FW: [RCSE] Emphasis or de-emphasis on landings

[Aradhana Singh Khalsa]

Just a small chime in from an enthusiastic newbie:    I like all your ideas, Gordy, except for the skeg part. My personal wish is that we keep everything the way it is, but lose these devices. There is something very ungraceful about the typical *splat* down to the ground of most high scoring landings with skegs. Watch the bystanders as they react to these high scoring arrests. They wince, they exclaim "Oh!". They don't like it. I think they understand something important about our usually graceful sport.   I'll fly with skegs if you do, but I'd much rather shake hands, agree to do without, and land with a soft hiss. It's even a little harder to max your landing, and maybe that's a good challenge too.   I know, it's a long-running debate. My turn to pick a side.   Aradhana Singh Khalsa New Mexico  -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 7:34 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [RCSE] Emphasis or de-emphasis on landings Imagine, I've had some time to consider the subject (driving miles and in motels rooms:) and to talk it over with some of the smartest and best TD pilots in the Midsouth....   The current whine about spot landings are completely wrong...at least their justifier is wrong.   Every guy who complains about trick landings, or point landings of all kinds use the inarguable fact that full size sailplanes don't do those kind of landings... but they DO! In fact its mandatory with EVERY full size sailplane landing!   One argument was that a guy gets all his time in the air (such a skilled air reader:-) but comes in for the landing, hangs a wing tip (must have been a ground thermal or gust) does a "ground loop" and ends up with a 20.  Another pilot misses his time by a full minute (obviously a terrible air reader, short on soaring capability) but wins the contest!!! Oh the unjustice....   Lets switch on the lights and take a close look at the full size analogy argument. The full size pilot comes in for a landing, he's right up the center of the runway... but at the last second, hangs a wing tip, ground loops ....trashes his airplane and a few others, not to mention killing a couple of the guys bragging up their landings who were standing next to those wrecked planes.   The point: Precision landings get more points because it shows that the pilot is in complete control of his model...attitude, speed, altitude, all in the enviroment happening at the time of his approach. (Don't bother jumping in with "well no full size pilot would DORK!!!  No argument..but we have that option because we aren't in the sailplane, and have to suffer the costs to our models by attempting the dork... in the case where a pilot decides he 'knows' how to MAKE a dork landing and walk away...its still skill...he knows his sailplane. In the case of the pilot who attempts the dork but doesn't know his model, soil conditions in the zone... he pays.   ...but what about skegs??? No full size uses big nose hooks to stop their planes... Imagine banning belly wheel brakes, as an unfair advantage to landings... TD is a combination of understanding sailplane setup to realize its full potential ;   reading air, and learning the best way to get your sailplane to take advantage of different shapes and strengths of lift..and sink; learning how to use all the energy stored in the winch battery, transmitted thru the line so that every atom can be converted into altitude. And finally... attempting to learn total control of your model...in wind, turbulence.. and ground effect, so that no matter what task is assigned the day you show up at a contest....you and your partner (that's your sailplane by the way) can say "bring it on..dude :).   Trick landings should be hoped for, 100 point tapes as an opportunity to move up the score board, to bury the float around guys or those guys who just have the knack for turning the right way off release....but once near the ground, don't have a chance in heck of getting near that 100 spot.   and if you're one of those soaring genius', make your mind up that, if landings the game, you'll show them how to play...start practicing and honing your near-the-ground sailplane handling skills.   Pretty good post hey :-) Gordy Inspired by a sweet day of soaring with Chuck, Brian and Herb, the thermal wizards of Tullahoma, tn