March 7 at Seminole – A Nugget’s View of the Seniors

Today was another learning day.  I made no big gaffs but it was a day for some “firsts”.  What that means is to experience something for the first time.  Frank in TA and I in BZ briefed to launch at the same time and try to fly together.  He thought the clouds indicated conditions for cloud streets.  We did the launch but I was slow to get started and he followed a street to a turn point upwind without me.  When he returned, we found each other and took off down a street that lasted for 30 or so miles.  The fact that I was in a street was a “first” for me.  Being pulled up while going 90+ kts was another.  I got the spoilers out and avoided going IFR, by dropping down a few hundred feet.  I was able to follow “TA”.  Being able to watch someone fly a street and follow them really improves the learning curve.  It was great fun and I highly recommend the experience to anyone.

The lesson for the day is to expect the unexpected.  Coming to an event like this is to put oneself in a place one has never been and fly with a lot of unknown people.  While that experience can be a bit daunting, it is an opportunity to learn on the fast track.  I would also recommend that if you plan to come to a competition for the first time, come a few days early and get comfortable with the area.  I know I would feel very uncomfortable taking off on a task without the time to get acquainted.

Speaking of coming early, I have found that getting to the field early is a good idea.  One, it is cooler and less taxing work to get the glider ready.  Two, it give me time to work out little things so they do not become big things.  Having my glider rigged and staged near the launch area, allows time to watch the weather and go when it is ready.  Better that than waiting for the weather, then scrambling to get a tow out and missing out on air time.  This was particularly important today, since the area became over developed and the good conditions did not as last as long as I would have liked.

After I landed, I had an opportunity to talk with several long-time competitors. I gained one big “take-away”. That is it can be easy to let the spirit of competition get in the way of sound judgment; it can push one to make decisions that in retrospect would not make sense.  One wise saying is, “points have no value” when compared to your life or even your airplane.  “30th position pays the same as 5th” was another.  There is a lot to learn from the experiences of others and there is a plethora of pilots to learn from.

John
BZ