The Airwave BCC‏

[Steve.T.]

The Airwave BCC‏
From: Ken Wilkinson (kwilkinson2000@hotmail.com)
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Sent: 08 March 2009 18:35:15
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Dear club contacts, please forward to the relevant person.

I know many are in the post but this is a reminder that the Airwave BCC will be up and running with the latest website changes soon. New rules involve comps between 2 clubs are possible, with a reduced score, and the comp is heavily leaning towards XC tasks.

The cost is 35 pounds for a team for the year. The final is at the Long Mynd, with 2 chances to run, in early August. This is a great comp series that is hard fought. Check on the links below for more info. Please dowload an entry form and send to

Amy Stanton,
1 Chardyke Drive,
Temple Cloud, Bristol BS39 5BE with a cheque for 35 pounds

organiser @flybcc.co.uk Tel (01761) 451323.

[brian day]

Cheers Steve, the cheque was in the post earlier this week for 2 teams.
All we need now is the weather and the pilots.

[GlennP]

I responded to the original post about pilots for NHPC teams in the BCC.

It seems I'm not eligible to enter on the basis of hours according to the BCC website.

Glenn

[colin keightley]

Thats not what it says Glenn

It is recommended that pilots have a minimum of CP plus 15 hours airtime, but the captains may use discretion.

[GlennP]

Yes I did see the qualifying statement re the captains discretion but since I heard nothing more after putting my name down I presumed that nothing was happening or the captain had already decided I wasn't eligible due to lack of experience.

The BCC website was very limited when I first had a look.

I have only just seen the BCC stuff in Skywings hence the post.

Glenn

[John Wallis]

You are both too inexperienced (Paragliding) to take part (In my opinion) The sky will be full of keen club competition pilots jockeying for position plus you might be gaggle flying in the thermals. It just might freak you out or make you a danger to others. Then again I may be wrong you both might take to it like a duck to water. Why don't you go to an event and observe/fly in your own time then build up your experience/confidence.

JW

[Fingers]

This comp is supposed to be for ALL, so even if you can only ground handle, go, have fun.

It is just a very low key, fun, get together where the emphisis is on having a good days flying then getting pissed and having a sing song.

[GlennP]

Fair point John.

I have done a small a mount of thermal flying now but only in blue sky (ie fairly gentle) conditions on a fairly quiet site (5 others) but I did do a bit a of soaring at Santa Pola with around 30 pilots in the air. Busy but not 30 pilots trying to core a thermal.

For my very limited paragliding experience comp flying even in the BCC which is supposed to be basement level but could end up being much more. I would rather enjoy my first comp than sh!t myself and as you say possibly be a danger to others.

Fingers and John both make a valid suggestion to go along and see what it's all about first.

It's certainly different to flying at FL145 in a BE24 at 140kts kicking back with a CD on.

Glenn

[John Wallis]

This comp is supposed to be for ALL, so even if you can only ground handle, go, have fun.

It is just a very low key, fun, get together where the emphisis is on having a good days flying then getting pissed and having a sing song.

Steve I don't think there's such a thing as a "Fun inter club Comp" all the ones I've been involved in over the years get quite serious especially if your team is in with a shout of winning. Plus I would think the the NHPC would want to use their strongest pilots? I know Brian said there's 2 teams entered so maybe they are thinking about a less experienced B team. I still stand by what I said it's not the arena for low airtime pilots, but it will be a very valuable place to go and see what happens...Fly in your own time...Then get pissed.

I think Glen knows where I'm coming from.

[Fingers]

If this is turned into a full on serious event then I think it a big error, there are many other "serious" comps the club can get into. This was always billed as a low key event to get people on the first rung of the comp ladder, if that's what your interested in. If this is not the gentle way in then what is?

From the get go this was always just a piss about and then get pissed, we just happened to win it. How because the club is the holders its get the best most experienced pilots in?

Seems a little like getting Damon Hill on your team to win at the dodgems, cum on, do not forget what this comp is. Let the new lads have a go at the wheel.

[AlastairW]

Absolutely Steve!

Hence the reason for two teams.

So we can have up to 12 NHPC members competing at the same time, with one team available for the less experienced, if it pans out that way.

It is a competition - of course we want to win! And frankly First two years ago, and second last year is a pretty good track record, which it would be a shame to ignore.

We will have a chat about the BCC and teams at next months meeting.

[gary stenhouse]

some good new talent in the club and with the numbers out on sunday then i am sure they will get the hang of it. the buity with these comps is if we can get our self on radio then the more experienced pilots can take the less experienced to places they would not of previously gone in a safe envroment.

cheers gary

[Misk]

John makes a valid point - by all means low airtime pilots go along and take part but keep a rein on your ambitions.

Be under no illusions flying the BCC is often too full on for low airtimers to expect to compete in every task. There were a selection of very interesting near misses at Moelfe last year due to a heady mixture of competitiveness and inexperience!

Similarly the BPC is an 'entry' comp and it can be terrifying to be amongst 50+ pilots in the same thermal all 'learning' to compete and gaggle fly together - great fun but always be prepared to fly away / stay on the ground.

It really gets fun when you keep flying away to quiet skies catch yourself an nice little thermal then immediately get mugged by 20 or so of your mates!

Club comps and task days are the correct way to introduce low airtimers to competition - going over the back of a windy hill with the BCC may well not give you the experience you desire!

[gary stenhouse]

here is the origanal