Getting Ready For Competition

Topics Preparation Glider Pilot Expectations Practice What to Expect

Glider Preparation Be Sure Everything Works Annual/Condition Inspection Wheel Brake Fix dings, wax Instruments (keep it simple) Know how they work Know that they work Program PDA Relief (pee) System/Drinking Water Cockpit Comfortable Trailer (lights, hitch, tires, interior)

Pilot Preparation Task Area Competition Rules-know them Turnpoints Map, Restricted Areas, SUA’s Google Earth (where terrain a factor) Competition Rules-know them Read SRA, Moffat, Davis (see end) Local Field Protocol Crew Arrangement Physical Conditioning, Rest

Map Why a map? I have GPS and a moving map on my PDA. Big picture Planning Familiarization with the area Reliability of glider electrical systems

Pilot Preparation Checklists! Before leaving home Glider Before Take Off After Landing

Sailplane Racing Checklist W3 PREFLIGHT: Critical Assembly Check Batteries (charged) IPAQ (turnpoints loaded and charged) Cellphone (charged) Pee Thing & connector Sunglasses Map Road Map Landing Cards Retrieve Numbers Grid Sheet Task Sheet Sun Screen/ChapStick Lunch Drinking Water Oxygen On Ridge Head Pad Landout Kit ELT armed W3 POSTFLIGHT: Download flight log Turn Off: GPS-Nav Instruments/Master Oxygen ELT (for trailering) Remove from cockpit: IPAQ Landing Card Cellphone Batteries (to be charged) Camelbacks Lunch Return to Cockpit Sunglasses Dump valve tool Pee Connector Clean off bugs Secure glider in trailer

Expectations Competition often turns perfectly good pilots into idiots! Set realistic goals. You are probably not going to win your first contest. If you finish every day, you will surprise yourself with how well you do!

Racing Strategy Not rocket science Set MacCready conservatively Pick a reasonable speed for the day and use that in cruise. Flying a little slower increases range for finding the next thermal. If you get low, survival, not speed is priority Minimize circling; Fly lift lines

Racing Strategy Focus on reaching goal(s) Next cloud, turnpoint, finish BUT, always keep several options in mind Think flexibly, don’t become fixated Use other gliders. (Be sure they are really climbing!) If flight is not going well, evaluate other alternatives. Perhaps try something else.

Practicing for Racing Racing (and XC flying) is a complex task Good start Finding & centering thermals To circle or not to circle Gaggle flying Identifying best lift lines to next turnpoint Proper speed control Outlanding options Drink, eat and pee Final glide Finish and LANDING!

Practicing for Racing Fly cross country every chance you get Whenever possible, set a task and try to complete it, preferably racing with several other pilots Vary task setting: AST, TAT, MAT Analyze each flight, using SeeYou, etc. Identify areas for improvement Develop feel for starts and final glides

Practicing for Racing On weak (non XC) days practice finding and centering thermals at low altitude. Practice picking landing fields, and visit later If your next contest allows water ballast, use it in practice on good days.

Your First Contest Stay ahead of the curve Eat a good breakfast Assemble and CAC glider early Grid early Use your checklist Comfortable in cockpit Be ready to go with 4-5 gliders ahead of you for tow

Your First Contest

Your First Contest Stay relaxed, but alert Don’t worry about the weather. It is what it is. Create several general strategies depending on task and weather. Use your mentor. Ask questions. Discuss your proposed strategies. Avoid Distractions

Your First Contest Review the Task Area Map Terrain features, issues, aids Outlanding options

Your First Contest Flying the task Don’t start first, or last Use the skills you have learned and practiced at home. Avoid the onset of “Contest Idiocy” You don’t have to follow those other guys streaking at a high rate of speed towards the ground! Watch weather trends, keep flexible, be ready to change strategy if conditions warrant.

Your First Contest Flying the Task Use other gliders, but don’t blindly follow them Flying to your next thermal (cloud), have a plan for the possibility it is no longer working.

Your First Contest Finishing Plan to finish high (1000 ft agl) until you have a better feel for final glides. Don’t miss the bottom of the Finish Cylinder If the finish looks marginal, keep landable fields within reach. After the Finish, focus on fitting in with the traffic, landing the glider and clearing the runway.

Your First Contest Post Flight Glider clear of the runway Flight log to scorer Put the glider away for the night (Check List!) Have a beer and discuss your flight with the other pilots

Other Reading SRA Guide to Soaring Competition http://sailplane-racing.org “How to enjoy your first gliding competition”, Sailplane & Gliding,June-July 2004 Cross Country Soaring by Helmut Reichmann Winning II by George Moffat

Good Luck! Fly Safe!