15 M Time Management Nationals

(David Martin) wrote in message . com...
I flew in the 15M Nationals at Hobbs. Interestingly it was the first
contest that I flew the TAT task. I like it! I understand the 15
minute rule but don't like it and think it should go away.

I'll second that! The rule seems intended to fix something that
doesn't need fixing; the desire to finish close to minimum time. If
they want us to fly longer just make the task longer! Why call a task
and, essentially, say: "Here's your task, but we really don't want you
to do that, we want you to do this...". Its all these wacky rules that
turn newcomers off to competition flying.

In article ,
says...
(David Martin) wrote in message . com...
I flew in the 15M Nationals at Hobbs. Interestingly it was the first
contest that I flew the TAT task. I like it! I understand the 15
minute rule but don't like it and think it should go away.

I'll second that! The rule seems intended to fix something that
doesn't need fixing; the desire to finish close to minimum time. If
they want us to fly longer just make the task longer! Why call a task
and, essentially, say: "Here's your task, but we really don't want you
to do that, we want you to do this...".

The 15 minute rule isn't about flying longer - that's an issue to
discuss with your competition director. You'd have to have tasks a The
rule is about increasing the importance of the cross-country part of
the flight relative to "final glide" part of the flight.

Its all these wacky rules that
turn newcomers off to competition flying.

Actually, it appears to be the experienced pilots that are getting
confused and upset, not the newcomers. If you are new to the sport,
you tend accept what's there, because you don't know any different.

Some of the pilots I've talked to that are becoming interested in
racing seem more concerned about the safety aspects, rather than the
rule details. For this reason, I think rules that enhance safety and
the perception of safety (actual safety should have the priority, of
course) are important to promoting contests.

--
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directly

Eric Greenwell
Richland, WA (USA)

Todd Pattist writes:
2003 Region 11 standard, day 1, pos 4,5.
The 4th place pilot flew about 118 miles and achieved an
interthermal speed of approximately 42.35 mph

The 5th place pilot flew about 101 miles and achieved an
interthermal speed of approximately 41.78 mph

The "faster" pilot IMHO correctly won.

Putting faster in quotes is appropriate.
2003 Standard class, Region 11 south day 1, (region 11 north day 1 has
incomplete stats on SSA site so cannot be used)
Recheck the published speeds...the ACTUAL SPEEDS FLOWN, as in distance divided
by time, before the 15 minute kluge was applied (see published rules).
4th place pilot 46.53 mph, 955 points
5th place pilot 46.60 mph, 942 points
13 point difference, one of the most blatant examples I cited! The slower pilot
was on course about 22 minutes longer. Nobody gives a **** about "interthermal
speed". If I race a car on a course and pass you on the long straight and you
repass me in the turn and cross the finish line first, nobody cares that my
straightaway speed was faster than yours, the lower lap time wins. Without the
15 minute kluge in this case, the faster pilot would have 949 points to the
slower pilot's 947. About what I would consider fair based on the closeness of
the speeds. Lets see, .7 mph over about 2 1/2 hours, gee, they would be no
more than 1.75 miles apart at the finish, the guy in back could probably still
SEE the guy in front! (assuming equal distance flown). The faster pilot got
ripped off. he flew a whole 9 minutes over the minimum time (not exactly
cutting it close) and flew a faster average speed, and got 13 fewer points.
Not only does the 15 minute rule remove the so-called bonus for finishing at
the minimum time, it adds a non-linear and unpredictable bonus for finishing at
"X" time based on speed, distance, thermal strength, and time flown over the
minimum. I imagine JC has the spreadsheet for all these factors. The old way
IS better, the objective is Prima Facie.




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Mark Navarre
ASW-20 OD
California, USA
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