This video shows my fastest cross-country flight ever in a glider and explains how high XC speeds can be achieved (if the conditions are favorable). I'm hoping that this can serve as a little tutorial for anyone interested in participating in the OLC Speed League - a global competition where glider clubs compete as teams against one another over an entire soaring season. The conditions on the day of the flight were clearly above average, but they are fairly typical for a good summer soaring day in Boulder.
My club, the Soaring Society of Boulder, tends to do well in the Speed League in the US and worldwide. Outstanding conditions, the ability to fly at high altitudes, and the fact that Boulder has a number of excellent pilots including several current and past US National Champions all play a role. In 2020, Boulder is currently in first place after seven Speed League Weekends.
(Unfortunately my camera stopped recording half-way through the flight and the fastest part of the flight (with ground speeds of more than 300 km/hour is only shown as a replay summary at the end).
The glider in the video is a high-performance Ventus 2cxT from Schempp-Hirth with a wing span of 18 meters.
The Speed League is an excellent way to practice for soaring contests. If you're interested to learn more about it, I recently published a beginner's guide that you can find here: chessintheair....
Scoring is handicapped based on the glider and you do not need the latest racing machine to score well. Club class gliders will do just fine!
The track of the flight is here: www.onlinecont...
15 окт 2024
