“Hey, only seven hundred fourteen point nine kilometers today”
Tag Archive for 2012 US Team Uvalde
On the Fly: 1991 Memories
by Bill Elliott •
At the U.S. Team Party, Hannes Linke, Competition Director of the 1991 World Gliding Championship in Uvalde, reminisced about setting tasks at that contest with Judge Hal Lattimore and Wally Scott. Judge Lattimore, SSA President, had directed many competitions, and Wally Scott of Odessa, a multiple-time Barringer trophy winner and one of Texas’s most active…
Visit from a friend
by Bill Elliott •
We were happy to see Michael Griner when he stopped by the US Team office.
Competition Day 7
by Bill Elliott •
This morning followed the usual schedule, despite yesterday’s dark weather and landings that lasted later into the evening. As of now in the team room they report that there appears to be no major weather concerns. A later day start for the…
Gena Tabery, On the Fly
by Bill Elliott •
Some pilots considered yesterday a flying rest day, due to the brevity of the task. If the length of the task was unimpressive, the speeds achieved surpassed everyone’s expectations. Contest Director Ken Sorenson characterized them as “blistering.” Few world championships have sported average speeds as consistently high as they have been here, this year. In…
Competition Day 6, Watching Closely From The Team Room
by Bill Elliott •
I have returned to the U.S. team after a break at the pool (airport bum, but it comes with the territory). But in the team room, it doesn’t seem like they have gotten any rest. Everyone here is busy, as they keep a close eye on the weather….
10 August, Blistering Speeds
by Bill Elliott •
Some pilots considered yesterday a flying rest day, due to the brevity of the task. If the length of the task was unimpressive, the speeds achieved surpassed everyone’s expectations. Contest Director Ken Sorenson characterized them as “blistering.”
Few world championships have sported average speeds as consistently high as they have been here, this year. In the Open Class, whose high speed yesterday was 159.21kph ( 98.92mph), the average speed for the first five days is 150kph (93.2mph), and that average includes an atypically fluky first day. The 18-meter high speed has been 154kph (95.69mph), with a five-day average of 148kph (91.96mph). In 15-meter, the high is 149.3kph (92.7), with a five-day average of 145 kph (90.09mph). For those who are new to the sport, it is important to remember that final speed itself is an average, which includes all time on course—both thermaling and running. Actual running speeds are far in excess of the race average.
Altitudes are also exceptionally high. Those who fly Uvalde often are accustomed to reaching 7,000’ or perhaps 8,000’ on a good day. A 9,000’ day is an anomaly. Yesterday, 11,000’ was not unusual, and some reported going as high as 13,000’. Pilots who seldom even bring oxygen to Uvalde are not only installing it in their cockpits, but using it.
Contest organizers have established a few customs for honoring winners at the daily Pilot Meeting. Pilots are seated at tables according to their team country. The team table for the winner of each class sports a flag corresponding to the color of the winner’s task sheet: Green for Open Class, Yellow for 18-meter, and Blue for 15-meter. The color-coding, something that Assistant Contest Manager Kerry Huffstutler instituted many years ago, is more than a convenience—it is an important safety measure that assures that no pilot will walk away unawares with the wrong task sheet.
There is also a team contest going on—with high honors to the team earning the highest number of cumulative points. Current standings rank Poland first, Germany second, and France third overall. The flag placed at the table of the first-place team is one that contest organizers have deemed the most treasured in Uvalde: the Texas State Flag.
On Day 3, U.S. Open Class pilot Dick Butler (DB) won the day with a speed of in his new Concordia. OSTIV (Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol à Voile, or the International Scientific and Technical Soaring Organization) President Loek Boermans and Gerhard Waibel, both of whom worked with Butler on the design and fabrication of this ship, were in pilot meeting to enjoy the win. On Day 6, both came to the launch to see Dick off. Mrs. Waibel (Tilly) raised both fists above her head as the plane lifted off the taxiway, while Loek and Gerhard laughed and mimicked the droopy uplifted goony-bird wings of this 28-meter wingspan marvel.
Launching Now
by Bill Elliott •
WE and P7 are up and checked in on the Team frequency. Today, A8 and SS have “WAY Aero” trackers aboard their sailplanes. These trackers update fairly often. You can watch their progress here:http://tracking.way.aero/wgc2012uvalde
Team Prep For Competition Day 6
by Bill Elliott •
It is now day 6 in the U.S. team room! Grid time is at noon today. Racing task, it is! Also, a much longer task has been set – not a rest day by any means. But with lunch in the team room, everyone still seems to be in goo…
Short And Sweet, And They’re Off!
by Bill Elliott •
All of Team U.S.A has now set out on task. It looks like today will be a speedy one for all. Open Class and 15M tasks are set for a minimum of 3:00 hours. 18M is set for 2:45 hours.Here are the U.S. start times for day 5:15M, Dave Leo…
