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#11
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Armchair CD U.S. Sports Class Nats
I can't speak about the sports class nats, the challenges
in being a CD, or other issues mentioned in this thread, but I will wholeheartedly defend Mitch against those who criticize his willingness to lend EX to a handful of young pilots, regardless of gender. Since 2004, Mitch's glider, and his glider alone, has allowed me to collect a nice array of badges/records/awards, develop my XC skills, attend the previously mentioned Perry camp, choose to obtain my CFIG, and befriend numerous individuals across the country along the way. I've been flying for nine years, and only in the last month have I finally acquired my own 'baby.' If not for Mitch, I would have missed out on countless experiences and opportunities over the last few years that are often only available to those with their own sailplane. Unlike many pilots, who choose to let their gliders sit at the gliderport while they are busy or unable to fly, Mitch allowed me to borrow EX without a second's thought while he was busy in Nav School. His parting words were, 'Firstly, have fun. Next, come home safe. Lastly, remember the glider can always be fixed. But firstly, have fun.' Like Mitch, I will similarly make my glider available to youth at my club when I am caught up in med school. All of us should be aware of his continued support of the soaring community and the impact he's made singlehandedly on so many young pilots. Kevin, your comment was absolutely unnecessary. It is offensive not only to Mitch, but also to myself and others who have 'made use' of the glider. This is simply not the place to make such a highly personal, public attack. Sylvia 1UV/N810VE |
#12
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Armchair CD U.S. Sports Class Nats
I can understand everyone bashing Mitch for his critique
of the CD at the nationals. He invited it, and was trying to spark some thoughts on why US pilots are not consistently competitive on the international stage. The attacks from Mr. Kevin Christner and Mr. Corey Sullivan were something else entirely. I have only known Mitch Hudson for a year, but I have found him committed to giving youth opportunities that they would not otherwise have in soaring. Mitch Hudson once threw me the keys to his C-120 so that I could remain current in tail wheel aircraft. He asked nothing in return. Mitch has allowed my girlfriend to use his discus on several occasions. He asked nothing in return. Kevin: As a flight instructor, you should be above personal attacks like this. That title implies that you are a professional. Act like one. What kind of example are you setting for your students? Corey: Unless you are a flight instructor or A&P, you should refrain from passing judgment on Mitch or his glider. As someone whose signature is in his logbook, I have no hesitation in saying that he is a very competent pilot. Considering the fact that you are a Kolstad Scholarship winner and a youth advisor to the SSA Youth Committee, I am disappointed that you would publicly mock a fellow pilot’s potential in contests or belittle his efforts to promote the sport. Kevin and Corey, you both owe Mitch Hudson an apology. I only hope that since you were both “men” enough to attack him in public you will have the maturity to apologize in public as well. Regards, Hugh Grandstaff (Tail number varies depending on what second hand tow plane or glider I am borrowing) |
#13
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Armchair CD U.S. Sports Class Nats
I can understand everyone bashing Mitch for his critique
of the CD at the nationals. He invited it, and was trying to spark some thoughts on why US pilots are not consistently competitive on the international stage. The attacks from Mr. Kevin Christner and Mr. Corey Sullivan were something else entirely. I have only known Mitch Hudson for a year, but I have found him committed to giving youth opportunities that they would not otherwise have in soaring. Mitch once threw me the keys to his C-120 so that I could remain current in tail wheel aircraft. He asked nothing in return. Mitch has allowed my girlfriend to use his discus on several occasions. He asked nothing in return. Kevin: As a flight instructor, you should be above personal attacks like this. That title implies that you are a professional. Act like one. What kind of example are you setting for your students? Corey: Unless you are a flight instructor or A&P, you should refrain from passing judgment on Mitch or his glider. As someone whose signature is in his logbook, I have no hesitation in saying that he is a very competent pilot. Considering the fact that you are a Kolstad Scholarship winner and a youth advisor to the SSA Youth Committee, I am disappointed that you would publicly mock a fellow pilot’s potential in contests or belittle his efforts to promote the sport. Kevin and Corey, you both owe Mitch Hudson an apology. I only hope that since you were both “men” enough to attack him in public you will have the maturity to apologize in public as well. Regards, Hugh Grandstaff (Tail number varies depending on what second hand tow plane or glider I am borrowing) |
#14
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Armchair CD U.S. Sports Class Nats
Mitch Hudson has been a wonderful asset to the sport of soaring, and
not just for the youth of the country. He has a deep and powerful understanding of the history, the racing and growth of the sport. I can't believe that a youth schloarship winner would even deign to comment on his betters (yes, his betters) in the sport. Mitch gave up a lot to join the Air Force, and go to flight training school. One of them was the ability to fly in national contests, and having the time to compete nationally. Mitch has a better understanding of what it takes to compete nationally and regionally than most any other person of his age. When I was introduced to this sport via my boyfriend, Mitch was one of the few pilots who actually EXPLAINED about history, tradition, racing and the fun of soaring. As I read his post, he was asking a question...a source of discussion. Intelligent, urbane and sophisticated people are always willing to discuss different points of view without sarcastic mean- spirited attacks on the questioner. Oh well, food for thought Micki Minner |
#15
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Armchair CD U.S. Sports Class Nats
On Jun 20, 10:12 am, MickiMinner wrote:
Mitch Hudson has been a wonderful asset to the sport of soaring, and not just for the youth of the country. He has a deep and powerful understanding of the history, the racing and growth of the sport. I can't believe that a youth schloarship winner would even deign to comment on his betters (yes, his betters) in the sport. Mitch gave up a lot to join the Air Force, and go to flight training school. One of them was the ability to fly in national contests, and having the time to compete nationally. Mitch has a better understanding of what it takes to compete nationally and regionally than most any other person of his age. When I was introduced to this sport via my boyfriend, Mitch was one of the few pilots who actually EXPLAINED about history, tradition, racing and the fun of soaring. As I read his post, he was asking a question...a source of discussion. Intelligent, urbane and sophisticated people are always willing to discuss different points of view without sarcastic mean- spirited attacks on the questioner. Oh well, food for thought Micki Minner I understand where you are coming from. But many pilots are quite upset at this competition because of the accusations Mitch has been making against Andy McQuigg. If he were here at the comtest and was flying the competition then he has the right to critique the CD. But he is not here and i dont think he is even close. I also notice that you picked out kevin and I for bashing Mitch. But many more have done it above. I see almost no one who agrees with Mitch. I am just defending Andy who is doing an extremely outstanding job as the CD if this contest. -972 |
#16
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Armchair CD U.S. Sports Class Nats
My idea of professionalism, Hugh, is protecting juniors from someone
who, IMHO, does not have their best interests in mind. My experience with as a junior, and the experience of others, with this individual, has been extremely negative. 2c On Jun 20, 12:15 am, Hugh Grandstaff wrote: I can understand everyone bashing Mitch for his critique of the CD at the nationals. He invited it, and was trying to spark some thoughts on why US pilots are not consistently competitive on the international stage. The attacks from Mr. Kevin Christner and Mr. Corey Sullivan were something else entirely. I have only known Mitch Hudson for a year, but I have found him committed to giving youth opportunities that they would not otherwise have in soaring. Mitch Hudson once threw me the keys to his C-120 so that I could remain current in tail wheel aircraft. He asked nothing in return. Mitch has allowed my girlfriend to use his discus on several occasions. He asked nothing in return. Kevin: As a flight instructor, you should be above personal attacks like this. That title implies that you are a professional. Act like one. What kind of example are you setting for your students? Corey: Unless you are a flight instructor or A&P, you should refrain from passing judgment on Mitch or his glider. As someone whose signature is in his logbook, I have no hesitation in saying that he is a very competent pilot. Considering the fact that you are a Kolstad Scholarship winner and a youth advisor to the SSA Youth Committee, I am disappointed that you would publicly mock a fellow pilot's potential in contests or belittle his efforts to promote the sport. Kevin and Corey, you both owe Mitch Hudson an apology. I only hope that since you were both "men" enough to attack him in public you will have the maturity to apologize in public as well. Regards, Hugh Grandstaff (Tail number varies depending on what second hand tow plane or glider I am borrowing) |
#17
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Armchair CD U.S. Sports Class Nats
No Cory, you are only defending your position as haveing been on of
two folks who have chosen to attack Mitch for offering up food for thought. If there are all these people who, like you are bashing Mitch Hudson, where are their posts? More often than not Mitch's glider resides in Moriarty where he has made it available to yet another fledgling cross country pilot. Mitch's Discus is clearly in need of a refininsh and that is the reason he bought it a few years ago for a very reasonable price. At the time, Mitch was an E-5 in the Air Force, (he is now a 2nd Lt.), and was on a very limited source of income. He was convinded to buy the Discus so that he could improve his cross country skills. Mitch did that, but more inportantly, he has chosen to share the "wealth" by letting others who could not afford access to high performance equipment fly his glider. I would venture to guess, the those who have flown his Discus have spend more time it it than Mitch has. Currently he is in Nav training in SAT, but has chosen to make his ship available to lower time junior pilots to fly. What we need is a few more Mitch Hudsons in soaring who are willing to extend them selves to promote the sport in the manner in which he has done. Best Regards, Billy Hill |
#18
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Armchair CD U.S. Sports Class Nats
Good point Mitch. Maybe it is a matter of endurance, perhaps due to aging. Seems as though pilots in National Contests should be expected as a rule to meet at least "Silver Badge" requirements in daily competition. This includes flights in access of five hours and the resulting task distances in todays very high performance sailplanes. The younger pilots should be tested and honed for success with longer and tougher tasks in National competition, even though it will require pilots showing up with crews, due to more landouts. Mike |
#19
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Armchair CD U.S. Sports Class Nats
On Jun 20, 8:31 am, "
wrote: My idea of professionalism, Hugh, is protecting juniors from someone who, IMHO, does not have their best interests in mind. My experience with as a junior, and the experience of others, with this individual, has been extremely negative. 2c Kevin, If you truly do view yourself as a professional I would advise to carefully consider the statements that you are making in a public forum. As had been said before in this thread, Mitch (which he stated himself) was trying to start some intelligent conversation regarding the preparedness of our pilots to compete at the WGC level. "Having flown all six of the contest days here, I can personally assure you that CD Andy McQuigg has done an outstanding job of calling tasks that make the best use of the weather. The days have definitely not been easy, with a number of pilots (including this one) having low saves on final glides as the lift quit. The first three days we were unable to start the launch before 1pm. If memory serves, three days the task was changed in the air. It hasn't been easy. Day five and six in particular really shook up the score sheet. " The first paragraph that you wrote did provide some insight to the conversation regarding an individuals (your's) experience at the Sports Class Nationals. "So rather than whining, why don't you go fly your glider... oh wait, you don't even care about flying it... word is spreading about how you make "use" of it - and I'm not the only one thats picked up. " The second paragraph that you wrote is a slanderous remark, boarding on libel, fueled by your own personal agenda and vendetta. Your insinuations, which I shall not repeat here, are based on rumour, hearsay, and have absolutely no solid footing in truth. As a flight instructor, and as a professional, you need to hold yourself to a higher standard. You need to change your idea of professionalism, at the very least, to keeping what poorly founded opinions you have confined to private conversation (if even that), as opposed to spreading venomous remark on an internationally read newsgroup. Further more, Mitch's second post in this thread tried to direct the conversation towards the rules and scoring system used here in the USA. No where in this conversation has he made any comment that the CD was not running the contest properly (Mitch fulled admitted in his first post that being a CD is a thankless task, and that he was not trying to draw a slew of flame for his remarks). He was trying to start a conversation to field opinions regarding our selection process, and the impact that our rules have on such. Regards, Orion Kingman DV8 |
#20
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Armchair CD U.S. Sports Class Nats
On Jun 20, 9:52 am, Mike wrote:
Good point Mitch. Maybe it is a matter of endurance, perhaps due to aging. Seems as though pilots in National Contests should be expected as a rule to meet at least "Silver Badge" requirements in daily competition. This includes flights in access of five hours and the resulting task distances in todays very high performance sailplanes. The younger pilots should be tested and honed for success with longer and tougher tasks in National competition, even though it will require pilots showing up with crews, due to more landouts. Mike Agreed. Tom (711) and John (BB)- I understand trying to accommodate all participants, but I'm not sure if this hold water at a national where team selection is in the balance. The rules committee has made is fairly clear that a sports class event should be tasked for a Discus to Libelle 201 range ship (If I recall correctly), thus eliminating the need for the CD to task for the KA-6 that shows up to the same event as a Nimbus 3. If in the best opinion of the CD, and his task advisers, a Libelle 201 could fly 50 mph in a given 5 hour soaring window then task the fleet with a 250 mile call, but don't shorten the task/time at a national to make sure that everyone can make it home for that nights festivities. A national should be an event where the cream of the crop is forced to rise to the top of the score sheet, to insure that we have the best possible representation at a WGC. BTW 711, I've been flying in and out of SLC lately... I'm bummed that I'm not in the N3 down at Parowan... the cu fields have been gorgeous from the cockpit of the CRJ. DV8 |
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