I have pointed to several changes going on at the same time. Declining participation Fragmentation into many small classes Nobody wants to drive. On the last point. The vast majority of pilots do not cross the country for “national” contests. With the exception of 2-3 pilots desperate for team points under the current formula, most…
Articles
V. New Races
by Bill Elliott •
The last 25 years have seen a huge structural change in how contest flying is organized. I start with two whole new race formats, the OLC and Grand Prix 1. OLC The OLC (online contest) is a big development. Pilots send their traces in from around the world, and are scored on various formats, most of…
IV. Two Demographic Developments
by Bill Elliott •
I have so far focused on technology. Most soaring pilots are analytic, engineer types, and a story line that focuses on technology is natural to us. But in tracing this story, already we’ve discovered that the technology per se was not the central part of the story; it was how technology changed the “soft stuff,”…
III. The future of Technology
by Bill Elliott •
GPS only the start. Here are some things I see on the horizon. 1. Weather information. In-cockpit satellite weather is now available. It can be extremely valuable in a contest. The visible satellite loop and radar loop in particular can help with the agonizing decision, do I go on in this turn area or go…
II. GPS
by Bill Elliott •
GPS is the most obvious change. GPS made navigation much easier. There was a lot of grumbling, “real pilots know how to look at a map.” To this day, there’s lots of grumbling that “pilots will just stare at their GPS all day,” ignoring how much head-down time map navigation and glide planning took, and…
I. Introduction (1985)
by Bill Elliott •
A talk about the history and evolution of contest soaring in the US which was presented at the 2010 Barnaby Lectures.
AERO Friedrichshafen
by Bill Elliott •
The springtime AERO Convention, held in Friedricshafen, Germany, hosts a full range of aviation displays – from R/C models (with indoor flying zone), to sport aircraft, to avionics, to sailplanes, to acro planes, through to general and business aviation – each with dedicated exhibit areas and halls. The event was held on a biennial basis…
Latest Developments at the Cobra Trailer Factory
by Bill Elliott •
Alfred and Agnes Spindelberger of Alfred Spindelberger Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH in Germany recently shared the latest developments regarding their Cobra brand of trailers. As an owner of several trailers over the years (both Cobra and other brands) the features and attention to detail were definitely worth a closer look. According to the pilot couple, the current…
Visit to the Wasserkuppe
by Rand Baldwin •
I haven’t yet visited the U.S. Soaring Museum in Elmira, NY, but it would be hard to match the Wasserkuppe museum as a repository of gliding history. f you’re a soaring enthusiast and you find yourself in Germany, I heartily recommend a visit to the Wasserkuppe. You won’t be disappointed!
