MSC XC Challenge

​

Let's act upon your interest in cross country soaring.  The XC tasks promoted in this challenge are meant to improve your fundamental skills to soar cross-country beginning with the Stanton Short Task, and then progressing to the longer tasks: Task 2 (SYN, FBL, MSCTask2,SYN), and Task 3 (SYN, FBL, 101kSF, SYN). For sure, this challenge is not limited to modern super ships, but also 32:1 gliders with a K6 polar or even a 1-26.  

 

A sectional map isn't required because we as local pilots know the tasking area, allowing us to complete the course but bring it anyway because of the Class B airspace.  Plan to use a flight computer and/or data logger.  These devices can lower your work load by projecting the course as a minimum and providing an *.igc flight log for analysis later. If you are proficient with the device, then performance parameters can help you during the flight and the post flight analyses. Knowing that we can improve in certain areas gives us confidence to fly further, say a gold distance or diamond goal on more days than just the one best day of the year.  

 

As frequently as necessary, I will post a spreadsheet that summarizes the parameters of your flights as computed by Naviter SeeYou.  The big deal is this - you now can see your progress relative to other pilots.  You are in effect, teaching each other better cross country flight skills as measured by different performance parameters in the SeeYou program.  

 

Rules: 

1. Maximum start height – 5.5k msl.

2. Minimum finish height - 2.5k msl. 

 

Your actions:

1. Use the Stanton turnpoint file provided by Paul and then add TP-MSC Task 2.  Its coordinates are on task sheets 2 and 3.

2. Ensure that your glider trailer is ready to roll for a retrieve.

3. Prepare your map, flight computer and any other favored items to fly the courses. 

4. Declare the task in your flight computer if you can.  My attempt to summarize your flight will be easier.

5. Submit the flight to the OLC if you wish.

6. Submit the flight to me as an *.igc file - LeonZ.  You will find my email address on the club roster.

7. Look for your flight on the XC spreadsheet at this website page.   

8. Flight summaries will be ranked by date.

 

Your plan:

1.0 Become comfortable with these these skills for cross country soaring:

1.1 Fly straight into the wind and down wind to discover lines of lift.

1.2 Learn to center thermals using the 270-method, and the surge method.

1.3 Fly the west half or the east half of the Stanton Short Task on the weakest days.

1.4 Develop a flight band for your glider - even a simple one.

1.5 Study the weather and learn to recognize a soarable day over the task areas.

1.6 Learn how to add and change tasks in your flight computer.

1.7 Partake in hangar talk at day’s end.

 

2.0 Fly the task that you are comfortable with having these goals in mind:

2.1 Get around the course.

2.2 Use lines of energy towards the next turn point.

2.3 Decrease your centering time in a thermal.

2.4 Use the STF for your glider associated with the day’s average climb rate or the expected climb rate in the next thermal.

2.5 Fly a flight band, look ahead and be prepared to shift gears.

       

3.0  Modify the tasks to meet your interest.

          3.1 Change the observation zones in your task to smaller radii or photo sectors.

          3.2 Change your start and finish lines to circles with 1 km radii. OLC tasks - 1km or less between start and finish.

          3.3 On weak days, clip the turnpoint circle; on strong days, fly deep into the TP circle without circling.

 

 

By lmz