The 3rd World Sailplane Grand Prix is taking place in Chile, on Jan 2nd through 9th 2010.  Link to the official website below.

http://www.grandprixchile.org/index.php

direct link to live tracking

http://gliding4.adventuretracking.com/GliderCompetition/chile

No posts in 3 monts, this portion of the site is getting quite stale.  In July I flew in the 2009 Canadian Nationals hosted by SOSA, in August I flew in the SOSA mudbowl and in September at the Ontario Provincials hosted by TSC.  We had some good flying days this year and all the contests were a lot of fun.  With the gliding season in Ontario coming to a close I am getting ready to fly at the ridge in PA and maybe some wave at Lake Placid.

Region VI S contest at CCSC was pretty much a washout, we flew 1 more contest day and then spent the last 3 days on the ground.  Derek, Sergei and I spent two days at the Wright-Pat US Airforce Museum, a must see for any aviation enthiusiast.

Derek and I got so desperate for some flying that we purchased RC airplanes to make our time on the ground pass faster.  We also visited a museum with a flying replica of the Wright Brothers Model B Flier.

After returinng home I managed a couple decent XC flights in Ontario, a 500km attempt that ended with 460km OLC and a 240km flight which ended with a land-out at Brights Field .

With the weather forecast not looking so great for the next few days I will spend my time getting ready for the Canadian Nationals which start on July 1st.

Day 1 was a difficult day.  The day was blue with cirrus moving in over head.  The standard class started last, we had to climb quickly and go out on course as fast as possible.  The trick was to stay in the sun and try to find streets of reduced sink.  The entire standard class landed out, Dave (F1) came in first with over 100 miles,  Sergei flew for 98 (TR) miles which should have put him in second but like Dave he landed out in a farmers field.  I managed 94 miles, but landed at an airport wich gave me a 25pt bonus to move me into 2nd place for the day.  The scores are available on the SSA website here.  Click here to see the flight on the OLC.

Thanks to Frank Paynter and Mark Hawkins SPOT tracking is now available for all pilots flying with a SPOT messenger.  The URL's for Google Maps and Google Earth are available below.

Google Earth KML file

Google Maps Link

Tuesday was a no fly day, there forecast was calling for severe thunderstorms in the area with complete overcast.  Sergei, Derek and I decided to go to the US Airforce Museum in Daton.  It is a huge favility and is definately worth the trip.