"Michael Stringfellow" wrote in message
ink.net...
2) MacCready flight optimizes time at the expense of height. If you are
low
or trying to clear a mountain ridge, it isn't appropriate to fly as fast
as
indicated. If you slow down, you will lose less height (often even when
in
sink). John Cochrane has given a good description of the trade-off
betweeen
speed and height.

Clearing a mountain ridge is simply a final glide exercise. You should fly
as fast as indicated assuming you have set yourself up for a proper final
glide with appropriate risk factors applied. And if the air is lively, MC
speed to fly works quite nicely.

I was always amazed at how many pilots in competitions could not or would
not perform a reasonable final glide calculation, and then fly it. I
started doing it with a homemade whiz wheel and found I could beat 50% of
regional competitors on *any* final glide (not to say the same the 50%
wouldn't beat me during almost any other contest task element).

When the GPS computers came online, I could consistently hit the airport on
a final glide flying strict MC and GPS calc'd final glide by just giving
myself a 500' cushion at the airport. That seemed to beyond the capability
of at least 80% of regional competitors and a shocking number of national's
competitors. Amazing!

Yes, a lot of reinventing the wheel going on. Just read Reichmann for a
good foundation.