SASS Club TD Contest - Saturday, May 15, 2004
(Rain date:  Sunday May 16, 2004)

Format 5 rounds of "Pilots choice"                       plus....     Thermal Wizard  
Awards 1st thru 3rd place for each of the following classes

  • Expert - Unlimited Open Class Sailplanes 

  • Sportsman - Unlimited Open Class Sailplanes 

  • Novice - Fly what you have! 

  • 2 Meter Combined - Only limited by wingspan, all pilots invited
Entry Fees

 
  • 18 Years of age and under (SASS members or not) - FREE! 
  • SASS members 19 years and older - $5.00 for one class, $10.00 for two classes 
  • Non-SASS members - $10.00 for one class, $15.00 for two classes
  • MANDATORY AMA MEMBERSHIP
Tasks Pilots can select from any of the following tasks for each round.  The task DOES NOT have to be pre-selected,  the computer will give the best possible score based on the total flight time and total measured landing score.  None of the tasks are mandatory, you can fly 10 minute tasks for all 5 rounds if you like. 
Task Description Maximum Flight Pts. Maximum Landing Pts. Total
3 Minute Precision Duration 500 500 1,000
5 Minute International Duration 750 250 1,000
7 Minute international Duration 808 192 1,000
9 Minute International Duration 844 156 1,000
10 Minute International Duration 857 143 1,000
As you can see from the above table, the landing element of the task becomes less important for the longer flight times.  It will be possible to win your class by flying five 3 minute tasks with excellent landings for each flight.  Flying short tasks however, will not help you win the prestigious and highly coveted title of Thermal Wizard.
Launching: Club winches are available to all.  Novices may use highstarts and may receive launch and flight assistance until the plane is off the winch.  There is no penalty for pop-offs for anyone (except for Sherman and Dave B.)
Landings:

Expert and Sportsman: Landings will be a circle with a measured tape.    The maximum landing points for a task will be given for a measured 100 landing on the tape.  The measurements descend in increments of 1, approximately every 3 inches.  The computer will figure out your landing points based on the measurement on the tape.

Novice: A measured landing score of 50 will be given if the nose of the plane comes to rest anywhere on the field.  A measured landing score of 100 will be given if the nose of the plane lands within the measured landing circle.  Just write "50" on the score card if you're on the field.  Write "100" on the score card if the nose of your plane lands within the landing circle.

Do you have what it takes to be a Thermal Wizard?

Thermal Wizard This is a "contest within the contest".  A special award will be given to the pilot in the regular contest that accumulates the most time in the air over the 5 rounds.  See the Thermal Wizard fine print below.                                                                     Origins of the Thermal Wizard
Thermal Wizard Fine Print 1. All contestants are automatically entered.
2. There are no class distinctions.
3. Landing points do not count.
4. Experts and Sportsman must land on the field and within 30 paces of the edge of the measured landing areas in order to collect Thermal Wizard seconds.  Novices can land anywhere on the field in order to collect Thermal Wizard seconds. The intent of this is to prevent someone from squeaking out time for Thermal Wizard seconds and landing at the far end, or off the field.  
5. Thermal Wizard points are based on 1 point per second air-time, up to the maximum air-time in the task.
6. There is no deduction for going OVER the task time.

Thermal Wizard Trophy 

   

Contest Schedule - Saturday, May15, 2004
 Times are Approximate, adjustments will be made for weather, etc.

Approx Time

Activity

7:00 am

 Breakfast at Denny's just off of I-405 on 124th N. near the Totem Lake Shopping Center

8:00 am

 Begin contest setup:
(Expert and Sportsman class pilots leave airplanes in their cars until the instructional session is over)

8:30 am

 Begin contest registration.

9:00 am

 Instructional & Practice Session - Never flown in a contest??  - No problem
Experienced pilots will provide instruction and help for anyone who wants to learn about winch launching, finding thermals, soaring technique, landing technique, how to be a good timer, setting up the equipment, and so on.  Subject matter will be based on the needs of those present. This session will be 30-60 minutes in length depending on how many "students" participate and what subjects need to be covered.  This is not a formal session, grab an expert and ask them questions!!

Practice rounds:
Experienced pilots will serve as timer-advisers for novices while they fly short practice rounds.  Novices are encouraged to use more experienced pilots as timers during the contest in order to learn from them.

10:00 am

 Pilots meeting: The CD reviews contest rules and procedures, and answers questions.

10:15 am

 Let the contest begin

1:30 pm

 Scorekeeper tallies final scores while others begin stowing contest equipment.

1:45 pm

 CD presents the awards.

2:00 pm

 Finish stowing contest equipment.
 

Direct questions and/or comments to the Contest Director:  Russ Young    xrussyoungx@comcast.net  (remove x's)