Oz Report

The glory of competition

Gerolf is ready to compete

Gerolf Heinrichs <gerolfontour> writes:

How could you possibly think your excellent comp results would be mere luck?  You are the best pilot in the world.  Everyone who’s been reading the Oz Report in those past some ten years would certainly know this by now!

Now, if you allow a minor correction to your latest Oz Report remarks, regarding the “beating” you gave me on two occasions I hear:

Technically, speaking, (and, if you wouldn’t take my word, you can check this on all the CIVL scoring lists there are) one can only beat those competitors who are in fact competing against you.  One necessary condition to do so, would then be to - at least - fly in the same class with the opponent you intend to beat.  From what I remember, this has only happened in the flex wing class – yet.

Now, for instance, if you win the Rigid class, and I win the Flex class, you still do not beat me!  Just like Manfred while winning his Swift class still can’t claim to have beaten all the Rigids, though eventually he might have flown a lot faster through the same task on one or the other occasion.

For a similar reason, the flexies are not welcome to inscribe in paragliding comps, trying to battle for their price money.  Formula one cars can’t compete in Rallye events and motorbikes are not allowed in the Tour de France – they simply don’t fit the class requirements!!!

It is not so long ago (Algodonales, that would be), that the Rigid community fought like hell to get there own Class-V, so they would not get “beaten” from the Swifts over and over again.

I think, you guys had a point there, though the rule for class-distinction between Swifts and Rigids – the Swifts were then found to be unable to consistently show that they could take off and land in nil wind conditions – seams debatable today.  Watching those latest 110+ lbs Atoses with their often even more overweight pilots (that is before even counting the ballast:) ploughing into them goal fields, makes you wonder what “consistently able to land really would mean, doesn’t it?  ;-)

However, you guys got your own class – so bloody stay in there!

If Toni’s or any other rigid wing pilot’s main motivation was to come to Australia with his glider just to shut me up (and I seriously doubt, Toni would have said that, given what a friendly fellow he is), I would feel really sorry for him, because it is very unlikely to work;-)

Besides that: Isn’t it pretty pointless to argue that someone didn’t make it into a competition’s class which does not even exist, when being about a month late to register?  Carol has already explained the Bogong Cup situation well enough, I think, and as for Forbes – well, after all it is the Moyes competition.  You can’t really expect that Moyes Delta Gliders, the top flex wing manufacturer takes care of organizing a Rigid wing comp.

If you guys are looking for a platform to promote the Rigid wings of A.I.R, then this would be my advice – organize your own competition.  And, I promise you, none of the Moyes boys will show up and spoil the party there :-)

As for my personal opinion: I can only say, if you don’t like it, don’t quote it – but stop bitching about it endlessly.  If I for myself come again and again to the conclusions Flexwings are overall simply better then Rigids then you please have to accept this as I will have to accept that you are leaning towards Rigids.  “De gustibus non disputandum” (can’t argue about taste, for those who are at war with Latin) - the Romans knew it all along.

So, how can we at least resolve our little dispute on who is beating who in the Oz comps:

I hear, you’ll get to fly my Texas-Comp glider this season here.  That means we will be competing not only in the same class, but also on the very same glider model!  Now this is really a chance we should not miss out on.  Being the good and certainly self confident pilot you are, you’re sure not shy of a little bet, are you?

So how about this:

In case you beat me in the upcoming comps in Forbes or Bogong – you can of course continue to tell you were beating me on at least one occasion and you can keep that glider (value about 7000 Euro)!

However, in case of the slight chance that you don’t – your latest Atos will then for a full calendar year carry a decent size writing (which I will provide, of course) on its top surface, saying “Moyes Gliders are better the Rigid Wings!”

Do we have a deal?

Gerolf, you've got a deal!  You can even write: "Rigids ain't sh** compared to a Moyes." BTW, there is an ATOS flying at the Forbes meet, or at least Peter Dall was on the pilot list.  I love competition!

Discuss Competition at the Oz Report forum

Straps - make your own

(This topic is in: Dec.1 Apr.11'02 Mar.30'02 Mar.29'02 --> )

Better straps for your glider for less money

I first saw these straps in the back of Robert Milligan's car.  I asked him about them and found out that I could make some for myself.  What interested me was: 1) The 2" wide straps that reduce forces on the gliders when tightening them down, 2) the fact that you could snap together straps to make longer straps, 3) the straps were sized for gliders, 4) the Robert had a nice little stuff sack to hold all his straps without having to fold them up (which is also very easy to do).

Find the 2" black nylon webbing here at $.60/foot.  Find plastic buckles here at $1.50/each (ITW NEXUS FASTEX SR-2).  Find the triglides (you need one for each strap) here at 4 for $1.75.  This bag will hold six to nine straps at $4.50.  This one will hold three at $3.50.  This one will hold even more at $7.50.


The strap will need to be sewn with a light weight industrial strength sewing machine as shown here:



Click above to see a higher resolution version and to see where it is sewed.

Be sure to heat each end of the strap with a butane torch to meld the ends.

To strap a single surface glider cut your straps at 6'.  For a high performance glider, make the straps 7' long.  8' for the ATOS.

Thanks so much to Rob McKenzie at www.flytandem.com for sewing my straps for me on his machine as a contribution to the Oz Report.

Discuss Straps at the Oz Report forum

Segelsflugzene HOLC

Hobbling along

http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/index.html

It is possible (perhaps, as it hasn't worked for me yet, but I see others have apparently done this) to upload a IGC file to the Segelflugszene HOLC.  You can't upload an OLC file.  The Segelflugszene will apparently (again, this hasn't worked yet for me) optimize the flight.

Discuss Segelsflugzene at the Oz Report forum

Malvern, Wales

Flying in a green country (Aberedw Hill)

Mick Morris <mick> sends:

Malvern hang gliding club flying at a site in Wales, Mick Morris.  Or, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXUiGKUsNPs

Discuss Wales at the Oz Report forum

Flying the Glory

Sailplanes surf the wave (Burketown, AU)

Thanks to Dave Glover.

http://www.glumbert.com/media/cloud

Discuss Glory at the Oz Report forum

Off Topic - Electric Car

(This topic is in: <- Mar.5'07 Dec.21 Dec.1 Nov.30 Nov.15 Oct.26 --> )

Remember this? (Tesla Motors)

http://ozreport.com/10.164#5

http://www.slate.com/id/2154425/?nav=tap3

A week ago, I went for a spin in the fastest, most fun car I've ever ridden in—and that includes the Aston Martin I tried to buy once.  I was so excited, in fact, that I decided to take a few days to calm down before writing about it.  Well, my waiting period is over, I'm thinking rationally, and I'm still unbelievably stoked about the Tesla.

The Tesla Roadster won't hit the streets until next year.  If you see one on the street, then, you should ask for a ride.  Even from the passenger seat, the car feels impossibly stronger, faster, and safer than it should be.  The trick is Tesla's torque curve—the arc of the motor's strength as it revs from a standstill to top speed.  Compared to gasoline-engined cars, the Roadster's torque curve feels—and is—impossible.  That's because the Tesla's motor is electric.

To buy a Tesla, you'll need both $100,000 and the brains to calculate that it won't be a hassle to keep charged.  That's probably why the buyers for the Roadster's sold-out first run of 100 cars include a few people I know at Google.  I wouldn't be surprised if those guys figure out a way to hack the local electric company's environmental-incentive programs and actually make money driving the things to work.

Discuss Tesla at the Oz Report forum

Free Flying at the Paraglider Worlds

Come as a tourist and fly at the Worlds (Mt. Borah)

http://www.manilla2007.com/Default.aspx?tabid=117

You are invited to come to the Manilla 2007 Worlds and FLY !!!!

The Manilla 2007 Worlds event will allow Free Flyers to launch up to forty five minutes before the competition flying launch window is open and soon after it closes at the Launch Directors discretion.  As the Comp tasks are generally one way to goal, visiting spectator pilots can then launch and follow the competitors for an aerial view of the event !

Discuss Free Flying at the Oz Report forum

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