What are your thoughts about the Parallel Glider Race

Pretty women are always nice to have at sporting events and always seem to find their way on camera ;-). I'm sure this event will not be different!

My whole point on this thread has been that this is "just" about the low pass and the zoom. That is simply a nice by product of a true (absolute terms, maximum energy management) glider "race" finish. Of course, this event seems to be primarily focused on simulating a short, final glide only, RACE!

It features:

1) a parallel race course on either side of a runway and in full view of the crowd
2) a regatta start - count down to the start line opening
3) a hard charging final glide "race" around several turn markers (2-3 minutes?) and, finally
4) a real finish line, directly in front of the crowd, where the sailplanes finish low and then zoom up and land.

This sounds pretty cool to me actually.

The first competitor across the line (right in front of the crowd) wins (imagine that!). They really have not much on the website to define the rules or structure so we are really making guesses.

Above is my guess and I think it will be fun and interesting to the crowd if they can keep the heats moving and have each race start within minutes of the finish.

Maybe I'll run one of these in Ionia next year too ;-)!

Sincerely,

Sean

How many tow planes will be needed? Two (maybe three) for each "lane"
so that the next heat will be climbing behind the scenes as the current
heat is running? Six competitors, twelve (eighteen) tow planes!
Logistics, people, logistics... How about a six drum winch launching
all competitors simultaneously? Now I'd pay money for that! Surviving
glider wins!

On 10/2/2015 7:51 AM, Sean Fidler wrote:
Pretty women are always nice to have at sporting events and always seem to find their way on camera ;-). I'm sure this event will not be different!

My whole point on this thread has been that this is "just" about the low pass and the zoom. That is simply a nice by product of a true (absolute terms, maximum energy management) glider "race" finish. Of course, this event seems to be primarily focused on simulating a short, final glide only, RACE!

It features:

1) a parallel race course on either side of a runway and in full view of the crowd
2) a regatta start - count down to the start line opening
3) a hard charging final glide "race" around several turn markers (2-3 minutes?) and, finally
4) a real finish line, directly in front of the crowd, where the sailplanes finish low and then zoom up and land.

This sounds pretty cool to me actually.

The first competitor across the line (right in front of the crowd) wins (imagine that!). They really have not much on the website to define the rules or structure so we are really making guesses.

Above is my guess and I think it will be fun and interesting to the crowd if they can keep the heats moving and have each race start within minutes of the finish.

Maybe I'll run one of these in Ionia next year too ;-)!

Sincerely,

Sean

--
Dan, 5J

Maybe we can just shove the gliders off the side of mountains like these knuckleheads at the "Wingsuit Racing League!"

https://www.facebook.com/WorldWingsuitLeague

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...ie0nUOxX1yHPeK

It'll be about as exciting as a yacht race with no wind. Just imagine a bunch of Americas Cup boats being given a shove to see which goes furthest!

Mike

If they can make the race short it will draw well. Perhaps have them release at 1,500 feet over the runway, race out and make one lap in like 3-5 minutes with a low pass dropping ballast on the spectators, the Saudi's are going to go nuts for that. I would too. Of course, we may see flutter and some wings getting ripped off, but following NASCAR's lead, that's what the people want anyway.
I see this working, most of the public thinks we just glide down from release anyway, no need to confuse them with the concept of soaring...

Rules just published he https://t.co/ftsqzaruG2

Sean
7T

On Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 4:19:24 PM UTC-8, Sean Fidler wrote:
Rules just published he https://t.co/ftsqzaruG2

Sean
7T

Sort of like Olympic Lawn Darts.

Richard

On Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 6:19:24 PM UTC-6, Sean Fidler wrote:
Rules just published he https://t.co/ftsqzaruG2

Sean
7T

Well, OK, it's a glider race the same way the Red Bull airplane races are races, I guess.

Seems a shame to limit the finish to no lower than 30 meters AGL. What's the fun in that? Now if they made that the MAX altitude from the last turn to the finish, that would make it interesting!

May the best pitot-static system win!

Kirk
66

Le vendredi 6 novembre 2015 01:19:24 UTC+1, Sean Fidler a écrit*:
Rules just published he https://t.co/ftsqzaruG2

Sean
7T
Per the rules:

"6.2 Start
Both gliders shall cross the start line in the same right hand and left hand positions in which they released. Since they had the same energy after the release, there will be no start altitude limit and the start speed shall only be limited to the Vne (see para 6.5) After crossing the start line both gliders shall fly directly towards the first turn-point of the task.
6.3 Turn-points
Both gliders shall turn the same turn-points but at each turn-point glider WHISKY shall turn to the west and glider ECHO shall turn to the east. Non-compliance shall be penalized (disqualification for the race). Missing a turn-point shall also be penalized (disqualification for the race)."

If I understand the rules correctly, the gliders are not required to remain on their respective sides of the center line after the start. This means that rounding the turn points in opposite directions, as per the rules, could very well result in head-on collisions...

On Friday, October 2, 2015 at 9:51:13 AM UTC-4, Sean Fidler wrote:
Pretty women are always nice to have at sporting events and always seem to find their way on camera ;-). I'm sure this event will not be different!

My whole point on this thread has been that this is "just" about the low pass and the zoom. That is simply a nice by product of a true (absolute terms, maximum energy management) glider "race" finish. Of course, this event seems to be primarily focused on simulating a short, final glide only, RACE!

It features:

1) a parallel race course on either side of a runway and in full view of the crowd
2) a regatta start - count down to the start line opening
3) a hard charging final glide "race" around several turn markers (2-3 minutes?) and, finally
4) a real finish line, directly in front of the crowd, where the sailplanes finish low and then zoom up and land.

This sounds pretty cool to me actually.

The first competitor across the line (right in front of the crowd) wins (imagine that!). They really have not much on the website to define the rules or structure so we are really making guesses.

Above is my guess and I think it will be fun and interesting to the crowd if they can keep the heats moving and have each race start within minutes of the finish.

Maybe I'll run one of these in Ionia next year too ;-)!

Sincerely,

Sean

Unless there is a specified finish speed and height the optimum finish is straight in with no pull up or pattern.
If done over unlandable area, it would be interesting. Otherwise not so much.
Seems to be more about measuring willingness to take risk.
UH