Best Path to Race

On Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 5:22:02 PM UTC+3, John Cochrane wrote:
If you have the money there is no reason not to get a modern glider. They are easier to fly, safer, and also happen to perform better. If you don't think you have the money, look a little deeper in to your wallet. Two years from now you will suddenly discover that you do! Gliders are actually not that expensive. Yes, the capital cost is high, but they keep their value well, and they require little maintenance. You have money tied up in a glider, not money spent on a glider. Flaps on a modern glider like ASW27 are a non issue -- simply better in every way, and not a big complexity for a good new pilot (especially with airline background) to deal with. The sweet spot right now is buying a great 15 meter racer like a 27 or V2 from pilots who discover then absolutely need to spend $50k on 3 more meters of wing.

Go to contests sooner rather than later. My greatest regret is not thinking I was ready for too many years. Once you are reasonably competent at thermaling, have done 5 cross country flights of 100 miles or so, off to a sports class regionals. They are really xc training camps, not contests. You learn so much more so quickly at a regional contest than heading out alone. Forget the race, think of it as a camp. Every day, you will get a detailed weather briefing, an experienced pilot will set the best task for the day and the weather, experienced pilots will happily offer all sorts of advice on how to do the task, tows are provided, even wing runners are provided, there is a retrieve desk to help out should you need it, towplanes will come get you from nearby airports, and then experienced pilots will help debrief. Most of all, you will learn that it is possible and practical to go out cross country on days that you would not normally get out of bed, and to complete the task too. And then there will be beer. What more could one want?

John Cochrane BB

Grid girls/boys (as appropriate). With umbrellas.

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