Is this the future of our sport?

On Monday, November 12, 2012 10:05:10 PM UTC-6, wrote:
On Sunday, November 11, 2012 11:12:31 PM UTC-5, Scott Alexander wrote:

Will this catch on in the USA? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc_aU...e_gdata_player



I heard that they ran a race like this at the Soaring Club of Houston a couple weeks ago.

They cleverly adjusted for differing gliders by adjsuting the turn radii so each flew a distance appropriate for the handicap of his glider.

Interesting concept for a fun weekend race.

UH

Steve Koerner used to have a document describing how to handicap a grand prix race with turn radii on his wingrigger.com website, but I can't find it now.

On Sunday, November 11, 2012 11:12:31 PM UTC-5, Scott Alexander wrote:
Will this catch on in the USA?

Where can I buy the video game? MMOG (massively multiplayer online game) is the future, either flying over a synthetic landscape or real time linked to drones flying over a real landscape. Virtual reality glasses provide wrap with around visuals will be widespread. The majority of players will want the ability to shoot down their opponents.

Ten years from now, every kid will have the equivalent of a CRAY super computer on his phone. Condor on steroids. Heck. Today's Condor is great and it runs fine on 10 year old hardware. A whole lot more is possible and it will come. Drones are going to change things.

We will always have a few folks that want to fly the old stuff in the physical world, the same as people enjoy flying 1-26s today. Winch launches will catch on with the younger generation as well... more exciting, more ecological and much cheaper. These are three factors that appeal to the young.

How true! But before that happens, there will be adaptive cruise control and better frontal alert electronics so we can have our heads down playing with our favorite electronic toys or texting devices in the cockpit like we are doing now in our cars....

On Monday, November 12, 2012 8:05:10 PM UTC-8, wrote:
On Sunday, November 11, 2012 11:12:31 PM UTC-5, Scott Alexander wrote:

Will this catch on in the USA? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc_aU...e_gdata_player



I heard that they ran a race like this at the Soaring Club of Houston a couple weeks ago.

They cleverly adjusted for differing gliders by adjsuting the turn radii so each flew a distance appropriate for the handicap of his glider.

Interesting concept for a fun weekend race.

UH

For a number of years, Soar Truckee has run fun, local, Grand Prix style races each summer. Initially they were not handicapped, but the more recent version are, by changing a far turnpoint radius for each glider depending on handicap. There is a specific start time, first glider home wins. It is more fun than regular racing, in my limited experience. Leeching and gaggles still occur, leeching only works if you can hang onto a glider with a faster handicap than your own - very difficult over a long flight. Equally flown gliders of differing performance spread out on the course from the start, and only come together again at the finish.

OK guys. I have had requests to organize this in a "legend" local like Parowan or Logan or Eli or Hobbs. I would love to do this (or if someone else there wants to take the reigns, GREAT!) but, I do not feel that I can successfully organize an event effectively in a location I am not residing or familiar. That will certainly come later when the format is adopted and more official.

What I am willing to do is to do is organize and manage an inaugural test or "pilot" NORTH AMERICAN GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIPS in Ionia, MI or nearby next summer. I would guess 15 meter is the right glider to fly in. 10 gliders would be great, 16 greater.

Who would be interested?

I would welcome SSA support and leadership. I am hoping to prove the interest, fun and practicality of the format.

Some pretty strong pilots World level and national level pilots have shown significant interest...THIS COULD GET REALLY FUN, REALLY FAST!!!!!

ON GAGGLES: I believe that gaggles are always going to exist in soaring at some level, but I also believe that Grand Prix is a format that is LESS LIKELY to have gaggles as their is incentive to get ahead and break the group following. If a top pilot gets ahead, a lesser pilot will have a very difficult time latching on again. This is not the case in US rules and AAT's. This is, of course, my opinion. You can prove me wrong at the this upcoming Grand Prix! ;-). As its a regatta start, any glider that falls behind at the start will have a deficit (meaningful) to recoup. I think that is the real allure of this format. He who finishes the course first, wins! How COOL is that!!!!!!!!????????

ON HANDICAPS: I agree that handicap flying is not feasible (I was thinking a narrow range in 15), but if more 18 Meter guys show interest, fine! We have 6 high performance 15/18 meter glider in Ionia already. I think all of them would participate. Meaning we need roughly 10 more to fill out the event.

I am thinking of a weekend in July...Perhaps 5 days.

Again, WHO IS INTERESTED?

I can put this up on the SSA website if we get serious.

Sean

FYI, Solitaire AB has contacted the SSA regarding a US Soaring GP.
More information will follow.

Agreed Bill. We need better coverage although it is a big technical challenge and will take dedicated resources at a contest to manage (plus hardware and data costs, effort, etc).

Happy to help promote this technology.

Email smfidlerATgmailDOTcom.

On Thursday, November 15, 2012 2:59:51 PM UTC-7, Sean F (F2) wrote:
Agreed Bill. We need better coverage although it is a big technical challenge and will take dedicated resources at a contest to manage (plus hardware and data costs, effort, etc).



Happy to help promote this technology.



Email smfidlerATgmailDOTcom.

Solitaire has the technology and knowhow so that's no issue. What they're doing right now is lining up sponsors - something they've done many times in motor racing. However, if someone knows a contact in a company with "green" credentials who might be interested, let me know and I'll forward it to them.

Venue TBD but it has to be telegenic.

On Thursday, November 15, 2012 4:05:24 PM UTC-7, Bill D wrote:
On Thursday, November 15, 2012 2:59:51 PM UTC-7, Sean F (F2) wrote:

Agreed Bill. We need better coverage although it is a big technical challenge and will take dedicated resources at a contest to manage (plus hardware and data costs, effort, etc).







Happy to help promote this technology.







Email smfidlerATgmailDOTcom.



Solitaire has the technology and knowhow so that's no issue. What they're doing right now is lining up sponsors - something they've done many times in motor racing. However, if someone knows a contact in a company with "green" credentials who might be interested, let me know and I'll forward it to them.



Venue TBD but it has to be telegenic.

Correction: That should be Planetaire AB, not Solitaire

Sean,

If you want to take on the marketing manager/organizer role we can provide the site and contest organization (CD, tow pilots, etc) to support it. Just need someone willing to chase the contacts, sponsors and funds needed to do it right.

Late July to early August gives fantastic weather and the scenery doesn't get much better than Utah and Wyoming. As I said we can put a turn-point practically on top of the state Capitol. Watch a few of Bruno's videos. Scenery doesn't get much better than that. I think we can get a full field of 15m gliders. I have three ready to sign up already.

Tim (TT)