Registration fees go up on 15 April. As a member of the highly prestigious and elite Sport class, let me invite those of you who do not consider yourselves to be "comp pilots" to come on out. Here is the opportunity to go XC when you will not longer have the excuses of: I have made no plans for retrieval, momma wants me home for dinner, I'll feel silly landing just 5 miles from the airport. If you don't leave after your first tow, the tug pilots will just take you downwind and wave you off - and you will get points even for a sled ride from 2500! Pilots travel from all over to participate in this excellent event. You will learn a lot by participating - remember, the best vario is another glider going up in a thermal. Unlike the out-of-towners, you will have little or no travel expense and, if there are weather days, you can go home, save a day of leave, and sleep in your own bed!
This year, Ridgely will simultaneously host the ECAC (East Coast Aerobatic Championship). Since aerobatics have almost died out in the U.S., USHPA has obtained funds from CIVL, the international HG/PG organization, to bring in a European judge to train a cadre of U.S. judges - including our own George and Cindy Boudreau. The few, proud U.S. aerobatic pilots will perform spectacular maneuvers - along with our own Jim Rooney and Adam Elchin. Should be quite a show!
Register at www.aerosports.net - click on the yellow "East Coast Championship" title on the homepage. Yeah, I know the registration is expensive - think how much you just paid the IRS - time to pay yourself back! The Highland boys run a good meet - it's worth it.
- Hugh McElrath
Region 9 director
ECC 6-12 June
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: ECC 6-12 June
This is a great event. If you haven't tried it, I strongly encourage you to come on out. If you take advantage of the opportunity to talk with some of the world class pilots who will be there, you will learn more about flying XC in a week than you can learn in years just hanging out with us locals.
There are a lot of reasons the open class pilots seem to be so much better at reaching goal than the rest of us. This year I intend to test the theory that among the biggest reasons is the fact that they fly in gaggles for most of the duration of their races. My goal this year is to get as many sport class pilots as I can to try to work together with the objective of getting the whole gaggle to goal. I for one have never done it in spite of having won this sport class contest one time. If we can break our group record for total count of pilot-made-goal for the week, I'll consider that a win no matter what place I come in. Anyone want to join me?
Dan T
There are a lot of reasons the open class pilots seem to be so much better at reaching goal than the rest of us. This year I intend to test the theory that among the biggest reasons is the fact that they fly in gaggles for most of the duration of their races. My goal this year is to get as many sport class pilots as I can to try to work together with the objective of getting the whole gaggle to goal. I for one have never done it in spite of having won this sport class contest one time. If we can break our group record for total count of pilot-made-goal for the week, I'll consider that a win no matter what place I come in. Anyone want to join me?
Dan T
Re: ECC 6-12 June
Can't agree more with HM and DTo. If you want to take a big step in improving your flying skills, enter a comp (like the ECC). You will learn more in one week of competing than you will in an entire season of flying. The mentoring you'll get from the senior pilots is priceless.
Bun