III: Competition gliding ALL CLEAR, ABOVE AND BEHIND

Press, 19 October 1977, Page 22

III: Competition gliding ALL CLEAR, ABOVE AND BEHIND

For those who enjoy testing themselves against others as well as challenging their own skill, competition gliding is great fun. It is not restricted to the top pilots: the holder of a Silver Badge is qualified to enter the national gliding championships. In addition to enjoyment and personal satisfaction, competitive flying pro- ' ides valuable experience, both first-hand and from other pilots. As gliding is a truly amateur sport competitors share knowledge, passing on new techniques which they

may have developed. The competitions, whether at local, national or international level, are very carefully planned. The task-setter, either one person or a panel, has a very specialised job. He consults the weather office then designs a course involving points to be photographed in a specified manner by the competitors. Free distance tasks are not popular because it is far preferable to have everyone back by nightfall. Thus the course may be a triangle, an out and return or a "cat’s cradle” including several turning points. In New Zealand these tasks are usually between 250 and 400 km. Omarama was the site, last November, . for this

country’s longest gliding competition, a distance of 417 km.

Such competitions are run against time but each glider pilot starts when he likes once all the gliders have been launched and the start gate has been declared open. The gliders must come down to 300 m to begin the course so each pilot strives for height in order to be able to swoop down and pass the start at his aircraft's maximum permissible speed — maybe at somewhere more than 200km/h. At the start and the turning points there seem to be gliders everywhere so pilots need to be very alert to avoid a collision. They need to be alert in between, too. Each pilot has studied the course minutely on a detailed map before the event, marked in the turning points and estimated a likely method of progression. However, lift may be less than expected in a particular place and unexpectedly good elsewhere. Careful observation of actual conditions and flexibility of method are important factors in sorting out the high scorers from the rest.

Each pilot also keeps a watch on speed, which could be tn the range of 130 to 160 km/h between

thermals, on distance left to cover, which is marked at intervals on his map, and on remaining time. All of these are especially important in deciding when to begin the final glide. If this decision is misjudged it could mean an “away” landing for which the score is substantially reduced. Landing on unknown ground has its hazards. The approach must be clear of wires and trees. Wind strength and direction, suitability of the

surface, and uphill or downhill slope must all be assessed. Gliders are fitted with radio communication to enable the ground crew, with car and glider trailer, to make an "away recovery” wdth minimum delay should the glider have to land in a remote paddock.

Communication must be maintained between pilot and crew without cluttering the frequency. A pilot’s success may depend on a reliable and efficient crew who, if necessary, can retrieve the glider from a paddock and return it to base for another launching. Experience in reading the weather, in making the best use of wind currents over land contours and in selecting the best course to follow is not all that is needed to be

successful. The performance of the glider is a critical factor. The significance of design in achieving speed, penetration and maximum use of thermals becomes apparent in competition flying. There is keen interest in the annual national championships which are held in the North Island for two consecutive years before coming to the South Island for one year. This summer they are to be held at Alexandra. Most of the competitors fly syndicate-owned, high performance gliders although a few do own their’s individually. Many of the competitors are striving for top placings in the hope of being selected the represent New Zealand at the world championships. Gliding in New Zealand suffers more than most sports from a lack of overseas competition and it is therefore essential to its progress that it is represented by the top pilots at the world championships. Only in that way can New Zealand keep abreast of advances in gliding technique, glider construction, glider aids, administration and crew back-up efficiency.

Some 30 countries, including a strong contingent from the East, are represented at the world championships. Informa-

tion is exchanged freely and, regardless of their placings, New Zealand pilots return with much up-to-date knowledge to pass on to gliding clubs at home.

Many new types of aircraft appear and are evaluated during the competitions. Just as car rallies are the testing ground for car manufacturers and result in new design features being incorporated in standard models, so competition gliding produces advances in glider safety and performance. The most recent world championships were held in Finland in 1976. Two years earlier they had been held in Australia where 23 countries were represented despite the great distances that the majority of competitors had to travel to attend.

In 1978, France is to be host for the next championships. The New Zealand team can not afford to ship gliders to Europe tor the events but they will be there, competing in borrowed aircraft and making the most of an invaluable experience. While competitive flying requires dedication and is not the aspiration of every glider pilot it is, nevertheless, an exciting and vital aspect of the sport — one from which all glider pilots ultimately benefit.

The final of three articles on gliding by ANNABELLE EDWARDS.