OLC statistics

I flew with several much more advanced pilots on Saturday, 4 hours in
100% ridge lift, very turbulent, very rough terrain (North Cascades WA
State), very cool. Afterwords it was pointed out to me that my Rate Of
Climb statistic was 1/2 of everyone else, although I was keeping up
altitude wise. Is there an explanation somewhere of what is being
measured, and is there a way of using it as a training tool?

Thanks all,

Brian

brianDG303 wrote:
I flew with several much more advanced pilots on Saturday, 4 hours in
100% ridge lift, very turbulent, very rough terrain (North Cascades WA
State), very cool. Afterwords it was pointed out to me that my Rate Of
Climb statistic was 1/2 of everyone else, although I was keeping up
altitude wise. Is there an explanation somewhere of what is being
measured, and is there a way of using it as a training tool?
Your trace is much flatter than the other pilots (Brad and John), as if
you were staying near the top of lift where the climb rate is weak. They
appeared to wander around more, sometimes getting lower, then climbing
back up in the lower, stronger lift that is usually the case for ridge
soaring.

If you have a statistic like this when thermal soaring, then it's time
to worry!

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (netto to net to email me)

- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz

On 3/23/2010 4:39 PM, brianDG303 wrote:
I flew with several much more advanced pilots on Saturday, 4 hours in
100% ridge lift, very turbulent, very rough terrain (North Cascades WA
State), very cool. Afterwords it was pointed out to me that my Rate Of
Climb statistic was 1/2 of everyone else, although I was keeping up
altitude wise. Is there an explanation somewhere of what is being
measured, and is there a way of using it as a training tool?

Thanks all,

Brian



I am not sure that the Average Climb statistic is very meaningful when
you are running the ridge. If you compare your OLC-League speed (over
the fastest 2 1/2 hours), you will see that you were not terribly slower
than two of the other pilots. Speed is the best statistic of all.

On Mar 23, 8:39*pm, Eric Greenwell wrote:
brianDG303 wrote:
I flew with several much more advanced pilots on Saturday, 4 hours in
100% ridge lift, very turbulent, very rough terrain (North Cascades WA
State), very cool. Afterwords it was pointed out to me that my Rate Of
Climb statistic was 1/2 of everyone else, although I was keeping up
altitude wise. Is there an explanation somewhere of what is being
measured, and is there a way of using it as a training tool?

Your trace is much flatter than the other pilots (Brad and John), *as if
you were staying near the top of lift where the climb rate is weak. They
appeared to wander around more, sometimes getting lower, then climbing
back up in the lower, stronger lift that is usually the case for ridge
soaring.

If you have a statistic like this when thermal soaring, then it's time
to worry!

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (netto to net to email me)

- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarmhttp://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz

As one of the pilots flying with Brian that day, I'll make a few
comments. It was not all ridge lift. There were thermals that came
through at times and in certain places. There were also places where
very localized surges of strong lift would come through, and I have no
idea what the source was, but to stay in the lift you had to circle
really tight, but climb rates at times were over 6kts on the averager.

We're pretty sure there was the type of wave that seems to be common
in this area we fly. Several of us have experienced it over the years,
it is alway a real blast when we get the right conditions, and we're
very lucky to have a club towplane and towpilots that are available
when the conditions are good.

Brad