Exciting Soaring Racing

"The facts are as follows: While coming out of the 2nd turnpoint, 075 Siberia, Herbert (Weiss), in his ASG-29 impacted terrain with high energy on a spine about 300 meters from the top of the northern ridge. The winds were out of the Northwest at 5-15 mph, with mild turbulence in the area. The loss of live telemetry enabled Gavin Wills, with Steve Jones (GBR) analysis, to go directly to the crash site once the last competitor was home. Gavin saw the wreckage and Herbert's body thrown some meters from the aircraft. It was immediately apparent that it was probably not survivable. Gavin landed at the Makaroa Airstrip and waited for the SAR helicopter from Queenstown to pick him up. On arrival a the crash site, the -29 was inverted with serious damage to the underside of the cockpit, ground debris on the undersides of the wings, and the perspex and contents of the cockpit strewn in a fan shaped pattern up to 100 meters from the initial impact site. Everything points to a a high energy impact with terrain. These are the facts as we know them. How this happened we will never know and have no right to speculate on."

1. Sebastien Kawa (Poland) -  30 points
2. Uli Schwenk (Germany) - 25 points (and a day win)
3. Ben Flewett (New Zealand) - 25 points (no day win)
4. Steve Jones (UK) - 24 points
5. Petr Krejcirik (Czech Rep.) - 17 points

Sugarbush Soaring Association is seeking a Chief Glider Pilot.  This is a full-time hourly position.  CFIG rating and experience is required. Additional consideration will be given to individuals with glider towing, CFI, or A&P ratings. Compensation will be based on the applicant's qualifications and demonstrated management skills.

Applicants are invited to send their resume in confidence to: Dave Ellis at dellis@gmavt.net. 

Hot New Product

• Bright (sunlight readable) color display (320 x 240 pixels)
• SD card reader that is accessible from the front of the unit.
• The moving map can display in "North Up" or "Track Up" modes. (The LX7007 can display in "North Up" mode only.)
• It is preloaded with worldwide terrain maps, airspace and airports.

Like the LX7007 Pro IGC, the LX8000 will be IGC Approved (I believe this is pending) for use for all levels of badges and records.  It is designed to be mounted in the instrument panel and includes the same small LCD variometer readout used with the LX7007.  The LX8000 fits into a cutout that measures 93.5 mm x 81.5 mm.  The LCD screen is 3.5 inches measured on the diagonal (the same as iPAQ h2200 and hx2000 series Pocket PCs) and has the same screen resolution as most Pocket PCs.  Two major differences between the LX8000 and a Pocket PC are:

• The LX8000 screen is much brighter than any Pocket PC
• The LX8000 uses the Linux operating system (not Windows CE) to ensure fast and reliable operation.

Join the Fun

• 4 to 5 people to help with setting up and tearing down my tradeshow booth.  Setup will be on Wednesday, February 13th and teardown is after the convention hall closes on Saturday, February 16th.  Setup takes a few hours and teardown usually takes about 1 hour.
• Multiple people to work in the tradeshow booth with me during the convention.  You can sign-up for 2 hour time slots before or at the event.  The work consists of processing orders and pulling together the desired items from inventory.  It is a great way to meet glider pilots from around the world and often you get to meet soaring legends.

• Review my free and comprehensive online product comparisons and selection guides.
• Call me and we'll walk through the many options.
• I'll explain the subtle differences that matter to you.
• Let me clarify confusing terminology or technology.

News from Burt Compton

April 4 & 5, 2008:  The National Soaring Museum in Elmira, NY, has designated Marfa Airport as the 15th "National Landmark of Soaring" for the gliding activity that has occurred here since 1962.   The dedication and unveiling of the plaque on Marfa Airport will be on Saturday, April 5^th following a week of soaring during our annual spring "Thermal & Wave Camp".  

George Moffat, winner of the 1969 US Nationals (as seen in the film "Sun Ship Game") and the 1970 World Soaring Championships held at Marfa (and first ever held in the USA), will be the guest speaker at a formal banquet at the recently restored Paisano Hotel ballroom in Marfa. 

Information on flying at the Soaring Camp (March 29 - April 5, 2008), room reservations in Marfa, RSVP details for the Camp and the banquet can be found at www.flygliders.com.  Click on the "Landmark" button.

2008 SSA Convention - Banquet Keynote Speakers

 

The article below was submitted by Leo Benetti-Longhini.  Leo is organizing the speakers for the 2008 SSA Convention in Albuquerque. Leo also provided the photos at right and below. 

 

Leonardo and Riccardo Brigliadori, co-authors of the recent book "Competing in gliders (winning with your mind)", will be the keynote speakers during the Saturday evening Awards Banquet at the 2008 SSA convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 16^th. The book, by the father and son collaborators, was originally published in their native Italian ("La competizione in aliante: vincere con la mente") in 2004 and subsequently translated into English in 2006. Over 2,200 copies of the English edition have been printed, with more than 1,500 sold in the first year. A German edition is soon to be released.

Leonardo (or Leo for short) obtained his license at the age of 14 with his older brother Riccardo providing the flight instruction. The early age was possible because there was no minimum age requirement at that time, a regulatory loophole that his older sibling was quite aware of. The year was 1954 and it was the first time that an Italian license was obtained using a two-seat glider; up until that time only single-seat primary gliders were used, with incremental instruction from the ground. Riccardo (Ricky) obtained his license in 1985 at the legal age of 16; by then of course regulatory minimum age requirements were in effect.

The father and son duo share an impressive list of competition achievements. Leo has competed in the Italian nationals 21 times (in Standard, 15m, Open, Two-seater, and motorglider classes) winning a total of 16 times. In 1978 he placed second in the WGC at Chateauroux (the same year that Baer won); in 1982 he became European Champion at the first EGC held in Rieti; in 1985 he became World Champion in the Standard Class; in 1996 he received a Bronze medal at the EGC in Finland; and in 2001 received a Silver medal at the first 18m WGC in Spain. He has placed 4^th twice and 5^th once in other World Gliding Championships. In 1992 he flew the entire length of the Italian peninsula from Como to Taranto, achieving a challenging distance of about 900km. Ricky has competed in the Italian nationals multiple times, earning the national title five times (in Standard, Club, and 18m classes). In 1991 he competed in the Junior EGC in Sweden and claimed second place. He has competed several times in the EGC with two 2^nd place finishes (Hungary and Lithuania in 1992 and 2004) and two 3^rd place finishes (Germany and France in 2000 and 2007). Ricky has flown in the World Gliding Championships in Germany (1999), South Africa (2001), and Poland (2003), achieving 8^th, 6^th, and 5^th positions respectively.

Both pilots have contributed notably to our sport. Leonardo instructed actively until 2001 and then held the position of President of the CSA, the Italian Confederation of Air Sports, from 2001 to 2003. In 1992 he founded the Lariano Soaring Aeroclub (AVL) and was club president for 10 years. Leo has been team captain and coach of the Italian Gliding Team multiple times. He was the contest director of the European and World Military Gliding Championships held at Rieti in both 2003 and 2004. More recently he was contest director of the 5^th JWGC held in August of this year where US team pilots Kathy Fosha and Mike Westbrook competed with the support of team captain Richard Maleady. For the last three years Leonardo has held the position of FAI Vice President for Italy. Riccardo became an instructor in 1991 and actively taught for six years. Ricky is presently the general manager of Glasfaser Italiana Srl., a major glider and general aviation maintenance and composite repair facility at the base of the Orobie Alps in northern Italy.

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