Hi all,
I support and applaud the work of the handicap committee who do a
terrific job in difficult and contentious circumstances.
Handicaps work by reducing performance differences measured according to
competition results, because that's what they adjust - handicaps don't
adjust the polar curves or wing loadings. This is an important point -
handicaps should not be set on differences in wing loading or polars,
because it would not necessarily change the performance in competitions
in the same proportion.
The setting of handicaps may determine who does and does not attend
among the top group, but more importantly it has an effect on how many
older gliders attend and in what numbers, because no one likes to be
cannon fodder. One could be cynical and call it a marketing exercise.
For example the handicappers probably won't give a Kestrel 17 a handicap
such that it is likely to beat an ASG29 in 18M, or to have a Libelle 201
beat a LS8 in Standard. But in Club Class, well maybe the marketing
strategy is different. No one would mind giving a Libelle pilot the
trophy in that class, although these days the median performance in Club
Class is closer to LS4 than Libelle. In 2011 Club Class was won by an
LS1F, with a LS4 close behind, both flown by members of the Australian
Team. Nothing wrong with those handicaps...
In 2008 the 1985 model Discus A I now own (Harry will remember it as
XQI) was flown to a win in the Multiclass Nationals, beating a bunch of
LS8s and Discus 2s. It had a 1% handicap advantage, but also was flown
by a top class pilot at his home club. Is 1% a fair handicap for a more
than 20 year old glider against almost new opposition? Apparently it
was too much in this case :)
Those who prefer having no handicaps should remember that this is also a
handicap system, except that the handicap is then the relative size of
the pilot's disposable income. In the no handicap system it doesn't
matter how good you are if you can't afford the latest and greatest.
Perhaps though, the solution is to outsource the entire problem. There
is a perfectly good DaEC handicap system in Europe, let's just use it -
it will save a lot of keystrokes here, and hot air in pilots meetings.
Then we can get back to something more interesting, like climate change :)
Cheers
/Tim/
/tra dire e fare c'รจ mezzo il mare/
On 18/08/2011 10:07, harry medlicott wrote:
Hi Ross and others,
I have always, whether in sport or in business, been very reluctant to
pursue a course from which I will personally benefit. However now,
with my eightieth birthday well and truly in sight feel that
reccomendations as to handicaps can be made without anyone pointing
the finger and shouting self interest. Possibly offending my friends
has also been a consideration.
If you truly believe that the V2 is comparable with the ASG 29 and
probably the Js1 then you are about the only one in the world wide
gliding community to think that way. Even Schempp Hirth who make them
recognise the act and made a V2 with a different A fuselage and market
it as their competion glider. See You give a 4% difference between
the gliders. Published sink rate data shows a 6% advantage to the ASG
29 at high speed fully ballasted. Australia has only a small pool of
pilots with the skills, gliders, financial support and testosterone to
compete internationally. You could count them on your fingers whereas
western europe has 30 times more pilots than us and vastly more of
international standard. Look at the results of european
competitions and you will see which gliders are best and by how much.
I made a submission last year relating to handicaps which is attached.
The first part dealt with open class and that the latest 18 metre
gliders, flying with wing loadings of up to 55 kg.per sq metre were
more than a match for older open class gliders restricted to about 45
kg. per sq. metre, particularly as most competition days are flown in
the strong part of the day. This made the older design open class
gliders uncompetitive and could well damage the future of open class,
particularly as it appeared that pilots with overseas aspirations were
entering open class to better their chances of team selection. I note
some handicap changes have been made to address this problem.
In 18 metre class virtually all the gliders likely to compete have
been given the same handicap.
Is the intention to make 18 metre a non handicapped class?
If pilots feel they have a diminished chance of succeeding due to
handicapping abnormalities surely that will affect competition entries?
Is the intention to encourage pilots with aspirations to import the
best performing gliders?
Is the intention of handicapping to put all competing gliders on an
equal footing as far as possible or is it just to give those with a
lesser performing glider a bit of hope?
Regards,
Harry Medlicott
----- Original Message ----- ,
*From:* Ross McLean <mailto:[email protected]>
*To:* 'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.'
<mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Wednesday, August 17, 2011 10:44 PM
*Subject:* Re: [Aus-soaring] Handicaps
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