NEWS:
I’ve been trying to get everything up to date and proof read. Joe is helping find all of the stuff that I’ve managed to over-look. If you need something clarified, something looks wrong or you find a typo drop me a line so I can get it fixed please. We apreciate all of your help in the development of the program and that includes telling me when I screwed up. (again) 
Silver Level has now been posted. We have started working on Gold Level as well. It’s only going to get tougher from here on out! Good luck and have fun! Also, remember to check back every so often until the program is completed as we’re making updates to the task requirements. This is being done to keep things running smoothly and to the tasks as challenging as possible. I added a note to the Add Em’ Ups section about maximum flight times. This was suggested by an LSF officer and we agreed it was a good thing as it makes the task sets more challenging. The LSF uses half of the total. Joe’s favorite number is 3 however. So we’re going to use 1/3 to make it even more interesting.
We have been asked by the membership and others that are interested in the program to make some major changes. It was a difficult choice as we were about done. However, we felt that in order to have the best program and the greatest chance of it surviving the test of time we should listen to what the people wanted. So we went back to the drawing board. Copper Level will remain untouched. After that everything is changing to give the people what they want. The program has been divided into three parts. The main program with a “this or that” style that everyone wanted to see continue is back. We’ve lightened it up to make it more accessible to the more casual and/or newer flyers. Then we raised the bar considerably in the next two advanced parts. One for thermal duration and one for slope. You will be able to do both at the same time or just one or them. It’s up to you as they are completely independent of each other. They involve a lot more flight time and greater task set difficulty level. They will however set you apart from the adverage flyer. You will be pushing your skills and logging lots of flight time doing it. It will make you a better pilot plain and simple. Joe and I would like to thank you for your support, suggestions and your understanding in how much work has went into developing this program. We would also like to thank you for sticking with us while we make the changes to the program that so many of you wanted to see. It will all be worth it in the end. It is our hope that it will help to promote soaring in general. We had hopes of finishing by the end of 2009. With the re-write this wasn’t possible. So we’ve set a new goal of the one year mark of the program. April 2010. We will do our best to meet that goal. I am also in the process of updating the website, so please bear with me.
I’m a new sailplane flyer in Precott AZ, who has flown a glow R/C planes in the past, and who is looking foward to lerning to fly R/C sailplanes. Your Sportmans’ Soaring Program sounds like a great way for me to become competent R/C sailplane pilot. I would appreciate learning more about the current status and plans for your program and how my club would interact with you if they agree to submit an application to join the Sportmans’ Soaring Program.
Thanks
W. Meyer
Prescott AZ
You don’t need your club to join to be a member. Although that would be great if they did. All you need to do is simply fill out an application and join yourself. NOTE: This reply is to let anyone reading know the answer to Walter’s question. I actually called Walter and spoke to him personally. We hope to see his application soon.
The re-write for Bronze level is complete. It is now finalized and the website is updated to show the changes. We are currently working to finish the Silver level of slope. As soon as it’s finsihed we can post the Silver level and thus complete the main part of the program. Thermal Duration Advanced is almost done as well.
While we realized we lost some people and some momentum when we did the re-write, we feel it was what was best for the program in the long run. Hopefully the few that put off starting to see where we we’re going to go with the re-write will come back around and give it a try. We have 63 people currently working the program. Hopefully they’re enjoying the challenges we’ve tried to set for them and will encourage those they fly with to join in as well. I would love to see the numbers start to climb quickly again. I do think this will happen once the main program is complete as many people want to see what they have in front of them before starting.
At this time I would also like to thank those of you who were already working on Bronze for taking the changes in stride. We really appreciate your understanding and support in wanting this to be the best program it can be. Almost to a man your answers were, “I don’t mind. It just means I get to fly some more.” That just shows the great attitude of our members and their desire to help promote soaring.
Also, I know there are some lucky people out there that are able to fly. It’s winter here…BOO…HISS… I would really like to get some new pictures for the gallery. So get out those cameras and send us some pics to gallery@sportsmanssoaringprogram.com . High resolution prefered. A short caption with what kind of plane and who’s flying would be cool as well. Thank you.
We’ve finished the main program and TD advanced. I’m currently working on updating all of the SSP files and the web site. It should be finished soon.