5 July - Maybe!!!

At 10:30, we briefed, and then, it was not good enough to grid. A second pilots' meeting was called for 12:00, and we consulted other respected weather people for their opinions (thank you).  It looks like the ceiling will rise from 2,000' AGL (we sent up a towplane) to between 2,500 and 3,000', but the higher it goes, the greater the chance of the sky over-developing.  There is the risk of a thunderstorm; it is hazy and humid, and the sky is changing every time I look...

At the briefing, JS gave a safety talk on emergency egress (bailing out), and various facts on how to operate a parachute.  Great talk, lots of comments.

Tasks for today - zig-zag east-west-east-west, along the line between Pendleton and Montreal Soaring (lots of airports):

FAI and Club:

Modified Assigned Speed Task

 

  

ID Name Distance (Km) Radius

 

 

5 05 StartW 0.00 5.00

52 52 MntrlSrng 36.86

28 28 Fournier 64.51

78 78 WindovrAP 79.95

1 01 PENDLETON 101.73 2.00

 Minimum Time: 01:30

Note, on a MAT turnpoint radius is set at 2 km (for our American viewers, Canadian rules do not have a graduated penalty if a turnpoint is missed - you make the turnpoint, or you don't).  The task should make use of the soarable day, but it is unforgiving in that, if you miss a thermal, you will be so low, you will have to land out...  When clouds are low, the thermals are generally closer together. 

Grid Time is 1300.  No launch before 1315.  Last minute rigging right now, the towplanes are getting their daily inspections and run-ups.  Gliders are starting "the march of the elephants" out to Runway 26.

FAI Class will take off first, followed by Club Class.

It takes four flying days to make an official contest; we are making every attempt to use a minimum soarable day to get one in...  Watch the trackers!

In the event there are thunderstorms overhead or approaching, the rules permit a "safety finish", at a safe radius and altitude from the airfield, so that competitors can finish the task, and then land somewhere else (or stay up until the danger passes).

Dan
Scorer