[ Post a Response | FLSC Message Board ]
Posted by Secretary
on 2/18/2008, 4:54 pm
70.101.15.134
Notes on the convention:
Members:
I went alone to the Convention this year, and met Rick and Ann Lafford while there. ABQ (Albuquerque NM) is a glorious town which you can view on Google earth. It’s typically Western, and walking across a super H’way is impossible, so auto transportation was mandatory.
Chose to go to Sinhal’s “Extreme performance” lecture instead of the Junior WGC @ Rieti Italy, and was glad. Sinhal is working on a tape that cures the “separation bubble” problem on upper wing and claims 15% improved performance. Wants me to do oil slick study on the 19 and send it to him.
Went to flight simulation key to improving glider flight instruction. Trace(y) Lewis defined a glider flight simulation package that WILL improve your skills, and says it will help in contests and x-c as well. He has 3,000 hours in simulated gliders and is like 15 years old! He is the best pilot in his club according to the introduction! I think the program is called Condor, and if you get rudder pedals and a stick you are set to go! Goto condorsoaring.com for details.
The Experimental Soaring Association luncheon was interesting, and helped me with the 19 improvement project. Bob Locovara is the country's leading gelcoat expert, and talking to him was nice indeed! He's at PGC!
Took in the aircraft inspection talk of Robert Mudd, who referred to the FAA library (airweb.faa.gov/aircraft) for aircraft ADs, registration etc questions. You might check it out.
Went to the Hilton Cup Camp at the Barons place. He smokes cigars and thinks Paris belongs in jail.
Dean Carswell talked about winches, and is coming around cautiously because of the gas crunch, noise and the future of population; Spectra makes a big difference in launches. And he says that 50% is the going rate for length v s height of launch. We should, according to him, get 2,000’ on our machine, but we may have a power problem or experience problem. I know the best I’ve done on an average day is 1,400’. He acknowledges that RECENCY is crucial for safe launches. He stresses the danger of cross wind take offs because the speed of stall is increased to 1.4 x Vstall and the need for firm and pre determined seat cushions to prevent being accelerated away from the stick on launch, and the need to unload the wing on PT3. Even Bernald Smith is talking about how dangerous winch launching is, but he encourages participation – cautiously.
Went to the competition pilots’ breakfast on Friday and had a blast.
Heard Volker Halbe talk about the merge of DG & LS sailplanes,
Got briefed on ramp check by Bob Carlton, who has had 200+ ramp checks. He gets checked so often that he has his documents notarized! (an over reaction). He talked about paperwork (OAR) and questions about log entries and odd looking things in the cockpit.
Went to VSA luncheon, had a good time and told the guys (at Tom Robert’s request) what a good time we had last year and invited them to this year’s shindig. We are unfortunately competing with IVSM at Harris Hill this year! Told them I would go if they came! Got a bunch of applications to VSA for any member who wants to join VSA. They are hungry for members and the “Bungee Cord” is greatly improved (magazine)
Focus on Clubs was not so good this year, but did remind that growing the sport was our primary mission.
We have an editor for Soaring Magazine! It’s a part time job with full time responsibility! The job’s biggest challenge is attracting new ads, and getting a layout like other sport magazines.
Unlocking the secrets to faster flying was nothing new. He talked about speed to fly and MacCready calcs and instinct about changing conditions. I have not mastered it yet.
Saturday Governors and record keepers’ breakfast was fun, but I was late. Fred Whitely is enthusiastic and stressed the need for each job holder to have a description, vision and goal.
Saturday World Class pilots’ breakfast was highly attended. Sorry I missed it! They showed movies!!!
The Jonkers JS1 is just out. Jonkers lecture was terrific; was given by Jonkers engineer (Attie Jonker). He had a dream as a kid to build a glider ‘cause dad was a tinkerer glider pilot. Went to engineering school with the idea and when he got out immediate went to work (1996) at putting this glider together. Stole some ideas from the 26 and 27 (ASW- the fuselage) and worked on the airfoil through x-foil and created an XL spreadsheet that did stress analysis!
The machine weight 300 Kg 600 Kg all up, and is predicted to do 53/1, “until someone proves otherwise”… he has designed around the impaired thermaling flap degeneration in thermals problem and says 4.5 º is best for thermals. Theoretically of course… He thinks it will do 310 fpm down at 108 Kt!
My virtual JS-1 is on order
Rejuvenating an LS-4 turned out to be a disappointment, but was given by a young girl so charming that I just had to stay. Besides, the FLARM system did not interest me since we have no problem with traffic YET. The young girl, Amelia Adams, is pretty as a picture and was so awkward that it was impossible for an old geezer not to stay. Her father Aland Adams (spelling is correct) has a website that will be very helpful if you are interested I could not find it on google, but will inform.
BEST FOR LAST CATEGORY. Einar Enevoldson, the initiator of the Perlan project, described working with Steve Fosett and flying to 65,000’ When asked if he plans on unmanned exploration he said “Not by me!” You had to be there for the photography and the excitement. He got the Argentine air force to cooperate with the project, and freely talks about the “Glider Mafia” overcoming obstacles in politics and geographic boundaries
Apparently the only shops in the East now are M&H and Gehrlein's. Wanna start a shop anybody?
Jim Rizzo
Message Thread:
« Back to thread