Practice Day
R4S New Castle International by Marshall McClung
CD here. R4S things are just starting to settle down thanks to the BRSS members and volunteers. Let me catch you up on our activities.
The New Castle experience should be on your “must visit” list. Lanier Frantz and the Blue Ridge Soaring Society impeccably maintain NCI. You are greeted with friendship and hospitality second to none and part of the NCI experience involves staying on the property the entire contest. Brushing your teeth with the guy you are trying to outscore gives a new perspective to sailplane competition.
Guests are here from Virginia to Florida to Texas to Michigan to Massachusetts with 21 contestants and 2 guests pilots signing the mandatory pilot’s meeting sheet. Even usual competitors are here without their sailplanes because they enjoy the NCI/R4S social experience. As always, a few preregistered pilots withdrew at the last moment … their loss I opine. Expecting more entries, R4S Contest Manager Jim Cole reached out to Eric Lambert at Merlin Soaring Association in Amelia, Virginia (http://www.merlinaero.org/) hoping to secure a 4th towplane. Eric responded “sure, I want to be a good neighbor”. Good neighbor indeed; thank you Eric and pilot Mark!
As always, NCI weather was strong Saturday and Sunday prior to the first contest day. On practice day, Nelson Howe made the winners speech in FAI Combined. Keep your eye on Nelson, he is a retired internationally respected hang glider guy and a hard charging sailplane pilot. In 18 METER, Tim Welles took the honors proving once again it’s hard to beat experience and wisdom. Great job guys!
What’s next? Karl Striedieck arrived at this morning’s mandatory pilot’s meeting under an umbrella during a rain shower. Without surprise, no pilot objected to standing down for Day 1. As usual, if you want rainy weather, just schedule a sailplane contest. It appears Tuesday and Wednesday are same song, second and third verse, until Thursday. The upside of Thursday are the whispers of a possible ridge mission. Please stay tuned!