2017 18 Meter Nationals on Facebook Live

Daryl,

The pilots meeting live video is care of Sean Franke of Wings and Wheels (also a competitor here). Sean has build up really cool video equipment set up with a special microphone, wide angle lens (to improve quality) and tripod.

Sean has put a good deal of effort into all of this and I think we should all thank him and try and continue and expand such video coverage for SSA contests (pilots meetings, interviews, etc.). Sean also created an entire video series of all presentations at the 2016 SSA Convention (a huge investment in time, equipment and money) as well as several other recent events and contests. Sean has shown a lot of initiative and forward thinking by making this available.

Sean Fidler
7T

Pilots briefing starts in 20 minutes. Tune in 5 minutes early for pilot interviews. See it live.

Sean Franke
Wings & Wheels

On Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 7:36:39 AM UTC-7, Sean Franke wrote:
Pilots briefing starts in 20 minutes. Tune in 5 minutes early for pilot interviews. See it live.

Sean Franke
Wings & Wheels

Today is a rest day. No pilots briefing. We will be back tomorrow on Facebook live.

Sean Franke
Wings & Wheels

Pilots briefing starts in 30 minutes, live on Facebook.

Sean Franke
Wings & Wheels

Day 6 (second try) pilots briefing goes live in 20 minutes.

Sean Franke
Wings & Wheels

On Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 7:37:34 AM UTC-7, Sean Franke wrote:
Day 6 (second try) pilots briefing goes live in 20 minutes.

Sean Franke
Wings & Wheels

Day 7 pilots briefing will have heavy discussions. Yesterday the final glide turned marginal for most with rain and sink. One didn't make it and had an encounter with local law enforcement. Others elected to continue across the finish line with low energy and altitude. Instead of crossing the finish line some elected to land straight in taking a two minute penalty. There is already hot debate on using a finish line.

Going live in 25 minutes.

Sean Franke
Wings & Wheels

On Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 9:22:57 AM UTC-5, Sean Franke wrote:
...Yesterday the final glide turned marginal for most with rain and sink.
One didn't make it and had an encounter with local law enforcement.
Others elected to continue across the finish line with low energy and altitude.
Instead of crossing the finish line some elected to land straight in
taking a two minute penalty.
There is already hot debate on using a finish line.

3 land-outs in previous top 10.
Some of us took large reserves before final glide through rain.
I took about 2000 feet extra and used all of it for a flying finish in rain...
Challenging day!

On Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 7:32:35 AM UTC-7, Dave Nadler wrote:
On Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 9:22:57 AM UTC-5, Sean Franke wrote:
...Yesterday the final glide turned marginal for most with rain and sink.
One didn't make it and had an encounter with local law enforcement.
Others elected to continue across the finish line with low energy and altitude.
Instead of crossing the finish line some elected to land straight in
taking a two minute penalty.
There is already hot debate on using a finish line.

3 land-outs in previous top 10.
Some of us took large reserves before final glide through rain.
I took about 2000 feet extra and used all of it for a flying finish in rain...
Challenging day!

Last day of the 18 Meter Nationals. Pilots briefing goes live in about 30 minutes. See it he https://www.facebook.com/wingsandwheels.aviation

Sean Franke
Wings & Wheels