Benalla

On Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 7:14:17 PM UTC-8, Dan Daly wrote:
They just cancelled on just into the launch. Watching on spot the gliders.

They cancelled due to excessive crosswind...

Did anyone else notice that most of the wing runners did a poor job in the wind? Nearly all were held level instead of upwind wing low.

Also a bit sporty with a couple tow planes drifting into the grass at liftoff. Whee!!

-Tom

A general comment not confined to us contests - I don't think racing scoring rules should be manipulated to change pilot behaviour to indirectly enhance safety. There will always be unintended consequences. That is not to say that a rule that clearly encourages unsafe flying should not be removed.

Unsafe flying practices such as during gaggling or other poor airmanship issues should be punished directly by significant point losses - that is different from using scoring to alter the nature of the contest flying with the secondary aim of improving safety.

As for racing scoring: zero points for land out. Devalue the day in direct proportion to the percentage of land outs. Finishers get points related to speed either in direct proportion (too lenient) or related to square of speed ( too harsh IMHO except at the very top levels). Yes - a day with no finishers would be a no contest day. In other sports a competitor who can't finish is deemed to have withdrawn from the race and I don't see why gliding is different.

The other side of the coin should be a shift to setting tasks that should be achievable for all fit and competent competitors.

Make glider races races - you dont have to attempt to use the whole day - other sports don't with the exception of endurance events like the Le Mans 25 hour.

John Galloway

Maybe the FAI should start requiring tricycle landing gear towplanes...