First Badge leg of the year

Congratulations to Roberto Figueroa, who flew M7, GGC's high performance ASW-24, for a height gain of 1615 metres (5,300') on Friday.  His low point at 1420 was 716 m, his high point 2,331 m.  The flight was recorded by the PowerFLARM system in M7.  Similar flight recorders are in the Junior, ASW-24, and Puchacz.

Barograph - Altitude vs time for Roberto's flight. You can see the thermals.

This satisfies the 1,000 m height gain requirement for the FAI Silver Badge altitude leg.  Two legs remain; the 5 hour duration (aka "the big sit") and the 50 km distance leg. Paperwork for the badge leg has been completed by the FAI Official Observer (me) and Roberto will shortly submit it to the Soaring Association of Canada Badge Chairman.

Two levels are above Silver Badge - Gold (3,000 m gain, 5 hours duration, 300 km distance) and Diamond (5,000 m gain, 300 km goal flight (closed course - Gold can be straight out), and 500 km distance leg.

After the Diamond Badge, FAI Diplomes are available in increments of 250 km (750 km, 1000 km, 1250 km, etc).

GGC has four single seat gliders which suitably qualified members may use for cross-country or altitude flights (M7 and the Puchacz have oxygen systems which are used at our mountain soaring camp at Lake Placid, NY each fall).

Hard-working Martin L. in the ASW-24 about to enjoy a cross-country flight