2015 East Coast Hang Gliding Championship

[krryerson]

Registration is now open. Come and join in for a week of Hang Gliding!
Sunday, May 31 through Saturday, June 6 2015
Yes, it is a competition; but last year was my best flying experience so far, with a week of nothing but fun flying. Hope to see you there and looking forward to doing it again this year.
For registration, go to http://www.aerosports.net/ecc.html
Knut

[krryerson]

Ooobs!
Registration for the East Coast Championship opens on Sunday February 15.
Knut

[Lostgriz]

Looking forward to it!

Matt

[jimsmess]

Registration is now open, it would be really nice to see some new names on the list this year. While I don't fly with many of you , I know there are some very good XC pilots in the club who would really enjoy the flying , camaraderie, and all around good time the ECC is known for. Think about it and come on out and play.
Jim Messina

[bowen.tim]

I will not be competing in the ECC, but I plan to be there all week to help out Sunny and Adam. I will be available as a driver. I can use mine, or drive your vehicle.

[jimsmess]

Tim, I would be interested in securing your services for driving during the ECC. We usually have 4 pilots and a driver in one of our vehicles, unless yours can handle 4 gliders,harnesses and a cooler for the adult beverages. The crew will be Charley A, John S, JD, and me. We pay very well, and the knowledge you will gain on the ride back will be priceless,also I hope you are not easily offended by course language and heavy consumption.
Thanks Jim Messina

[Dan T]

I miss the ECC and flying an HG. As much as I love PG and the ease of transporting them there is something very special about this meet that has no counterpart in PG in this part of the country. I've been giving some thought to coming out and maybe rent the Highland Sport 2 a time or two.

Dan T

[bowen.tim]

Jim, it's a deal, you are good to go. I can use your vehicle since you are probably all set up. I hope to also get some wind dummy time in too. My goal this year is to go XC from Ridgely, so I will be listening intently.

Tim

[mcelrah]

I have engages Jim Rooney to drive for ECC (after he tows us up). Looking for Sport-class partners in a retrieval group - at least one with a beefy hang-vehicle. I offered Jim $100/day. - Hugh

[krryerson]

Hugh,
I would love to join you guys, having Jim Rooney drive for us, in a retrieval group. When it comes to a beefy hang-vehicle; might be trying to get our 6 seat Taurus X for the ECC; but will have to build a rack for this car first. Not sure about the Taurus X yet; though, can you still signed me up for the "Jim Rooney sport-class partners in a retrieval group?
Knut

[mcelrah]

Welcome, Knut! Room for two more... - Hugh

[Lostgriz]

Looking for a seat in an Open Class retrieve vehicle....

Matt

[g.sessa]

Hugh, count me in if there is still room for another sport class pilot. I would also be fine with volunteering my vehicle for retrieve again this year.

[mcelrah]

Hurray! Thanks for offering up your vehicle. You make three. One more? - Hugh

[John Dullahan]

Hugh,

I would also like to avail of the driver/vehicle. My Subaru can be a back up vehicle.

John

[mcelrah]

Done! Hugh, Knut, Greg and John. Highland opens Easter weekend I think. - Hugh

[Ward Odenwald]

Pilot tracks (real time and replay) -> watch them climb and feel their angst when they sink!

https://airtribune.com/ecc2015/info

As a weekend hack, being able to focus in on the flying behavior of experienced pilots, espically the front runners, during the Florida competitions was really informative. Using the replay after a day's task, you can fast forward to your selected pilot's next thermal and see how they centered in it and how may 360s were completed, how they tightened their turns and how/when they left the thermal for the next turn point. You can then go back in time to see your pilot's climb rate/altitude when they arrive at the thermal plus who else is in the same thermal. The info overload is flatout addictive! I'd have to label this "thermal voyeurism" -> who prefers left vs right turns (when alone), who goes both ways, who's 360s are tight (Simon's), who leaves the thermal at the best altitude or leaves to early and those who are - well just addicted to thermal climbs.

Looking forward to it!

Ward

[krryerson]

Great day today but challenging. Airtribune sums it all up. Knut

[John Simon]

Congrats to Knut for his victory at the ECC ! He really flew great and did Oleg proud in his Discus. Nice Job !


John

[krryerson]

Thanks John, ...

Sports class ECC 2015

What does it take to succeed in Sports Class?

Pete, ECC Open class #4, summed it up following: “It’s all in your head and it is all mentally, as long as you can thermal good.”

What I got out of his wise words, was to never look back, but go for it. Find thermals and drift away. Never imagine landing, unless you are forced to land. Though, don’t take me wrong, safe landing fields is vital and was plentiful this year; which makes XC flying on Maryland's Eastern Shore even better.

Oleg, ECC Open class #1, told me following: “Stay far above, take your time and don’t rush it.”

My thoughts for marginal break up thermals days that we had the two first tasks: “Never abandon 0 – 0.5 lift when low, unless you see others climbing around you. Most likely weaker thermals will boost more later.”

Jim at Highland said to me ones when I was asking him about flying technique on weak and marginal thermal days: “Every day is different and you have to adjust, during every flight. There is no easy answer on which thermal style flying is superior, in marginal, strong or other conditions”.

Mostly, figure it out and do necessary adjustments based on conditions.

Oleg said ones: “When I fly, it is based a lot on feelings. Also, each time I circle in thermal, I glance on how the clouds changes around me.”

Hope I got all these comments correct and these advices are just a few of much great guidance, I got all through this year’s ECC.

Not only did I pick all these pilots brains, also got help from Oleg in fine-tuning battens and more on Discus. In that token, learned that he prefer to tense up the inner battens and loosing outer battens. Though, told me that you have to try and see what you like best and it’s all a personal taste.

Than we have landings techniques, which Adam and Sunny taught me to burn out the energy of the wing by push forward an inch the moment before you flare. This has made me land even better.

In conclusion: there were so many good pilots in both classes of ECC this year and it seems like the way to flourishing in sports class, is to not hurry it. You might come first one day; but time after time? I learned that the hard way in last year’s ECC.

That said, did fly best combining the two first ECC tasks this year and was the only sport pilot that made it to goal both days; but, would I have been able to fight back all the good pilots, if we had more tasks? I doubt that, but next year’s ECC will surely test me there.

For more detail information; again, study flight tracks at https://airtribune.com/ecc2015/results. This is in my opinion as important as the flight itself.
Salute airtribune for this service.

Happy summer flying and thanks again Highland for ECC and more. The food, company, service, all was fantastic; though, hoping for better weather next year.

Also, thanks Greg for volunteering his vehicle for retrieve. It worked out great!

Knut