Me, polishing the tail before takeoff. Photo by Chris Strong for the Booth alumni magazine
Ok you’re not really a glider pilot, but this looks like a nice break from asset pricing and macroeconomics, doesn't it? Go to the SSA (Soaring Society of America) web page to see what gliders look like and where you can try it. If you go out to an airport, say “trial lesson” and make them put you in front. Don’t say “ride” or they’ll treat you like a tourist, stuff you in back and charge you too much.
The Life to the max show video is a nice introduction to what gliding is about. More advanced flying Videos (youtube links): Aerobatics over the Alps;
Soaring over the Alps;
Soaring in Chile (grand prix footage)
I fly at the Chicago Glider club, which is located southwest of Joliet.
More pictures (at the bottom of this page)
Northern Illinois contest (NISC)
NISC rules for 2011. (No change since 2010 Read the rules! )
2011 NISC results (text format); results in excel format. (You can check calculations here.)
The worldwide soaring turnpoint exchange has the turnpoint and landpoint database for NISC. nilini8 (updated April 2008) is current, though you can't use Earlville and Skydive. You’ll have to cut these down to fit in a Cambridge model 20. Get the new nilini1.sua file if you want to stay out of the expanded O'Hare class B
2010 NISC results (text format); results in excel format..
2009 NISC results (mht format); results in excel format.
2008 NISC results; results in excel format.
2007 NISC results
Some long tasks using Northern Illinois turnpoints.
Illinois Soaring forecast links. My weekend morning forecast ritual
- Safer Finishes Soaring Magazine article, arguing for a high finish gate or "hard deck" and no rolling finishes to reduce accidents on and near the home airport. Draft if you have problems with the published version.
- Contest Safety Feb 2002 Power point slides for presentation at 2002 convention. Where are the accidents, what can you do to avoid them, and what can rules do to make contests safer.
- Plea for the 500 foot rule. Message to r.a.s. Sept 2003 on the high finish
- Added time FAQ. A short and less technical explanation of the 15 minute time addition, with a response to frequently asked questions from the spring 2003 r.a.s. debate.
- Time for distance Draft of a Soaring magazine article to explain a scoring improvement for turn area tasks. (ms doc file)
Other Articles
Since Feb 2006 I have been writing the “contest corner” column for Soaring Magazine.
Here’s a list of topics I have in mind for future columns. Feel free to suggest other topics or to let me know which of these you want to hear sooner rather than later.
Here are drafts of upcoming columns and repository of old columns.
Invitation to contests. Feb 2006
Local contests. April 2006
Contest Finishes. It’s a “how-to” article, with no ranting and raving about rules. June 2006
Sports class growing pains. Handicaps, team selection and more. August 2006
Upwind and downwind The theory of upwind and downwind turnpoints. Oct 2006
Circling in Psychological Sink Musings on how to produce a contest-winning attitude. Dec 2006
Thermal Detectors Feb 2007
Distance Rules Explains the new scoring formulas that give more distance points. April 2007
Goodbye Rolling Finish Feb 2008. Explains the new finish penalty that replaces rolling finishes under a finish cylinder.
Start anywhere March 2008. Explains the new start procedure, with some things to watch for.
MAT strategy July 2008. Some unconventional ideas on MAT strategy. Up/down wind vs. cross-wind; playing the upwind-low game; keeping options open.
Fun With MAT December 2009. The “Long MAT” as an alternative to the AST, and some other ideas on fun tasks using MAT rules. Let’s break out of the rut!
Flarm August 2010. A report of my experience with Flarm at the worlds, and thoughts about getting it going in the US. Video (wmv format) showing what the Parowan midair would have looked like if the pilots had flarm. (Courtesy Lee Kuhlke)
Rules 2011. April 2011. Summary of important rules and procedures changes for 2011. Mixed regionals, Flarm, Critical safety checklist, and more.
The Critical Contest Safety Procedures Checklist January 2011
Karl Striedieck classics
These are most of Karl’s “contest corner” articles. They are copyright © Karl Striedieck, so check with him before republishing or reproducing. Dates are my best guesses based on the Soaring Magazine index
The US Team and the Rules December 2003
Tweaking the TAT November 2002
User Friendly Contests December 2000
World View Jan 2001
A Better Sniffer August 2002
Bridging the Gap Feburary 2003
Club/Sports issues October 2000
The SRA December 2001
Contest Fees June 2004
Crewless Pilots December 1999
Going it Alone (more crewless pilots, not how Karl wins contests without leeching.)
Deadlines
GPS flight recorders
GPS starts I August 1999
GPS starts II July 2001
H2woe November 2004
MAT Rules report May 1999
Mommy, where do rules come from March 2000
Odds and ends May 2003
Rules Complication August 2000
Tasking October 2002
The CD June 2002
The Scoring Program
The Troops February 2004
The Turn Area Task
More Photographs
Ready for takeoff at Albert Lea 18m nationals. Photo by Paul Remde.
Finish, Nationals at Hobbs
Landing at Ephrata 20009 18m nationals