Gerolf Heinrichs <>
writes:

How could you possibly think your excellent comp results would be
mere luck? You are the best pilot in the world. Everyone who’s been reading the
Oz Report in those past some ten years would certainly know this by now!


Now, if you allow a minor correction to your latest Oz Report remarks, regarding
the “beating” you gave me on two occasions I hear:


Technically, speaking, (and, if you wouldn’t take my word, you can check this on
all the CIVL scoring lists there are) one can only beat those competitors who
are in fact competing against you. One necessary condition to do so, would then
be to - at least - fly in the same class with the opponent you intend to beat.
From what I remember, this has only happened in the flex wing class – yet.


Now, for instance, if you win the Rigid class, and I win the Flex class, you
still do not beat me! Just like Manfred while winning his Swift class still
can’t claim to have beaten all the Rigids, though eventually he might have flown
a lot faster through the same task on one or the other occasion.


For a similar reason, the flexies are not welcome to inscribe in paragliding
comps, trying to battle for their price money. Formula one cars can’t compete in
Rallye events and motorbikes are not allowed in the Tour de France – they simply
don’t fit the class requirements!!!


It is not so long ago (Algodonales, that would be), that the Rigid community
fought like hell to get there own Class-V, so they would not get “beaten” from
the Swifts over and over again.


I think, you guys had a point there, though the rule for class-distinction
between Swifts and Rigids – the Swifts were then found to be unable to
consistently show that they could take off and land in nil wind conditions –
seams debatable today. Watching those latest 110+ lbs Atoses with their often
even more overweight pilots (that is before even counting the ballast:)
ploughing into them goal fields, makes you wonder what “consistently able to
land really would mean, doesn’t it? ;-)


However, you guys got your own class – so bloody stay in there!


If Toni’s or any other rigid wing pilot’s main motivation was to come to
Australia with his glider just to shut me up (and I seriously doubt, Toni would
have said that, given what a friendly fellow he is), I would feel really sorry
for him, because it is very unlikely to work;-)


Besides that: Isn’t it pretty pointless to argue that someone didn’t make it
into a competition’s class which does not even exist, when being about a month
late to register? Carol has already explained the Bogong Cup situation well
enough, I think, and as for Forbes – well, after all it is the Moyes
competition. You can’t really expect that Moyes Delta Gliders, the top flex wing
manufacturer takes care of organizing a Rigid wing comp.


If you guys are looking for a platform to promote the Rigid wings of A.I.R, then
this would be my advice – organize your own competition. And, I promise you,
none of the Moyes boys will show up and spoil the party there :-)


As for my personal opinion: I can only say, if you don’t like it, don’t quote it
– but stop bitching about it endlessly. If I for myself come again and again to
the conclusions Flexwings are overall simply better then Rigids then you please
have to accept this as I will have to accept that you are leaning towards
Rigids. “De gustibus non disputandum” (can’t argue about taste, for those who
are at war with Latin) - the Romans knew it all along.


So, how can we at least resolve our little dispute on who is beating who in the
Oz comps:


I hear, you’ll get to fly my Texas-Comp glider this season here. That means we
will be competing not only in the same class, but also on the very same glider
model! Now this is really a chance we should not miss out on. Being the good and
certainly self confident pilot you are, you’re sure not shy of a little bet, are
you?


So how about this:


In case you beat me in the upcoming comps in Forbes or Bogong – you can of
course continue to tell you were beating me on at least one occasion and you can
keep that glider (value about 7000 Euro)!


However, in case of the slight chance that you don’t – your latest Atos will
then for a full calendar year carry a decent size writing (which I will provide,
of course) on its top surface, saying “Moyes Gliders are better the Rigid
Wings!”


Do we have a deal?

Gerolf, you've got a deal! You can even write: "Rigids ain't sh**
compared to a Moyes." BTW, there is an ATOS flying at the Forbes meet, or at
least Peter Dall was on the pilot list. I love competition!