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topic: Flavio Tebaldi (71 articles)

Not Going to the Worlds

May 24, 2021, 9:58:56 pm MDT

Not Going to the Worlds

Italian team, Brazilian team, maybe others?

CIVL|COVID|Flavio Tebaldi|PG|Robin Hamilton

Flavio Tebaldi <<flafly63>> sends:

I inform you that the Italian Hang Gliding National Team has decided to not participate in the 23rd FAI World Hang Gliding Championship, which will be held in Krushevo from July 18 to July 30, 2021.

The decision has been taken by the pilots and the Team Leader of the Italian Hang Gliding National Team and fully supported by the Italian NAC.

Attached, you can find the official communication, signed by the General Director of the Italian NAC, Aero Club d’Italia.

We wish you a good and safe competition.

Dear Mr Lukanov,

It is with immense regret that, after a thorough evaluation of all the factors known today, I have to inform you that the Italian Hang Gliding Team has decided not to participate in the next World Championship which will take place from 18 to 30 July in Macedonia.

The main reason is sporting fairness as, due to the current pandemic situation in the world, the participation of all teams is not guaranteed regardless of their will. We have repeatedly asked the organrzer and the CIVL to postpone the event, but our appeal, as well as that of other teams, was not heard.

Secondly, the uncertain health situation in the host country and the anti-covid regulations in Italy, which would now impose quarantine upon return also contributed to the decision as pilots cannot lose that many days of work after such a very difficult year.

We are very sorry we cannot defend our title because there would be nothing more beautiful for us than fight for another chance to step on the top of a world podium and being able to sing our national anthem in full voice. But we strongly believe that the importance of a victory is measured on the value of the opponents. If a good part of those cannot be present that value fails.

GENERAL DIRECTOR, Gianpaolo Miniscalco

Pedro Garcia <<gpedrol>> writes:

The current situation in Macedonia is still precarious and uncertain (see chart below). Today, even when their situation has largely improved, their numbers are similar to what the US or EU were showing during the worst part of the pandemic.

Also, they still have restrictions in place regarding public gatherings, restaurants serving outdoors/take away only and it looks like glider transport might be even more challenging right now.

In addition, the US Department of State issued a level 4 travel advisory to Macedonia "do not travel to North Macedonia...

Moreover, the FAI/CIVL announced some days ago that they were not going to send a Steward to the pre-Pan-American Paragliding in Brazil when the COVID numbers at that point were still better than the numbers in Macedonia during the same period (link to Oz Report: https://OzReport.com/toc.php?25.082#4), but apparently they think the numbers are fine for the Hang Gliding Worlds.

On top of all this, for pilots from certain countries it is almost impossible to attend, even if they wanted to, due to before, after or before and after travel restrictions or some others will decide that they cannot risk their or their family's health by attending.

It is clear that there is no way of knowing what the situation will be like in a month or month and a half and I truly hope it will be a lot better.

With all this in mind, the current data and my way of perceiving and understanding life, hang gliding, our camaraderie, how we share our sport with our friends and fellow pilots I don't think it is fair, safe for everyone or that it makes sense to rush this championship; therefore, my decision right now is not to participate in this event.

I, personally, cannot understand that the FAI/CIVL left this decision to pilots and organizers when we are talking about a world health safety situation and they are in charge of overseeing safety and fair conditions and opportunity among pilots, which is clearly not the case right now.

I will continue to look forward to the next opportunity where we may fly together as a team and stand on the podium together.

Robin Hamilton <<Robin2808>> writes:

Brasil has just officially announced they are out. I have been talking with John and Zac today. I think we are all aligned in not wanting to attend if we can’t get all of our competitive team over there and also not wanting to participate if a good number of other good teams can’t make it. With where we are now, I too am not going to participate. Zac and John can speak for themselves but I believe they hold a similar view.

Zac also indicated he would try to reach out to others on the top 15 list to see who might still be interested and committed to going from the US.

I don’t want to prejudge or influence the decisions of others but I personally believe that if we do end up with no strong individual interest with the evolving circumstances, then it would be useful to indicate that position to CIVL and the organizers as these other countries have.

Here is the current situation:

We recently held two US National level competitions in Florida at Wilotree Park. We carried out COVID-19 protocols. We obviously think that you can carry out competitions safely. Here's why:

1) Hang Gliding competitions are held outside where the risk of infection is an order of magnitude lower than inside.

2) If all pilots are vaccinated the risk of infection is so much reduced that masks are not required.

3) Pilots can avoid contact with non vaccinated people.

The fact that it is possible to carry out safe hang gliding competitions does not directly speak to the issues raised above.

2019 Worlds »

July 26, 2019, 12:13:01 pm MDT

2019 Worlds

Results from the last task on Friday

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Christian Ciech|competition|Facebook|Filippo Oppici|Flavio Tebaldi|Gary Wirdnam|John Simon|Manfred Ruhmer|Moyes Litespeed RX|Suan Selenati|weather|Wills Wing T3|Worlds 2019

Live broadcasts: https://www.facebook.com/hangglidingworldchamp2019/

Live tracking and replays: https://lt.flymaster.net/bs.php?grp=2941

Also live tracking: https://www.livetrack360.com/livetracking/split/2941

Results: http://www.italy2019.com/news/

Results: https://airtribune.com/22nd-fai-world-hg-championship/results

Last task:

# Name Nat Glider Time Total
1 Primoz Gricar GER 02:55:12 925
2 Peter Neuenschwander SUI 02:50:17 911
3 Christian Ciech ITA 02:52:04 883
4 Gerd Doenhuber GER 03:05:26 866
5 Gary Wirdnam GBR 03:10:29 833
6 Manfred Ruhmer AUT 03:16:45 785
7 Filippo Oppici ITA 03:16:03 781
8 Glauco Pinto BRA 03:16:40 775
9 Alessandro Ploner ITA 03:16:58 771
10 Alvaro Figueiredo Sandoli BRA 03:17:13 765

Final Results:

# Name Nat Glider Total
1 Alessandro Ploner ITA 8156
2 Christian Ciech ITA 8073
3 Primoz Gricar GER 7951
4 Peter Neuenschwander SUI 7635
5 Mario Alonzi FRA 7586
6 Manfred Ruhmer AUT 7463
7 Alvaro Figueiredo Sandoli BRA 7351
8 Grant Crossingham GBR 7219
9 Filippo Oppici ITA 7150
10 Gerd Doenhuber GER 7134

http://www.italy2019.com/2019/07/26/trionfo-azzurro-ai-mondiali-di-deltaplano-doppietta-nellindividuale-con-ploner-e-ciech-vittoria-nella-classifica-a-squadre-la-sesta-consecutiva/

The last task of the XXII Hang Gliding World Championships, which saw the triumph of the Azzurra expedition led by team leader Flavio Tebaldi both in the individual and team rankings, has just ended.

On the eve of the last task, Italy came from a "control" day, as explained by Tebaldi himself: "We are excited about the result achieved, it was not at all easy to place this one-two - it was our team leader. National - The first few days went just fine and we confiscated important points in view of the final rush that we knew to be dangerous because the opponents would have become familiar with the skies of Friuli Venezia Giulia and consequently they would have given us a hard time. With the advantage accumulated, on Wednesday we preferred to stay in the group in order not to risk, considering also the weather conditions and so we managed to impose ourselves with Ploner and Ciech in general, while in the fundamental team ranking was the contribution of everyone, including the boys that did not bring points but gave us an immense hand in terms of communication: victory is also due to them. I allow myself to make the media aware, because this is an amazing team, perhaps the most medal in the Italian scene, with ten world titles and six consecutive teams, eight individuals (if we count the four earned in the rigid wings) and five Europeans: I believe that these numbers and these guys deserve more respect and consideration".

Today's last scheduled task saw the riders travel 101 km, launching from Mount Cuarnan and then landing at the San Mauro airfield in Premariacco, a town near the enchanting Cividale del Friuli. For statistics lovers, the organizers in this world have succeeded in proposing three different take-offs and landings, thus being able to prepare days of competition with the highest competitiveness, with a weather that has almost always kissed Friuli Venezia Giulia and with a virtually unanimous consensus regarding the quality of the work performed.

Considering the serious risk of thunderstorms that were spreading from Cadore towards Carnia with possible involvement of the high Friuli plain even before evening (among other things with winds coming from different directions), the day's buoys were placed towards Spilimbergo, Cividale del Friuli and Osoppo, with a final landing as mentioned in Premariacco. Immediately after the start, a group of pilots preferred to go into the mountains to avoid being in trouble then; a second one instead, has taken the shortest and fastest way on the plain, going however in difficulty after a few kilometers. Finally, a handful of deltaplanists have decided to take advantage of the second start gate and we talk about the Italians Selenati and Ciech, Majors (USA) and Oliveira (BRA): risky decision considering the day but by real bold, hoping to be able to repeat what happened in task 5 with the victory of John Simon (USA), which took place using this tactic.

After just over 30' of the race, the task immediately made it clear to everyone that it would not be a final catwalk, with several pilots closing their world prematurely and among them also the Colombian fort Velez, landed while he was in sixth position. The leaders of the day, flying at a very good altitude above 1600m on average, was formed among others by Smith, Ruhmer, Peter Neuenschwander, Doenhuber and Gricar (with Germany therefore in full fight for the podium), with the Swiss who in short he managed to amplify his advantage over his pursuers proceeding at a rapid pace. Ruhmer found himself in difficulty at an altitude of 400m, finding a thermal not easy to turn and being thus forced to a rather long stop. For Italy, Ciech and Ploner preferred the risk share in the early stages, unlike Kato who found himself in great difficulty. Good race also for Brazil with Rocha, Sandoli and Pinto, present in the top ten and decided to take home the silver in the team standings.

With more than thirty drivers out of goal, the remainder took the leap to shift their trajectory from the plains to the mountains and someone has even trespassed into Slovenia desperately searching for thermals near the buoy near Cividale: Throssell and Mckay have so quickly climbed over all the drivers further south of them, proceeding more than 70km/h towards Osoppo, with the leading group led by Neuenschwander (in front practically throughout the race), Gricar, Doenhuber and Wirdnam. In the meantime, our Ciech and Ploner have come to light and especially for the Folgaria athlete (among his other victories we remember eight times Italian champion), the possibility of climbing over to General Ploner, having exploited the second start window.

At 20km from the finish, Neuenschwander stopped to regain altitude, aware of the fact that a stop would probably have allowed him to close the goal in first position and quickly gaining altitude and speed; Gricar tried to close the gap, thus re-proposing the challenge already experienced at the end of task 9, but finding Doenhuber with breath on his neck. At 5km from the goal, the Swiss had to beat around having too low a altitude, with Gricar at his heels with more than 800m of difference, ready to anticipate him right on top. Neuenschwander continued undaunted but lowered to 150m at 1.8km from San Mauro, hitting the last cylinder but landing incredibly: it was the first big error in the evaluation of the champion that didn't stop him from finishing second anyway. The task was won by the German Gricar, delayed by a few kilometers, who succeeded in bringing home heavy points for Germany together with his teammate Doenhuber. Third is our Ciech, who, starting with the second window, flew very well, but was unable to overtake his fellow countryman Alessandro Ploner, who thus took home the third individual world title after those of 2009 and 2011, with Italy manages to place also the strong Filippo Oppici in the top ten.

The Italian team:

2019 Worlds »

July 17, 2019, 10:23:51 MDT

2019 Worlds

Day three results

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Christian Ciech|competition|Daniel Vé|Daniel Vélez Bravo|Daniel Vélez Bravo|Facebook|Flavio Tebaldi|Manfred Ruhmer|Marco Laurenzi|Moyes Litespeed RX|Petr Polach|Primoz Gricar|record|Suan Selenati|Tyler Borradaile|video|weather|Wills Wing T3|Worlds 2019

Live broadcasts: https://www.facebook.com/hangglidingworldchamp2019/

Live tracking and replays: https://lt.flymaster.net/bs.php?grp=2941

Also live tracking: https://www.livetrack360.com/livetracking/split/2941

Results: http://www.italy2019.com/news/

Results: https://airtribune.com/22nd-fai-world-hg-championship/results

Petr Polach: https://www.facebook.com/polachp/videos/2579299812128483/

https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/live4gopro?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG

Task 3:

# Name Nat Glider Time km/h Total
1 Manfred Ruhmer AUT 01:45:52 39.3 993
2 Alessandro Ploner ITA 01:45:46 39.3 987
3 Marco Laurenzi ITA 01:46:46 38.9 953
4 Christian Ciech ITA 01:47:56 38.5 948
5 Suan Selenati ITA 01:48:14 38.4 942
6 Daniel Velez COL 01:48:45 38.2 928
7 David Brito Filho BRA 01:48:37 38.3 923
8 Marcelo Andrei Gomes Da Rocha BRA 01:48:38 38.3 921
9 Arne Tanzer NED 01:50:29 37.6 898
10 Pedro L. Garcia USA 01:51:26 37.3 892

Italy, led by Flavio Tebaldi, is still confirmed as a team to beat, with four drivers scoring in the top five. Only the stainless Austrian Ruhmer resists.

Third task, particularly short, not easy due to the variable weather conditions that have caused difficulties for all the national teams, which have adopted various strategies to try to get by. A very different situation from yesterday, typical "pre frontal" with destabilization in the low strata and a cold disturbance coming from the Veneto region - as explained by the "meteoman" of the organization Damiano Zanocco - has meant that the plain is "awakened", allowing pilots at least partially to be able to risk even the fastest but also risky line.

Selenati immediately took altitude, moving after a few km from the start to more than 1000m, together with team-mate Ciech, Klemenich (SLO), Ruhmer (AUT), Garcia (ESP) and Polach (CZ), trying to exploit the plain towards the first of the two turning points of the day, located in the specific case near Cividale del Friuli, the splendid town founded by Giulio Cesare who became Lombard capital of Friuli in his time. The route then included the return flying over the hilly area of ??the middle Friuli also touching Mount Bernadia near Nimis (another place well known by local flight enthusiasts), before "touching" the second buoy near Gemona and landing as always in Bordano.

Few pilots chose the longest trajectory near the ridge, which allowed them to gain altitude faster but having to complete more kilometers to reach the first buoy in Cividale; only the Slovenian Stanislav Galovec dared to start from the third window made available by the organization, but found itself flying by itself without any reference.

At the first turning point came in the order Ruhmer (AUT), Ciech (ITA) and Sandoli (BRA), who anticipated Laurenzi (ITA), Glauco Pinto (the very strong reigning Brazilian champion with many records also on distance) and the Slovenian Matjaz Klemencic. Given the difficult weather conditions, some drivers had to "raise the white flag" landing well before reaching the goal: even Pinto himself had to surrender shortly after Cividale and this was the real coup of the day.

Misfortune also for the only woman in the race, the Japanese Sato, who suffered an accident "piercing" out of goal: immediate rescue operations taken from the operations center in Tolmezzo, where three people are constantly on the monitors and follow the pilots' tracks. In close collaboration with the Alpine Rescue Service, the athlete was reached and transported to the hospital for the necessary ritual checks; his condition does not cause concern and a good "good luck" prompt recovery has come from the whole movement.

Tanzer, class of '89, Dutch, then tried to escape while losing a bit of altitude; the "sail" was pursued by Ploner, Laurenzi, Ruhmer, Ciech and Selenati, who tried to fly as fast as possible to the second and final turning point, maintaining an average altitude of 1000 m which actually allowed them to reach Bordano in a short time. Not having to stop in search of thermals, on the landing field our Ploner champion, the Austrian Ruhmer, the excellent young promise of the flight (Flyve branded) Marco Laurenzi, Christian Ciech and the Suan Selenati from Friuli arrived which thus completed the masterpiece "made in Italy".

This is the ranking of the first drivers in goal. Once the scoring system has been developed that takes into account different variables, the final one will be published on this site: https://airtribune.com/22nd-fai-world-hg-championship/results. On the official FB page of the event and on the website www.italy2019.com, the same will be done and specifically the evening will be published the provisional ranking of the day and the following morning instead, the general official one.

Cumulative:

# Name Nat Glider Total
1 Alessandro Ploner ITA 2861
2 Christian Ciech ITA 2850
3 Manfred Ruhmer AUT 2794
4 Suan Selenati ITA 2781
5 Marco Laurenzi ITA 2714
6 Alvaro Figueiredo Sandoli BRA 2570
7 Mario Alonzi FRA 2567
8 Tyler Borradaile CAN 2548
9 Peter Neuenschwander SUI 2522
10 Primoz Gricar GER 2454

2020 Class 1 European Championships

July 1, 2019, 8:09:54 MDT

2020 Class 1 European Championships

Montecucco

CIVL|European Championships 2020 Class 1|Flavio Tebaldi

Undoubtedly the best foot launching site in the World.

Elena writes:

The CIVL Bureau has been in contact with potential organisers for the 21st FAI European Hang Gliding Class 1 Championships. Monte Cucco team, led by Flavio Tebaldi, has answered positively and a bid is under formal consideration by the CIVL Bureau and Hang Gliding Committee.

The competition chosen for the test event is the Italian Open, Monte Cucco International Trophy, taking place from August 10 to 18, 2019.

https://www.airtribune.com/cucco2019/info

Spots have been secured for non-Italian pilots.

Link to news:

https://www.fai.org/news/monte-cucco-host-21st-fai-european-hang-gliding-class%C2%A01-championships?type=node&id=24473

https://www.airtribune.com/cucco2019/pilots

51 pilots registered, none confirmed.

Discuss "2020 Class 1 European Championships" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2018 European Hang Gliding Championships

July 20, 2018, 12:25:42 pm MDT GMT-0600

The last task

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Christian Ciech|Christian Pollet|Corinna Schwiegershausen|European Championships 2018|Facebook|Filippo Oppici|Flavio Tebaldi|Icaro 2000|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Thomas Weissenberger

http://hgeu2018.mk/

Hang Gliding Europeans Class 1 Live tracking:

2D: https://lt.flymaster.net/bs.php?grp=2149
2D/3D SPLIT beta: livetrack360.com/livetracking/split/2149

The last task:

1 Durand Jnr, J 02:24:24
2 Ciech, C 02:31:24
3 Vyhnalik, D 02:32:03
4 Peternel, F 02:33:40
5 Woods, J 02:33:44
6 Hubbard, G 02:33:59
7 Moroder, A 02:34:07
8 Dönhuber, G 02:34:08
9 Wallbank, C 02:34:10
10 Pollet, C 02:34:12

Flavio Tebaldi writes:

After five worlds titles in a row, the Italian hang gliding team wins the fourth European title in a row. The Italian team has won all the category 1 competitions since 2008. Alex Ploner wins his second European Championship, after Kayseri 2012.

http://hgeu2018.mk/index.php/res

Task 8:

# Name Nat Glider Time Total
1 Jonny Durand Jnr Aus Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 02:24:23 1000
2 Christian Ciech Ita Laminar Icaro 2000 02:31:23 898
3 Dan Vyhnalik Cze Aeros Combat 13.5 GT 02:32:02 888
4 Franc Peternel Slo Wills Wing T2C 144 02:33:40 866
5 Gerd Dönhuber Ger Moyes RX 3.5 02:34:08 859
6 Anton Moroder Ita Laminar 02:34:06 858
7 Guy Hubbard Aus Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 02:33:58 857
8 Carl Wallbank Gbr Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 02:34:09 854
9 Anton Struganov Rus Moyes RX4 02:34:12 851
10 Josh Woods Aus Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 02:33:43 850
10 Christian Pollet Fra 02:34:12 850

Final Results:

# Name Nat Glider Total
1 Alessandro Ploner Ita Icaro 2000 Laminar 6871
2 Grant Crossingham Gbr Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 6716
3 Balazs Ujhelyi Hun Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 6563
4 Filippo Oppici Ita Wills Wing T2C 144 6388
5 Carl Wallbank Gbr Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 6208
6 Christian Ciech Ita Laminar Icaro 2000 6107
7 Petr Benes Cze Aeros Combat 5956
8 Thomas Weissenberger Aut Icaro 2000 Laminar 2018 5899
9 Oliver Chitty Gbr Moyes RX5 Pro 5880
10 Dan Vyhnalik Cze Aeros Combat 13.5 GT 5872

Team standing remains the same.

Corinna was the top female in 23rd.

Wolfgang Kothgasser was the top rigid wing pilot with Austria the top team.

2018 European Hang Gliding Championships

Fri, Jul 13 2018, 8:43:29 am MDT

Friday

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Davide Guiducci|European Championships 2018|Facebook|Filippo Oppici|Flavio Tebaldi|Marco Laurenzi|Petr Polach|video

http://hgeu2018.mk/

Hang Gliding Europeans Class 1 Live tracking:

2D: https://lt.flymaster.net/bs.php?grp=2149
2D/3D SPLIT beta: livetrack360.com/livetracking/split/2149

Flavio Tebaldi at goal waiting for Christian and Alex who are way out in front: https://www.facebook.com/flavio.tebaldi/videos/10215031767301662/

Balaz, Christian and Alex were together approaching goal and Balaz found a better line and Christian and Alex got too low 5 kilometers from goal. Balaz got to goal quite a bit early. Christian landed out 5 km from goal.

Ollie Chitty's video from the previous day: https://youtu.be/KOuqrWxBuDA

Video from Peter at goal: https://www.facebook.com/polachp/videos/2027951523929984/

1 UJHELYI, B 2:30:25
2 LAURENZI, m 2:38:15
3 CROSSINGHAM, G 2:40:36
4 PLONER, A 2:42:18
5 BENES, P 2:44:15
6 ZEISCHKA, J 2:44:31
7 KLEMENCIC, m 2:44:38
8 CHITTY, O 2:45:12
9 JNR, J 2:45:14
10 ÖKRöS, L 2:46:17
11 WALLBANK, C 2:46:57
12 OPPICI, F 2:51:05
13 PETERNEL, F 2:51:29
14 MORODER, A 2:52:12
15 GUIDUCCI, D 2:52:19
16 GALOVEC, S 2:53:23
17 MATHURIN, E 2:59:15
18 OPSANGER, O 3:00:25
19 DöNHUBER, G 3:00:45
20 PREININGER, C 3:00:55

http://hgeu2018.mk/index.php/res

Task 4:

# Name Nat Glider Time Total
1 Balazs Ujhelyi Hun Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 02:30:24 983
2 Marco Laurenzi Ita Icaro Laminar 02:38:14 890
3 Alessandro Ploner Ita 02:42:17 883
4 Grant Crossingham Gbr Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 02:40:35 860
5 Petr Benes Cze Aeros Combat 02:44:15 830
6 Jochen Zeischka Bel Moyes RX 5 Pro 02:44:30 827
7 Oliver Chitty Gbr Moyes RX5 Pro 02:45:11 821
8 László Ökrös Hun Moyes RX 3.5 02:46:16 816
9 Matjaz Klemencic Slo Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 02:44:38 810
10 Carl Wallbank Gbr Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 02:46:56 797

Cumulative:

# Name Nat Glider Total
1 Petr Benes Cze Aeros Combat 3686
2 Balazs Ujhelyi Hun Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 3654
3 Alessandro Ploner Ita 3501
4 Oliver Chitty Gbr Moyes RX5 Pro 3493
5 Grant Crossingham Gbr Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 3485
6 Jochen Zeischka Bel Moyes RX 5 Pro 3361
7 Marco Laurenzi Ita Icaro Laminar 3304
8 Filippo Oppici Ita Wills Wing T2C 144 3266
9 Carl Wallbank Gbr Moyes RX 3.5 Pro 3201
10 Arne Tänzer Ned Icaro 2000 - Laminar 3164

The Italian team has moved barely into the lead with the help from Filippo Oppici and Marco Laurenzi as Christian has landed out twice now. The top three spots are close with the Brits in third.

Wolfgang Kothgasser from Austria has three 1000 points days for the ATOS class and is in first with Tim Grabowski in second. The Austrian team is first overall (with top two scores counting each day).

Fly with Guido

April 17, 2014, 7:46:38 EDT

Fly with Guido

May 1st

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Flavio Tebaldi|video

Flavio Tebaldi writes:

Alex Ploner and Falken Club have organized, in Campo Tures, a day of flying in memory of Guido Ghermann.

https://vimeo.com/92125698

Discuss "Fly with Guido" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Wing tips certified

March 17, 2014, 8:22:50 EDT

Wing tips certified

By the DHV

Flavio Tebaldi

Flavio Tebaldi writes:

Laminar 14.1 is already certified by DHV with all the options flown in Valle the Bravo this year, including removable wingtips (November 2013). In the next two months also the 13.1 and 13.7 will be certified too.

Discuss "Wing tips certified" at the Oz Report forum   link»

No 2014 Europeans in Montecucco

January 20, 2014, 4:50:08 pm EST

No 2014 Europeans in Montecucco

The back up plan

CIVL|Flavio Tebaldi|weather

Agust Gudmundsson (Teigar) <<ag>> writes:

When the CIVL made the difficult decision to cancel the European Championships in Spain this summer, we made it a high priority to look for an alternated location/organizer for this event. We know that the European Championships is an important event for pilots in Europe as well as other nations that often bring visiting pilots.

In light of the unfortunate weather conditions that prevented all but two tasks at the world championships in Monte Cucco, Italy in 2011, our thought was that perhaps Flavio Tebaldi, the organizer of that event, would be willing to submit a short-tracked bid for the Euros this summer.

Because Flavio is a known organizer that has run several successful Category 1 events, we invited him to submit a bid using the same team and organization as prevous competition.

We have now received a reply from Flavio and unfortunately, due to short time to prepare the event, he is unable to submit a bid for this summer.

We are disappointed, as we are sure the pilots will also be, but completely understand Flavio’s commitment to safety, quality and thorough preparation.

Discuss "No 2014 Europeans in Montecucco" at the Oz Report forum   link»

CIVL Category 1 Guidelines

August 22, 2013, 6:09:01 pm MDT

CIVL Category 1 Guidelines

Thanks to Louise Joselyn

CIVL|Davis Straub|Flavio Tebaldi|Heather Mull|Louise Joselyn|PG|Stéphane Malbos

Stef Malbos writes:

Published today on our website is the latest completely revised edition of ‘Practical Guidelines for Organising CIVL/FAI Category 1 Championships’.

It can be found at: http://www.fai.org/civl-documents under Event Organisers/Practical Guidelines...

It can also be found through the "Box" in the lower left of our website Front page. This comprehensive document covers the entire process of organising a CIVL Category 1 event from preparing the bid to post-championship tasks. It has been completely re-written and includes chapters outlining the roles of key personnel (Competition Organiser, Meet Director, Safety Director) as well as aspects such as Logistics and Media and PR. Of course, these Guidelines might be useful for organisers of Cat 2 events.

The Guidelines are available as a complete document in a single download, or in individual chapters. The aim of the modular version is to enable key organising staff to select the sections relevant to them. It will also enable easier updating, as the Guidelines are designed to evolve as rules and technology change.

The revised Guidelines have been written and compiled by Louise Joselyn, herself a past FAI Category 1 Championship organiser, together with Heather Mull and Nicky Moss, experienced Meet and Safety Directors for hang gliding and paragliding, and competition organisers. The work has been reviewed by Davis Straub and Flavio Tebaldi, both of whom have been extensively involved in the organisation of FAI Category 1 events.

“Ever since we ran the FAI World Hang Gliding Championships in Laragne in 2009, I have wanted to rewrite the Organiser Guidelines,” Louise Joselyn stated. “Running a Cat 1 event is a three year task, and I felt it was important to share our hard-gained knowledge, in an effort to make it easier for other organisers,” she added .

“I hope that recent and upcoming Cat 1 organisers will take the opportunity to comment on the Guidelines so that they can be regularly updated and expanded where necessary. This is a start point!” she confirmed.

Davis Straub commented: “I like the writing style. It is easy to read and friendly.” He added: “It seems you have much more helpful information for meet organizers than we had at the last Worlds. Of course, it makes running the Worlds look very expensive - which it is!” He picked out one particular pointer that he liked from the ‘Role of the Meet Director’ chapter: ‘Run all briefings on time. Pilots will learn to turn up on time if you stick to the set schedule.’

Flavio Tebaldi was also favourably impressed with the revised document. “I think that this is a great work that will help every future organizer.” He added: “Now we have highly detailed guidelines for all the key people involved in organising a Cat1 competition. I appreciate also the chapters about logistics and about all the things that previously were not so clear and open to many interpretations. Importantly, it clarifies that the stewards will be verifying that the organisers are applying the rules.”

2013 Worlds »

January 11, 2013, 6:56:33 pm AEDT

2013 Worlds

Pilots at goal

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Facebook|Flavio Tebaldi|Manfred Ruhmer|photo|Worlds 2013


Jim Prahl on the prowl.

More photos from the fourth task.

Flavio Tebaldi reports from goal Manfred Ruhmer in first, Alex Ploner fifth. I see all the Italians at goal.

Konrado reports many happy pilots at goal and Manfred winning the day:

2011 World Championships end on a sunny note

Sat, Jul 30 2011, 11:52:23 am EDT

2011 World Championships

Beautiful sky, all blue, then cu's just before noon. Light winds, too.

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Christian Ciech|Davis Straub|Dustin Martin|Flavio Tebaldi|James Stinnett|Jeff O'Brien|Jeff Shapiro|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Larry Bunner|PG|Wills Wing T2C|World Championships 2011|Zac Majors

http://www.cucco2011.org/

(You can find the results in PDF format here. I would have published them more but the format is even worse than the standard PDF format. Of course, with more than two days of results I would have been more encouraged to publish the results. Note to meet directors, don't want your results published in the Oz Report? Keep publishing them in PDF format.)

http://www.jonnydurand.blogspot.com/

http://rich-lovelace.blogspot.com/

http://klemencicmatjaz.blogspot.com/

As Flavio Tebaldi pointed out at the closing ceremony that gathered us all in the park in Sigillo, Saturday was a real Montecucco flying and competition day, at least for those paraglider pilots that we could see above launch. It was the only day during the last two weeks where there weren't clouds in the sky early in the morning, coming from incoming instability and perhaps rain. For once the winds were light and the cu's, when they formed, were not being blown apart.

Didn't look like it over developed later, but we were long gone on our way to Rome. Some pilots stayed back in order to fly Montecucco.

The Italians were very happy with Alex Ploner in first, Christian Ciech in second (very very close to Alex) and Elio Cataldi in fifth, for a first place Italian team effort. (Those three Italian pilots were the only ones to score for the team.)

Derreck Turner had the best single result for the American team, nineteenth on the second task.

Again let me point to all the results found at the first URL above in this article.

Overall US standings:

41Dustin MartinUsaWills Wing T2C 1445488051353
50Jeff ShapiroUsaWills Wing T2C 1445327921324
61Larry BunnerUsaWills Wing T2C 1445177341251
69Jeff O'brienUsaWills Wing T2C 1443718131184
70Davis StraubUsaAirborne Rev4986771175
74Derreck TurnerUsaMoyes Lss 52248451069
83James StinnettUsaWills Wing T2C221763984
109Zac MajorsUsaWills Wing T2C536144680

Discuss "2011 World Championships end on a sunny note" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Flavio Tebaldi, didn't do the right thing! »

July 4, 2011, 8:56:36 CDT

Flavio Tebaldi, didn't do the right thing!

Where is his sportsmanship?

Flavio Tebaldi|Tullio Gervasoni

Despite all the denials it is clear that Flavio Tebaldi kicked Tullio off the Italian team going to the 2011 Worlds because something in the June 22nd article that I wrote about the Italian team selection process offended him. In addition, Tullio's article on June 23rd reaffirms that it was something in my article that offended Flavio.

It is almost impossible for me to believe that Flavio would kick a top ranked and highly skilled pilot off the team because of something the pilot said. What does it matter what I or Tullio think about how the Italians select their team?

What explains why Flavio is willing to commit this shameful act? Was the article the last straw after he was offended by something else Tullio did (Tullio says in his article that he sent around emails to other pilots), but not offended enough to keep this top pilot off the team in the first place? (Flavio selected Tullio to be on the Italian team the day before my article, then he was pulled from the team hours after my article came out.)

I wrote a complete apology to Tullio for getting him kicked off the team hoping in some small way to right a wrong and get this matter straightened out and Tullio back on the team.

Since Flavio pulled Tullio from the team there has continued to be a back and forth effort to get Tullio restored to the team. It appeared for a while that Flavio might relent and do the right thing, put Tullio back in his rightful spot. But, after ten days without a choice being displayed on the Worlds' pilot list he has now appointed the ninth ranked Italian pilot as the last pilot flying for Italy.

So the obvious questions arise. If Tullio met the subjective criteria to be on the Italian team the day before my article came out (an Italian team pilot thinks that these may be the criteria), how is it that he didn't meet those criteria hours after my article came out? Flavio stated to me personally on June 23rd that, "Tullio is one of the best Italian pilots and I know very well his skills." If he met those criteria at all times, what caused Flavio to pull him from the team?

Flavio also wrote to me on June 24th, "Now I'm thinking about his coming back on the team, but.... We will see." Then no communication between Flavio and I after the 24th until Sunday, the 3rd, when I wrote to him asking him to explain his side of the story (and not for the first time) and he refused to do so. What explains this?

It is my opinion that Flavio has brought great shame to the Italian team by his actions with respect to Tullio and should reverse himself.

Flavio Tebaldi and Tullio Gervasoni should shake hands and apologize to each other!

Thu, Jun 23 2011, 10:32:23 pm CDT

Flavio Tebaldi and Tullio Gervasoni, shake hands and apologize

Put Tullio back on the team

Flavio Tebaldi|Tullio Gervasoni

Isn't it time that Flavio and Tullio put this little dust up behind them? I mean how about shaking hands and apologizing to each other for whatever was said and done. Flavio recognizes that Tullio is one of the best Italian hang glider pilots, so he should want him on the team. And Tullio recognizes that Flavio is the team leader and that everyone should cooperate with each other.

And I'm sure that in the future the top twenty Italian hang glider pilots can get together and agree on what the subjective rules are and how they are carried out. Certainly personal scores should not be settled through choices for the team.

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Will the Italian team members do the honorable thing?

June 23, 2011, 10:07:08 CDT

The Italians

How can Tullio be a capable pilot on Tuesday and not on Wednesday?

Flavio Tebaldi|Tullio Gervasoni

Will the other members of the Italian team going to the Worlds not support their former team mate, Tullio Gervasoni, when he has clearly been dismissed for reasons that have nothing to do with his capabilities as a pilot?

On Tuesday Tullio Gervasoni was chosen by Flavio Tebaldi to be the eighth pilot flying as an Italian at the World Championships at Montecucco. On Wednesday a few short hours after I published my article about the Italian team selection process, noting that Tullio had been chosen, Tullio's name was stricken from the list of pilots that would be flying for Italy and replaced by an unnamed Pilot H.

It was quite clear that Tullio had not been pulled from the list of pilots chosen by Flavio to fly in the Worlds because somehow he suddenly wasn't as capable a pilot on Wednesday as he was on Tuesday. He was pulled because of what I wrote in my article about the Italian selection process.

Now, how is that fair to Tullio? And how does that make it so the Italians field the best pilots at the Worlds?

Will the members of the Italian team do the honorable thing and support Tullio and ask that he be reinstated? Will they ask for that now and not wait until the Worlds for Flavio to try to explain himself to the team? Will they ask Flavio to explain himself now?

The Italians, part 2

June 23, 2011, 8:41:42 CDT

The Italians, part 2

Tullio speaks

Filippo Oppici|Flavio Tebaldi|PG|Suan Selenati|Tullio Gervasoni|weather|Worlds 2011

Tullio Gervasoni <<tulliogervas>> writes:

After the trouble caused by Davis' article on the Italian pilot selection process for the 2011 Worlds, I'd like to give my point of view.

Everything started just after I came back from Australia in February, when Flavio Tebaldi (the Italian team leader) announced that the team for the Worlds was already decided: the gold medal team from the 2009 Worlds in Laragne plus Karl Reichegger as the sixth pilot.

Last year the last slot for the team for the European Championships in Ager was decided less than one month before the event between me and Anton Moroder, so I asked Flavio to postpone his final decision about the sixth pilot until after a number of our competitions and he accepted.

The last comp before the final decision was the Italian National Championship in Feltre. He said that the choice for the sixth pilot was now extended to everyone, and would have been made following A GENERAL EVALUATION BASED ON DIFFERENT PARAMETERS in the comps flown, not telling me which parameters they would be.

I agreed (and I still do) with him on the early choice of the 2009 gold medal team, including his choice of Filippo Oppici, who is currently living in the States and has not flown any comp in Italy in the last two years. I do not share the opinion of many other Italian pilots that find this unfair, as I think that because of Filippo's flying skill he deserves his place on the team.

In the meantime I flew a number of comps, included the ones in Florida. Recently, a seventh slot in the team became available. A few weeks ago I planned to fly the Alpen Open, but I saw the forecasts and I didn't go, then I went to Feltre for the Italian championship. I was there when I learned that an eighth place was available.

In Feltre I talked with Davis about this year's selection, pointing out the fact that even though I was fourth in the general rankings in Italy one month before the Worlds that didn't necessarily mean I was going to be chosen to fly in the Worlds. Even being placed always in the top six pilots in the last four years was not enough to be selected sixth, seventh or eighth for the Worlds. I supported this with the general ranking for Italian pilots the last four years.

The weather at the Italian Nationals was terrible and we didn't fly a single task of our championship, which was cancelled.

On the same day the championship was cancelled, a pilot that had just spoken with Flavio called me and reported that the sixth and seventh places went to Reichegger (who has done well at Cucco in the last few years, as Flavio said) and Selenati (who is young and could improve quickly in the near future). The last chance for a selection was the Austrian championship.

May I say that even Reichegger is the right choice as the sixth pilot? I reckon he's one of the best pilots we have, no discussion, and I already said this to other Italian pilots. But what about the next two pilots?

So I sent an email to the pilots, Flavio, and Luca Basso (our hang gliding and paragliding federation president) explaining the fact that Flavio said that he would take into consideration the pilot's efforts and results and that I was going to many competition and doing well in the recent years. My point of view, together with the rankings, was sent to Davis, also.

Then the Austrian championship was postponed due to bad weather.

So Flavio, not having an additional competition between the likely candidates for the eighth spot had to choose. He confirmed Reichegger and Selenati, and assigned the eighth place to me.

Then the rest of the story. Davis wrote an article about our discussion in Feltre, and after the team had been decided and published on the World's web site, published his article in the Oz Report secure in the knowledge that the selection had been finalized. Right after the article was published Flavio pulled me out of the team saying that he had enough of my reasoning and that the article was shaming his work.

In my opinion the article just mentions some FACTS about what happened in Italy. Even the sad issue about the problems with our local NAC (Italian Aero club) and the FIVL is well know by most of the pilots, even if it just divides more and more the Italian hang gliding community.

Davis argued in his article against a subjective process for choosing the teams, which is his position. But I think that there is no way to say that just using the rankings can give the best team. This is demonstrated by the Italian results in the last years as Filippo wrote in his article. Davis' argument does not stand up against our results as a team.

At the same time, I don't even think that, like it has happened, a last minute selection based on just one comp can be the best way to choose a team. Especially in this case, when a higher pilot's ranking position, supported by regular placements in the last four years has apparently little to no value and now doesn't appear to make a difference in the choice for a team of eight pilots.

There is a concern that Davis published the previous pilot rankings which were only used as a support of my opinions in the email I sent to Flavio and the other pilots. Such rankings are public knowledge in the US and Davis wasn't aware of how this is not the case in Italy.

I don't think that having expressed my point of view to Flavio and the rest of the pilots is such a criminal thing that I deserve exclusion from the team.

The Italians

June 22, 2011, 8:20:12 CDT

The Italians

Not going by the numbers

CIVL|Flavio Tebaldi|PG|Suan Selenati|Tullio Gervasoni|USHPA|weather

In the US the national team that goes to the Worlds in chosen by a strictly objective procedure. You compete, you get points for your finish in the competitions, you add up your best four meets for the two years proceeding the Worlds, and you are either on the team or not. No one person or group intercedes and chooses the team based on any subjective criteria. No politics. No fighting. Just meritocracy.

Now, it may or may not choose the "best" team. There may be other objective systems that could be used to choose the team. But it avoids many ugly personal problems.

Now, Italy (and other countries) has a different system. Really diligent Oz Report readers will remember that I reported many years ago about the fight between the Italian Aeroclub (their NAC, which is the official representative of all Italian sports aviation to the FAI and CIVL) and the membership-based federation of hang glider and paraglider pilots. Well, I've been told that the Aeroclub is completely in charge of determining who goes to the Worlds (and who gets support) and the federation is cut out of the matter (and many others, it appears).

In the US this would be like the NAA being in charge of choosing the US national hang gliding and paragliding teams, as well as licensing all the hang gliding and paragliding instructors and the USHPA would be left with the magazine.

I have been told that Flavio Tebaldi, organizer of the 2011 Worlds in Montecucco, Italy, is also the person designated by the Italian Aeroclub to choose the Italian national team (and three additional Italian pilots to come to the Worlds). He apparently has chosen the pilots who, as a team, won the Worlds in France in 2009 (perhaps an excellent choice).

Here is the current (2011) ranking of pilots in Italy:

2011 ranking of pilots in Italy

The five pilots from the previous Gold Medal team that have been chosen by Flavio (at least, that is what I have been told) to be on the Italian national team at the Worlds are ranked: 1,2,3,5,10. The sixth pilot chosen by Flavio is ranked number 7 in the above chart.

Pilots G and H (for the seventh and eighth slots) have not been officially named (at least not when I checked recently on the pilot list found here: http://www.cucco2011.org/). Flavio is apparently waiting for the outcome of the Austrian Nationals this coming weekend (starting on Thursday) to choose the last pilot (although the weather forecast for the weekend is for bad weather). Apparently Flavio has tentatively chosen a pilot out of the top ten as the seventh pilot for the 2011 Worlds .

In the US, pilots one though six would have automatic spots on the national team and if there were additional non team scoring spots available, pilots seven and eight would be chosen. If some pilots ranked in that order can't attend, pilots ranked lower are automatically chosen in order.

I wonder what the Italian pilots who were ranked higher than the chosen pilots think about this. I wonder what criteria Flavio is or will be using to choose the pilots that he has chosen and the one yet to be chosen. Can he share it widely and will it bare scrutiny?

2008 ranking:

2009 ranking:

2010 ranking:

Click on the graphics above to display a readable version.

The above was last edited on Sunday, June 19th. It was written over the previous week. I delayed publishing the article a few times, first before I was the last pilot put on the pilot list for the Worlds, the second time waiting to see what would happen with the Austrian Open.

As of Tuesday morning the 2011 Austrian Nationals have been postponed.

As of Tuesday evening Flavio has decided on all eight Italian pilots going to the Worlds. Suan Selenati (ranked higher than 10th) is the seventh pilot and Tullio Gervasoni (ranked fourth) is the eighth pilot. They are now up on the pilot list here: http://www.cucco2011.org/.

Perhaps the Italians might want a more defined and objective procedure in the future.

New Montecucco airspace made permanent

April 8, 2011, 9:38:39 EDT

New Montecucco airspace made permanent

The airspace for the 2011 Worlds now looks to be "permanent."

Flavio Tebaldi

Flavio Tebaldi confirms that the airspace reconfiguration that they achieved at Montecucco for the 2011 Worlds will be made "permanent." I put that in quotes only because nothing is really permanent.

The airspace changes give hang gliding pilots a little breathing room along the hill sides facing west (the normal direction for Montecucco).

http://www.cucco2011.org/img/news/FL115_large.pdf

The 2011 Worlds - what, no one wants to go?

January 13, 2011, 4:36:47 pm AEDT

The 2011 Worlds

A short time to register

Flavio Tebaldi|Worlds 2011

Flavio Tebaldi <<worlds>> writes:

Your NAC may not have yet registered your team to the next world championship (US, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Russia, Austria, Spain, Israel, Canada, Ecuador, Japan, and others). Remember that January 31 is the deadline for the registration of the teams and for the payment of the registration. The second round will begin on February 1 for inclusion of the sixth pilot only to the teams already registered (paid in advance) by January 31. Nine nations have already registered for a total of forty three pilots. Get your team leader to hurry to avoid being excluded from competition.

The 2011 Worlds

December 13, 2010, 7:25:59 PST

The 2011 Worlds

Additional registrants will hopefully be dribbling in

Flavio Tebaldi|World Pilot Ranking Scheme

http://www.cucco2011.org/

Flavio Tebaldi <<worlds>> writes:

I don't expect to fill up all the available spots for the 2011 World in the first round. We will offer the sixth pilot to teams by team ranking in the WPRS in the second round, then the seventh at the third round, etc.

The maximum number of pilots per team number is eight, but only six will be considered for the team scoring.

Much higher limits on altitude at the 2011 Worlds

October 25, 2010, 8:52:19 PDT

Much higher limits on altitude at the 2011 Worlds

Flight Level 11,500'

Flavio Tebaldi

Flavio Tebaldi <<worlds>> writes:

Mario Miceli, the Perugia Airport Director, wrote:

Dear Favio Tebaldi,

In response to your e-mail of the 19th October 2010, the airport management, after viewing the documentation in our possession and in particular, after studying the utility of the portion of airspace, communicate that from today there are to be no restrictions applied to the implementation of the World Championship of Hang Gliders that will be carried out in Sigillo in the period 16th to the 30th of July 2011.

See larger graphic here.

More details here.

USA team in Montecucco

August 11, 2010, 7:26:18 pm CDT

USA team in Montecucco

Thanks to Flavio Tebaldi

Ben Dunn|Davis Straub|Derrick Turner|Dustin Martin|Flavio Tebaldi|Jeff O'Brien|Jeff Shapiro|Zac Majors

Ben Dunn|Davis Straub|Derrick Turner|Dustin Martin|Flavio Tebaldi|Jack Simmons|Jeff O'Brien|Jeff Shapiro|Zac Majors

Taken in the square in the center of town right after the awards ceremony:


Jeff Shapiro, Dustin Martin, Jeff O'Brien, Zac Majors, Ben Dunn
Jack Simmons, Davis Straub, Derrick Turner.

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2010 pre-Worlds at Montecucco

August 10, 2010, 5:03:54 pm GMT+0200

2010 pre-Worlds at Montecucco

An overview

CIVL|Flavio Tebaldi|Flytec 6030|Francesco "Franco" Rinaldi|Franco Rinaldi|Pre-Worlds 2010|record|weather

The pre-Worlds is, as far as CIVL is concerned, a test competition to determine if the organization and the site are ready for the Worlds the following year. It is basically a shakedown curse for the organization, as far as CIVL is concerned. At the end of the competition the CIVL steward hands in a report to the CIVL Bureau with recommendations for the following year. This is my report from the perspective of an ordinary pilot attending the competition.

For pilots this was a major competition with a high level of competitiveness. It is the real deal. Really, as always, what CIVL thinks and does is of little concern to them.

Overall the 2010 pre-Worlds was a very well run competition with a large, competent staff and plenty of pilot services and support. Flavio Tebaldi's crew created a great web site, lots of beautifully printed materials including huge maps (and maps for the drivers), held numerous events, setup a well run registration system, included very fast and knowledgeable scorekeepers, ran a safe and efficient launch system, had excellent task calling, calm and focused leadership, and plenty of weather information. Given the challenge of running a large and complex competition they were very efficient.

On the other hand, there were a few very minor problems that did blossom into some difficulties.

The first issue was initially poor communications due to the fact that they attempted to address the pilots in a gymnasium. The acoustics were horrible and no one could understand what was being said. This problem apparently arose out of a lack of direction about whether the organization should be talking to all the pilots or to the "team leaders." A much smaller room with better acoustics would have accommodated the "team leaders" allowing the soft spoken meet director, Franco Rinaldi, to communicate much more effectively.

Unfortunately the communication problem was not fixed for a number of days until the organization did decide to hold team leader/representative briefings in the registration area instead of in the whole gymnasium.

This initial lack of clear communications lead to the next problem which occurred when the CIVL meet steward, who speaks English as a first language and can make herself heard somewhat better than the meet organizers, took over much of the communications duties. She is a an experienced and forceful meet director and it appears as though taking charge comes naturally to her. Unfortunately, this led to later problems, as she was now taking on the role of defacto meet director, and not appearing to operate as the meet steward.

Airspace concerns were a big issue and it was not made clear to pilots long before hand that there would be drastic height restrictions near the launch. In addition, no one has tested a competition with the new CIVL altitude rules with such a likelihood that pilots would be inadvertently entering airspace. The outcome of this volatile mixture was hard feelings for a number of pilots.

I don't need to go into all the airspace issues here.  Some airspace issues are found here: http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20999

Altitude definition issues are found here: http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21016

The apparent fact that the Open Air formatted file for the pre-Worlds airspace definition was not created correctly (see what this means below) by the scorekeepers and that this incorrectly formatted file then lead to at least one pilot (if not others) being penalized for entering airspace when their flight instruments with the wrong information from the meet organizers told them that they were not in airspace certainly raises a number of issues about how to deal with airspace.

I trust that CIVL will identify and clarify each air space issue that I and others have raised so that we can have these issues dealt with by the time of the Worlds.

The inappropriate interactions between the CIVL steward (including with me), the meet personnel and the protest committee was a screw up. The Protest Committee needed to operate independently of the meet organizers and the CIVL Steward, otherwise it lacked any credibility with the pilots. The Protest Committee should have physically separated themselves from the CIVL Steward and the meet officials starting with their very first meeting. I deal with these issues here: http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20992.

One day the task committee called a turnpoint that was situated over recognizably unlandable areas. No turnpoint should require pilots to fly over unlandable areas unless it is completely clear the conditions show that they will have no chance of landing in these areas. Given the air space height restrictions and the generally poor conditions during the competition when it came to obtaining comfortable heights, this point should never have been chosen without a much larger radius (to keep pilots close to landable areas).

Thirty pilots stated that the task was unsafe. When the use of this waypoint was brought up again for the last task, Franco, the meet director, wisely said that given the negative safety reports the turnpoint could not be used.

Cloud flying was apparently an issue, although I watched pilots very closely and did not see any in clouds. Pilots are still not willing to call out their fellow pilots for cheating.

Pilots were never given the correct information about setting their Compeo+'s or Flytec 6030's at launch. It is my understanding that the scorekeepers are using the barometric pressure altitude recorded by these instruments when checking for airspace violations. (I won't go into the whole convoluted process.)

The barometric pressure altitude recorded by these instruments assumes a mean seal level pressure of 1013.25 mb, standard atmospheric pressure. Any reference on launch to a different pressure at mean sea level is irrelevant and confusing if the scorekeepers aren't making any further adjustments to the recorded barometric pressure altitude.

I repeatedly told pilots to just set their standard altitude display to the current height for the day (well at the time of launch) by setting it using the standard sea level barometric pressure. They do this by pressing the left soft button on their display Compeo+ and 6030). For example, on the last day, the barometric pressure altitude on launch was 3720' (on my 6030, as I recall). The GPS altitude was 3940'. I had pilots set their altitude to whatever their instrument actually read on launch, if they wanted to use their display to help them stay out of airspace.

Of course, there never was a statement from the meet organizers that the 6000' level, actually meant flight level, or 6,000' pressure altitude in a standard atmosphere. It was never clear exactly what it did mean and how pilots were supposed to stay out of it.

Airspace at the⁢ 2010 pre-Worlds »

Mon, Aug 2 2010, 1:31:46 pm MDT

It's an issue

Airspace

Flavio Tebaldi|Pre-Worlds 2010|sailplane

Flavio Tebaldi said that there wouldn't be an airspace issue at the pre-Worlds. He wasn't the only one. I kept asking and everyone said that it wouldn't be an issue. It's an issue.

The airspace just in front of launch is 6,000' (normally it is 2,500'). We fly under substantial sections of airspace that is defined as starting at 6,000'. A number of pilots got zeroed on the first day (it is being challenged) and fifteen pilots got warnings.

Airspace is cramping the competition. Pilots are staying under 6,000' no matter where they are because they are concerned that they might get into airspace and get zeroed for the day.

It's not even real airspace. It's just a limit because of a nearby sailplane competition. Not only that but the Perusa airport has two flights a week and has a huge defined airspace, way beyond what is reasonable.

Discuss "Airspace at the⁢ 2010 pre-Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Traveling to Italy

July 15, 2010, 2:50:18 pm GMT+0200

Traveling to Italy

Where is our luggage?

Belinda Boulter|Flavio Tebaldi

On Tuesday afternoon we left Dallas, Texas and headed for Canzo, Italy, the home of Francesco and Nuccia Rinaldi, to stay for a few days visiting and then picking up an Icaro glider in Laveno (an hour and a half to the west) on Friday to fly in the upcoming pre-Worlds. We also hope to fly with Flavio Tebaldi in Laveno on the weekend and go to Bassano del Grappa on Monday.

Three quarters of our luggage, including my harness and flying gear, and all of Belinda's luggage, did not arrive with us in Zurich on Wednesday. The Swiss Air baggage people were very nice, and we hope to have everything back soon. Otherwise, well, it would be difficult to fly.

We (not Swiss Air) tracked down the bags and they were left in the United domestic terminal in Chicago. We called Swiss Air back told them where to find the bags. Thanks to the internet we were able to contact United baggage support (likely in Bangalore) and they had the baggage tracked.

Franco and Nuccia Rinaldi's (and families) home in Conzo (near Como):

Built by Franco, his father and brother.

Moyes pre-Worlds deals

March 29, 2010, 2:18:06 pm EDT

Moyes pre-Worlds deals

Moyes gets into the act

Flavio Tebaldi|Vicki Cain

Flavio Tebaldi has been promoting his sponsors at the pre-Worlds, http://www.cucco2011.org/, with specials available to the pilots who have been selected to come to the meet. Vicki Cains, at Moyes Delta Gliders, didn't want to be left behind. You'll find her special offers here.

150 pilots - a target market.

SIMS for the pre-Worlds?

March 23, 2010, 8:54:23 EDT

SIMS for the pre-Worlds?

Take your unlocked phone to Italy

Flavio Tebaldi

It's nice to have a mobile (as they say in Europe) or cell (as they say in the US) phone in Italy. It's great to have an unlocked phone. Prepaid mobile phone are the norm in Europe. In 2009 we were able to get cheap pre-paid phones to use.

Recently I've unlocked that phone and my Samsung Mythic. See here.

So the idea is to get pre-paid SIM cards to go into these phones.

Here is what Rick Steve's writes about this here: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/mobilephones.htm

Buying SIM Cards If you have an unlocked phone — whether brought from the US or purchased in Europe — you can buy a SIM card to make it work in Europe. Remember that a SIM card is a small, fingernail-size chip that stores your phone number and other information. If your phone is unlocked, getting your own European phone number is easier and cheaper than you might imagine.

While you can buy European SIM cards online from the US, they're usually overpriced — just buy one when you arrive in Europe. Each country has various service providers, all of whom sell their own SIM cards. Since these companies are very competitive, they're pretty much the same — just look for a good deal. Most SIM cards cost around $5–15. They come with a European phone number and starter credit. You can buy additional prepaid credit as you go: Buy a printed voucher from that provider at a mobile-phone shop or newsstand, then punch in the numbers from the voucher to add the time to your phone. There are various ways to keep track of your credit (depending on the provider) — sometimes your remaining credit is automatically displayed after each call, or you might have to call or text a service number to find out.

Flavio Tebaldi <<worlds>> writes:

There are four main mobile operators in Italy (TIM, Vodafone, 3HG and Wind). 3HG works only with 3G phones, it's the cheapest and works in roaming with TIM coverage when there is no 3G signal.

http://www.tre.it/public/tariffe_ricariche.php

If Your mobile phones are not 3G, I think that the best solution in Monte Cucco is TIM, http://www.tim.it, it covers the 99% of the Italian population and the 95% of the territory.

When I asked him about the possibility of getting SIM cards he wrote:

It's very easy to find TIM cards in the Sigillo area. The prepaid simcards are much cheaper that in France. Now it's not sure but we are working to provide the simcards (5€ credit included) for all the pilots included in the registration fees. (Sure for the worlds, maybe for the pre worlds).

I'll inform you as soon as we'll decide something about it.

The pre-Worlds shop

March 8, 2010, 8:29:47 EST

The pre-Worlds shop

For the favored 150 pilots

Flavio Tebaldi|Icaro 2000

Flavio Tebaldi <worlds> writes:

It's with my great pleasure to inform you that the price list in Cucco2011 shop web page has been updated. Special Offers prices are now easily compared with Icaro 2000 Retail ones.

Shopping at http://cucco2011.org is now a really good deal. We are working to add also Brauniger/Flytec and woody valley products on our site

Did the Italian team break the rules at the 2009 Worlds?

February 2, 2010, 8:16:39 AEDT

Did the Italian team break the rules at the 2009 Worlds?

I believe that the Italian team and Alex Ploner deserved to win the 2009 World Championships

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|CIVL|Flavio Tebaldi|Scott Barrett

We are staying with Scott Barrett and Monica in Belmont North near Newcastle (Australia) for a few days and we were discussing telemetrics in the evening of my first day here. He stated that he had earlier been interested in developing a telemetric system for hang gliding, but when he consulted with Paul Mollison, who works nearby at Airborne, and who wrote parts of the CIVL Sporting Code, he found out that Paul had written the rules to specifically disallow telemetric systems. Scott therefore stopped thinking about how to develop such a system.

Here is the section of the CIVL sporting code that is relevant to telemetrics:

"2. 19.2 Radio

When radio transmitters are permitted in the local regulations one transmitter is permitted in each competing glider,..."

In early November of 2009 I received an email from Flavio Tebaldi, the Italian team leader and organizer of the 2011 World Championships, with attachments that highlighted the DSX telemetry system for hang gliding. I published an article about the system in the Oz Report.

Before I published the article I asked Flavio a series of questions about the DSX system. He wrote back on November 5th at 3:41 PM:

"During last world championship in Laragne my team used five of these prototypes and I was able to follow my pilots on my netbook in real time. Safly helped us to win significantly, especially for tactics."

I didn't think any more about this (other than wonder how this would all play out in the future if we adopted these systems). But, after discussing this issue with Scott, I went back to look at this email from Flavio, especially after Scott stated that if he had known that the Italians were using this system at the time he would have registered a protest. Flavio's statement here is pretty strong and if true is in direct violation of the CIVL Sporting Code for Category 1 competitions, like the Worlds.

I wrote to Flavio again that evening asking him how he squared his statement above with the rule quoted above. He wrote back quickly:

"Unfortunately we couldn't use DSX system as we would because Vodafone didn't activate the special offer for data communication in France. The result was that the four instruments we had, stopped to work the day before the competition started... :-(

Over the next few days I tried many times to call Vodafone in Italy to reactivate the offer, but finally I was able to only follow one pilot on the last competition task (Christian). For sure it was very useful to follow Christian's movements on my netbook and to know where he was respect to the other pilots that were following him some kilometers behind."

I have slightly edited Flavio's responses to correct errors in his English. This is a much different statement of what went on at the 2009 Worlds than his previous version. What was going on?

After receiving this post from Flavio I asked him right away if CIVL is going to change its rules to allow for a telemetric system. He wrote back that evening:

I hope they can change the rules at the next 2011 plenary, to use the system in the Worlds. For sure this year we will try to use it with a couple of pilots to test the system.

From Flavio's responses it seems to be the case that in fact at least Christian was carrying a second transmitter and transmitting with it on the last day of the 2009 Worlds in violation of the CIVL Sporting Code. Flavio's November 5th response indicates that all Italian pilots on the five member team were carrying second transmitters and transmitting on them in violation of the CIVL Sporting Code (if they carried a standard 2 meter radio for voice communication).

Flavio's last statement (and his earlier response) indicates pretty clearly that he knows that the use of these instruments is in violation of the CIVL Sporting Code (if the pilot also has a standard 2 meter radio that he is transmitting on using voice communications). It is also the case that he and the Italian team at least intended to use the Safly transmitters during the 2009 Worlds. Just to be clear, a cell phone or a satellite phone is a radio.

I don't believe that the section of the CIVL Sporting Code above would be interpreted to disallow pilots from carrying cell phones that were turned off and essentially inaccessible in the air. But that it would be interpreted (especially as it was written with this purpose in mind) to disallow telemetry systems as were apparently being used by the Italians at the 2009 Worlds, unless they were the only radio transmitters carried by the pilots.

The local regulations of the 2009 Worlds state:

5. 1 RADIOS & MOBILE PHONES:

A 2m, VHF (widebanded: 140 to 144MHz) radio transceiver compatible with the competition frequency and able to receive and transmit on the FFVL frequency, 143.9875MHz is mandatory. Team leaders must be able to monitor the competition frequency during tasks as must pilots without a team leader. Radios are for communication between competitors, team leaders, drivers and the organisers. Only frequencies in the range allocated by the organisers may be used. Information on the competition radio frequency and the range allocated for pilot use will be available at registration. All pilots and crews MUST submit their team frequencies and mobile telephone numbers at registration. This information will be used by the competition and/or safety directors for safety purposes. (2.19.2)

As 2 meter radios were required to be carried by the competitors, this would rule out the use of a telemetry system at the 2009 Worlds.

What am I missing here?

Upon further questioning I got the following from Flavio the next day:

Christian used it only on one flight and I decided to give to him the only working tracker for safety reasons because his radio was discharged. No, the system didn't work in real time (very bad French cellular net). There was a long delay (about 15/20 minutes), was impossible to collect any vocal information in the same time with Christian track.

Which edition of Flavio am I to believe?

Pay up for the⁢ 2011 pre-Worlds »

Tue, Jan 12 2010, 5:43:01 pm AEDT

Just a few more days to send in the money

Flavio Tebaldi|Pre-Worlds 2011

Flavio Tebaldi «Flavio Tebaldi» writes:

I would like to remind you that in order to confirm your place please pay and send the organisation the payment receipt no later than the17th January. Confirmed pilots whose receipt of payment does not reach the organizers by 17th January, will be moved to the bottom of the waiting list. All other pilots accepted afterwards, will have 10 days to pay the registration fee before their place is reallocated to another pilot.

Safly - real time tracking of the competition pilots

December 1, 2009, 7:51:28 PST

Safly - real time tracking of the competition pilots

Watch the contest on TV

Flavio Tebaldi|tracker

Flavio Tebaldi <<worlds>> writes:

We want to introduce this next year and that we would like to use to score the next Worlds.

Lucas Marchesini <<lucas>> writes:

I have been talking to Flavio Tebaldi, who is the responsible for the organization of the pre-WC 2010 and WC 2011 of hang gliding, in Italy. His desire is to have a completely integrated automatic system that works from the competition registering of pilots and onboard data transmission to the ground, till the final scoring, with the spectators services.

We are doing quite well with the spectators and data transmission: the system is working fine and we are correcting only some minor issues. Now, it's enough that the pilots have their SaFly unit and the whole process of data transmission, server processing, 2D tracking and 3D tracking, IGC (and KML) files creation is ok. We have now in the pipeline the synchronization of the IGC files on the server with the scoring office computer.

DSX Manual.

Questions and answers:

Who is going to pay for this?

The media part of it will be paid by the organizations (they can reduce the costs to zero, finding some sponsorship)

The Safly now has a cost a little bit high, because it's still in the first series production (DSX has 26 of them). The cost will change according to orders and production batches. The starting price, maximum from where it will only descend, is today 450€ for the GPRS version. With the satellite, only 120-130 Euros will be added.

DSX declare that the cost could be reduced about 30% selling the first 250 units. So, about 250€ per unit. Less than every kind of GPS that we are using to compete.

During the last Italian Championship in Parma, all the Italian pilots agree with buying one of it starting from next year if its cost will be not more than 250€.

Our goal in Italy, is to mandatory use it in all the Italian League Competitions, starting from 2011 season. In 2010 season we'll start to test the system with some pilots.

I think that Safly can really change the world of flight competitions. Solving the big problem of visibility of our sport. Very important is the safety. Every meeting director can know where every pilot is in real time.

No more queues for GPS download. Every competition will be scored in a second after last pilot's landing. You will download your own GPS, only if safly system is faulty for any reason.

During last world championship in Laragne my team used five of these prototypes and I was able to follow my pilots on my Netbook in real time. Safly help us to win significantly, especially for tactics.

If FAI will accept to introduce the system to score Cat1 competitions, it should be enough that every NAC of the world buy six safly for their pilots and everything will be simple. (About 1500/1800€ each NAC).

Where is the battery?

The battery is a LiPo battery available in the capacity of 4400 mAh or more, and is inside the unit. It can be recharged via the USB connector (from PC or wall, 5V) or the RJ45, also with current of 12V (i.e. the car electric system or any wall charger).

Battery life depends on GPRS coverage and frequency of data download, but we have seen an endurance of 1 flying day. The system notifies automatically (via web and/or SMS and/or emails) the condition of low battery.

The system can be reprogrammed from remote (i.e. by the contest director) to change the fix rate intervals, the frequency of data transmission and other operating parameters, if required, i.e. if a pilot outlands, it makes sense to reduce the sampling rate to 1 fix every 5' or 10', and transmit the data every say 1/2h. In this way the battery life is greatly extended (up to 2 days).

The SaFly can be interrogated via SMS by the contest director, and it responds with its position and altitude, plus a link to display the position in Google Map on the cellular phone (probably only in Europe)

How does it fit on the hang glider?

You does not fit it on the glider, but inside a pocket in the harness. The cable of GPS antenna is up to 3 meters long and you can put the antenna in the best receiving position.

What do the antennas look like?

The GPS antenna is ~3x3 cm, it's 30 grams heavy. The unit is a box with dimensions 11x7x2.5 cm, fitted with a GSM antenna of 8 cm.

The satellite option will most likely have a unique GPS-sat antenna, of about 7x7 cm.

Having done this ten years ago, I know that putting something like this on a hang glider is a pain.

The installation is very simple: the only requirement for a hang glider installation is to position correctly the GSP antenna, and then there should not be any shielding of carbon fibre or metal around the GPRS antenna.

Who is going to manage the systems on each glider?

Every pilot will manage his own unit by himself. It's very easy to install and it's a piece of personal equipment for the flight.

Why Italy won as the site for the 2011 Worlds

February 23, 2009, 9:54:28 PST

Why Italy won as the site for the 2011 Worlds

I asked my good friend Flavio Tebaldi why his proposal won

Flavio Tebaldi|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr

Flavio «flavio.tebaldi» writes:

Thank you for your congratulations. It was hard to win because Vicki and Jonny did such a great job supporting Forbes.

Sure cost was a very important issue. You've also got to consider that European pilots have to work during their winter season. Consider that the budget for my team in Laragne will be about 18,000 Euros. In contrast to go to Big Spring we spent 35,000 Euros and to go to Hay it cost us 38,000 Euros.

Very important also is the issue of foot launching. We feel that too many worlds in the past years have been held in flatlands (1998, 2003, 2005, 2007).

There is no problem with annoying flies and other insects in Italy. There is no need for very long retrievals.

We have very large take off sites for almost all wind directions. There is no problem with team size as there is this year in Laragne, France.

You can expect more technical flights with varying conditions (mountains, hills and flatlands). The area has beautiful surroundings and very cheap costs.

There are many others issues. You can find our power point formatted presentation here: http://www.deltaclublaveno.it/Cucco2011.ppt.zip (26 MB).

Yes, you can use 2 meter radios (in spite of what it says in our original proposal). We used them last year during the rigid and women’s worlds.

This is no problem with airspace restrictions. Like at the 2008 worlds we'll request a NOTAM and to use part of the Perugia CTR.

The pilots will receive many benefits from the local funds (100,000 Euros), but I don't know them all yet.

We would like give GPS transmitters to all the pilots in order to follow them during the competition. This is especially for safety reason, but not only for that.

No one coming to the Worlds in Italy in 2008?

April 3, 2008, 4:32:10 pm PDT

2008 Worlds

There are too few pilots signed up to go to the Worlds in Montecucco

Flavio Tebaldi|Jamie Shelden

http://www.cucco08.org/

Jamie Shelden «justtrademarks» writes:

I just had a chat with Flavio Tebaldi in Italy. Apparently they do not have enough entries in the Class 2, 5 and women’s worlds to cover all of their costs. I believe, as usual, pilots wait till the last minute to register and this makes it impossible for organizers to plan and to get sponsorship. They are seriously considering cancelling the event if they cannot get the numbers they need by April 15th. That would really suck!! I’m on a great team and I’ve very excited about this event!

So yeah, the problem is there are not enough pilots overall. He said, with what they’ve got, they can’t cover the costs of staffing, bringing the travel club, etc. And, they can’t get sponsorship until they know for sure they’ll have enough participants to even hold the meet. Apparently there are plenty of girls (we’re doing out part ;-), but the men are just too slow in getting registered.

2008 Women and Rigid Wing Worlds

Sat, Oct 20 2007, 11:23:46 am EDT

Women and Rigids

In July in Sigillo (Montecucco) Italy

Flavio Tebaldi|Women's Worlds 2008|Rigid Wing Worlds 2008

Flavio Tebaldi informs us that he and his Italian federation will be putting on the Women's, Class 2 and Class 5 Worlds (there was no 2007 pre-Worlds) near Sigillo, Italy at Montecucco. The actual competition days are from July 23rd through August 1st with one rest day. His announced days are July 19 through August 2nd.

July 19th and 20th for registration. July 21 and 22nd for practice days. August 2nd for closing ceremony.

Montecucco was the site of the 1999 Worlds and is a great site with an easy launch and lots of semi-flatland flying.

No web site yet.

Discuss "2008 Women and Rigid Wing Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Flavio's pictures from the Worlds

August 28, 2007, 0:43:37 MDT

Flavio

A new URL that actually works

Flavio Tebaldi|photo|Worlds|Worlds 2007

http://www.deltaclublaveno.it/deltablog

Italian team pictures and reports

May 18, 2006, 8:55:27 EDT

Italian

Flavio Tebaldi puts up the latest Italian Team news here

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Flavio Tebaldi|photo|Quest Air

http://www.deltaclublaveno.it/USA2006/USA_2006.htm



Alex Ploner with one of the two millions gators in Florida. Flavio Tebaldi took the photos on Wednesday night at the opening ceremonies.

Discuss Italian at the Oz Report forum

2006 World Championships - Registration »

Thu, Feb 16 2006, 8:00:00 am PST

Worlds

Make sure you are qualified and correctly registered

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Angelo Crapanzano|Christian Ciech|Corinna Schwiegershausen|Davis Straub|Flavio Tebaldi|Francoise Dieuzeide-Banet|Gil Souviron|Jacques Bott|Jamie Shelden|Jim Yocom|Johann Posch|Judy Hildebrand|Lauren Tjaden|Manfred Ruhmer|Michael Huppert|Mike Stephens|Oliver Schmidt|Ollie Gregory|Paul Tjaden|Primoz Gricar|Quest Air|Robert Reisinger|Vincent Endter|World Championships 2006

Lisa at Quest Air «questair»writes:

We have a list of pilots that have pre-registered for the 2006 Class 2/5/Women's Worlds now available on flytec.com: http://flytec.com/Events/2006/2_5_w_worlds/pilotlist.htm.

Competitors, this is important: You must register through your national aero club and submit a Pre-Registration Form here: http://flytec.com/Events/2006/2_5_w_worlds/entry_form.htm. If you have not done both, please do so immediately to avoid any last-minute disappointments. If you are not on our list, we don't know you are coming. If you have any questions or problems, please email «questair»or call 1-877-FLY-QUEST. See you on May 18th at Quest!

ClassCountryName
WAustraliaLisa Miller
2AustriaManfred Ruhmer
5AustriaArnold Nadlinger
5AustriaAlexander Schreiner
5AustriaManfred Trimmel
5AustriaGuenther Tschurnig
5AustriaRobert Reisinger
WAustriaMichaela Lindorfer
5FranceJacques Bott
5FrancePatrick Chopard Lallier
5FrancePascal Lanser
5FranceThierry Parcellier
5FranceGil Souviron
5FranceDavid Chaumet
TlFranceDidier Mathurin
WFranceFrancoise Dieuzeide-Banet
5GermanyToni Bender
5GermanyJuergen Bummer
5GermanyJethro Gerstner
5GermanyTim Grabowski
5GermanyAndrea Hetzel
5GermanyAlfred Huber
5GermanyNorbert Kirchner
5GermanyChristoph Lohrmann
5GermanyOliver Schmidt
5GermanyKurt Schumann
TlGermanyRudl Buerger
WGermanySybille Baeumer-Fischer
WGermanyRosi Brams
WGermanyRegina Glas
WGermanyCorinna Schwiegershausen
WGermanyMonique Werner
5ItalyElio Cataldi
5ItalyChristian Ciech
5ItalyAngelo Crapanzano
5ItalyFranco Laverdino
5ItalyGraziano Maffi
5ItalyAlessandro Ploner
TlItalyGorio Mandozzi
TlItalyFlavio Tebaldi
5JapanSakai Takafumi
5JapanMasakazu Kobayashi
5JapanTsuyoshi Yamamoto
5SloveniaPrimoz Gricar
5SpainCarlos Punet
2SwitzerlandSteve Cox
5SwitzerlandAndreas Beutler
5SwitzerlandMichael Huppert
5SwitzerlandRene Leiser
5SwitzerlandJurg Ris
5SwitzerlandRolf Schmid
5SwitzerlandMatthias Trussel
TlSwitzerlandDolores Mordasini
WSwitzerlandCarole Tobler
5UkJason Prior
5UkMike Stephens
5UsaVincent Endter
5UsaRonald Gleason
5UsaOllie Gregory
5UsaJohann Posch
5UsaDavis Straub
5UsaPaul Tjaden
5UsaJim Yocom
WUsaJudy Hildebrand
WUsaRaean Permenter
WUsaLinda Salamone
WUsaJamie Shelden
WUsaLauren Tjaden
WUsaClaire Vassort

Merriment

December 25, 2005, 12:37:56 PST

Xmas

A few late Xmas greetings.

Angelo Crapanzano|Chris Boyce|Flavio Tebaldi|Icaro 2000

Gianni Hotz «staff» sends:

Pilot Flavio Tebaldi Photograph Angelo Crapanzano

Chris Boyce «chris» from Sydney Hang Gliding Center sends:

Discuss Xmas at the Oz Report forum

The Italian team at the Worlds

Sun, Dec 12 2004, 9:00:02 pm EST

They have a wonderful web site.

Flavio Tebaldi

You can go there and see how they are doing. Flavio Tebaldi writes:

From this site it will be possible to follow the worlds reading my daily report. It's also possible to buy our shirt and cap of the event.

You can find the official Worlds site here.

Does your national team have a Worlds web site? If so, send me your URL!

The Italian effort encouraged me to put up a little something for the US Team here.

5030⁣ Clamp

Tue, Apr 6 2004, 3:00:01 pm EDT

A clamp that really puts the IQ-Compeo out there.

clamps

Flavio Tebaldi|Flytec 5030|Manfred Ruhmer|Robert Reisinger

Flavio Tebaldi «dclaveno» sends in this picture of this clamp for this Brauniger IQ-Compeo:

This is my solution on my new zero7.

I used a Robert Reisinger carbon piece (Manfred gift) on speedbar and an aluminum modeled arm by Christian. The arm can be rotated to the rear during takeoff and landing and is linked with a pushpin.

Discuss "5030⁣ Clamp" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Photo/Caption contest »

Wed, Mar 17 2004, 3:00:09 pm EST

This was smuggled out of Brazil.

Flavio Tebaldi|Paris Williams|photo

Flavio Tebaldi «dclaveno» sends this picture of Paris Williams on launch at the 2003 Worlds in Brazil in for fun.

Xmax »

Tue, Mar 16 2004, 2:00:02 pm EST

Just listen to the web site.

Flavio Tebaldi

www.xmax.it

http://events.fai.org/hgpg/details.asp?id=3009

Flavio Tebaldi «dclaveno» sends in the URLs for the XMAX for the first of May.

Discuss XMAX at the Oz Report forum

Photo/Caption contest »

Fri, Feb 13 2004, 11:00:09 am EST

Flavio Tebaldi|photo

Flavio Tebaldi «dclaveno» sends:

Cervino!

Discuss photos at the Oz Report forum

CompGPS and the HOLC

Fri, Jan 16 2004, 5:00:07 pm GMT

the HOLC

Flavio Tebaldi

Flavio Tebaldi <dclaveno@tin.it> writes:

CompeGPS is multilingual (not only German as Maxpunkte), is able to merge GPS tracks with Barograph-data, to show multiple 3D tracks visualization (also with pilot point of view and vario sound), to import many types of vector and raster maps, etc.

The new competition version will permit to manage an entire free flight competition without Race, from pilots registration to printed results!

I'm thinking about using the OLC formula during X-MAX. I hope I can see you all this year in Laveno for X-MAX 2004 (30 April - 2 May).

Discuss "CompGPS and the HOLC" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Blatant Ad from Robert Reisinger

Wed, Sep 10 2003, 4:00:05 pm EDT

Flavio Tebaldi|Icaro 2000|Robert Reisinger

www.Icaro2000.com

Saskia just can’t help herself when she sends me this, and I can only feel that going over the top doesn’t necessarily help your cause. Still, there is a line in this report from Robert that is intriguing. Perhaps we will find out the answer. I’ve asked.

Picture by Flavio Tebaldi

About a year ago I decided to go back to Icaro and it was one of the best decisions in my hang-gliding-career! I didn't do it like most of the pilots and changed to Moyes, because of my experience I knew that there is no glider like the Laminar, with which you can get such a good performance.

With only a few but pointing improvements (better profile and special profiled leading edge) on our new Laminar we hoped to have an advantage for the worlds in Brazil. Already on the first days of the worlds we were very surprised that the difference between our new Laminar and the other gliders was that big (especially in fast gliding). Of course also the Moyes-pilots recognized that, at least as I beat Bethinio (who has one of the best Litespeed S’s) once more in the final glide by about 1.5 minutes!

After that nothing better could happen for the Icaro Pilots than that what the Brazilians wanted to do: they wanted to protest against too much performance on the Laminar!!!!

Of course it wasn't possible to do that, because there is nothing against the rules on our gliders. At this time, they already lost the comp in their mind.

There weren't that many Icaro-Pilots at the worlds, but look at their rankings!!! Ignazio said about that: "You also can't see so many Ferraris on the road!"

Also Christian and Alex had very good results on the different days.

In my opinion the Brazilians didn't win the worlds because of not-flying a Laminar!!!!

Discuss too much performance at OzReport.com/forum/phpBB2

Discuss "Blatant Ad from Robert Reisinger" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Scoring at the Worlds

Wed, Aug 20 2003, 2:00:04 pm EDT

Angelo Crapanzano|Flavio Tebaldi|Worlds

Angelo Crapanzano «angelo» writes:

It a pity they aren’t using GAP 2002 and Race 2003 at the Worlds because it would have been better, in my opinion. GAP2002 and Race2003 were successfully used at the pre-Europeans in Millau.

The early bird bonus of GAP2000 is irregular: If the guy starting early is fast it works well but if the pilot starting early is slow the bonus practically disappears. The leading bonus of GAP2002 works much better and accurately rewards the pilots who lead.

You could find results and pictures of the world championship on http://www.dclaveno.com/Brasilia2003/Brasilia_2003.htm pictures are made by Flavio Tebaldi, the Italian team leader.

Discuss the Worlds and GAP at OzReport.com/forum/phpBB2

Italian National Flex Wing Team – no tourists

Fri, Jul 18 2003, 2:00:05 pm EDT

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Christian Ciech|Davide Guiducci|Filippo Oppici|Flavio Tebaldi|Tullio Gervasoni|Worlds

Flavio Tebaldi <dclaveno@tin.it> writes:

Christian Ciech (Laminar 14MR), Alex Ploner (Laminar 14MR), Davide Guiducci (Litespeed 4), Filippo Oppici (Litespeed 4), Tullio Gervasoni (Litespeed 4), Federico Bausone (Laminar 13MR)

Discuss the Worlds at OzReport.com/forum/phpBB2

Discuss "Italian National Flex Wing Team – no tourists" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Brauniger IQ-Compeo/Flytec 5030 Upgrade

Thu, Jul 17 2003, 3:00:04 pm EDT

antenna|cost|FAI|Flavio Tebaldi|Flytec 5030|waypoints

www.brauniger.com

Flavio Tebaldi <dclaveno@tin.it> writes:

The 2.13 WS version is now available!

Last week end I tested my new IQ Compeo with GH80 antenna and I can tell you that it's fantastic! During flight it received from 7 to 9 satellites with maximum signal level (instrument rotated longitudinally of about 60° in my direction)!

Now FAI route is easily configurable and the waypoints are alphabetically ordered.

From 2.14 version on the analog vario display will be similar to the IQ/Comp vario display.

Peter tells me that it is possible to upgrade one’s instrument to the new GH80 antenna. In case your instrument has a bad reception he'll change it for free, otherwise there will be a small cost.

Discuss "Brauniger IQ-Compeo/Flytec 5030 Upgrade" at the Oz Report forum   link»

IQ Compeo Revision 2.13

Tue, Jul 8 2003, 6:00:01 pm EDT

Flavio Tebaldi|Flytec 5030|GPS

Flavio Tebaldi <dclaveno@tin.it> writes:

I have tested the new IQ -Compeo firmware (a beta version 2.13), and it's fantastic. Now the instrument is ready to be used in competitions. Peter Brauniger has met all my requests and I tested them with a new IQ-Compeo he sent me last week.

As you can see, now the GPS reception is better with the new GPS receiver. My old instrument received 3 satellites with medium signal, my new instrument received 5 satellites with signal near to maximum!

(editor’s note: If you look in the upper left hand corner of each screen you’ll see a bar and a number. This is the GPS signal strength and number of satellites acquired. The Galileo has a higher signal strength and more satellites.)

Now the waypoint transfer rate to and from pc is faster and the instrument doesn't miss any waypoint!

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Flytec/Quest Air WRE – Callaghan’s Ranch

Tue, Jul 8 2003, 10:00:00 pm GMT

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Bruce Busby|calendar|Flavio Tebaldi|Flytec / Quest Air World Record Encampment 2003|Flytec 4030|Lawrence "Pete" Lehmann|Manfred Ruhmer|Mike Barber|Oleg Bondarchuk|Pete Lehmann|PG|Quest Air|record|Ron Gleason|Tim Denton|World Record Encampment

Today we moved the Zapata WRE from the Zapata County Airport to Renato’s hay field, hunting lodge 18 miles to the east up highway 16. We’ve got a small hangar/shed there with a dirt landing strip, but the grass is a foot high and it is beautiful. We still keep the Dragonflies at the airport.

Bo pulled Paris up to 7,500’ from Zapata and ten miles out from Renato’s at 9 AM Paris pinned off and glided to the tow field. Cloud base was 1,200’ AGL at that point. We could see cu-nimbs to the south by Edinburg just like yesterday at 9 o’clock in the morning.

I was first off again at 10:20 AM. The cu’s started forming at sunrise, then it cleared a bit, then more streeting wispy cu’s, then by 9:30 the sky was dark again with low cu’s. I waited until it began to break up a little before launching. The wind was 20 to 25 mph out of the southeast (150°).

Bo towed me upwind and not to the east to over the paved road that heads to the north. I figured I needed to make it to the San Ygnacio road 20 miles to the north and would ignore the safety of the through road just to the east (in the southeast wind).

Everyone else gets lined up to go after they heard that I was at cloud base at 2,200’ AGL. Like the day before, the lift is best right at the cloud base, but now I don’t have to jump cloud streets. I can drift downwind and still stay away from the Laredo airspace. This is great.

I hung in the wispies and only ventured out to go to another cloud. I stayed between 1,200’ and 2,600’ AGL. We were over new territory so I was checking it out closely for reasonable landing areas. When you’re this low throughout a two hour flight you get to know the territory pretty well.

The lift was actually a little better than yesterday averaging 90 fpm while thermaling. The glides were a little worse averaging 52:1. There was plenty of moisture in the air and the clouds were streeted and thick.

As I approached Interstate 35, 60 miles out, I decided that this wasn’t going to be a record day. We knew that there was a lot of moisture to the north. The cloud base wasn’t rising, which has been a problem for us so far this year. I saw a green patch that turned out to be the Callaghan Ranch (27 miles by 15 miles).

I landed at the abandoned airstrip next to the ranch complex and broke down in the park in the center. The manager was very happy to talk about hang gliding and provided a bunch of help getting Pete Lehmann out from behind locked gates to the south.

Paris, unfortunately, was even further in, but still on the Ranch, and by 9 PM we still don’t know if he has been rescued. The roads to him had been washed out by the rains. Mike Barber landed to the north in the Lewis Ranch at their airstrip which was still active.

Scott Huber landed near Ron Gleason at the San Ygnacio road 20 miles out. No one else got out.

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FAI route on the IQ-Compeo

Fri, Jun 20 2003, 2:03:03 pm EDT

FAI|Flavio Tebaldi|Flytec 5030|IGC|record|SeeYou|triangle|waypoints|world record

The English version of the IQ-Compeo/the future Flytec 5030 manual continues to give me fits. Finally after reading it again a few times and consulting with Flavio Tebaldi in Italy about what it was really saying, I now understand what the FAI route is for.

Originally I thought that this special route was for world record attempts. That it was different than the other routes that you could put in your 5030 because it “required” that you go around the turnpoint, and not just through the cylinder. Since world records require that you actually go around the turnpoint and competitions do not, I thought that was the distinction.

Well, it is just my misunderstanding for the use of the word “must.” The other routes were just suggestions for your flight. The FAI route in the IQ-Compeo is a route for world records and competitions (FAI or not).

When you designate a route as the FAI route (a permanent designator in the IQ-Compeo) the unit should record a tracklog point every second within the cylinder around the waypoint. It doesn’t do this on other routes as I found out at the Midwestern Regionals. Thankfully I spent extra time in the cylinders just to make sure there were tracklog points recorded within them.

Also the IQ-Compeo will automatically switch to the next waypoint in the FAI route as soon as you’ve got a tracklog point in the cylinder. Now this is not a great idea for world record attempts. I was using the soft function keys to go from one waypoint to the next when using a non FAI route.

So there is a problem with the IQ-Compeo and word records (in addition to the fact that it is not IGC certified). On a world record attempt, it shouldn’t fill over to the next waypoint unless you’ve recorded a tracklog point in the FAI sector (not cylinder). That is, unless the triangle or out and return that you are trying to complete coincides with the “least-distance” points, i.e. those on the circumference of the cylinder and not the center of the cylinders.

You can download waypoints and tasks from SeeYou, but to can’t download the FAI route. You have to use the buttons on the IQ-Compeo to choose an FAI route from the routes listed. As the IQ-Compeo is not FAi certified, there is no declared task.

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IQ-Compeo version 2.13

Fri, Jun 20 2003, 2:03:02 pm EDT

Flavio Tebaldi|GPS|power|waypoints

Peter Brauniger has written:

IQ-Compeo version 2.13 will be ready next week. In the meantime I've prepared an instrument with the new GPS machine GH80 for Flavio Tebaldi. (Really better receiving quality and less power consumption.)

Changes for 2.13:

Enter and exit start cylinders. Choose which cylinder is the start cylinder. Choose waypoints for a route from an alphabetically ordered list of waypoints (instead of ordered by distance).

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X-MAX 2003

Thu, Jun 5 2003, 2:03:04 pm EDT

accident|Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Alex Ploner|Angelo Crapanzano|Christian Ciech|CIVL|competition|FAI|Flavio Tebaldi|GPS|Icaro 2000|Ivan Twose|Manfred Ruhmer|Mino Bricoli|Olivier Burghelle|PWC|record|safety|scoring|site|space|triangle|Valerio Canestrelli|weather

Saskia at Icaro 2000 <staffbox@Icaro2000.com> sent me this reflection on the XMAX meet.

Icaro's yearly competition in Laveno (Italy) was a great success In 3 days the 26 Flex wings flew in the Alps 3.060 km and the 16 Paragliders km 738 !! The longest flight (km 178) has been made by Christian Ciech on Laminar MR

Flavio Tebaldi, director of the meeting (on the left) Manfred Ruhmer, winner of the flex wings Olivier Burguelle, the president of the CIVL (on the right) who was very thrilled by the X-MAX formula and promised its insertion in the international PWC competitions (Paragliding World Cup)

The X-Max is now a FAI recognized competition.

The 3rd edition of the X-MAX trophy has given the free flight fans three marvelous flying days. Amongst the flex wings there were all the best national pilots, and the World Champions Christian Ciech and Alex Ploner as well as the multi adorned Manfred Ruhmer, the winner of the last X-MAX edition.

Amongst the Paraglider pilots there were other prominent names like Patrucco, Bottegal, Berta and Dondi as well as other very good local pilots.

Sunday is definitively THE “X-MAX” day!

The sky is spangled with very nice streets of cumulus under which the thermals are very generous. In these conditions the pilots are able to show their flying skills.

The hang gliders fly in overall 3060 km, with an average of 110 km each! While the paragliders fly in overall 738 km, with an average of 57 km per pilot!

The new way of doing competitions.

Read the sky, choose the route, fly fast and go far.

(editor’s note: We’ve been doing this for years and years at the Chelan Cross Country Classic. Triangle and out and return routes are heavily promoted in the scoring system. You can even go out again to get more points.)

In any other competition the important thing is to fulfill the flight task, which is indicated by the competition director, in the shortest possible time.

To win the X-Max competition, you need much more!!Flight skill is important but you must use much more your brain:

Be able to interpret the evolution of the weather conditions, decide your take off window, choose how and where to fly, decide if it is more convenient to fly a free distance, a round trip, a triangle alone, or with other pilots

Angelo Crapanzano writes:

Finally we have a free distance competition without retrieval hassles. It's nice to see it's possible to fly, in competition, triangles from 100 to 170 km and get back to goal in normal days, instead of tasks of 80 km where the fast pilots get goal in just over two hours but many pilots land out and have to be retrieved.

With the X-MAX format, pilots are flying more against themselves than the opponents and some brain has to be used: one have to fly the longest distance, but needs to get back to score high points.

In this kind of competition it's useless to follow somebody else trying to beat him on the final glide; pilots do fly often alone and to choose the best route is as important of piloting skills.

During the X-MAX most pilots get back in goal and are often quite happy because they got the maximum they could achieve in that day (it's not by accident that both last year and this one, several pilots made their own personal record).

In case are not satisfied they can only blame themselves like I did in the last day where I was not confident going forward, and made a "V" shaped flight of 160 km (which has been scored like a 110 km triangle) instead of trying a true 170 km triangle :-(

You probably understood I like this competition format, mainly because some "new" flying skills (which are not so important in classic competitions), are required.

It's the pilot to choose when to takeoff… and he cannot blame conditions were not good enough

It's the pilot to choose his route and cannot blame the task setter if it was too difficult or too easy

It's the pilot to decide when to go back toward goal and cannot blame anybody if he lands short

Maybe some good pilots will find this difficult, after many years of flying controlling the opponents, but good pilots learn fast and the ranking proves the good ones are, more or less, still on top.

A competition like the X-MAX is also safe and very easy to organize:

Safe because any pilot can respect his own safety margins and is not pushed to fly a task above his skills

Easy because it's enough to have a good map on a wall (… which was missing at Laveno), plus a good weather forecast and a computer in the goal field. Pilots go on takeoff when they want and do whatever they want.

Having paragliders and hang gliders together was not at all a problem; it was even interesting to note the differences in performances and flying characteristics (just note Patrucco, the winning Paraglider, would have been 14th in the hang glider ranking). Even in takeoff, despite different needs and limited space, there were no problems staying together and everything went fine. In flight we had no crowding, even above takeoff.

The X-MAX format proved itself and Olivier Burguelle (CIVL President), who came to check it out, is now convinced to use it in the Paragliding World Cup too. He asked me to modify the formula (which have been designed specifically for Laveno) to adapt it formula to any flying site and to be able to have an "X-MAX" day within a classic competition format.

The second requirement is already made, while the first one will be very soon and Ivan Twose will implement it into the next version of Comp-GPS. We'll check everything on May 24th during the Valerio Albrizio Trophy (in Laveno again).

Just a quick note: Manfred won (like always) but the "old guys" (read Mino Bricoli and Angelo Crapanzano) proved the experience is not for nothing and did well against the youngs.

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XMAX »

Fri, May 9 2003, 2:00:02 pm EDT

Angelo Crapanzano|Christian Ciech|CIVL|competition|Cristian Deacu|Davide Guiducci|Flavio Tebaldi|Florida|GAP|Giovanni Vitola|Manfred Ruhmer|Mino Bricoli|Olivier Burghelle|scoring|triangle|Tullio Gervasoni|weather

Angelo Crapanzano <angelo@metamorfosi.com> writes:

The X-MAX ended a few days ago. Despite quite a bad meteorological forecast we flew three days out of four.

First day:

1) Davide Guiducci (Litespeed 4) 80 km closed triangle

2) Mino Bricoli (Topless 3) 87 km 4 km short of goal out and return

3) Giovanni Martinuzzi (Talon) 63 km closed out and return

Second day:

1) Manfred Ruhmer (Laminar MR14) 113 km closed out and return

2) Angelo Crapanzano (Litespeed 4) 87 km closed out and return

3) Flavio Tebaldi (Laminar MR 4.2) 75 km closed out and return

Third day:

1) Christian Ciech (Laminar MR14) 180 km closed triangle

2) Manfred Ruhmer (Laminar MR14) 170 km closed triangle

3) Tullio Gervasoni (Litespeed 4) 164 km closed triangle

Manfred didn't fly on the first day because of the jet-lag coming back from Florida (and Christian flew quite badly probably for the same reason), but it was enough for him to win the X-MAX trophy (which only considers the best two flights).

With some of our problems with the Italian AeroClub resolved, this year the competition was also valid as second category event (all days valid) and the final results are:

1) Davide Guiducci (Litespeed 4) 2432

2) Angelo Crapanzano (Litespeed 4) 2067

3) Maurizio Bignami (Laminar MR 4.2) 1941

4) Mino Bricoli (Topless 4) 1874

5) Cristian Ciech (Laminar MR14) 1788

The CIVL president, Olivier Burguelle, was at the competition… and did help as driver too :-) He was very interested in the X-MAX competition format and quite satisfied with the results (practically without any need of organization we got long distances for the weather, no gaggles, no pressure on takeoff, pilots pushed to use their heads, almost no retrievals and everybody happy) and would like to push the idea in the Paragliding World Cup too.

Because of this interest, I've found a way to score the X-MAX format with GAP (or any other classic scoring program) and, very soon, it would be possible to score an X-MAX task within a standard competition using an X-MAX slightly improved formula, to consider flying areas different from Laveno. We'll live test everything at the end of May in an Italian League competition (again in Laveno).

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Xmax - Volare »

Fri, Mar 21 2003, 6:00:05 pm GMT

competition|FAI|Flavio Tebaldi|internet|site

http://www.xmax.it

Go to this web site just for the pleasure of hearing Dean Martin singing Volare (to fly). The site is by default in English, but there is an Italian version. This is the registration site for the Xmax competition.

Flavio Tebaldi <dclaveno@tin.it> http://dclaveno.com writes:

I would like to tell you that now the X-MAX site is: http://www.xmax.it

The registrations are opened and it's possible to subscribe directly by internet. In a few days the competitions should be sanctioned as category 2 by FAI (next week I have only to pay the fees and send the form).

The entry fees are 50 € (euros)

On the registration form you will find all the information about the payment of the fees.

It's possible to have a little discount if you register yourself in the web (45 €).

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Correction re: GPS chart

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:10 pm GMT

Flavio Tebaldi|GPS

https://OzReport.com/Ozv7n70.shtml

The MLR has 8000 track log points, not 12,000 as Flavio reported.

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Bad GPS coverage

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:09 pm GMT

Flavio Tebaldi|GPS

https://OzReport.com/Ozv7n69.shtml

I reported earlier (see URL above) about problems with GPS coverage in European competitions. Angelo wrote:

Last year we had a similar problem in a nearby area (where this year we had good coverage). Poor GPS coverage is probably not a problem in Florida or Australia but in Italy it's a problem in some places because we have lots of powerful antennas (RadioMaria, for example, blocks quite a wide area in the south of Como lake) and there are several military areas with poor coverage all around.

Flavio Tebaldi <dclaveno@tin.it> reports further on this problem:

During our last Italian Competition we had some problems with GPS coverage and errors, and we have seen that the MLR antenna is more sensitive to GPS interference than other receivers.

Garmin

MLR

As you can see from this track log graphs, MLR receivers have some problems. They recorded some points 900/1000 km distance away from the actual point.

The problem seems to be related to the non horizontal position of the receiver when inserted into hang gliding pods. Make sure that your MLR GPS is horizontal when you are flying.

I think is important that MLR owners know about this problem.

(editor’s note: Is it ironic or not that the MLR coming out of Europe has the most problems with European competitions because of the antennas?)

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CIVL and GPSes for world records

Fri, Mar 14 2003, 4:00:03 pm EST

CIVL|Flavio Tebaldi|PG|record|Ron Henderson

Flavio Tebaldi <dclaveno> writes to Ron Henderson, the author of G7ToWin:

I'm Flavio Tebaldi from Italy and I'm studying a system to exclude cameras for FAI Badges and Records. During the recent CIVL plenary meeting in Romania I'm nominated with Anestis Paliatsos for the Records and Badges committee. I think that 'G' security is good news for all the gliding world and I want to ask you if it's possible to upgrade g7towin to become compatible with all GPSes used by hang gliding and paragliding pilots.

These pilots use Garmin, Magellan, MLR, Aircotec "Top Navigator", Brauniger "Galileo", Digifly "Graviter", etc...

I know that "G" security is very important for 2D GPSes like the Garmins, but why we can't have a "G" security for all the instruments?

Reciver tracklog points FAI Cyl. 3D Baro Alt/Vario. Glide Ratio Waas Cap battery life Wpts Built in Mem #routes/#wpt per route display size pixels alarms Price $
Garmin GPS 12 12 ch 1024 NO NO NO NO NO 24 HR 500 NO 20/30 2,2 x 1,5 100 x 64 NO $231
Garmin GPS 12 CX 12 ch 2048 NO NO NO NO NO 36 HR 1000 NO 20/30 2,2 x 1,5 100 x 64 YES DISC
Garmin GPS 12 MAP 12 ch 1900 NO NO NO NO NO 36 HR 500 1,44 MB 20/30 2,2 x 1,5 160 x 100 YES $364
Garmin GPS 12 XL 12 ch 1024 NO NO NO NO NO 24 HR 500 NO 20/30 2,2 x 1,5 100 x 64 YES $309
Garmin GPS II Mt8 750 NO NO NO NO NO 20 HR 250 NO 20/30 2,2 x 1,5 100 x 64 NO DISC
Garmin GPS II + 12 ch 1024 NO NO NO NO NO 24 HR 500 NO 20/30 2,2 x 1,5 100 x 64 NO $309
Garmin GPS III 12 ch 2000 NO NO NO NO NO 36 HR 500 NO 20/30 2,2 x 1,5 160 x 100 NO DISC
Garmin GPS III + 12 ch 1900 NO NO NO NO NO 36 HR 500 1,44 MB 20/30 2,2 x 1,5 160 x 100 NO $364
Garmin GPS V 12 ch 3000 NO NO NO NO YES 25 HR 500 19 MB 50/254 2,2 x 1,5 256 x 160 YES $536
eTrex 12 ch 1536 NO YES NO NO NO 22 HR 500 NO 1/50 2,1 x 1,1 128 x 64 NO $145
eTrex Summit 12 ch 3000 NO YES YES NO NO 22 HR 500 NO 20/50 2,1 x 1,1 128 x 64 NO $267
eTrex Legend 12 ch 2048 NO YES NO NO YES 18 HR 500 8 MB 20/50 2,1 x 1,1 288 x 160 NO $268
eTrex Venture 12 ch 2048 NO YES NO NO YES 20 HR 500 1 MB 20/50 2,1 x 1,1 288 x 160 NO $194
eTrex Vista 12 ch 10000 NO YES YES YES YES 12 HR 1000 24 MB 20/125 2,1 x 1,1 288 x 160 NO $375
eTrex Camo 12 ch 2000 NO YES NO NO NO 22 HR 500 NO 1/50 2,1 x 1,1 128 x 64 NO $158
GPS 72 12 ch 2048 NO YES NO NO YES 16 HR 500 1 MB 50/50 2,2 x 1,6 160 x 120 NO $171
GPS 76 12 ch 2048 NO YES NO NO YES 16 HR 500 1 MB 50/50 2,2 x 1,6 240 x 180 NO $251
GPSMAP 76 12 ch 10000 NO YES NO NO YES 16 HR 1000 8 MB 50/50 2,2 x 1,6 240 x 180 NO $400
GPSMAP 76S 12 ch 10000 NO YES YES YES YES 10 HR 1000 24 MB 50/50 2,2 x 1,6 240 x 180 NO $482
MLR SP24 XC "Free Flying" 12 ch 12000 YES YES NO YES NO 36 HR 500 NO 20/20 NO € 300
Aircotec Top Navigator 12 ch 72000 YES YES YES YES NO 10 HR YES YES $1,396
Brauniger Galileo 12 ch 20000 YES YES YES YES NO >20 HR 200 YES 20/30 320 x 240 YES € 1,345

Testing Compe-GPS in Italy

Thu, Mar 13 2003, 10:00:06 pm GMT

Angelo Crapanzano|Christian Ciech|CompeGPS|Filippo Oppici|Flavio Tebaldi|Gaetano Matrella|Luca Comino|Montuori Armando

Flavio Tebaldi <dclaveno@tin.it> writes:

Last week end here in Italy we had the first 2003 competition and these are the results: Flex Wings:

1° Christian Ciech (Icaro Laminar MR),
2° Angelo Crapanzano (LITESPEED 4),
3° Filippo Oppici (Topless 2003).

Rigid Wings:

1° Gaetano Matrella (AIR-Icaro ATOS),
2° Luca Comino (AIR-Icaro ATOS),
3° Montuori Armando (AIR-Icaro ATOS).

We have used last version of CompeGPS (5.00 beta 3) and all works very well. Now, after a winter I have spent to test it and Race2003, we have:

- Exact calculation of Speed Session (before, Race calculated mean speed based on entire task distance, without subtracting/add START and arrival cylinder distances).

- CompeGPS now interpolates Start time and not only Arrival Time.

- CompeGPS now sends the Cylinder’s Radius to Race 2003.

- LC (leading coefficient) works perfectly using GAP2002.

- We tested START ON ENTER cylinder and it seems to works very well.

- We also used Cylindrical GOAL (1km radius)

The tested programs versions are: CompeGPS 5.0 beta3 and Race 2003 beta (only this version of race is compatible with LC format of CompeGPS 5.0).

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CIVL Plenary Report

Thu, Feb 27 2003, 8:00:03 pm GMT

Angelo Crapanzano|CIVL|Compe-GPS|Flavio Tebaldi|Peter Gray

Angelo Crapanzano <angelo@metamorfosi.com> writes:

Height of release for records was taken out of the agenda and stays at 1000 m.

There is a new commission (Anestis Paliatsos from Greece and Flavio Tebaldi from Italy right now) to study how to use GPS for records. Everybody wants GPS approved for records for next year. This commission will also decide about the 1% rule for records and it will disappear for sure.

Tracklog validation for competition has been made easier. To resolve the problems with interrupted tracklogs due to bad coverage or bad batteries now, if there is no doubt about the tracklog validity, it's enough to have start time, turnpoints and arrival time. If the Start time is missing for any reason then, if using GAP2002, the window opening or the better proved time before the start line will be used. If using other scoring systems things become more complex but still in favour of the pilot.

Virtual goals have been approved and this would make things much easier for both organizers and pilots.

GAP2003 will never exist and there is not even a plan for a GAP2004 so Peter Gray has not to worry :-)

Soon will come out Race2003 and a new version of Compe-GPS. There will be many improvements:

Start when entering a cylinder working (very useful to spread pilots), Start times interpolated, SpeedSection distance accurately measured, a penalty of 1 point per second when starting before first Start (instead of minimum distance), stopped task with my proposal. Everything will be live checked for bugs in the first Italian competition on March 8th using a non experienced scorekeeper.

I've been nominated president of a commission to better integrate scoring programs (like Race) and validation programs (like Compe or Check-in) so that they look like a single program to the scorekeeper, or to develop a new program which makes both. The idea is to have an easy to use scoring program to avoid scoring errors and to have the results published immediately after the last GPS download.

I'm also the sole member of the commission which should decide how to score a stopped task as fair as possible; if anybody wants to collaborate or has a good idea please let me know.

My proposal is: If a task is stopped, the TaskTime will be set to the time difference between the last start gate used and the task stopping time less 15 minutes. The distance made good for each pilot will be that distance covered by each pilot within the elapsed TaskTime, starting at that pilot's start time.

Example:

- there are four start gates: 13:00, 13:15, 13:30, 13:45, but nobody used the 13:45 start gate so the last start used is 13:30

- the meet director stops the task at 15:20

- the TaskTime is StopTime-LastStartGateUsedTime-15 minutes (=95 min)

- each pilot will be scored for what he covered in 95 minutes from his own start (of course if he made goal he gets speed and arrival points).

In this example, you simply consider as each pilot's tracklog is interrupted after 95 minutes from his own start, then everything is scored normally.

The reason for this rule is to be as fair as possible to every pilot: everybody is scored on the same time from the same point. The reason for the 15 minutes less is to avoid pilots which foreseen the task would be cancelled (maybe those in the safety commission?) flying maximum speed in dangerous conditions (this is especially valid for paragliders) and also to reduce the value of the task because a stopped task is a task where, for sure, there was something wrong going on and, maybe, it was even better to cancel it.

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X-MAX

Thu, Feb 6 2003, 7:00:03 pm GMT

Angelo Crapanzano|Flavio Tebaldi|Gianni Hotz|Icaro 2000

Saskia at Icaro 2000 <staffbox@Icaro2000.com> writes:

Referring to the article GAP 2002 by Angelo Crapanzano in the Oz Report: the idea of the X-max competition came from Gianni Hotz, the owner of Icaro. Afterwards Flavio Tebaldi brought this idea to perfection and he is the one in charge of this competition. The competition is open for everybody, hang glider and paraglider pilots. Icaro has made a web page especially for this event: www.fly.to/x-max.

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More on competition formats

Tue, Feb 4 2003, 11:00:03 am GMT

competition|GAP|Lukas Etz

Lukas Etz <Lukas.Etz@gmx.de> writes:

For some years I am supporting more “open” types of task setting and a more simple scoring system.

There are many points in the present system which are not good in my eyes:

- Many times it’s not clear who is the day winner, until the computer lists are printed (sometimes the top two pilots are at goal, but the day winner is a third {average) pilot.)

- It’s completely impossible to transfer the pilots’ excitement to the spectators. (often the spectators only care about the landings and their noises)

- In the start cylinder it’s impossible for the pilots to know, if they should go for “early bird points” or not.

- The good pilots often have to play tactical games at the border of the start cylinder, instead of racing -flying the course in (sometimes perfect) thermals.

- Percentage of pilots in Goal? Mostly the comp organizers and task setters tried to get 30% in goal (so it was in the last worlds). In Deni and Hay the GAP-setting for “Nominal Goal” was 25%, and in the Bogong Cup it was 10%!!

Why is this? Is it really true, that we want (up to) 90% of pilots landing out of goal?? That’s really frustrating for the average pilot and extremely hard for beginners and new pilots.

- With our present type of task setting we can make big mistakes.

This is my main point. As a competition pilot, I have to spend so much for flying in a comp:

- lots of money (Costs for travel, transport, retrieval, towing, entry fees and material… look at the new glider after some hours before launch in Hay…),

- much time

- many personal difficulties (family, job…)

After having invested all this – I am at the place of my dreams: I am flying close to nice clouds, 10,000 ft above the ground, in a big comp, together with friends and in perfect weather conditions. I am getting some turnpoints, and then the goal is 30 or 60 km upwind instead of making 300 or 400 km downwind together with many others, I am landing some km short of goal.

The 4th task in Deni and the first task in Bogong had seen this completely sad task settings. These days had amazing good weather conditions. These 2 days were the best of the comps, they were good for records or for many “personal best” flights, but the pilots had to fight against headwind for some hours. You can call such a task “progressively more difficult”, for me it was frustrating. I guess I am not the only one, who was disappointed. Have a look at the pilot lists:

Deni: 115 pilots

Bogong: 87 pilots

Hay: 64 pilots

(editor’s note: The Australia Open is scored for three classes, not just one, to encourage king posted and floater pilots. The Bogong Cup is limited in the number of pilots it will accept. Hay is a punishing place in the heat if you are not really totally motivated.)

So the number of pilots was decreasing strongly. Although Hay was called “Australian Nationals” which sounds like the only “real title”.

There are many advantages in “open” tasks, and there are so many new ideas to realize:

In an “open task” every pilot makes his own task. That means the tasks are not designed for 75-90% out landings! Everybody can reach goal.

Some proposals:

a) A day with strong wind and good conditions (f.e.in Hay):

The scoring could depend on the pilots best speed over a flown distance of 200km in a straight line. That means for the pilot: he can fly further then 200 km, trying to improve this measured speed, he is free to choose “his” direction. He can land close to a town or close to other pilots; or he can try to break his “personal best.”

b) A day with low wind and poor, average or good conditions.

An open triangle, like in the online contest. (Start cylinder and start time is given)

c) A day for the spectators

An open triangle with a latest time for crossing goal line.

d) An “assigned area task” like the gliding planes (so the directions of the task legs are given)

When I was proposing these tasks I normally got very skeptical or adverse comments by the best pilots and big interest by the inexperienced pilots. (We should more encourage and help them.)

This kind of “open” tasks is not the only way to go. But I am sure, that these tasks will make a lot of fun. It’s clear, that other pilot skills will be important, but the best (the same) pilots will win. These task settings and these scoring systems are worth it just to experiment.

In our German Hang gliding League we will make a first attempt (one single “open task”) in this coming season.

Discuss "More on competition formats" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Competition Formats

Tue, Feb 4 2003, 11:00:02 am GMT

Angelo Crapanzano|Compe-GPS|FAI|Flavio Tebaldi|GAP 2002|Gerolf Heinrichs|GPS|Ivan Twose|Peter Gray

Angelo Crapanzano <angelo@metamorfosi.com> writes:

Heiner, I do perfectly understand (and agree) on your feelings about gaggle flying and competition formats, but still I think you are making some confusion and giving the fault of everything to GAP which, actually, is only trying to fix the problems you feel.

Let's make it clear. A competition is made by four separate parts (organization excluded):

-.25in;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">1. Competition Format: How the competition is run. For example free distance, free course, given course, head to head, elapsed time, race (from ground or air), distance over time, free launches, ordered launches, towing, scaled starts, physical or virtual arrivals and so on, or a combination of all of these parameters.

-.25in;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">2. Flight Validation: how the validity of the pilot's flight is checked. Could just be on faith or using a camera, officials, barographs, GPS track logs, time keepers and so on, or a combination.

-.25in;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">3. Scoring System: the mathematical algorithm used to value the performances of the pilots. For example could be as simple as the "world record" where who flies the longest distance wins (regardless of anything else) or could be a pure position score where, for example, who wins each task gets 1 point, the second 2 points and so on, or (to resolve the inherent problems of simple scorings) could mathematically become as complex as GAP is.

-.25in;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">4. Scoring Program: is the software used to print the results. Pen and paper may be enough for world records (still a computer program is needed to download the tracklog) but a suitable computer is mandatory otherwise. It could need the addition.

Well, it looks to me that your concerns are mainly about Competition Format… but you still give the fault of everything to the Scoring System!

In your article you point out that at Quest, using GAP2000 you were not rewarded for flying alone and leading, compared to the gaggle who followed and was flying faster. Anyway you forgot to say GAP is the only scoring system which rewards for leading and with any other scoring it would have been worse for you. By the way, you feel GAP2000 didn't reward you enough? Well, GAP2002 would have rewarded you more :-).

Now you could say GAP2002 brought horrible problems to the scorekeeper at Wallaby. Well, actually the problem was in some bugs in the integration between RACE and Compe-GPS (and me not being able to find out the bugs in time…) but the GAP 2002 Scoring System had no problem at all.

I'm not trying to defend myself or my work but only point out where the error was (program interface and data interchange) to be able to fix it: Wallaby's flop was due to "small evaluation errors" from Ivan Twose, Luciano Gallo, Peter Gray, Gerolf Heinrichs, Flavio Tebaldi and myself of course. Please consider all this people was trying to do his best and, since a long time, is doing quite a lot of work (most of them absolutely for free) to help and promote competitions.

GAP2002 leading bonus is not only there to avoid pilots waiting on takeoff in perfectly soarable conditions or to reward pilots which are taking their own decision, it is also there to spread the pilots avoiding big gaggles. In a "normal" task if the leading bonus is too big everybody would go for the first start; if the leading bonus is not enough, everybody would go for the last one.

By the way there is also something missing in your understanding of the GAP scoring when you say in your article:

"The results produced by the GAP system can be surprising, even counterintuitive. At the World Championship in Chelan, the task for the second day consisted of a 138 km flight to goal, passing around two turnpoints. Only one pilot made goal yet, the task was scored with full validity with 1000 points going to the lone pilot who completed the curse… This result was unexpected since day's validity is a function of the number of pilots who completed the task".

Well, I bet you were surprised because, as explained in my GAP explanation file, day validity is NOT a function of number of pilots in goal (and there are good reasons for…). You also forgot to say that task, out of 41 participants had:

- only 4 pilots bombed out
- 37 pilots flying over 97 km
- 10 pilots flying over 120 km
- 1 pilot in goal at 138 km in 3:42

It looks to me as a very good task with lots of reason to be fully valid. Don't you agree? Why do you expect such a task to be devalued? It looks to me your expectations were wrong, not GAP :-)

If we want to discuss Competition format I agree with you we need to evaluate and test new formats. I also agree Scoring Programs are becoming too complex (especially because Race needs to be combined with Compe) but I don't agree when you say GAP is counterintuitive and the pilot needs to understand the mathematics.

The proof is Bricoli, a good Italian pilot, who understands nothing about mathematics… except when speaking of money :-) but is perfectly able to guess the task value and pilots scores before the scoring comes out and even in the air during the task. If you find GAP results not consistent I doubt it is because you don't have enough experience with it or you are trying to "calculate" the result by mind (as I often do getting it wrong :-) instead of trying to feel the results as Bricoli.

Competitions are designed to see who the best pilot is and, in everybody’s opinion the best pilot is the one who is able to fly the longest distance in the day (choosing his route). Unfortunately the main problem with hang gliding scoring systems is that we have to score a competition which runs on several days with variable weather conditions. If we had to score a single task we could use any scoring and we would get the same winner but things will immediately change if we add two tasks:

Day one Day two Total
Ang. 100 km (1000 p) 40 km (800 p) 140 km (1800 p)
Hein. 85 km (850 p) 50 km (1000 p) 135 km (1850 p)

If we simply add the kilometers, Ang is the winner while if we score it as percentages (points) Hein is the winner… but who actually should be the winner in your opinion? (here we are already fallen in philosophy and personal evaluation)

If we simply add kilometres the winner is always the guy who wins the best day but this doesn't mean he's the best pilot because, as everybody knows, on a single day too much luck is involved in our sports (I've beaten any of the existing world champions on a single day, but still I'm not as good as they are).

Designing a scoring system is not as simple as it looks and, believe me, the DistanceOverTime format may bring to interesting competitions but doesn't resolve the gaggle flying. Actually nothing really changes: the advantage to start a few minutes after your opponent is still there, the advantage of a better and faster final glide is still there (you just begin the glide looking at the clock and altimeter instead of GPS and altimeter). Even a free course free distance format doesn't resolve gaggle flying if one direction is clearly better than the others (because of ridges or wind…).

The GAP scoring has not "evolved to suit the preferences of some competition pilots" as you say in your article, but is the result of quite a long evolution to find out in the fairest way to find the best pilot given all the constraints (safety, practicability, and so on). I understand in US you feel GAP as an imposition from FAI, but I got quite upset with your sentence… As most pilots I have quite a huge ego :-) :-)

In my opinion FAI makes it right imposing to use always the same scoring because it's important for the pilot to use a scoring he's used to. Maybe in US you should use it also for the club competitions (as we do in Italy) so pilots get used to it and learn to "feel" it.

Gaggle flying is a problem and we want the pilots to use their heads more by flying in front and the possibility for the pilot to choose different courses (this is very often a task setting problem: I've seen turnpoints added only to force the pilots all on the same course) even if some pilot thinks luck is involved in choosing the course… but I bet the winners would be the same as always :-)

Of course I'm completely in favour of development of a competition format where pilot's decisions are more important than pilot's technical skills. I'm also in favour of better tuning the GAP scoring (once you have fully tested a fully functional GAP2002) or even develop a fully new scoring if a simple revolutionary idea comes out. If you like, it would be my pleasure to discuss it with you once the differences between Completion Format, Flight Validation, Scoring System and Scoring Program are perfectly understood.

Discuss "Competition Formats" at the Oz Report forum   link»

MLR

Wed, May 8 2002, 6:00:05 am GMT

Flavio Tebaldi|GPS

Flavio Tebaldi <dclaveno@tin.it> writes:

I think the best pilots should think about buying the best GPS for competition. In the future we’ll have the Brauniger Galileo to resolve all the problems, but now there is a beautiful instrument that works fine. This is the "MLR 24 XC Free Flight".

It stores 8000 points with time interval setting of 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 second. (If you set 5 sec you can record your flight for 11 hours!). It changes to next waypoint in a route only when the pilot has entered into the cylinder around the selected waypoint. (This solves Garmin’s problem in Out and Return Tasks.) You can be sure it is registered in the track log, regardless to the waypoint cylinder diameter you have setup.

It has an integrated approach calculator (indicating glide ratio). It has an extra long battery life. It stores and uploads the tracks in 3D mode and uploads them to PC quickly (38400 bauds), and is therefore sure to make scorekeepers happy.

It supports link with Brauniger IQ/Comp. (the only limitation is that doesn't calculate final approaches, I think is an NMEA output problem). It costs about the same as Garmin 12 XL model. I think that the Garmins are good instruments for outdoors use, but not to flying.

I mentioned to Flavio that is has a reputation of being fragile. He writes:

I confirm that is quite fragile, but resolves pilots problems! It is for free flying. Garmins aren’t. In many ways it is better than Garmin. In long flights, like the ones in WRE, you can record a detailed 3D track and you can see all the thermals that you flew in.

Discuss "MLR" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Jayne thanks those who helped with the NPRM

Wed, May 8 2002, 6:00:04 am GMT

Bill Bolosky|Bill Bryden|Dennis Pagen|HGMA|James "Jim" Zeiset|Jayne DePanfilis|Joe Gregor|Mike Meier|NPRM|USHGA

Jayne m. Depanfilis <jayne@ushga.org> writes:

The USHGA Response to the NPRM was submitted to the DOT docket management system today by Bill Bolosky. Bill Bryden is responsible for writing the original draft and he completed numerous revisions of this draft based on an email exchange between members of the Sport Pilot Task Force and the Executive Committee that continued throughout this past weekend.

Mike Meier is also to be commended for his participation in this process. Mike recently represented the USHGA at the EAA sponsored meeting held in Osh Kosh to discuss the creation and implementation of the FAA's Consensus Standards. Mike gave a very impressive presentation regarding the history and experience of the HGMA. He also provided invaluable commentary during the writing of the USHGA's official response to the proposed Sport Pilot NPRM. Dennis Pagen chaired each of the Sport Pilot Task Force Meetings and Jim Zeiset provided enduring leadership throughout this entire process.

Joe Gregor edited much of the document himself while Bill Bolosky and I did the final edit. Bill Bolosky observed today, and rightfully so, that many others played a role in this important process. It was a successful collaborative process and I think Bill Bryden said it best when he commented that next time, "we'll get started even sooner."

I am very proud to be a member of the United States Hang Gliding Association. I am proud of the work that the Sport Pilot Task Force, the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, accomplished on our behalf. I was so pleased to have worked with each one of the individuals involved in this process. I consider each one of them to be "experts in their own right." We are fortunate to have so many astute volunteers working on our behalf. This is a great time to be a member of the United States Hang Gliding Association. Thanks to all of you and a special thanks to Bill Bryden.

Discuss "Jayne thanks those who helped with the NPRM" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Compe-GPS and Mark+Enter

Sun, May 5 2002, 7:00:06 pm GMT

Alan Bond|Compe-GPS|Flavio Tebaldi|George Stebbins|Peter Gray

www.compe-gps.org

Peter Gray <Peter@GrayNet.net> writes:

Thanks for reporting on progress with Compe-GPS. I continue to be impressed and encouraged by Ivan’s willingness to acknowledge bugs and then fix them. I assume he is working on some of the other, mostly less serious bugs I reported to him.

Solved a bug in the previous version: when programming tasks with a stop time.

Yes, this would have been a great feature for Day 4 at Wallaby!

Fixed an error calculating the goal time: In previous versions, if the pilot had no points in the semicircular goal, but he did cross it with a line, he did not receive a goal time.

Right. I expected the goal semicircle to be treated like other turnpoints (in-sequence points spanning the sector are just as good as a point in-sector), and this bug was one more opportunity for triggering a collapse of the then-fragile Compe-GPS-to-RACE connection. Since pilots usually fly fast through the goal sector, this error was quite frequent.

Mark and Enter were used here at the Floridameets without the slightest concern or the slightest issue. This is true also in Australia. I wonder what the problems are in Europeor with paragliders.

As we discussed earlier, mark-enter doesn’t seem to be a noticeably different cheating hazard than a faked tracklog. The precaution of accepting tracklogs only directly from receivers (not from PCs or on floppies) seems to be sufficient, at least in theory. For mark-enter to work fairly, though, the software should be capable of checking those points for consistency with the tracklog, which Compe-GPS was not set up to do. I hope in the future it will have that capability, at least as an option. At Wallaby, the mark-enter issue didn’t come up, since there were only a few cases of pilots missing a turnpoint entirely. The rest had valid tracklog points in-cylinder, as well as mark-enter points.

We did notice that Compe-GPS didn’t interpolate to give the score keepers a good idea of the pilot’s start time. On the last day of the Flytec Championship my last track log point inside the 3 mile start circle was 1:15:01. That is one second past the second start time. If it had been 1:14:59then my start time as shown by Compe-GPS would have been 1 second to early for the 1:15start time. Still it was clear from the track log that I had to have passed through the start circle after 1:15. It would have been clear to me, but would it have been clear to the scorekeepers?

No, it would only be clear to the scorekeeper upon (very) close inspection of a tracklog that is typically a snarl in part of the flight. Then it is possible to manually credit the start and the rest of the flight, but doing so seems to lead to other complications, at least in combination with GAP2002. For one thing, this kind of manual change didn’t always “stick” in the data, so the error tended to reappear. This only happened in a couple cases at Wallaby, but those added to the general confusion and embarrassment.

I did write to Ivan and Flavio about this, and I assume that Ivan is working on it. Compe-GPS seems to interpolate for goal-crossing times, so applying the same subroutine to the start gate ought to be fairly easy. If interpolation is difficult, a less preferable option would be to count the first track point outside the cylinder as being the last one inside. According to Angelo, Compe-GPS can recognize the infamous 13-second time difference, but most of the GPS goal times I saw at Wallaby were split between a 0- or 1-second discrepancy with the manned goal times, or a 12- to 14-second lag, so I’m not sure this feature works yet.

I noted a minor related bug: when I set an error margin for turnpoints and the goal, a buffer line shows on the map, but when I do the same for the start cylinder, it doesn’t. I don’t know of any simple way to tell whether the error distance is set but just not displayed. I like to set an error of 5 meters, which pretty well covers the likely scatter in handheld non-differential GPS locations. It essentially just expands the sector radii by that amount, but has some fairness value, I guess.

Re Alan Bond’s comments:

Just a few comments on Gordon's article about mark and enter and the need for carrying two GPS'. To my way of thinking if the rules say that a pilots log should show that he passed through the turnpoint cylinder, then that is the end of the story. It is the same for every competitor at each competition.

True enough, but the subtle details are not always so cut-and-dried. When pilots are racing neck-and-neck, they don’t get ahead by being sloppy or generous at the turnpoints; they cut it close and spend as little unneeded time in-sector as possible. The rule making a line segment between consecutive points just as valid as an actual point in the cylinder partly solves the problem of not knowing exactly when your receiver will lay down a point, but not completely. Thus, mark-enter can have some value. I think it’s best to assume that pilots are not cheating, and to give them the benefit of the doubt. It is also possible for verification software to check the plausibility of a mark-enter point (as noted above), and not so easy to fake one so that the time stamp makes sense. I can’t imagine that many pilots would take the chance of being caught in a cheat just so they can turn a few tens of meters short of a cylinder.

On the question of the need to carry two GPS' the question is why. I take it when the tracking parameters are set closer on the GPS12, it uses a heap more power. The mindset of most pilots seems to be, only to use the Garmin 12. These days there are a lot more energy efficient and feature packed units around. …. My Etrex Legend for instance is very user friendly though can chew through the juice of its two AA batteries. To overcome energy supply issues I now use nickel metal hydride batteries (1700mah rated) which will give me over 9 hours continual use logging points every ten seconds.

I don’t know of any difference in battery consumption related to track interval. It’s mainly, if not only, a matter of using up the memory allocated for track points. My 12XL seems to get 12-14 hours on a set of alkalines regardless of interval. NiMh rechargeables have plenty of amp-hours, but not enough voltage, at least the last time I tried them in a 12.

There are plenty of good reasons for carrying a second unit, and the key word is “backup.” It’s all too easy to set something up wrong, let the tracklog fill and forget to set it back from Off, etc.. By setting one unit to Fill and the other to Wrap, you can effectively extend logging time at a shorter interval (while weakening the backup role, however).

eTrexes are a lot more popular among PG pilots, partly because on a PG the receiver can be mounted in a fixed, easy-to-view location, unaffected by bar position. The standard eTrex is a beautiful little instrument and gets the best battery mileage of any receiver I know of, but compared to the 12 its info display options are limited, and it has only one track interval setting. I expect the tiny joystick and microscopic display font of theVista and Legend would be difficult to use in flight, esp. on an HG. Those could be great backups, though, since they’re small, fairly easy on batteries, and have at least double the track capacity of a 12, so could be set to a short interval, reducing anxiety about getting a point in-sector.

Someone at Wallaby suggested changing the interval in flight, just before arriving at a turnpoint, maybe to a couple seconds, then switching back to a long interval afterward. I’m sure some people are more adept with the little keypad, but after playing with that idea a few times, I think I’d lose more time/altitude by fiddling with the receiver than from flying a little further into the cylinder.

George Stebbins <stebbinz@pacbell.net> writes:

Alan says that the Etrex is a good alternative to the GPS12s etc. BUT all of the Etrex (and the other new models) have the buttons on the side. If you are serious about competition, you need your instruments in a pod. This means the buttons are covered, unless someone can come up with a new pod that fits these units.

As for backups, on one of the days of the Flytec championships, I was told that I started before the start time. Yet, there were at least 12 pilots in front of me who had started earlier, and I distinctly remember starting 3 minutes late. (Don't ask why.) The score keeper told me that this wasn't uncommon. My backup was the only thing that kept me from getting a zero for the day. A day when I made goal. I will ALWAYS fly with a backup regardless of the shortness of the track point intervals. This has nothing to do with the interval or power supply. Additionally, if you shorten the interval, some units don't give you enough time to complete a long task due to memory constraints, NOT due to power limitations. This includes some of the Etrex versions. I have spent quite a bit of time checking out all of the Garmin units. The 12/12Map are still (in my opinion) the best ones for competition, although they could surely stand some improvement.

Discuss "Compe-GPS and Mark+Enter" at the Oz Report forum   link»

More Italians at the Worlds

Wed, May 1 2002, 11:00:03 am EDT

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Christian Ciech|Flavio Tebaldi|Worlds

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Christian Ciech|Flavio Tebaldi|Worlds

Flavio Tebaldi «dclaveno» writes:

We think that our team will be the following:

- Christian Ciech
- Alex Ploner
- Gaetano Matrella (European Champion)
- Graziano Maffi
- Franco Laverdino or Fabio Melisurgo

X-MAX 2002

Wed, Apr 3 2002, 3:00:02 pm EST

Flavio Tebaldi|Manfred Ruhmer

Flavio Tebaldi «dclaveno» writes:

The X-MAX 2002 results are on line at http://fly.to/x-max. From this site you can download all the tracks in Compe-GPS competition format.

Xmax »

Tue, Apr 2 2002, 3:00:01 pm EST

Flavio Tebaldi|Manfred Ruhmer|PG|record

Flavio Tebaldi|Josef "Zwecki" Zweckmayr|Manfred Ruhmer|PG|record

Speaking of contests, the call your own task European contest just took place. Angelo described the Xmax in OzReport.com/Ozv6n57.htm.

Flavio Tebaldi «dclaveno» writes:

Fantastic days at Laveno during X-MAX Competition.

MANFRED RUHMER flies 155Km + 151KM (FAI Triangle) + 224.6Km (FAI Triangle Italian).
JOSEF ZWECKMAYR flies 228.5Km (FAI Triangle Italian Record)
EMANUELE DONDI flies 89Km (free distance) + 131KM (FAI Triangle) + 139Km (FAI Triangle) with Paraglider.

I will send you the complete reports next days with the best tracks in Compe-GPS format.

Updates to Compe-GPS

Sat, Nov 17 2001, 6:00:05 pm EST

Flavio Tebaldi|Ivan Twose

Ivan Twose «ivant» writes:

I will go to work at the Canary Islands Open FAI HG competition, this December, and I will test a new and easy system to connect Compe-GPS and RACE program.

New updates:

- Italian language included. Thanks to Flavio Tebaldi.

- Compe-GPS can read DEM. Files (Digital Elevation Models). At this web page: http://edcdaac.usgs.gov/gtopo30/gtopo30.html there are DEM maps of all the world. Their quality is not very good, they give a point each km, but it is a good solution if you don't have a Compe-GPS 3DR file of your zone.

- Compe-GPS draws the track with its real altitude, and another track with the land altitude. The second track is the shadow of the first track.

- Drawing combined graph of altitude, vario, speed, etc, has been improved.

- Compe-GPS can read directly Brauniger variometers, so no other software is needed to read the flights in this variometer. Compe-GPS can automatically join tracks from a Brauniguer and a 2D GPS (like Garmin 12), to make a real 3D track. I would like to read information from other variometers, but the variometer companies don't respond to my emails asking them for their protocols.

- In the subtrack analysis, you can see now the information of more than one flight at the same time.

- When you configure the GPS protocol, in the Options window, there is now a new protocol called "Garmin/MLR/Magellan". This protocol detects which type of GPS you connect. This is very useful in competitions, when you have to read lots of GPS's.

- For TOP-Navigator users: Compe-GPS now draws arrows with the wind speed in different parts of the flight.

Discuss "Updates to Compe-GPS" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Corrections to ATOS pilots at the Worlds

Wed, May 23 2001, 1:00:00 pm EDT

Flavio Tebaldi|Jim Yocom|Jos Guggenmos|Worlds

Flavio Tebaldi «dclaveno» writes:

Italian Class2 European champion is GAETANO MATRELLA and not Mario Campanello!!!.

http://fly.to/deltaclublaveno

Jim Zeiset «JimZgreen» writes:

I was disappointed to read that you succumbed to a rumor that I will be flying an Atos at the Worlds. It would have been so easy to verify this with me. The reason I was looking for an ATOS was to assist Jim Yocom in his quest to have an ATOS available for him to fly in Spain.

As you are probably aware I have a relationship with Jos Guggenmos that is both business and personal. I have no problem being associated with the ATOS as such. It is a good glider in a lot of respects and I own a late model one. However, I have chosen to fly the Guggenmos ESC 2001 because it is lighter and has lighter control pressures. It breaks down into two halves and is less expensive and the control bar uprights are cheaper.

In my experience it folds up nicer, the flaps are more effective, the sail work is better. It is easier to assemble, the rib cams are easier to secure, and the speed bar base tube is straight. The spoilers and flaps fold into the sail better, the glider banks up tight like a flex wing, it feels more solid in turbulence, it has a better sink rate, it has a comparable glide up to 50 mph and then looses a point or so because of higher twist. I give that up for safety (I'm 56.)

One more thing, I have $2000 worth of spare parts in stock. Last week a customer broke a keel and I had a replacement in his hand, flown in from Germany, in four days. Break a keel in an Atos and your done flying for a month minimum, unless you are very handy and have access to European tubing. I am also an ATOS dealer and support ATOS pilots as best I can, but I'll be flying a Guggy ESC2001 in the Worlds. Wish me luck, I'm flying for you too.

European pilots, please contact me if you know of an ATOS and an Exxtacy available for rent for the World Championships in Spain. It is quite difficult to ship a rigid glider into Spain as there is air freight, customs and handling charges and a T.I.B. deposit to guarantee that you will take it home. Jim Yocom would be interested in buying your used Atos and I'm looking for a good price on an Exxtacy, so if your thinking about upgrading to a new one let me know. Please contact Jim Zeiset at «jimzgreen» or 719-539-3900.