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topic: Worlds 2007 (68 articles)

What I'd like to see for cloud flying rules at the Worlds

Mon, Apr 6 2009, 8:47:20 am EDT

They took part of what we did at the 2007 Worlds

competition|Worlds 2007|Worlds 2009

This is what is the current Local Rules for the Worlds:

S7 penalties apply for verified infractions. For the first infraction the pilot will score zero for the day and a further infraction will result in the pilot being excluded from the remainder of the competition.

This is what I have seen that works in real life and would love to see instead in the Local Rules:

The penalty - the offending pilot shall receive a 10% reduction in their score for the first infraction, 30% reduction for a second, and then a zero daily score for any further infractions.

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CIVL Plenary minutes, part 2

Wed, Mar 25 2009, 8:30:50 am EDT

How much damage from the ignorant?

CIVL Plenary 2009|David Glover|Dennis Pagen|Heather Mull|John Aldridge|Scott Torkelsen|World Pilot Ranking Scheme|Worlds 2007

http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/meetings/plenary/2009

Talk about nut balls? What are these guys smoking?

  • Scott Torkelsen: Cloud flying?
  • Fernando Amaral: Setting altitude limits in accordance with predicted cloudbase. Issue of absolute measurement of altitude.
  • Dennis Pagen: Difficult to assess if pilots in cloud.
  • Heather Mull: Penalties too severe to apply, so it gets ignored and unreported. A sliding scale would make it more acceptable for pilots to report cloud flying.
  • Scott Torkelsen/Fernando Amaral: But this sends wrong messages – it is against the FAI rules and air laws if flying by VFR.
  • Martin Scheel: In reality, it would also severely restrict task setting, especially in the Alps.
  • Heather Mull: Only sure way is to have video camera on every glider.
  • Koos de Keijzer: One pilot ran out of space on form when reporting cloud flying. Give zero and pilots will stop doing it.
  • Dennis Pagen/Chris (Calvo) Burns: But difficult to prove. It will be protested and thrown out if cannot be proved categorically.
  • Didier Mathurin: Must work out how to prove it, before can talk
  • Goran – PWC: zero penalty not strong enough. Should exclude the pilot. Then they will stop cloud flying. Cameras on every pilot not practical/feasible. Have to rely on witnesses – motivate them!
  • John Aldridge: Comes back to proof. Penalty is less relevant. Irrespective of Section 7. Cloud flying is illegal.
  • Martin Scheel: Reality is that pilots will sometimes be sucked into cloud. For top pilots, zero penalty is huge, similarly, not such a big penalty for lower ranking pilots (and he might be lucky if he gets away with it).
  • Rasmus Rohlff: surely if pilot is very near the cloud he is already breaking the rules?
  • Scott Torkelsen: How can we move forward? We have to get pilots to start thinking differently.

It pains me to think that most of these people are so clueless. We (David Glover and I) solved this problem a long time ago and implemented the solution successfully. This solution was implemented again at the 2007 Worlds.

I wonder how many of these guys have run a competition where a pilot was actually successfully penalized for cloud flying (and not penalized for breaking some poorly understood/measured altitude barrier).

“All results should have the CIVL ID number for each pilot recorded. The following formats are acceptable for input to the WPRS: FSDB file from FS, the full RACE database, an Excel format (.xls or .csv) file with the results in the following order: Name (First name followed by family name), Nation (IOC abbreviated codes), Total (score), FAI_licence (number), CIVL_Pilot_ID.

PDF files are not acceptable.” Reason: these are the only formats that can be input to the WPRS database without manual reformatting by the CIVL Competition Coordinator.

Isn't it obvious that PDF sucks when you want to transfer data? Haven't I been harping on this for years? I can output the required csv or xls format from my program in SeeYou. I just have to input the pilot's CIVL_ID and FAI Sporting License number at registration (easy to do).

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2007 Worlds - the TV production »

November 16, 2007, 8:00:17 GMT+1100

TV

A professional crew came out to the Worlds to produce a TV documentary

Tim Russon|video|Worlds 2007

Tim Russon «tim» writes:

We've just finished editing our video of the 2007 World Hang Gliding Championships in Big Spring, Texas and it will soon be off around the world in two shows: Nissan Sports Adventure and Airsports World. I will let you know the times and channels for transmission in the next few days.

We'll get copies soon and show them around Australia.

2007 Worlds - video/images »

Fri, Sep 21 2007, 6:46:49 pm PDT

Worlds

A great little well edited video from the Worlds

video|Worlds 2007

Guga Saldanha «gugasaldanha» sends:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ftgHVpULno

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2007 Worlds - Moyes hall of Fame updated »

August 29, 2007, 7:59:27 pm MDT

Worlds

Terry Delore found

David Seib|Graeme Henderson|Stéphane Malbos|Worlds 2007

David Seib «david» writes:

The hall of fame  http://www.moyes.com.au/HOFMen.asp) is now complete; we got a photo of the 1976 podium and the first World Champion - Terry Delore.

Thanks to Graeme Henderson for spotting the photo in the book "AND THE WORLD COULD FLY". And thanks to Stephane Malbos for providing us with the image.

I can hardly recognize the guy to Terry's right. It looks like the boss, Steve Moyes, but he's too young!

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

2007 Worlds - new entrant in the Moyes Hall of Fame »

August 28, 2007, 0:42:26 MDT

Worlds

All the World Champs

David Seib|Worlds 2007

David Seib «david» writes:

I just updated the “Moyes Hall of Fame” at http://www.moyes.com.au/HOFMen.asp. It now shows the latest legend – Attila “The Hun” Bertok – a most deserving champion.

I’m still looking for a photo of Terry Delore from 1976 if anyone can help.

2007 Worlds - why is Moyes so successful? »

August 24, 2007, 9:24:51 MDT

Worlds

One big family

Attila Bertok|Bill Moyes|Bobby Bailey|Brett Hazlett|Gerolf Heinrichs|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Jon Durand jnr|Kraig Coomber|Manfred Ruhmer|Oleg Bondarchuk|Robert Reisinger|Rob Kells|Scott Barrett|Steven "Steve" Pearson|Tomas Suchanek|Worlds 2007

Moyes hasn't had a World Champion since Tomas Suchanek in 1995 (Manfred from Icaro had a monopoly for six years and then Oleg came along). Now they have Attila Bertok and the top three places on the podium with Robert Reisinger and Gerolf Heinrichs, the Moyes glider designer. In spite of this lack (and now abundance) Moyes has been very successful in competition with their glider well represented. In fact in many competition the Moyes gliders dominated the top spots. Why is Moyes so successful?

First of all Gerolf has designed a very competitive glider. The differences between the top of the line competition topless gliders is very slight, so as long as you have a glider that is as good as any of the other top gliders then you can let the differences between pilot skills become the deciding factor.

Second, Gerolf is a very good pilot, obviously from his third place finish at the Worlds, as well as a charismatic figure. Having your designer be an elite level pilot sends a huge message. Unfortunately, that message can be that it is the pilot not the glider, as it has often been in the case of Icaro and Aeros. So it takes more than that.

Third, the way you get around the identification of the top pilot/designer as the reason that the glider does well is to have the glider flown by lots and lots of pilots. This was not the case with the Icaro and earlier with the Aeros Combat gliders (although this is much less true now). With fewer pilots flying them, it appeared as though it was more Manfred and Oleg rather than the glider that determined how well they did (but, of course, I would argue that this is always the case).

Fourth, of course, I have illustrated a chicken and egg problem. How do you get many pilots to fly your glider in the first place so that pilots don't automatically assign the success of the glider to the elite pilot?

Fifth, Moyes has a strong family tradition. A strong extended family tradition. A family tradition that reaches out and incorporates many others into the family and gives them that family feeling, that feeling of belonging to a very special family/club.

Who has been to every Worlds - Molly and Bill Moyes (and until this Worlds, Steve Moyes has flown in every Worlds, and won one). Their dedication to the sport was highlighted at the Worlds on the last night to a standing ovation. A very important symbol and one felt by all the pilots there. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?

Bill and Molly are the patriarch and matriarch of a large and extended family and three of their children run Moyes Delta Gliders while Bill runs Bailey-Moyes Dragonflies. Pilots from around the world have over the years been brought into the company to help build the gliders. Think Brett Hazlett, Kraig Coomber, Jonny Durand, Attila Bertok, Mikki Fiesenbichler, and many others.

Moyes has built loyalty among the most promising new pilots giving them a helping hand and supporting them early. This willingness to bring others into the family is part of the family tradition. There is always room for one more, includign Gerolf and Bobby Bailey, and many many others..

Can you think of one other "company" that was at the Worlds in such force? Rob Kells and Steven Pearson from Wills Wing were there (separately), but how can they compete with the Moyes family (including Vicki - who heads up Moyes marketing)? Rob and Steve provide great support, but they are just being outgunned. Kraig Coomber (the main designer of the Moyes Matrix harness) from Moyes USA was there helping other pilots as well as flying very well.

Airborne had their designer, Scott Barrett. Who was there from Aero and Icaro? Their gliders were there, but I wasn't aware of any other presence.

The attraction of the Moyes family/company/brand is huge. Pilots have the feeling that the Moyes glider is superior, or if not superior, at least as good as any of the other gliders there. They feel that you can't go wrong with the Moyes RS. (Actually Attila flies the older S model as he likes to fly the big mode - S5, and there isn't an RS-5 - for obvious reasons, if you think about it.)

The Moyes family makes you feel part of a big friendly superior family/club even if you aren't the top most pilot around. It is just something that they have learned from being such a family for years and it is natural for them to extend it to others. Marketing by being one big happy family.

If you are not part of that family, you are just missing something. So Moyes attracts many more pilots than other manufacturers (at least at these elite level competitions) and that gives everyone the feeling that the glider is superior as the superior pilots are flying the glider. And that solves the chicken and egg problem.

2007 Worlds - nobody died »

August 23, 2007, 8:58:11 MDT

Death

It wasn't an accident

Andrew "Drew" Harris|cart|Quest Air|record|weather|Worlds 2007

You can leave safety up to the individual pilots or you can build safety into your system. There was only two minor accidents that resulted in injury to pilots during the 2007 Worlds. That is, if we ignore the pool party. Beer, vodka, Red Bull, and water - a dangerous combination.

We planned for two years for safety building on the record of the Flytec Championships held at Quest Air and the previous meets in Big Spring. There was an absolute requirement for certain types of bridles, weak links, and secondary releases. The tug pilots were experienced and well trained. The ground crew leaders were very experienced and very much in charge.

Every pilot had to document their aerotowing experience and every pilot was checked out by Drew to determine if they could safely tow. Unlike at the previous women's worlds in 2006 at Quest Air, every pilot displayed sufficient skills to tow safely.

Drew Harris and Flavia set up the staging lines after many vigorous discussions of how they should be laid out. These debates allowed for all the concerned parties to state their views. The ground crew was concentrated and never over taxed or spread out through more than two lines. This meant that there was always more than sufficient crew to assure safety.

Every pilot was checked and reassured. Ever pilot was told every time to hold onto the cart (the orange hose handles were the best - see below) until they were flying. The one accident that happened on the line came when a pilot had taken off his wheels (he was the only pilot flying with wheels) and when he came off the cart slow and too early. His English wasn't good so he may not have understood the requests for him to hold on and he was one of the least experienced pilots at the Worlds.

The staging lines were widely separated separating the tug traffic to avoid collisions. The Big Spring airport is huge and we had plenty of room.

Because we were launching from an asphalt taxi way and not a grass field, it was super important that pilots hold on hard to the carts. The cart would start easily (keeping the weaklink from breaking) and would get going fast quickly, which had a different feel than the grass fields. Pilots were taught to make sure that they can enough speed to fly out of any trouble if a weaklink broke.

We did have one minor injury at a landing field that I chose. The field was inappropriate for landing (it was part of a small air field) as it contained power lines, fences, and stakes. The Google Earth photo was not sharp enough to provide the task committee with a clear picture of what was there. I should have seen that problem. Numerous pilots had difficulty landing there, but one pilot had to have five stitches (he flew the next day).

This is the first worlds to use Google Earth to position the goal points as well as give pilots an idea of where they were going and what it would look like when they got there. That was for the most part very successful. I used a projector hooked up to my computer and I could display the weather, the task (in SeeYou) and the task in Google Earth.

2007 Worlds - who helped »

August 23, 2007, 8:56:37 MDT

Worlds

The logos

cart|David Glover|Steve Kroop|Worlds 2007

David Glover «davidhglover» writes:

So many people were part of the success of the event. Many of the people were shown much appreciation during the event. A few people need a special after event thanks.

Windsocks.

Bruce Hawk,. Bruce is a longtime Tennessee hang glider pilot who makes the best aviation wind socks in the world. He sent an incredible goal set to the World Championships. Easy to assemble, portable, huge and super visible. He shipped them to us, let us use them and then would not allow us to even pay for shipping back. Incredible. «Bhawk»  of Windsok

Trophies.

Dan Dugan. Dan is a pilot from Illinois who has helped out at many events. He is a musician, photographer, cart retriever extraordinaire and an accomplished artist. He donated the trophies for the event. Beautiful, engraved heavy, marble plaques. Instead of shipping them down (Dan said "shipping 140lbs in a box was too expensive") he decided to put them on the back of his motorcycle and transport them through a hurricane, literally. The pilots and teams loved them.

Everything.

Steve Kroop. Most humble, most giving, best friend to the pilots. Steve fund raised and donated much of the money for the US Team. He was the Chief US Team Cat Herder. He donated use of his FLYTEC 912 Tug to the World Championship. Why anyone would buy a vario from anyone else is beyond comprehension of anyone who has ever dealt with Steve's "service after the sell".

2007 Worlds - no drug testing »

August 22, 2007, 9:22:29 pm MDT

Drugs

A National Aerosport Association forces their pilots to pee in a cup before going to Texas

Worlds|Worlds 2007

A week before the Worlds we heard from a competition pilot that he had just found out that his NAC was going to require that all the pilots on the team go in for a drug test. The funny part was that the results of the test wouldn't be available until after the Worlds. We wrote to the pilot:

Yes, the FAI participates in the ridiculous World Anti-Doping program, and they say that any competitor can be subject to the testing in the very rude and intrusive way you have been, with no warning. Of course, they don't publicize it, and you are the very first pilot I have ever heard of who actually had to take the test. I am really upset to hear this, not with you but with this whole drug hysteria. This is so unfair.

Just exactly what did the NAC hope to accomplish with this intrusive action in an amateur sport? The pilot was concerned about traces of marijuana. Just exactly how was smoking dope long before he went to the competition supposed to enhance his performance?

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2007 Worlds - in a perfect Worlds (it'll never happen) »

August 22, 2007, 9:20:03 pm MDT

Worlds

A few shirts

David Glover|photo|Worlds 2007

The British team wins - Big Spring Herald article.

Photos of the team winners.

David Glover «davidhglover» writes:

Very limited quantity, 100% cotton quality knit collared shirt with special FAI leather like tag. I have a few left in a variety of sizes, first come - first served. A few in each size are available.


All are Loden Green except for Medium. Mens - Small, (Medium is Red), Large, XL and XXL. The shirts are FREE, shipping is $30 in the USA, $40 Overseas.

Girly Style Red T-shirts for $5 less. PayPal: «david», or send US Dollar check to: David Glover, 2273 Downing St., OKC, OK, 73120. No credit cards. «David's email»

2007 Worlds - Recent local articles »

August 22, 2007, 0:23:12 MDT

Worlds articles

Economic impact

Belinda Boulter|Worlds 2007

First article.

The U.S. Hang Gliding Association World Championship is more than just a curiosity in Big Spring. It generates $400,000 to $500,000 in revenues with restaurant, hotel and business customers, plus a sense of fun.

Second.

"With the best pilots, it's not only a question of working the lift you're in, it's planning ahead based on where you think the lift will be along the course," Boulter said.

Like the Tour de France, there is usually a lead group or "gaggle." If there are no clouds, pilots fly in a gaggle to find lift. "It's a funny combination of cooperation and competition," Boulter said.

2007 Worlds - the ranking Vs. the finish »

August 22, 2007, 0:22:52 MDT

Worlds finish

Does their ranking predict their finish?

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Attila Bertok|Gary Wirdnam|Gerolf Heinrichs|Kraig Coomber|Quinn Cornwell|World Pilot Ranking Scheme|Worlds 2007

Name2007 WorldsWPRSGliderNation
BERTOK, Attila117Moyes Litespeed S 5HUN
REISINGER, Robert21Moyes Litespeed RS 4AUT
HEINRICHS, Gerolf32Moyes Litespeed RS 4AUT
ALONZI, Mario48Aeros Combat LFRA
PLONER, Alessandro535Icaro Zero 8ITA
WIRDNAM, Gary6N/RAeros Combat L 13GBR
COOMBER, Kraig722Moyes Litespeed RS 3.5AUS
WALLBANK, Carl883Moyes Litespeed RS 3.5GBR
BADER, Lucas919Moyes Litespeed RS 4DEU
VYHNALIK, Dan1083Aeros Combat L 15CZE

Thanks to Quinn Cornwell «smiguy02». N/R equals not ranked in the WPRS system. The full list is here.

2007 Worlds - the positions »

August 21, 2007, 10:37:24 pm MDT

Worlds

As they evolved over time

Eduardo Musto|Worlds 2007

Eduardo Musto «emusto» sends:


Click for the one you can read.

2007 Worlds - some follow up »

Tue, Aug 21 2007, 7:41:56 am MDT

Pre-Worlds and Worlds winner

Oleg Bondarchuk <olegbond@gmail.com> the former World Champion writes:

Congratulations to the new World Champion!!! Well done Attila!!! Very impressive! You have deserved it especially by breaking the omen and winning both the Pre-Worlds and the Worlds!

Ricky Duncan <Ricky@airborne.com.au> writes:

First of all, congratulations to Attila, a great guy and obviously a great pilot. Great work to the British team as well. I think that their last win was in the Pendry era in the late eighties.

It was interesting to note your comment on Attila being the first pilot to win pre world and world meets. This has actually been quite common. John Pendry won 84 pre worlds and 85 Worlds in Austria. Rick Duncan 87 Pre Worlds and 88 Worlds in Australia. Robbie Wittal 88 pre worlds and 89 worlds in Switzerland. Following was the awesome Tomas Suchanek and Manfred Ruhmer whom I am pretty confident had pre world wins prior to their numerous titles, but I can't remember the details.

Great pictures here: http://www.deltaclublaveno.it/deltablog/nazionaledelta/Worlds2007.html

Riker Davis <riker@beyondbb.com> writes:

The last day's task to Hobbs had me thinking very hard about Curt Graham. He would have been so proud to have his hangar as the goal for a world meet task. I can assure you that he would have welcomed all the pilots with tunes blasting and cold beverages flowing with a big grin on his face.

There is a cool new display at the birds of prey exhibit at the Roswell Zoo that honors Curt and his Crossroads Windsports operation in Hobbs. It features four different color panels that explain flight dynamics. It also features graphics showing how man can soar like a bird.

The best thing about the 2007 Worlds is that there were only minor accidents, and the worse of those accidents happened at the pool party.

Discuss Worlds at the Oz Report forum

2007 Worlds - the show is over for this year »

August 19, 2007, 11:26:10 pm CDT

Big Spring

All our friends are going home

Alessandro "Alex" Ploner|Attila Bertok|Bill Moyes|Blue Sky|Bobby Bailey|Dustin Martin|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Jon Durand jnr|Robert Reisinger|Worlds 2007

It has been a great run. Attila Bertok won the 2007 Worlds and the 2006 pre-Worlds here in Big Spring (the first time the pre-Worlds and Worlds have been one by the same individual). Attila won the first three days when the conditions were the most difficult. Robert Reisinger came on strong as the meet progressed (as he gained experience flying here in Texas) and as conditions improved. Attila had a GPS problem on the last day of the competition where he had to fix or replace the battery (it is not always clear what Attila is saying). The GPS quit but he was able to get it working again. This no doubt slowed him down quite a bit (check the results on that day). 
The final results were very close until the end and this made for a lot of excitement.

Moyes gliders had all three positions on the podium, apparently the first time that this has happened.

Many pilots told me how much they enjoyed flying in Texas and how impressed they were with the friendliness and hospitality of the Texans. Many of them had taken their impressions from the media and didn't realize that not all Texans were like the younger Bush. They were just so happy to have this wonderful  experience (so many made goal on so many days and the competition really was really a race with major level tasks).

Attila gave a great acceptance talk after winning the Worlds in which he showed his appreciation for all the help he has received starting with Bill Moyes many years ago. He showed his great love of the sport and how much he appreciated how wonderfully the Texans had treated him.

I was a little chagrinned when I called the last day after a day and night of heavy rain, thick clouds all morning, and a forecast for 70% chance of more rain, cloudy and cool temperatures with southeast winds for Saturday. There was a hint that this forecast was total wrong when we saw a bit of blue sky off to the southwest and strong southwest winds, but I wasn't picking up on these clues strongly enough. The forecast turned out to be completely wrong, as the sky cleared around noon, the cloud base was not a thousand feet as forecast but probably three or four thousand feet (later), with lot of cu's not turning into over development except quite a bit to the east (where the remnants of the storm was tracking to the north).

The winds were strong, but not too strong, so that we were able to hold a spot landing contest at around 3:30 PM. Jonny Durand was first, the only one spot on, Dustin second, with one foot on the three foot by three foot spot.  Rodrigo Russek from Mexico was third (more on him later). I was able to land two feet away from the spot flying the Wills Wing Sport 2.

Still we didn't fly a task on this last day, so we don't know for sure whether it was a mistake or not not to fly it. Alex Ploner felt that the clouds wouldn't have provided any lift, given how the ground was soaked. Bobby Bailey (who also did well in the spot landing competition flying my glider), thought we (me, actually) blew it as he felt lots of lift around the airport. On Sunday it blew strong from the south all day with not a cloud in the sky.

2007 Worlds - Day 9, rain, rain, rain »

August 17, 2007, 5:22:51 pm CDT

Big Spring

Heavy rain most of the day

Worlds|Worlds 2007

The rain has fallen heavily most of the day making it very likely that there will be no flying tomorrow. Some pilots have already left. The forecast for tonight is 100% for more rain and 70% tomorrow for more rain.

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2007 Worlds - Day 9, No Task »

August 17, 2007, 2:18:56 pm CDT

Big Spring

Rain, low clouds, no lift

CIVL|Jamie Shelden|Steven "Steve" Pearson|Worlds 2007

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

http://ozreport.com/2007worldsscores.php

http://ozreport.hgcomps.net/comps/index.php?op=show_comps

Quote from Steven Pearson, "You guys running this Worlds are setting an awfully high bar here for any other Worlds competition organizer, with a competition running like clockwork."

It is rained out for today. Erin is now affecting us. Heavy rain at the airport at least. Looks bad for tomorrow.

We have a complaint, now a protest, from a Spanish pilot who accidentally used the wrong datum point, not WGS 84. I denied the complaint which almost automatically turned it into a protest. Now the CIVL Jury can make the determination. I assume that they will either give the pilot the goal (placing the onus on me for not being clear about the datum in the local rules or in my written presentation at the pilot briefing), or not (placing the onus on the pilot to  understand the verbal instructions from the meet director at the pilot briefing). I personally did not want to add a waypoint because I knew someone would be screwed. Either determination by the jury is fine by me.

2007 Worlds - a party in Hobbs »

August 16, 2007, 11:26:41 pm CDT

Big Spring

Seventy six at goal

Robert Reisinger|Worlds 2007

Lots of happy pilots at goal in Hobbs. The press had been called out and the film makers were there.

Robert Reisinger won the day and was almost four minutes ahead of Attila in sixth. Attila is still in the lead by a few points. Check out the scores.

2007 Worlds - Surfing the hurricane »

August 16, 2007, 4:22:12 pm CDT

Big Spring

They are almost at goal

Dustin Martin|photo|Robert Reisinger|Worlds 2007

Dustin is forty seven kilometers from goal at 4:15 PM. They apparently are averaging 80 km/h.

The satellite photos of the storm show bands of clouds coming over us in Big Spring. The first band came over a half hour into the launch cycle, but tug pilots reported the strongest lift of the meet so far.

Over forty at goal by 5:07 PM. Start time was 2:20 PM. Robert Reisinger was first beating Attila by two minutes, Attila was fifth, Gerolf was twentieth, slow as he got low earlier.

2007 Worlds - Day 8, Task 7 »

August 16, 2007, 2:57:29 pm CDT

Big Spring

We head to Hobbs

Jamie Shelden|Worlds 2007

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

http://ozreport.com/2007worldsscores.php

http://ozreport.hgcomps.net/comps/index.php?op=show_comps

With Erin on its way we head out to the west launching on the cross taxi ways into an east wind. The goal is the abandoned air force base at Hobbs, NM, letting pilots land an hour earlier than if they had landed in Texas. This is a 172 km task.

The first start time was 2:20 PM

2007 Worlds - Day 7, Task 6, Part 2 »

August 15, 2007, 9:02:42 pm CDT

Big Spring

A lonely goal

Bobby Bailey|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Worlds 2007

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/

Looks like no one made goal. Many seemed to have landed at the second turnpoint before the 35 km leg east into goal against the forecasted east wind (although the winds seemed to be predominantly south). All three task members agreed on the task right away so that was a foreshadowing of the fact that they wouldn't make it.

We actually changed the task a bit making it easier when the safety committee objected to the landing fields near the original goal at Garza.

There were high clouds from the beginning of the day which made us distrust the generally positive soaring forecast as we know that the models have trouble making accurate prediction when there are mid level and higher clouds. Also the higher clouds got thick and shaded the launch about half an hour into it.

Still there were cu's under the thick higher clouds and over the vast area of shaded ground and pilots were able to climb to cloud base. The launches were a bit slower due to the fact that many pilots were waiting until 2,000' AGL to get off.

There have been reports of cloud flying, which is cheating. We will be looking into those reports and assessing some penalties if they are true.

Yesterday I had Bobby Bailey tow me up for a little flight. It was great to be behind Bobby again and he hit a thermal right away. He put it up in a bank and we did a twirl to 1,000' before I pinned off. Sure is great to have the tug pilot define the thermal for you.

2007 Worlds - Day 7, Task 6 »

August 15, 2007, 3:47:46 pm CDT

Big Spring

A dogleg task with an an upwind leg to goal

Andrew Vanis|Belinda Boulter|Bill Moyes|CIVL|Jamie Shelden|Rob Kells|Steve Kroop|Steven "Steve" Pearson|Worlds 2007

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

http://ozreport.com/2007worldsscores.php

http://ozreport.hgcomps.net/comps/index.php?op=show_comps

[IMAGE]

Photo by Belinda Boulter

Rob Kells, Davis, Trish, and two others help a Moyes pilot get ready to launch at Big Spring. Rob and Trish have returned to Los Angeles. Steve Pearson should be here Tuesday.

We called a 165 km task with two waypoints and a goal at Tbar, a small airfield. The CIVL folks (Flip and Heather) have taken the goal line out to the field. They have been very helpful at this meet. Andrew Vanis is coming back from Albuquerque to help with the goal. Jamie and Steve Kroop are on their way to goal to also help out.

The quote from Bill Moyes, "This is the best organized, smoothest and most professionally run Worlds that I have ever seen."

2007 Worlds - Mario wins the day »

August 14, 2007, 1:49:06 pm CDT

Big Spring

He didn't want to do the task

Christian Ciech|PG|Worlds 2007

Mario Alonzi is on the task committee with Gerolf and Attila. Gerolf and Attila are calling the tasks that they like to fly (and really what are World Class tasks). Mario did not want to do this long task to Clovis. He wanted a triangle or dogleg task, something up wind. But the forecast was for 15 knot east winds. He and Gerolf got into it. Gerolf was challenging him on the basis of Mario's position in the meet.

Mario called it a paraglider task, no upwind portions.

Well, well, they were both wrong. Mario won the task by one second over Christian Ciech. Perhaps Gerolf got him riled up.

Gerolf and Attila were thirteen and fourteenth respectively. Christian said he flew by himself and found himself twenty six kilometers west of the course line. He never saw Mario, even as he crossed the goal line. He was high.

Sixty pilots, well over 50%, made it to goal, the longest task ever called and made in a competition, ever.

So the irony here is at a pretty high level.

2007 Worlds - Day 6, no task »

August 14, 2007, 9:49:05 CDT

Big Spring

Attila with his three wins in a row

Worlds|Worlds 2007

Photo by Joerg Bajewski.

Attila won the first three days in a row and won a hat for each day.

The Big Spring airport from above with Joerg:

Audio blogs for the Worlds:  http://2007worlds.blogspot.com/

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2007 Worlds - Day 5, Task 5, part 5 »

August 13, 2007, 8:06:44 pm CDT

Big Spring

Forty five pilots at goal

record|Worlds 2007

It looks like we nailed it today. A long drive home, but the pilots can rest tomorrow. Tomorrow is the rest day and a good day for a free flight by the meet director.

This task sets the world record for the longest task called and made in a competition. The fact that it was made by almost 50% of the pilots in not optimal conditions makes it even a better accomplishment. We almost called a 301 km task, the same task with a a waypoint along the way.

2007 Worlds - Day 5, Task 5, part 4 »

August 13, 2007, 7:25:21 pm CDT

Big Spring

Thirty five pilots at goal by 6:40 PM

Christian Ciech|Dustin Martin|Jamie Shelden|Worlds 2007

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

Did I say that the sky was full of cu's today? This (and yesterday) is like the Big Spring we remember.

Christian Ciech won the day. Dustin in seventh or eighth. The whole British team in and they are winning the team competition so far. Looks like a very good goal field.

Hang Gliding pioneer⁣ dies in sailplane accident, part 2

Mon, Aug 13 2007, 5:40:49 pm CDT

Geoff Loyns

Geoff Loyns, Big Spring site record holder

Connie Locke|fatality|Geoff Lyons|photo|record|sailplane|Worlds 2007

Connie Locke «Connie» writes:

In light of Geoff’s recent parting, I am trying to compile a photo scrap book for his granddaughter. Geoff died doing what he loved, flying. If you have, or know of someone else who has, photos depicting Geoff in his flying career. I would greatly appreciate a copy to include in the scrap book for Kimberly and her mom, Martine.

As many of you know all of Geoff’s immediate family is in Wales and there is only his flying family from which for me to draw a picture of Geoff’s life here in the states. Geoff led a very colorful life and I know there are some great stories out there about flying with him. I would really appreciate any input you might have regarding Geoff’s life.

If you have hard copies you can send them by snail mail to: PO Box 519; Dunlap, CA 93621.

BTW, Goeff's record flight from Big Spring was by truck tow from the Big Spring airport where we are holding the Worlds. It was 275 miles.

Discuss "Hang Gliding pioneer⁣ dies in sailplane accident, part 2" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

2007 Worlds - Day 5, Task 5, part 3 »

August 13, 2007, 5:27:33 pm CDT

Big Spring

185 kilometers at 5 PM

Jamie Shelden|Worlds 2007

Only a hundred more to go. Smaller and thinner cu's.

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

BTW, for a women who won't talk to me because I put it in the Oz Report Molly Moyes has been very talkative and today she gave me another quote, saying that pilots would make it to goal, "And you can quote me."

2007 Worlds - Day 5, Task 5, part 2 »

Mon, Aug 13 2007, 4:10:29 pm CDT

Big Spring

The forecast changes to east south east with more south as you go north

Øyvind Ellefsen|Corinna Schwiegershausen|Jamie Shelden|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Worlds 2007

Who's reporting on the worlds:

http://ellefsen.net/

http://corinnaflies.blogspot.com/

http://scottgravelle.blogspot.com/

http://brasilnomundial.blogspot.com/

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/

http://bretthazlett.blogspot.com/

The task is 284 km to the northwest to Clovis. The airport is ready for us. FSL forecast for winds with altitude say 20 knots at cloud base. The winds get more southerly (according to the forecast) as you go further north. We shall see.

Looks like they are doing between 50 and 60 km/h on average. Seems pretty fast to me.

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

They're on course but not moving as quickly as expected. Gerolf's gaggle is 168km out from goal. The clouds don't look as good up here as they did back in Big Spring…not bad, just fewer of them and more blue holes.

Discuss "2007 Worlds - Day 5, Task 5, part 2" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Hang Gliding pioneer⁣ dies in sailplane accident

Mon, Aug 13 2007, 10:57:49 am CDT

Geoff Loyns

Geoff Loyns, Big Spring site record holder

fatality|Geoff Lyons|Jim Herd|photo|record|sailplane|weather|Worlds 2007

Jim Herd writes:

Our very good friend, Geoff Loyns, took his last thermal Friday. Fittingly, at Boundary Peak in the Owens Valley, near Bishop, California. He knew and loved this entire area better than anyone I know.

He was flying a well-trodden path in his Ventus motorglider (“BM”) from Minden, Nevada, southeast. He was about 80 miles outbound at about 3 p.m. when he was last heard from on the aircraft radio. He was at about 17,000 feet and doing O.K. at that point. No other radio calls were heard and when he did not call in or return on Friday evening the alarm was raised early on Saturday. You see, it would not have been uncommon for a glider to have made an unplanned out-landing at a remote place with no radio or cell phone coverage. In the past, pilots have just spent the night in the cockpit quite comfortably and walked to get help the next day.

The search on Saturday involved the Civil Air Patrol in what they call a “route search”, however, no-one really knew where Geoff was going on Friday. He was basically flying solo that day. However, there were a few other gliders in the air and they all talked intermittently to give position reports. A handful of private powered aircraft also took to the skies on Saturday and searched a very wide area down to Bishop and Lone Pine and over eastwards to Tonopah and Hadley. No joy.

By late on Saturday everyone was becoming very worried since there were no sightings and no radio or phone contact.

On Sunday morning at 6 a.m. about a dozen pilots and other concerned folks gathered at the Minden airport restaurant to augment the Civil Air Patrol. The CAP guys had decided to change tactics to what they call a “grid search”. They have the entire state mapped out in grid segments precisely for this purpose. They train for just such a scenario.

Some concerned private pilots and their observers decided to concentrate on the likely areas of flight, armed with knowledge of the terrain and the weather on Friday, and Geoff’s soaring habits. Several of us know Geoff’s flying patterns very well. The soaring weather conditions were not good on Friday - mediocre lift and moderate SW winds with almost no clouds. This is a recipe for turbulence and Geoff knew that better than anyone after tumbling his hang glider and descending safely under canopy about 20 years ago. So the hunch was that he would not have gone too far off the beaten path where lift is usually best. About 5 private planes fanned out to the south east. I was in the second plane and as we approached Boundary Peak the first plane was in sight, 5 miles ahead of us. They said they thought they saw something. We followed over the same spot and at low level over the crash site we saw debris almost buried amongst the small trees. It was at 10,300 feet and about two miles west of the peak - the top of Boundary Peak is at about 13,500. The site is just below the tree line, very steep with small trees and in an open area – not deep in a canyon. Bishop airport would have been an easy glide from there.

Within 5 minutes the GPS coordinates were relayed to CAP and then to Fallon Naval Air Station. The navy had a fully-equipped helicopter in the air in 40 minutes. The worst case scenario was confirmed about an hour later. Looking at the site from above, it probably was all over very fast.

The recovery process is now underway under the control of Mono County, California. There was probably a GPS logger on board and if it survived it will provide more information. Several scenarios have been speculated, but it seems that a combination of turbulence and advanced flying techniques will be at the root of it. Definitely food for thought for the rest of us.

Geoff’s next of kin in Wales have been notified and his brother-in-law, Peter, will be on a plane over here as soon as he can. Peter is a mature professional but I am sure he will appreciate assistance from some of us local “Yankees” because procedures are different over here. Geoff also leaves a sister, Geraldine, a daughter, Martine, and a grand daughter, Kimberly. They all live in South Wales. Geoff had hoped to retire back there one day.

As you can imagine, writing this note is one of the most painful things I have ever done. I have known Geoff since his early “piss and vinegar” days in the early 1980’s flying hang gliders all around California. Some of the recipients of this note have known him just as long. Perhaps we will all get together to recall stories, but it is too early for that right now. You can call me and Jennifer if you feel the need, but frankly, we know no more at this point and it isn’t fun to go over it excessively. Details will unfold over the next few days and we will provide an update.

Oz Report articles.

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2007 Worlds - Day 5, Task 5 »

August 13, 2007, 10:52:15 CDT

Big Spring

The forecast is for east northeast winds

cart|CIVL|Jamie Shelden|Worlds 2007

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

http://ozreport.com/2007worldsscores.php

http://ozreport.hgcomps.net/comps/index.php?op=show_comps

We had a slight accident on launch yesterday when Alejandro Diez from Guatemala came out of the cart too slow and dove into the asphalt. He was injured but will be out of the hospital today. Minimal damage to the glider. We tell every pilot just before they launch to hold onto the cart until they are really flying.

Moore caught the action.

The meet director wearing a FAI cap (photo by Flip, CIVL President):

2007 Worlds - Day 4, Task 4 »

August 12, 2007, 11:38:01 pm CDT

Big Spring

I blow it and call a poor goal field

Jamie Shelden|Worlds 2007

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

http://ozreport.com/2007worldsscores.php

http://ozreport.hgcomps.net/comps/index.php?op=show_comps

But, pilots have a great time anyway as the sky is full of those things that we have missed - cu's.

Yes, I really made a big mistake and called Denver City airport as the goal (actually I had wanted it as a turnpoint, but the task committee didn't want to go back to Hobbs from there). The Google Earth photo wasn't good enough to tell us what was really in the field. It turned out to be power lines, fences and stakes.

Molly Moyes says I was depreciating a lot of Moyes gliders.

I dismissed complaints that there might be a problem coming into goal, over the town, with lot of oil fields, but that turned out not to be the problem. The landing field itself was the problem.

Dave Seib had a blistering time making it into goal first averaging 61.53 km/h over the 149.4 km (-16 km start circle) task length. A bit short I'd say. Ninety two pilots out of one hundred and nine made it in.

We'll have pilots who are very happy about the flying, some (not all) unhappy about the LZ, and lots of agitated team leaders at the team leader meeting tomorrow. What fun. Always a challenge.

2007 Worlds - Day 3, Task 3, part 2 »

August 11, 2007, 6:49:41 pm CDT

Big Spring

It's Attila on his own all the way to first place again

Gary Osoba|Jamie Shelden|Worlds 2007

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

http://ozreport.com/2007worldsscores.php

http://ozreport.hgcomps.net/comps/index.php?op=show_comps

Attila didn't let the gaggle slow him down. He made some kind of mistake 30 km from the start and flew the whole course (on a blue day) on his own arriving two minutes before everyone else. Forty four at goal.

Gary Osoba flew his plane out to goal and is bringing the top three pilots back with him.

They put out a physical goal line today, which the pilots appreciated.

2007 Worlds - Day 3, Task 3 »

August 11, 2007, 12:43:55 pm CDT

Big Spring

169 km straight line task to Leveland

weather|Worlds|Worlds 2007

We called a straight line task to Leveland airfield, 169 km. There is an entry start circle around LaMesa and a 10km turnpoint also around LaMesa.

The weather is the same, southerly winds, blue, top of the lift at 8 to 9,000' MSL.

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2007 Worlds - Day 2, Task 2, part 6 »

August 10, 2007, 11:07:03 pm CDT

Big Spring

Corinna floats into goal

Andrew Vanis|Bill Moyes|cart|Corinna Schwiegershausen|Dragonfly|Dustin Martin|Worlds 2007

The one footed Chris Smith wants me to mention what a killer golf cart driver, cart retriever he is. I don't get to see it that much as I've been at the north launch, but he looked smooth.

Bill Moyes is still causing heart attacks around here. He didn't preflight a Dragonfly that he and/or Bobby just built and the elevator bolts were on finger tight. Fortunately, they came off just as he was taking off so he could keep the plane on the ground. Otherwise we would be attending his funeral a bit too soon.

Corinna made goal specked out. She apparently spent the whole day hanging out above everyone else (she is light on her glider) and came in super high.

Andrew Vanis from New Mexico is here helping out for a few days. He's on crutches but he was still able to place the wind socks that mark the goal line out in the cotton fields near the airport. Amazing. They are 400 meters apart and need to be perpendicular to the last leg of the course.

The goal was a crop dusting field with cotton fields all around it but we had permission to land on the runway. There was grass next to the runway. It's green out here.

The thermals were tough again today. Hard to find and hard to stay up in, but still the good pilots made goal quickly.

2007 Worlds - Day 2, Task 2, part 4 »

August 10, 2007, 6:55:47 pm CDT

Big Spring

Sheep from goats

Jamie Shelden|Worlds 2007

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

Seventeen in  at 6:53 PM. First start time was 2:45 PM. 115 mile task

2007 Worlds - Day 2, Task 2, part 3 »

August 10, 2007, 6:44:48 pm CDT

Big Spring

Jamie's at goal

Jamie Shelden|Worlds 2007

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/

Attila first in, then two Aeros, then Hans Keifinger. One more way out on the horizon at 6:36 PM.

About 3:30 hours.

2007 Worlds - Day 2, Task 2, part 2 »

August 10, 2007, 4:14:25 pm CDT

Big Spring

Less wind, lots of blue, a longer task

CIVL|Dustin Martin|Flip Koetsier|Worlds 2007

Every one was off quickly once again. Flip Koetsier, the CIVL President was full of praise for the organization, the ground crew, and the tug pilots. He is real happy with how well things are going.

The task is 185 km long with a dogleg at LaMesa and then a 114 km leg to the north northeast to Crosby, a one plane crop dusting airport. The pilots were a buzzing mass ball over the north launch. Dustin got off low and we got to watch him slowly work his way up.

The wind was still out of the south at about 10 mph. It is supposed to be southeast later in the day down low, but still south up at 8,000' MSL - the top of lift. There were a few cu's to the south before we launched but they were soon gone.

The north launch.

2007 Worlds - Day 2, Task 2, part 1 »

August 10, 2007, 7:34:33 CDT

Big Spring

Making sure everyone understands the task

Belinda Boulter|weather|Worlds 2007

The meet director addresses the pilots in the weather and task briefing:

Photo by Belinda Boulter

The weather is projected up on the wall. Each day the task (SeeYou version), weather and Google Earth version of the task is projected for all the pilots to see just where they are going and what the goal looks like. I review the territory that they will be flying over so that they already have a bird's eye view of it.

The flags from all the countries are displayed in the airport. The FAI flag flies outside along with the US and Texas flags.

2007 Worlds - Day 1, Task 1, the overview »

August 10, 2007, 5:32:22 CDT

Big Spring

Fifty two at goal

Attila Bertok|Gerolf Heinrichs|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Worlds 2007

http://ozreport.com/2007worldsscores.php

http://ozreport.hgcomps.net/comps/index.php?op=show_comps

No Brazilians at goal. They flew together and all went down together with Seppi. Seppi had a four and a half hour retrieve. They landed in the lower "canyon" area. I heard that this normally dry area was completely green. Lots of standing water out in the fields, also.

Attila was first, followed one second later by Koji Daimon and then Gerolf. The two Swiss pilots who had to borrow/rent Aeros gliders as theirs are still in Zurich, came in tied for 11th.

1 BERTOK, Attila Moyes Litespeed S 5 HUN 02:13:36 979
2 DAIMON, Koji Aeros Combat L 13 JPN 02:13:37 977
3 HEINRICHS, Gerolf Moyes Litespeed RS 4 AUT 02:13:53 971
4 WALLBANK, Carl Moyes Litespeed RS 3.5 GBR 02:13:58 961
5 CATALDI, Elio Moyes Litespeed RS 3.5 ITA 02:13:58 960
6 GRICAR, Primoz Aeros Combat 13L SVN 02:14:00 956
7 BADER, Lucas Moyes Litespeed RS 4 DEU 02:14:02 955
8 DURAND, Jonny Moyes Litespeed RS 3.5 AUS 02:14:11 952
9 OPSANGER, Olav Moyes Litespeed RS 4 NOR 02:14:23 939
9 JOHANSEN, Lars Bo Aeros Combat L 15 DNK 02:14:33 939

2007 Worlds - Day 1, Task 1, even more »

August 9, 2007, 5:58:09 pm CDT

Big Spring

Forty at goal

Chris Zimmerman|Dustin Martin|Worlds 2007

Kevin got to goal in two hours and fifty minutes. The fastest time is about 2:20. Dustin (2:22) and Glen at goal. Phil Bloom landed early. Chris Zimmerman still trying to make goal at 6 PM. Atilla was the first in of those pilots who started on the second clock.

2007 Worlds - Day 1, Task 1, more »

August 9, 2007, 5:50:44 pm CDT

Big Spring

Kevin Carter first at goal

Kevin Carter|Worlds 2007

Text message at 5:50 PM. Had to take the first start gate.

2007 Worlds - Day 1, Task 1 »

August 9, 2007, 5:19:13 pm CDT

Big Spring

It's blue with a bit of wind

Bill Moyes|Mike Barber|Steve Burns|Worlds 2007

The results when they are ready:

http://ozreport.com/2007worldsscores.php

http://ozreport.hgcomps.net/comps/index.php?op=show_comps

The task was a 143 km straight shot to Town and Country airport just south of Lubbock. We started launching 'em at 1:45 PM and the north launch line had all their guys (55) and four reflights done in an hour. Then we had another dozen reflights straggle in. All wrapped up in an hour and a half.

No accidents unless you count Bill Moyes running out of gas in one of the tugs (and towing like a madman). Steve Burns is here flying a tug (not his own). He gave me a big hug. He wasn't towing like a madman.

Mike Barber is here but on the ground an hour after the last start time (3:45). It was a tough day or at least a tough start with no cu's at all, and lower temperatures than forecast for 2 PM, which, of course, made the lift lighter and lower than forecast. There was a strong inversion at 2,500' AGL, but soon some pilots were able to climb to 5,000' AGL.

More later.

2007 Worlds - practice day 2 and opening ceremony »

August 8, 2007, 11:02:42 pm CDT

Big Spring

Big Spring, with Belinda's help, puts on a real nice opening ceremony

Belinda Boulter|CIVL|Oleg Bondarchuk|Quest Air|USHPA|weather|Worlds 2007

http://canadiannationalteam.ca/blog

http://glidexc.blogspot.com/

http://brasilnomundial.blogspot.com

We've had incredible ceremonies and pageantry when we've gone to Europe for the Worlds. Segillo and Berg went all out for us and hundreds and thousands of people participated. It made you feel like hey cool this really is the Worlds and it is a big deal. Humans are funny that way.

The opening ceremony for the rigid wing worlds at Quest Air last year was almost non existent (in its ceremonial aspects), but it did have some great baby alligators. That was a big thrill for these international pilots.

In our processionals in Europe we have wound through the narrow streets with people hanging out of their windows. It is just hard to imagine a parade of hang glider pilots in America with any one noticing, their houses far from the road, spaced far apart. But they found the perfect spot for us at the amphitheater in their wonderful Big Spring park (at the actual Big Spring). This is a stone amphitheater that seats 7,000 (about 1/3rd the population of Big Spring) and the stage looks like the Alamo. While there weren't 7,000 folks there to take in our ceremony, we did have a few locals looking on.

We did have a procession of the teams in the competition down the center stone aisle to the stage. Belinda had flags for every one, put up on beautiful poles made by the local committee (the committee that supports the hang gliding in Big Spring). And every national team walked with their colors to music by Jody Nix (a well known west Texas country musician and resident of Big Spring).

All the twenty five flags were then staged on the stage to give an international flavor to this little west Texas town. The mayor spoke, the airport manager spoke, the CIVL president spoke, the USHPA representative spoke, and the FAI flag was raised and the FAI anthem was played. It was for the most part short and sweet. It really drove home the point that hey this is the Worlds and we can have a parade here and a "real' opening ceremony if we just hold it in the right spot.

Click for a higher resolution version of the mayor of Big Spring speaking.

Afterwards we all walked to the barbeque pit at the park where they served up Texas brisket. The air was warm and the smell pleasant and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as it slowly got dark. Every one from around the world was made to feel welcome in Texas. I was very proud of the town in the US that does the very most to support hang gliding.

Lots of pilots flew today and while it was almost completely blue they had good flights with the day finally turning on around 3:30 PM. I don't think anyone took the course (forty miles to the north to LaMesa) as they needed to get back in time for the opening ceremonies. I'm sure glad that they all attended.

The weather continues to look good into the future. It is very moist here, a lot like east Texas and not at all like west Texas. You can see the dry line to the east every day with the cu's towering up. The winds are dying down over the next few days as the high pressure continues to build over us.

The best pilots in the world are hear today except for Oleg Bondarchuck who is recovering at home from his tumble in Greifenburg. They seem quite happy and so far no one has hurt himself. The EMT's are on site.

2007 Worlds - practice day 1 »

August 7, 2007, 10:21:29 pm CDT

Big Spring

15 mph south wind and a few puffies

André Wolfe|Worlds 2007

The practice day came and went without a hitch. Twenty pilots attempted the 70 km task to LaMesa, cross wind. Andre Wolf won the day starting six minutes after the last start time and following the cu's down the course line. He was able to get to about 4,000' AGL.

A majority of the 110 pilots flew during the day and about half the tug pilots pulled up pilots. The hangar isn't even full (as pilots flew down the course line).

Marcelo heads to the Worlds

Mon, Aug 6 2007, 10:13:07 pm CDT

Marcelo

Bringing the whole fam damily

Marcelo Zanetti|Worlds 2007

Marcelo «marcelo» writes:

We are in final preparations for our trek to Big Spring, we are leaving tomorrow morning; take a look at the pictures, I hope to make some advertising for the Worlds.

Click on above.

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2007 Worlds - pre meet »

August 6, 2007, 10:11:15 pm CDT

Big Spring

Puffy cu's fill the sky, light winds

Quest Air|Worlds 2007

The Italian and Japanese team came here on Sunday and were setting up their gliders in the hangar. There won't be any towing at Big Spring until Tuesday.

The Quest Air crew is setting up tugs in their hangar (the tugs will have two hangars this year). Other tugs will be flying in tomorrow.

http://canadiannationalteam.ca/blog

http://brasilnomundial.blogspot.com

2007 Worlds - no mandatory start gates »

July 19, 2007, 11:25:40 EDT

2007 Worlds

Should the top 30 pilots be required to take the second start time?

CIVL|Flip Koetsier|Worlds 2007

We have been using the requirement that the top thirty pilots in the meet have to take the second start gate for a while now. It was suggested that it be used at the upcoming Worlds.

Since it was on my proposed amendments to the rules for the Worlds (http://ozreport.com/2007worldslocalrulesammendments.php) I received email complaints about it from a couple of European team leaders who weren't in favor of it. Then a day was stopped/cancelled at the pre-Europeans. You'll find the relevant articles here: http://ozreport.com/11.122#1 and http://ozreport.com/11.125#2. That got everyone excited.

A full fledge "discussion" had been going on and finally there was an outcome from Flip Koetsier «f.koetsier» the CIVL President. If you are going to the Worlds you might be interested:

After Greifenburg, the discussions between you and Heather and having read the opinions of some people like Didier, Koos and Flavio I conclude the following:

- Our sporting code is clear that all pilots fly the same task and must have the same opportunities about how they fly it. Pilots should be able to make their own decisions and we will see who is the best pilot at decision making as well as flying.

- The mandatory start gates makes it impossible for a certain group of pilots to make their own decision about when to start. This makes the mandatory start gates an unfair system.

- In Greifenburg we have seen that the mandatory start gates has not been tested enough and that certain circumstances, that can risk the validity of tasks, have not been foreseen.

- The CIVL bureau can not support it as it is, as it is fundamentally unfair and will never stand up to protest.

- The mandatory start gates rule as part of the coming Hang Gliding Worlds in Big Spring has not been approved by the plenary meeting of the CIVL.

In my opinion reality has proven that the mandatory start gates system as it is now, is not ready to be used in our championships.

The CIVL bureau can not and will not allow you to use the mandatory start gates system in the Hang Gliding Worlds in Big Spring and I as jury president in Big Spring will not permit it.

Check those sprogs

July 3, 2007, 3:42:03 pm EDT

Sprogs

The DHV pounces on pilots with lower sprog settings

CIVL|Corinna Schwiegershausen|sprogs|Worlds 2007

http://corinnaflies.blogspot.com/2007/07/118-km.html

...yesterday's day winner scored zero (Mr. Dalby from Denmark) because his sprogs were too low, also five other people's points were taken because of the same reason, measured in the goal field. Today they competed with "safe" sprog settings.

The sprog "rule" whatever it is is supposed to be enforced by CIVL officials at the upcoming Worlds also. I would hope that they come up with some way to check the sprogs in advance so that pilots will know if they are about to be disqualified.

2007 Worlds - late fee schedule »

Thu, Apr 5 2007, 8:56:20 am EDT

Worlds

There is a late fee if you are not pre-registered and paid for in time.

Quest Air|Worlds 2007

All your pilots who are coming to the Worlds must be pre-registered at https://OzReport.com/reg2007worlds.php?register before June 1st. If you don't know exactly which pilots are coming, then have all those with a realistic chance of coming pre-register before June 1st. There will be a $100 per pilot late fee for any pilot not pre-registered before June 1st who comes to the Worlds.

In addition register your team before June 1st. If you have not registered your team before June 1st there is a $600 late fee for team registration. This is in addition to the $100 late fee for each pilot not individually pre-registered before June 1st.

Payment for the Worlds is due July 1st. Payment details will be provided soon. Countries not listed below will need to make the enter fee payment to the provided account by July 1st or there will be a $600 late fee (which is $100 per pilot). This will be in addition to the other late fees if applicable. There will be no exception. If you wish to be an exception, you will pay the late fee for that privilege.

Tow fees will be payable by the team leaders upon team registration August 7th and 8th in person at the Worlds in Big Spring.

Australia, Austria and France shall pay their entry fees directly to the FAI. FAI bank account details: Crédit Suisse Private Banking, Rue du Lion d’Or 5-7, Case postale 2468, CH- 1002 Lausanne, Switzerland, Account name: Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, Account Number (Euro): 0425-457968-32, IBAN Code: CH49 0442 5045 7968 3200 0, SWIFT/BIC Code: CRES CHZZ 10A.

By the way, Gerry has added Canadian and Australian to the alternate languages on the pilot pre-registration page.

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2007 Worlds - Pilot Registration »

Wed, Apr 4 2007, 8:52:41 pm EDT

Worlds

Now the registration is in English, French, German, and Russian

Quest Air|Worlds 2007

https://OzReport.com/reg2007worlds.php?register

Individual pilots who are coming to the Worlds and will be on their country's team need to pre-register for the Worlds. Now the registration form is in English, French, German and Russian. So feel free to choose your language and sign yourself up.

Team registration here: https://OzReport.com/reg2007worldsTeam.php?register (just in English, but very basic).

https://OzReport.com/2007worlds.php

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Worlds Team and Pilot pre-registration

Fri, Mar 30 2007, 11:45:58 pm EDT

Worlds

How clear do I have to make this?

Worlds 2007

Pre-register your team as a team for the Worlds NOW.

Go here: https://OzReport.com/reg2007worldsTeam.php?register. Pre-register your team there NOW.

See the teams that have pre-registered here: https://OzReport.com/reg2007worldsTeam.php.

Now, get your pilots to individually pre-register here: https://OzReport.com/reg2007worlds.php?register.

Not sure who is on your team? No worries. Have the top seven or ten pilots pre-register here: https://OzReport.com/reg2007worlds.php?register, now.

Do it now. There will be substantial late fees assessed. We are working on the dates for that now.

No payment is required now. Just go ahead and pre-register now.

Do both tasks. Pre-register your team and have your pilots pre-register themselves.

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Big Spring photos

Wed, Mar 28 2007, 5:48:20 pm EDT

Big Spring

Photos of Big Spring in anticipation of the upcoming Worlds

Big Spring 2007|photo|Worlds 2007

Joerg Bajewski «Joerg.Bajewski» sent us these photos for use with the upcoming Worlds in Big Spring: https://OzReport.com/2007worldsphotos.php. The Worlds web site is here: https://OzReport.com/2007worlds.php. Check it out.

Big Spring
Photo taken here: 54 miles NNW of Big Spring, Texas; height:1em;width:auto;vertical-align:bottom;border:none;padding:none

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Bad weather for the worlds

February 25, 2007, 10:03:00 pm PST

Bad weather

How could it all go so wrong? :-)

PG|weather|Worlds 2007|Worlds 2023

http://canadianparaglidingteam.blogspot.com/

The World's Start

Or do they? They were suppose to start yesterday and as of now Monday Afternoon we still have not had a task. The weather has been epic since I arrived almost 2 weeks ago. But yesterday things went bad weather wise.

We were really happy to be down as a few hours later one of the biggest thunderstorms I have ever seen dumped loads of rain on the town of Manilla.

The forecast I have to say is not great for the next few days as a tropical storm sits in the North of Australia pulling moisture from the south towards us.

We had a hell of a monsoon last night! After the day’s task was cancelled the storm clouds moved in, and it was only a matter of time before the deluge arrived. We got about 34 mm of rain in 3 hours; it was so wet that huge puddles were forming since the ground couldn’t absorb that much water so quickly...

The morning actually dawned cloudy (!) (the first cloudy-in-the-morning day since getting here) with super-high humidity, so there was no rush to get up the mountain...

OK, so the day has just been cancelled, due to impeding rain and embedded cu-nims in the surrounding area. The overriding reason for this wet weather is a bunch of low-pressure systems forming way to the north of us, one of which is predicted to develop into a typhoon (hurricane) in the next few days or so. These weather systems usually pass through northern Oz in Dec/Jan, but this year they are late.

2007 Worlds - Flex wing hang gliding championships »

February 1, 2007, 9:02:24 AEDT

2007 Worlds

The pre-registration page and draft local rules are up

Worlds|Worlds 2007

2007 Worlds website.

The 2007 Flex Wing Worlds web site is now up. If you are coming to the Worlds you will need to pre-register. There is a form there for pre-registration. Also, you will find the local rules and other information about the Worlds.

Discuss 2007 Worlds at the Oz Report forum

Why not more pilots at the Worlds?

January 3, 2007, 7:39:40 AEDT

Worlds

Why is CIVL so dead set against allowing more pilots at the Worlds?

CIVL|Worlds|Worlds 2007

There are nine Austrian pilots here vying for six places on the Austrian National team to fly at the Worlds. Why has the CIVL Bureau been deaf to our requests for instead of one six person team from each nation, two six person teams, or one eight person team, or one six person team plus additional individual pilots? Their resistance to the idea of allowing additional pilots just doesn't make any sense for the pilots nor for the organizers.

Limiting the number of pilots by any means (say restricting team size) is really only justified when the total numbers of slots available is limited by resource or safety concerns. If we can only get so many tugs to tow people at Big Spring, then that would limit how many pilots can come. But that is not a concern up to 150 pilots at Big Spring.

The Big Spring airport is a huge area with plenty of room for lots of towing and plenty of area for pilots to spread out in the sky and still stay high.

We have sent in our proposals for allowing for additional pilots to the Bureau to be brought up at the Plenary. I can only hope that Oz Report readers who want to compete in the Worlds will contact their CIVL representatives and vote to allow for more pilots in the 2007 Worlds.

2007 Worlds - entry »

Sun, Dec 3 2006, 9:38:30 pm PST

Worlds

Your national organization must enter you

Worlds|Worlds 2007

http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/meetings/bureau/2006_nov

Organisers are allowing individuals to register without going through their NAC, causing possible confusion for pilots and more work for someone to check with the NAC. Flip will write to the NACs, delegates and FAI members that they must enter their pilots in Cat 1 comps.

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Free Flying at the Paraglider Worlds

November 30, 2006, 9:44:19 PST

Free Flying

Come as a tourist and fly at the Worlds

PG|Worlds|Worlds 2007

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

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

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

2007 US National Flex wing team?

Mon, Nov 27 2006, 7:31:54 am PST

Flex Wing Team?

Is there a team and/or a team leader?

US National Hang Gliding Team|Worlds 2007

Is there a US national team for the 2007 Flex Wing Worlds at Big Spring, Texas in August? If so, who's on it? And who is the team leader? Who is going to register the team for the competition? Who is going to see if the foundation has any money for support of competition pilots at the Worlds?

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2007 Worlds »

October 27, 2006, 6:00:31 pm PDT

Worlds

Don't come before the first practice day.

Worlds|Worlds 2007

Pilots are reminded that there will be no flying or towing at the Big Spring Airport before the official two practice days. Unofficially and preliminarily those practices days are August 7th and 8th.

So if you are coming to the Worlds in 2007, you are asked not to come early, unless you want to see the sites of Big Spring.

Discuss Worlds at the Oz Report forum

Comments on the Mt. Borah resolution

Wed, Jun 1 2005, 3:00:03 pm EDT

It ends in a whimper.

Godfrey Wenness|PG|Worlds|Worlds 2007

A miscommunication and a promise to look at the subjective aspects of the team selection process? That's it? Godfrey certainly got the paragliding world's attention when he banned the Australian World's Selection Committee members from flying at his site, the site of the 2007 Worlds. His reputation was fairly or unfairly tarnished by his actions. The reputations of the banned pilots weren't touched, they looked like the victims and Godfrey the perpetrator.

Can balance re restored? No one wants Godfrey to be permanently wounded. Many of these pilots were good friends with Godfrey and their friendships should be restored. Also it would be great if Australian competitions can continue at Mt. Borah. Nothing is said about this.

Discuss Mt. Borah at the Oz Report forum

2007 Worlds »

Wed, Mar 2 2005, 1:00:03 pm EST

Why the top pilots wanted to go to Big Spring.

Worlds|Worlds 2007

You can find out what they said here.

Discuss 2007 Worlds at the Oz Report forum

2007 Worlds in Big Spring, Texas

Fri, Feb 18 2005, 6:00:00 pm GMT

David Glover was there in Guatemala to lobby for his meet.

Big Spring

CIVL|David "Dave" Glover|David Glover|Quest Air|video|Worlds 2007

The CIVL delegates at the Plenary in Guatemala voted 14 to 13 for the Big Spring location over the Slovakia location for the next flex wing Worlds. The Rigid Wing Worlds will be held in 2006 at Quest Air in Florida (with the pre-Worlds there this year).

David Glover writes:

Countries that I think voted for the US Bid given below. Most all of Slovakia's votes come from countries that were in close proximity to Slovakia. The Slovakian team was very nice and professional. They could not have been nicer through the whole process, especially Juarj.

OZ, NZ, CAN, DEN, FIN, SWE, NOR, ICE, GUATEMALA, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, UK, USA (I HOPE) and one other country.

Big thanks to all the pilots who sent me emails - it made the difference.

My presentation started very badly. The video on DVD would not play after I had tested 30 minutes earlier - a half dozen delegates came to the rescue, but to no avail. I was able to show it during a coffee break. All the other bidders had very impressive, video and power point presentations - mine ended up being me talking to them the whole time.

The CIVL delegates are a hard working smart bunch. I was very impressed with how efficient and professional everything was run. It was great being able to put names to faces.

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The Slovakian bid for the Worlds

Thu, Feb 10 2005, 4:00:00 pm GMT

As taken from their proposal to CIVL

CIVL|competition|internet|maps|site|sport|weather|Worlds 2005|Worlds 2007

www.zelpo.sk/hang-gliding/

http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/meetings/

The headquarters of the event shall be seated in the town Brezno and in the neighbouring village Podbrezová. General sponsorship has been committed by éeleziarne Podbrezová a. s., which company has for many years been the chief organizer and sponsor of competitions in hang-gliding in Slovakia, contributing profoundly the the outstanding reputation that these international events have gained worldwide.

The territory of Slovakia is mostly mountainous; the mountains are mostly part of the Carpathian mountain range, orientated in the west-east direction. In the north there are the High Tatras, the Low Tatras in the middle and Slovenské rudohorie runs from the centre towards south. The Low Tatras because of their height (1400 - 2000 m above sea level) are the ideal place for hang-gliding sport. The south-west of Slovakia is rather flat, created by Podunajská lowland that borders with the river Danube in the south. Východoslovenská lowland in the east is of similar character.

Horehronie is situated between the south side of the Low Tatras and the north part of Slovenské rudohorie. The natural border between these two territories is created by the river Hron that springs under mountain Kráova Hoa. Most of the surface of Horehronie is mountainous, the length of the respective mountain ridges reaches up to 40 km with the largest peaks rising over 2000 m above sea level. One maintained road is mostly in every valley, what is very helpful for pilot's orientation and as well as for reaching stranded pilots.

Králova Hola Grassy top of the summit and large area make the start from this site very convenient and it is possible to place here a large number of gliders without restrictions. The site can be used for three wind directions /south, east, north/, the west wind is possible too, but only if no better starting conditions are found in other starting sites.

Prohibited areas: The lines have been chosen so, that the prohibited areas will not develop limitations for competition activity of flying crews. Flights above protected areas will be coordinated by responsible state authority.

Frontier crossing arrangements: Competition tasks will be chosen within separate sufficient area with border lines having sufficient distance reserve from the frontier of Slovak Republic. The characteristic terrain relief of Slovakia provides easy visual distinguishing. Competitors will be informed about distinct terrain signs of border areas on daily briefings. The coordination with Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary will be provided with help of state authorities.

Weather conditions are relatively stabilised in Horehronie region in early August and still enable long flights (3 - 5 hours). The summer temperatures reach up to 30° Celsius and the winds are obviously light to moderate. Even stronger winds on the top of the highest take-off place Králova Hola (up to 10 m/s) proved to be safe for Official bid to host World Hang-gliding Championship 2007 launching, flying the task and landing during last 20 years with regard to big fields in the Hron valley.

Best time of day varies from launching place, Martinske hole take-off place /NE, EP/ is better to launch before 2 p.m., Podkonické Pleše, Panský diel /S/ between 1 to 3 p.m., Baranovo /W/ about 3 p.m., Králova Hola /S, N/ 12 to 4 p.m., and Èier²a· /N/ 1 to 5 p.m. The main ridge of the Low Tatras at that season time works thermically to 6 p.m., the valley even longer /7 p.m./.

Our long term statistics /20 years/ shows that about 70% of scheduled competition days were flown with full validity - see European Hang-gliding Championship 1998, 9 valid tasks of 12 scheduled days.

The best statistics was in 2003 (5 valid tasks of 5 scheduled days), the worst in 2002 - floods in Czech Republic (3 valid tasks of 9 days). The danger of thunderstorms rises with humidity in the air and cannot be avoided in the mountain region. There is a good knowledge of the most dangerous places and the tasks can be chosen to reduce the risk. Typical flight tasks are those via one or more turnpoints up to 130 km.

It is our effort that the entry fee will not exceed 300 EUR per competitor and 150 EUR for team leaders and assistants and for women competitors 50 EUR. This will cover packed lunches for the pilots, drinks, morning refreshment for the team leaders, Championship T- shirt and other souvenirs. Moreover, it will include free admission to the reception after winning ceremony for all the pilots.

All the competitors will have free internet access and free parking place. Every pilot will receive all the necessary items, such as numbers, maps, list of waypoints, competition regulations and the meteorological information.

Apart from that, the organizers will arrange social program for pilots during free days. This is practically free; eventually it brings minimum extra costs. The entry fee should also cover transport of the competing pilots and registered team members during the championship.

2007 Worlds - Slovakia's qualities »

Wed, Feb 9 2005, 12:00:00 pm EST

My buddy Peter writes about his country's bid.

CIVL|Peter Gasparovic|Worlds 2007

Peter Gasparovic «pgproxy1» writes:

Many European pilots will find it more convenient to fly the Worlds in Europe, would rather fly over other countryside than wild flatlands, and none of them will need entry visas for Slovakia. The organisation of the 2007 world hang gliding championship in Slovakia is strongly supported by the most significant company in region - Zeleziarne Podbrezova Ltd., and we have skilled people organising a big hang gliding contest "Podbrezova Cup" each year.

However, from the pilot view, this can't be reason to vote Slovakia. I have an other argument - they will have much more fun there than in Big Spring. I don't like that hang gliding contests let pilots to fly behind safety margin (Millau, Hay). We shouldn't compete in overmastering of dangerous situations, instead we should compare our tactical decisions, and art of glider utilization. I believe, there will never be T-shirt "I survived Podbrezova".

Conditions in Slovakia are not the best for very big straight distances, but you will be pleased to fly over our nice country. Our organisation committee and competition crew will do everything to put even more fun to competition, specifically:

Conditions:

- you will fly various landscape: 2000m high mountains (mostly national parks), 1000m high green hills and agricultural flatlands all within less than 100km. You can expect 2-3m/s average thermals, with peaks up to 5m/s. Winds are usually moderate, without strong valley circulation.

Launching:

- only from (500-1100 m) high hills (no aerotowing, no overheating).

Landing, retrieval and safety:

- country is lightly populated (comparing to rest of Europe), but with dense road system (even in mountains). There is plenty of big grassy landing zones. All voltage wires are clearly visible (not like in Australia). You can drive almost everywhere (no fences), and navigation is simple. There is almost 100% GSM network coverage, and helicopter rescue in a few minutes is standard.

Tasks:

- we have enough waypoints to set more then 100km straight tasks, and organisers inspect all goals before contest, so you can rely on their info when deciding the task (no goal shift). Only virtual goals will be used (windsocks and ground crew only for assistance). All waypoints will be available before the contest on page: http://www.zelpo.sk/sport/rogalo/index.htm.

Information and rules:

- all information (including tracklogs) will be publicly available, like we do each year: http://www.zelpo.sk/sport/rogalo/2004/. According to our experiences, almost no pilot reads the CIVL Sporting Code, so our regulations include most important sections. Our rules evolve each year. We endeavor to make them explicit to eliminate wastde protests, but when not appropriate, rule states meaning rather than explicit case (to facilitate sportsmanship decisions).

2007 Worlds - Texas or Slovakia? »

Fri, Feb 4 2005, 5:00:00 am EST

Slovakia and Big Spring go head to head

CIVL|David Glover|Flip Koetsier|Worlds 2007

I took a survey of pilots and national teams at the Worlds in Hay to see how much interest there was in going to Texas or Slovakia for the next flex wing Worlds in 2007 (with a pre-Worlds meet in 2006).  Five out of twenty three teams took my little survey seriously enough to respond all unanimously for Big Spring, Texas, USA. I assume that the Slovakian team was in favor of Slovakia.

It is not the national teams that directly decide the location of the next Worlds, but rather their national aeroclub's CIVL delegates (as well as the delegates from countries that didn't send teams in Hay). If national team competition pilots want to make a statement about where they want to have the World Championships they need to get a hold of their CIVL delegate (or national organization) and give them an earful.

The Dutch team told me that they had a significant say in how their CIVL delegate, Flip Koetsier, votes at the CIVL Plenary in February in Guatemala on this issue. Other teams will have to make their decisions very soon if they want to have any say in where they will be going to compete in two years.

The Slovakians have a nice presentation about their site and bid here. I have not seen anything similar from the US. Maybe this article will be enough to encourage Dave Glover to put his presentation up on the web.

I made a presentation at the Worlds about the upcoming vote and presented the case for Texas (which I will again in a later article). I invited a representative from Slovakia to also say something. It was, "We have great food to eat on the non flying days." This was met with great enthusiasm. It appeared as though the Slovakian representative was assuming that there would be plenty of non flying days there.

Competition pilots are often very critical of CIVL. If they want CIVL to bend to their wishes they have to make them known through their representatives. They can't just complain from the sidelines. In this case all they really have to do is go through their associations and their CIVL reps to get them to agree with their wishes. If they don't they have no one to blame but themselves.

David Glover will be at the CIVL Plenary this month making the case for Big Spring and the US representative, Jim Zeiset, will be voting for Big Spring. I just bet that the Italian representatives will not be flipping a coin this time.