Soaring Symposia Archive

This web site contains the published works of the organization Soaring Symposia created by by Ed Byars & Bill Holbrook (BILLHOLB@aol.com). It's goal was to help educate pilots in advanced cross country/competition soaring.

Photo of Byars & Holbrook at 1969 Nationals! and photo of G Byars in 1992!

Proceedings of 1969 Symposium

• Preface
• The Do's and Don'ts of Contest Flying by Richard Schreder
• Low Loss Soaring by George Moffat
• The Electric Variometer System by A. Gene Moore
• Panel: Factors Influencing Crucial Decisions by A.J. Smith & R. Schreder
• Soaring Contest Forecasts and Weather by Charles V. Lindsay
• The Philosopy of Winning by A.J. Smith
• Answers to Questions from Participants [Entire Facility]

Proceedings of 1970 Symposium

• Preface
• Marfa 1969 & 1970 by George Moffat
• Competition Flying in Sigma by H.C.N. Goodhart
• Panel: Standard Class - Present and Future [Entire Facility]
• The Variometer System - Part II by A. Gene Moore
• A Synopsis on Design - Present and Future by Richard Schreder
• Panel: How to Practice to Improve Contest Performance [Entire Facility]
• The Philosophy of Winning - Part II by A.J. Smith
• Panel: Future Competition Trends [Entire Facility]
• Written Questions and Answers [Entire Facility]

Proceedings of 1971 Symposium

• Preface
• Task Strategy by George Moffat
• Airmanship - Inflight Decisions by A.J.Smith
• Sailplane Preparation for Competiton by Paul Bikle
• Designing for Competition by Klaus Holighaus
• Panel: Contest Rules by Bikle-Moffat-Smith
• Assessments and Do's and Don'ts of Fiberglas Damage by Fred Jiran
• Panel: Class Competition by Bikle-Moffat-Smith-Holighaus
• Panel: American Design Competition by Bikle-Moffat-Smith
• The Influence of Planform and Airfoil on the Design of High Performance Sailplane Wings with Very High Aspect Ratio (Low RE-Numbers)
  A Seminar Lecture Presented at West Virginia University by Klaus Holighaus

Proceedings of 1972 Symposium

• Preface
• Practicing for Competition by George Moffat
• Competitive Philosophy by Dick Johnson
• Preparation of Sailplanes for the Internationals by A.J. Smith
• Sailplane Modifications by Wilfred Schuemann
• Ridge Running Records by Karl Striedieck
• The Price You Pay for McCready Speeds by Wilfred Schuemann
• Panel: Sailplane Selection for the Internationals by Greene-Johnson-Moffat-Smith
• Panel: A Discussion of Submitted Questions by Greene-Johnson-Moffat-Schuemann-Smith

Soaring Cross Country

• Preface
• Chapter 1: The Sport-How to Appreciate it
• Chapter 2: Pre-flight Preparation for Soaring Cross Country
• Chapter 3: Soaring Weather Analysis
• Chapter 4: Task Selection
• Chapter 5: In-Flight Decisions
• Chapter 6: Landing Away
• Chapter 7: Crewing
• Chapter 8: Contest Soaring and Records
• Chapter 9: Instruments and equipment
• Chapter 10: Sailplane Selection
• Chapter 11: FAA-FAR-FAI

Copyright: Copyright 1969,1970,1971,1973,1974 Soaring Symposia. Permission to copy the material in the Proceedings and in Soaring Cross Country is granted for non-commercial use, in their entirety, and with this copyright notice attached.

Disclaimer: The material in these proceedings and in the Soaring Cross Country book represent a snapshot of the art of soaring in the late 1960's and 1970's. Before making any important decisions based on the contest rules, FAI, and FAR's listed here, please verify from the appropriate source that that information is still valid.

This page is being maintained and updated by Guy Ford Byars: feguy@iac.net.