At 07:52 AM 22/06/05 +1000, you wrote:
>Just going back to square one for a minute.
>If the rule was made in the 60's say, back when Leigh's slow bird was
>the standard, consider what a relative modern standard should perhaps
>be, given higher speeds etc. Perhaps it should be 300 feet or more, say
>100 metres.
You need to be careful as there won't be enough room in a thermal at one
altitude.
>Ian, Mike and others have made the point that an apparently arbitrary
>number isn't the answer, good sense and airmanship is.
The number isn't all that arbitrary. There was a number for powered
aircraft at the time which would be totally impractical for gliders as it
would prohibit sharing a thermal under most circumstances. 200 feet is a
compromise between that and reasonable clearance to allow for errors of
judgement and turbulence.
>The problem then is, a number becomes a false security deal, since it is
>unworkable for the reasons put by some, ie, difficulty accurately
>judging distances, different pilot skills and glider performance
>characteristics in the one thermal, etc.
As I said originally it was a GFA _rule_ that I regarded as a good _guide_.
That is all it can be as there is no real way of enforcing this.
It is necessary for new students to put some sort of number on what is
acceptable and show them what this looks like. Otherwise some people may
feel comfortable with one fuselage length seperation because they don't
undertand the problem. Which is why the number should be mentioned in any
serious discussion on flying with other gliders.
>Which puts us back to thermal etiquette, and Mike Valentine's Aug 92
>article, and the comp briefings mentioned above, as a basis for "the
>standards" to teach, and apply.
>The "apparent" lack of uniform teaching, reinforcement, and adherence to
>these principles, at club level, is, I think, still an issue to be
>addressed.
>
>--
>Peter Creswick
The latest issue of the Darling Downs Soaring Club newsletter had an
interesting article by "Brett"(can we have author's full names please and
drop the cutsie Pommie S&G "in group" format?). Perhaps Brett would like to
post it here in full. It deserves wider readership and deals with the
concerns in your last paragraph.
Mike
Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments
phone Int'l + 61 746 355784
fax Int'l + 61 746 358796
cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784
Int'l + 61 429 355784
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
website: www.borgeltinstruments.com
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