Well, now I've entered the great debate with one of our best glider guiders, teachers, and debaters. Thanks for the response, Gordy! Okay, here goes...
First, if you don't like skegs, fly FAI events... (but guys still power dork the landings without skegs)
Second, if you don't like skegs, CD a contest and prohibit them. We do just that at our stop on the OVSS circuit, the Fred Fredrickson Memorial contest held by SOAR. (Guys still power dork their landing without skegs)
Third, if everyone else is using them at contest, I advise that you do too...
What will happen if we lose the skegs?
Nope.
- Fewer violent landings (less *splat*).
Nope.
- Fewer damaged sailplanes.
Maybe... most will continue to dork, even harder now without the skeg.
- Pilots will better learn to control their plane's energy, landing accurately without them.
I doubt it... just a different variation of the skill set.
- Better landing skills result.
I am not trying to be argumentative here, I have just been around this block several times and have competed in many contests with and without skegs. It's not the skegs, it's the landing task that drives us to this. 8-)
Downers Grove, IL
Member of the Chicago SOAR club, AMA 592537 LSF 7560 Level IV
ICQ: 6997780 AIM: InventorJim R/C Soaring blog at www.jimbacus.net
