FLARM in Stealth Mode at US 15M/Standard Nationals - Loved It!

Hmmm, personally, I never saw much of Jerzy at the PAGC. He usually (wisely) started behind, etc. I am shocked to hear that "FLARM marking" Jerzy was the U.S. team strategy. It certainly wasn't mine.. I (and my team-mate) must have missed that memo. Again, the capability of FLARM "leeching" is being greatly overrated here. It's not a major factor, it just isn't. I wish to debate this as needed.

I strongly suggest that people considering the opinions here replay the flight traces from (for example) the PAGC event for themselves and pay particular attention to the behavior of certain pilots with reference to certain other pilots. The conditions at the PAGC were quite weak (unfortunately) and little tactical flexibility was available to rapidly modify tactics based on a FLARM hit. It was my experience that you had to fly your own air as much as possible and survive as long as you could. If you were with a gaggle it was not because you used FLARM to catch it.

And, FWIW, good luck to anybody who wants to try and stay with Jerzy (or DJ, KM, P7 etc) simply by watching your FLARM screen. It's not going to happen. You may benefit slightly once in awhile but your not going to beat these pilots simply by following them via FLARM data. They will leave you behind in a big hurry.

Ban FLARM or go to Stealth mode, etc. IMO it's not going to make a big (or small) difference. So little that it's irrelevant. I feel the issue is being overblown here.

I thought the 15m class on day 3 at PAGC was a little bit over the top when it came to using FLARM. By that I mean it brought several guys together pre-start and kept them together for very similar flights and scores. Check it out.

I enjoyed the contest very much. The team flying thing was fun but probably would be an entry barrier to new guys if it were the norm for our regionals and nationals.

XC

When first using FLARM about 10 years ago, I don't remember anybody whinging about being unable to use FLARM for tactical advantage in contests. Those contests were FLARM mandatory.
Not competing, but worked at two 60-glider contests around then. The only complaints were due to people running an old software version, ie 2.x instead of 3.x. This was easily fixed.

Somehow I don't see that mandating FLARM and in stealth mode at contests is a barrier to contest entry. Rentals are inexpensive! From williamssoaring.com:

PowerFLARM Rental Units Now Available in the USA $50 per Contest ($100 if you have previously participated in the rental program)
Glider and tow-plane pilots can rent a PowerFLARM unit for $50 per contest or similar event. The $50 includes postage and return postage.

By not using "the dark side" of the instrument, there is nothing for a first-time renter to learn about tactical use, so the pilot is not at a tactical disadvantage or heads down trying to figure it out.
Jim