Report for the GTA race at Monroe, GA August 23-24 A Class Cumulative Score Rank Points ID Name Glider 1 1999 FS Silva, Fernando ASW-27 2 1933 BZ Mittell, John ASW-27 3 1759 H6 Ruf, Chris 303 Mosquito 4 965 FP Pin, Francois ASW-27 5 915 DL Linnekin, Dennis ASW-27 B Class Cumulative Score 24-Aug-14 23-Aug-14 Rank Points…
Sailplane Racing News
2014 WGC in Leszno, Day 7
by Bill Elliott •
At pilot meeting today, MikeYoung of the UK seemed to speak for many when he asked, “Did you set the tasks last night?” Perhaps because the organizers did not want to face the wrath of those who believed that canceling Tuesday, 5 August, was a mistake, there was no captains’ meeting scheduled this morning. Several…
2014 WGC: How to Avoid a Mid-Air Collision
by Bill Elliott •
Today’s pilot meeting included a safety talk about mid-air collisions from the competition Chief Steward Robert Danewid. From 1974 to 2013, there have been 58 mid-air collisions involving gliders. Gaggle flying seems to be the culprit for many of these collisions. Some possible solutions to reducing such collisions include: 1) Giving a bonus to pilots…
WGC 2014 Leszno Day 4 & 5
by Bill Elliott •
30 July, Day 4For the fourth day, all three classes will fly area tasks. Each class today will fly with 3 areas with a Minimum Time of 2 hours. Fear of late afternoon thunderstorms drives this decision, which makes for a short day of flying and a de-valued day, pointswise. Rain is predictedtomorrow, although the…
Morning Routine
by Bill Elliott •
The sun rises in Leszno about 4:00. We sleep a little later than that, but SS and DB are usually on the airfield between 6:30 and 7:00. By7:30, the entire U.S. team has arrived and is assembling. It is to the advantage of the big-winged planes to weave through the trailers and to the scales sooner rather…
U.S. Team WGC 2014, Opening Ceremonies
by Bill Elliott •
At the 2012 World Gliding Championship in Uvalde, the U.S. team contrived to be first in the parade by walking under the sign “America.” This year, the U.S. team was last, strangely, behind team Uruguay. One hundred thirty two pilots, and many more crew members, marched down Ulitza ? to the Rynek, or Town Square.…
On the Fly — WGC 24 July 2014: Team USA
by Bill Elliott •
Today is the third of four official practice days, and the rain is relentless. Captain Dennis Linnekin took advantage of the weather to call a complete Team USA meeting: all six pilots, full crew, and interpreter Greg Swiderski. Then he made a few observations and exhortations. The runway situation is great. There is a well-marked…
So long, Soaring
by Bill Elliott •
This is (probably – you never know for sure!) my last Soaring Cafe post. Last month, at the Minden 18m Nationals, I was disqualified for ‘unsafe thermalling’ in response to a written complaint from Dennis Linnekin (DL). In addition to being disqualified from that event, I was prevented from competing in the 15m Nationals at Montague.…
US Sports Class Nationals Practice Day 1
by Bill Elliott •
Greetings from Midlothian, TX, home of the Texas Soaring Association, hosts of this years Sports Class Nationals. I’m here flying a 13 meter Apis. My sister Amy is assisting as my expert crew. We arrived last night after finishing up the Region 10 North contest back at home. I was the CD there and Amy…
2014 Mifflin, Region 2–Photos by Maria
by Bill Elliott •
Photos by Maria Szemplinska All rights reserved neetka@rogers.com www.neetka.ca
