been flying with a US flag on my LS6 tail since 9/11. If someone doesn't like it - too effing bad!

Last time I checked, didn't have any oarlocks in my cockpit, either...

Kirk

66

(Who rowed stroke and 7 in wooden 8s, way back in high school, on the Potomac from the Watergate boathouse. Still got a busted oar in my garage...)

Never heard this one either. Considering that 10's of thousands of aircraft in the US proudly sport the US flag on their tail feathers, I'd just assumed that it carried over to gliders without any extra "baggage". I agree - eff em if they get their knickers in a twist over something like this.

P3

"Papa3" wrote in message
...

(Who rowed stroke and 7 in wooden 8s, way back in high school, on the
Potomac from the Watergate boathouse. Still got a busted oar in my
garage...)

Never heard this one either. Considering that 10's of thousands of
aircraft in the US proudly sport the US flag on their tail feathers, I'd
just assumed that it carried over to gliders without any extra
"baggage". I agree - eff em if they get their knickers in a twist over
something like this.

P3

Flags of all kinds are found on U.S. vehicles. Most are simply a statement
of national pride in either their citizenship or national heritage.

One of the small communities in the mountains north of where I live was
settled by emigrants from Finland in the early 1900s. They still worship in
a small Finnish country church. So I wasn't surprised to see a Finnish flag
appear on the tail of a Duster that was a gift to a descendant of a Finnish
pioneer.

If the flag bothers the "Elite" I'm sure the owner's initials appearing
where the contest should be will add fuel to the fire. (BTW, I once
considered doing a "Blue Angles" paint job on my HP-14 including replicas of
my Gold Wings on each side of the cockpit. I wonder how many complaints that
would have precipitated?)

The Duster was a surprise birthday gift. Here are some pictures from the
party.
http://www.soaridaho.com/Misc/IMG_0688.JPG
http://www.soaridaho.com/Misc/IMG_0690.JPG
http://www.soaridaho.com/Misc/IMG_0698.JPG

Wayne

Yes, that particular glider had won the World Championships in 1985. I was
not the pilot, however, but I didn't see the need to peel off the flag.


wrote in message
...

Well, there was this asshole in Boulder who approached my partner and I
just

to tell us that there shouldn't be a flag on the tail of our glider
unless

we'd flown in the nationals.

Dan - I always thought the US flag on the tail was to indicate the pilot
or the glider had represented the US internationally (WGC, etc.)???

In rowing, only current or former national team members shoudl row with
oars painted with the US "flag" oars.

Tim EY

Same in Australia,
Only gliders which fly World Comps have a Kangaroo on the tail,
I owned one for some years. my new glider has no Roo even though I flew
last 2 WGCs. We leave roos on the tails after the comps, some of the owners

treasure them.
Tom



23:33 18 March 2013, Dan Marotta wrote:
Yes, that particular glider had won the World Championships in 1985. I
was

not the pilot, however, but I didn't see the need to peel off the flag.


wrote in message
...

Well, there was this asshole in Boulder who approached my partner and
I
just

to tell us that there shouldn't be a flag on the tail of our glider
unless

we'd flown in the nationals.

Dan - I always thought the US flag on the tail was to indicate the pilot

or the glider had represented the US internationally (WGC, etc.)???

In rowing, only current or former national team members shoudl row with

oars painted with the US "flag" oars.

Tim EY

Great article. I've been lucky enough to spend just a little time with some really good pilots and have always enjoyed the experience. I attended a week at Uvalde with a friend/student of mine who at that time had just gotten his private-glider cert. We were able to get involved with helping out many of the US Team pilots and they were all really friendly back to us. I don't think they realized how much fun it was for us to help them. To us it woudl be the equivalent of showing up at a NASCAR race and during the driver meet & greet having Jimmie Johnson ask you to be on his pit crew.

On Mar 18, 8:25*am, "Dan Marotta" wrote:

Well, there was this [person] in Boulder who approached my partner
and I just to tell us that there shouldn't be a flag on the tail of our glider
unless we'd flown in the nationals.

When I put a US flag on a glider, it's to show where it was built.