Marfa Cross Country for CA$H

A dollar a mile in 2007.

I see some interest in classic "straight out" cross country flying
(and the art of crewing). Classic XC soaring for distance as done
by Robert Kronfeld, Philip Wills, Woody Brown, Dick Johnson, Fritz
Compton, Stan Smith, Al Parker, Wally Scott, Ben Greene, Henry Combs,
Mike Koerner, Hans Werner Grosse, to name a few.

Bring your sailplane to Marfa in west Texas USA, site of many US
National Contests and the first World Soaring Contest held in the USA
(1970). Marfa (MRF) airport is almost 5,000' msl high on a grassy
plateau surrounded by scenic mountains (El Paso sectional). Big sky.
Big thermals.

Buy an aerotow from me then soar the famous "Marfa Dry Line" in a
northerly direction like the "free distance" days in the US National
Contests of the 1960's and 1970's.

Head for New Mexico, Kansas and beyond. No "Cat's Cradle", no
"Bikle's Basket", no triangles, no rectangles, nor any 'tangles, -
just GO!

The farthest soaring flight in 2007 wins one dollar per each mile
"straight out" from Marfa.

For example: Soar straight out from Marfa 500 miles, win 500
dollars. It's been done many times before, just not lately since
there has not been a soaring operation here until I arrived in 2001.

You don't need the hottest ship, indeed, vintage wood and first
generation glass sailplanes will do quite well if you start early and
fly downwind on our dry line or during our wave season. See "Soaring"
magazine OCT 1960 for Harland Ross' article on "Soaring the Marfa Dew
Point Front" in his RJ-6. (I told you this was "classic soaring"!)

So check Dr. Jack for Oklahoma - Texas. I have a Marfa Blipspot.
Solar Noon is 2:00 PM Central Daylight Time. Sunset is almost 9:00 PM
in June - July - August.

Come and try it, but please bring your own crew.

We soar year-round. Let me know in advance that you are coming to
Marfa. Email me about your plans and dreams at

We'll show you a good time!

Burt "the facilitator" Compton
Marfa, west Texas USA
www.flygliders.com

Cool.

Have glider -- will fly for cash or glory.

Steve Koerner GW

On Jun 8, 9:33 am, Steve Koerner wrote:
Cool.

Have glider -- will fly for cash or glory.

Steve Koerner GW

Burt, any chance you ill do this next summer. I got this damned job
thing going on this summer. Will the distance be handicapped
(please???)

Yes, it could be handicapped for the glider, the weather, the pilot's
experience, the date of the flight, and on and on. But I don't think
Burt was intending to make a kiddy game; he wants to see long flights
out of Marfa.

Steve Koerner GW

On Jun 8, 12:07 pm, Steve Koerner wrote:
Yes, it could be handicapped for the glider, the weather, the pilot's
experience, the date of the flight, and on and on. But I don't think
Burt was intending to make a kiddy game; he wants to see long flights
out of Marfa.

Steve Koerner GW

hey give us little guys a chance steve. im just saying that if
someone does 3 or 400 miles in a 1-26 thats a hell of an
accomplishment, but easily done by some hotshot guy with lots of money
and some fiberglass.

wrote:
On Jun 8, 12:07 pm, Steve Koerner wrote:
Yes, it could be handicapped for the glider, the weather, the pilot's
experience, the date of the flight, and on and on. But I don't think
Burt was intending to make a kiddy game; he wants to see long flights
out of Marfa.

Steve Koerner GW

hey give us little guys a chance steve. im just saying that if
someone does 3 or 400 miles in a 1-26 thats a hell of an
accomplishment, but easily done by some hotshot guy with lots of money
and some fiberglass.

you could put some fiberglass on your 1-26 though...it's not that
expensive. Maybe a little on the tail, some on the wings, just some
pieces here and there should do the trick, right?

wrote:
On Jun 8, 12:07 pm, Steve Koerner wrote:
Yes, it could be handicapped for the glider, the weather, the pilot's
experience, the date of the flight, and on and on. But I don't think
Burt was intending to make a kiddy game; he wants to see long flights
out of Marfa.

Steve Koerner GW

hey give us little guys a chance steve. im just saying that if
someone does 3 or 400 miles in a 1-26 thats a hell of an
accomplishment, but easily done by some hotshot guy with lots of money
and some fiberglass.


Maybe Burt should post the two or three best flights here (or somewhere)
and let us vote. :-)

200 miles in a Cherokee or 450 in an ASH-25. Which would you pick?


Shawn

Shawn wrote:
wrote:
On Jun 8, 12:07 pm, Steve Koerner wrote:
Yes, it could be handicapped for the glider, the weather, the pilot's
experience, the date of the flight, and on and on. But I don't think
Burt was intending to make a kiddy game; he wants to see long flights
out of Marfa.

Steve Koerner GW

hey give us little guys a chance steve. im just saying that if
someone does 3 or 400 miles in a 1-26 thats a hell of an
accomplishment, but easily done by some hotshot guy with lots of money
and some fiberglass.


Maybe Burt should post the two or three best flights here (or somewhere)
and let us vote. :-)

200 miles in a Cherokee or 450 in an ASH-25. Which would you pick?


Shawn

sound like American Idol, but soaring pilot... text your vote to....

On Jun 8, 8:29 am, Burt Compton - Marfa wrote:
A dollar a mile in 2007.

Great idea Burt. So good in fact, Tony and I are copying it for our
local soaring club in Iowa. It's only open to club members so those
southern MN soaring legends (2 Hilton cup winners) wont bankrupt us,
and we are handicapping the miles. If we don't no one will even try
to fly the 1-26 anywhere because they know the 2 glass ships will kick
their butts.

We haven't come up with a name yet but I was considering The Paris
Hilton Cup. What do you think? I guess we'd probably get sued. How
about the Motel 6 Cup?

I'm also not sure what to do if either Tony or I win since we are co-
sponsoring this. If he wins do I have to pay him half? I suppose if
I win I'd want him to pay.

On Jun 8, 11:08 pm, wrote:
On Jun 8, 8:29 am, Burt Compton - Marfa wrote:

A dollar a mile in 2007.

Great idea Burt. So good in fact, Tony and I are copying it for our
local soaring club in Iowa. It's only open to club members so those
southern MN soaring legends (2 Hilton cup winners) wont bankrupt us,
and we are handicapping the miles. If we don't no one will even try
to fly the 1-26 anywhere because they know the 2 glass ships will kick
their butts.

We haven't come up with a name yet but I was considering The Paris
Hilton Cup. What do you think? I guess we'd probably get sued. How
about the Motel 6 Cup?

I'm also not sure what to do if either Tony or I win since we are co-
sponsoring this. If he wins do I have to pay him half? I suppose if
I win I'd want him to pay.

yes, we will call it the Paris Hilton Cup!!!