ZA: Fast ridge record task

thermal · Post by **thermal** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:02 pm

Hi all,

If you have an hour or so to spare, and like to enhance your skills in ridge-, cross country wave flying and tactics, here is a nice one.
OK, it's a bit long, but the faster you fly the shorter it takes.

At first glance, it looks rather straight forward.
Finishing it is not the biggest problem, but getting close to, or even breaking the speed record is.

It contains a mix of ridge- wave- and tactical path challenges in mountains and low terrain. The task uses "airborne" and regatta start at low altitude, so you can practice that as well.
Start time is set at 08:00 hours, so don't expect any thermals.
The first part of the task is easy, the second part is... well, tricky and whether or not you make it back home may depend on decisions you took much earlier in the flight.

I haven't explored all possibilities yet, but I think an average speed around 200 km/h must be possible.

Speed record to date is 187.2 km/h
If you break the record, feel free to post it here and upload your flight track, so others can learn from it.

This task is running regularly on the ZA: Dedicated server, on the Condor Servers list.
Good luck, and have fun.

GR · Post by GR » Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:16 pm

Is it possible to see the current record?

thermal · Post by **thermal** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:34 pm

GR wrote:Is it possible to see the current record?

Yes, it's in the Flight planner task sheet in the bottom right window.
I will update it whenever I get a chance, when I see a new speed record being posted in this topic.
Consider it as a kind of "self service".
Not very high-tech, but unfortunately I have no time to delve through the Server's log files or to develop something more sophisticated.

I started this topic in hopes that pilots would upload their (Zipped) .FTR files here, for others to use as Ghosts and learn from it.

By pure coincidence, I noticed that the speed record went up to 188.1 km/h, which is very very good, set by "19".
Would be interesting to see an .FTR file like his uploaded here.
To begin with, here is one of mine.
Use it as a reference only, it doesn't disclose many of the possible secrets.

19 · Post by 19 » Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:16 pm

Yeh that was me

here is my FTR file

Regards

Sean.

19 · Post by 19 » Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:36 pm

here is the file

19

thermal · Post by **thermal** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:07 am

@seanpc
Sorry for the mixup.

I corrected the original post and edited the task sheet, to give you full credit.
188.1 km/h is really fast, although i'm sure it can be beaten.
Thanks for the upload.

Congratulations.

19 · Post by 19 » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:12 am

no problems

Yeh i am also think it can be broken. But not bad for my first try...

Berblinger · Post by **Berblinger** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:08 pm

Hi all,
here's my flighttrack. Average speed is 187.45 km/h. Task is based on thermals flighttrack.
There's a difference in windspeed of nearly 10km/h between thermal's and seanpc's flighttrack. thermals windspeed is about 40km/h. I first tried the task i saved from the server with a windspeed of about 30km/h. I finished but with ca. 160km/h. With 10km/h more windspeed it's much easier. 200km/h surely should be possible.

Rainer

thermal · Post by **thermal** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:23 am

Berblinger wrote: ...There's a difference in windspeed....

Yeh, I didn't notice that, because the Server and the system where the reference .FTR was made run on two separate machines. Thanks.
The task's weather has been.... well, under construction lately, to make it a bit more exciting and to enable more possible routes.
Also, the slightly increased wind allows more beginning pilots to finish the task safely, although arriving low at TP2 and then trying to make it home, still remains "hair raising" enough.

Anyway, I double checked and the Server version is now identical.
I gave it another try and attached a new reference file.

The speed record went up to 190.5 km/h, set by yours truly.

I'm sure that can be beaten.
Give it a try, and have fun.

thermal · Post by **thermal** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:07 am

I have been experimenting with the various weather-influencing parameters a lot for this task, like cloud base, inversion height and task start time and checked that completing the task was possible.

I found that minor changes to these settings can have unexpected and funny results.
For instance, when you fly the task with its current settings, you will see no CU clouds develop at all.
By the time you arrive at the finish, that's around 09:00 local time when you push it, skies are still all clear.

When you change the start time in task planner, to, say 08:40, to synchronise your flight with a Ghost or so, you would expect a clear sky but Condor generates a different weather model.
The result is, that certain routes are blocked by clouds now and waves are ruined by CU's.
I will leave the settings as they are now.
Have fun.

Berblinger · Post by **Berblinger** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 6:26 pm

So second attempt: 198.28km/h, thermals ghost joined me and set the course.

But i always had to look back

I changed start to type window, just to better estimate start height. I don't think that this has any effect on the result

thermal · Post by **thermal** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:52 pm

Berblinger wrote:...changed start to type window... don't think that this has any effect on the result

No, I don't think that will influence your achievement. The regatta start is just there to let people get used to it.
Congratulations, well done.

I'm sure someone will beat it, though.
I know it can be...

thermal · Post by **thermal** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 12:55 am

This record task will run until the end of januari.
Until now, a large number of pilots tried the task, with varying results.

Because I'm very curious what the ultimate speed on this task would be, I hope to encourage as many specialists as possible to give it a try.
Also, I sensed frustration with some pilots who wondered how on earth such a high speed is possible.
On special request, and for those who didn't download any of the example files, because they prefer to fly online, I will join the ZA server on sunday 29th. at 11:00 UTC and do a kind of "guided tour" and explore one of the possible fast routes, with those who are interested.
15 minutes Join time , then 3 minutes to regatta start at 900 meter QNH.
12 slots available and mixed challenges ahead!

I did one flight with an average of slightly over 200 km/h, so I know that's possible.
I won't post that flight here, because it's bad for my reputation... safety standards wise.

So, if anyone discovers the optimum route OR wishes to take all the risks in the world and break the record, zip the .ftr file and post it here.

The official record is still 198.28 km/h, held by "RH".

JJJ · Post by **JJJ** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:08 am

hi thermal you can host at 13.00UCT pls because i will fly

Berblinger · Post by **Berblinger** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:18 am

thermal wrote:
Berblinger wrote:...changed start to type window... don't think that this has any effect on the result
No, I don't think that will influence your achievement. The regatta start is just there to let people get used to it.

Just to assure, I changed start to "sector type" window not the "time window". "Start type" regatta absolutely has an influence on your average speed. One minute delay cause about 2.5 km/h less av speed

thermal wrote:The official record is still 198.28 km/h, held by "RH".

thermal wrote:I'm sure someone will beat it, though.

I'm sure triple-j will beat it. It seems, he always is the first. Let him surprise us.