2018 Region 11 FAI Class Contest

Strong high-altitude desert thermals, ridge soaring and wave along scenic Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe. Expect challenging tasks and intense dynamic conditions. We recommend you take advantage of both practice days. Oxygen mandatory, transponders and FLARM strongly recommended (Reno airspace nearby). Camping is available for tents, trailers, and RVs at the glider port (sites have no utilities but shower and toilets are available in the main area). Enjoy beautiful mountain surroundings with pine trees, birds, chipmunks, and the occasional morning deer. Open-air dining with BBQ fire every night. Plenty to see and do for family and friends. 

Dates:
  • Practice: 7/14/2018 - 7/15/2018
  • Contest: 7/16/2018 - 7/21/2018

”FAI” contest, with handicaps.
FAI Class Rules:
1.        All gliders conforming to the requirements of Standard Class, 15 Meter Class, 18 meter Class, Open Class, and Two Seater Class as described in contest rules may participate.
2.        Contestants must meet the experience requirement listed at 5.5.1 of contest rules, the simplest being at 5.5.1.1.4:  Provide evidence of a valid flight submitted to and accepted by the On-Line Contest (OLC), scored at a distance of at least 300 km.
3.        Contest will be limited to 20 entries.   Hurry and register to join the fun!
4.        Participating gliders will be handicapped using handicaps derived from the Sports Class Handicap list. However,
A.  No glider will have a handicap greater than 1.100
B.  All handicaps will be adjusted for the pilot declared maximum flying weight for the contest.  Handicaps will be adjusted according to the provisions of SSA FAI-Class Competition Rules paragraph 11.4.1.2.6.
5.        We have obtained approval from the SSA Rules Committee for a change in the format for this Region 11 contest. This year's contest will be 5 days rather than 6 with a separate 1 day contest, perhaps Tuesday or Wednesday July 17 or 18, during the 5 day Regional Contest. The 1 day contest, to be called the California Grand Prix, would not count in the regional contest scoring and would have its own prizes. The California Grand Prix will feature a prescribed start time where time on course is measured from the time the gate opens until you finish regardless of your actual start time. Handicaps will be applied by adjusting the turnpoint radii for each competitor so that the first glider to finish gets first place, the second glider to finish gets second place, etc. Having this additional 1 day contest still leaves 5 days for the regional contest and should provide additional interest and fun to your week at Truckee. If successful this format may be adopted by the SSA Contest Committee as a full scale contest in this new format.
Great mountain soaring, great high desert soaring, great learning opportunity.

Truckee Airport
  • FAA Airport Identifier: TRK
  • Field Elevation: 5,900 feet
  • AWOS-3: 118.0
  • UNICOM: 122.95
  • Tower: 120.575
  • Runway 2/20: 4,650 feet 
  • Runway 11/29: 7,000 feet

NOTE!
A temporary tower will be in operation at the Truckee-Tahoe airport beginning 1 June. Information from the Truckee Tahoe Airport can be found at the airport website, https://truckeetahoeairport.com/. The Soar Truckee Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) includes new procedures related to the tower. Be sure to pay special attention to this section when you review the SOP's this year. For those of you that have not flown at Truckee before you are required to read the SOP before your first tow at Truckee. At this time no significant operational effects are anticipated. Be sure to note the new Tower/CTAF "Common Traffic Advisory Frequency" of 120.575.

Fees
  • Deposit: $150 to be applied toward the entry fee
  • Total Entry Fee: $350.00 ($300.00 if registered and deposit paid before 17 May) plus $48 per tow
  • Send Checks to: Willy Snow, Truckee Tahoe Soaring Association, 10495 Vera Avenue, Felton, California 95018
  • 100% of the registration fee and deposit will be refunded for cancellations before 16 June
  • No registration fee refunds will be made after 16 June​
Contest Manager: Tony Gaechter
Phone: 408-621-3140
Email: tgaechter@gmail.com

Competition Director: Sergio Colacevich

Directions:​
Lodging
  • The 4 beds in the bunk house above the Soar Truckee office are available at no charge for contestants for the duration of the contest on a first request basis. If you want one of these beds please indicate by email to info@soartruckee.org at the time you file your contest entry form. Once all the beds are assigned there will be space available in the campground.
  • Soar Truckee has ample camp sites for all contestants wanting to camp at the gliderport for the month of July at no charge. Please indicate by email to info@soartruckee.org if you want a campsite at the time you register. There are no hook-ups in the camp sites but there are toilets and a shower a short walk away at the office area.
  • If you're not camping there is a list of local Inn's on the Soar Truckee website

Equipment
  • Oxygen mandatory, refills available at Soar Truckee
  • parachutes with current repack
  • transponders strongly recommended, Reno airspace nearby 
  • Spot Transmitters recommended, we monitor glider locations from the office.
  • ​FLARM recommended, portable units available at $100.00 per contest at www.williamssoaring.com/powerflarm/rent.html.

Soar Truckee