RC SOARING
With a successful 10 km Goal and Return, Terry Koplan completed his Level V of the SAP in April 2019, a whopping 46 years after he completed Level IV.
IS THE LSF SAP DEAD?
By Gordon Buckland | gordon@gatorf3b.com
I AM AN ARDENT BELIEVER in the value of the League of Silent Flight (LSF) Soaring Achievement Program (SAP), and I attribute it to my own improvement in thermal skills. I have personally seen the amazing benefits that the program has had on hundreds of Soaring pilots since I became involved in it. With more than 9,000 LSF members worldwide, we had almost zero activity throughout 2022. Does that mean that the LSF SAP is already dead?
RC Thermal Soaring has gone through a revolution in the last 10 years with a radical move away from winch-launch to electric “winch-in-the-nose” launch. As a result of this, in 2013, the LSF SAP went through many changes (after much discussion) with the introduction of the new electric LSF (eLSF). Further changes were introduced in 2016 by a new LSF committee, recognizing contestants in mixed-launch events as being qualified for LSF or eLSF contests, depending on the pilot’s launch method that was used during the contest.
These changes to the program seemed to be, at the time, the correct solution to maintain the sanctity of the original “pure” LSF achievement levels and, at the same time, allowed the electric-launch Soaring Achievement Program (eSAP) to be separate. The purpose was to continue to grow the number of participants and achievers with the LSF program, but now, after nearly 10 years, my question is, “Did these changes help or did they actually kill the Achievement Program?”
With the number of qualifying winch-launch or mixed-launch events dwindling rapidly as F5J takes over, it is apparent that the current split LSF rules will absolutely ensure the extinction of the program. Only three pilots have completed Level V of the SAP since the introduction of the eSAP.
most recent was in 2019 with Jody Miller, the current LSF president. Clearly, what used to be monthly enthusiastic participation by pilots in the LSF SAP has now become virtually nonexistent, with merely six pilots upgrading their LSF levels worldwide in 2021 and only two in 2022.
I think this decline was alluded to by Jim Deck seven years ago, in a message he posted on the LSF website. His comments included an interesting response from Fabiene Gagne. I have shared part of Jim’s discussion because I think it is time to look really hard at why we had so few pilots worldwide upgrade their LSF levels in the past 2 years.
Jim Deck
When the current eSAP program was launched, there were some goals behind it. Here, as succinctly as possible, they are presented in order of their perceived importance to the future of the LSF.
- Integrate the pilots of electric-powered sailplanes into LSF, thus maintaining and strengthening the status of the LSF as a significant voice for all facets of RC Soaring.
- Provide a challenging program comparable to, but distinct from, the well-established SAP of the LSF to allow pilots of electric-powered sailplanes to increase their Soaring skills.
- Preserve the integrity of the original SAP and in no way dilute the accomplishments of its participants.
Now, let’s look at what has happened since the eSAP was launched roughly 2 years ago by examining the LSF database. A total of 58 pilots have entered the eSAP program. The first table shows the status of LSF eSAP participants as of 12/1/2015.
LSF Level — Number at Level
I — 41
II — 13
III — 1
IV — 4
V — 1
Two interesting questions to ask at this time might be: How many current participants of the eSAP were also participants of the SAP? And, if so, what Level of the SAP did they achieve before entering the eSAP?
Forty-two of those entering the eSAP had previously participated in the SAP.
The other 16 eSAP aspirants became new members of the LSF.
Previous SAP Level Attained — Number Currently in eSAP
I — 12
II — 5
III — 7
IV — 14
V — 4
During that same period, 19 LSF SAP aspirants achieved Level I of the SAP. So, it would seem that the LSF is not being
overrun by folks flying electric sailplanes. Therefore, the recent call for a completely separate eLSF needs more clarification.
What exactly is broken and needs to be fixed? What advantage is gained by separate membership numbers? The current LSF database is set up to handle two distinct accomplishment programs.
The current eSAP hasn’t been in operation long enough to prove its effectiveness in increasing the skills of new pilots. Only when the first brand-new LSF member achieves an eSAP Level V is it time to make a statement about the eSAP’s effectiveness. The only thing that’s been proven at this point in time is that graduates of the original SAP can burn through the eSAP in a short period of time. It’s rather like solving the same crossword puzzle in a different newspaper.
This phenomenon was expected with the eagerness of being the very first eSAP V. But it certainly validates the teaching ability of the original SAP and the potential for the existing eSAP to produce more skilled pilots.
Loss of the capability to launch sailplanes by traditional methods probably accounts for many of the other SAP participants who joined the eSAP.
The primary objective of the original SAP was to produce skilled pilots, not necessarily Level Vs. It is analogous to a proper physical education program. A good physical education program seeks to increase the physical fitness of all of its participants, not just the athletically inclined. If you look carefully at the way the eSAP was set up, you’ll discover “wiggle room” to tweak it only when and where necessary and let it evolve naturally.
The dwindling number of new LSF members each year should be a concern of the highest priority.
Fabien Gagne
I think if we are to redesign things and leave the past as the past, then a single and new program that would really unify all launch types is the way to go. Call it SAP2. Allow current SAP members to continue in the new program. Give the pilot the choice of using the launch method he or she prefers for each task. Winch, electric, bungee, hand-toss, you name it. (Author’s note: Such a solution was already proposed and discussed in 2016 on RCGroups by Fabien [FabFlight]. See the link in “Sources.”)
I hereby officially release the nonofficial Integrated Soaring Achievement Program (iSAP) proposal for discussion. It is not officially endorsed by the LSF, but I provided an advanced copy of this document a few weeks ago.
We had a pretty good talk about the eSAP evolution. We had the chance to discuss several issues and shortcomings of this still pretty new program, how it came to life, and where we would see it going in the near and long term. We’ve exchanged for several months now and I think we are ready for the next step.
I’ve taken most suggestions into the creation of this proposal of an iSAP that would replace the current eSAP, leaving SAP unchanged. Yes, it could be totally separate from the legacy program, leaving it in its original state.
Highlights
- iSAP would replace eSAP.
- The “frame” of iSAP is identical to SAP; the programs are “forward compatible.”
- Current participants in SAP can choose to continue in iSAP exactly where they were.
- The iSAP integrates F3K, Hand Launch, winch, bungee, electric, Slope, and mix as you wish.
- All of the little issues of eSAP have been addressed, such as the 200-meter launch height.
- “Extended Thermal Duration” is clarified and quantified.
- Data loggers can replace one witness, where applicable.
- GPS Triangle Racing is specifically listed as a competition type.
- Closed-Circuit flight can replace Goal and Return.
- Second Thermal Duration flight can replace a Slope flight at any level.
- Addressed an odd perception by replacing the word “aspirant” by “participants.”
- Removed the level’s qualifiers of “primary, intermediate, advanced,” which did not help the comprehension of the program.
- “FAI world record” is now “world achievement” and added recognition of the participation to a world championship.
- Points and scoring are unchanged.
I hope this will be used as the basis for the next LSF program change.
I think what Fabien has proposed has merit. Please read the rest of his thread on RCGroups. If the SAP is to survive, grow membership, create better Soaring pilots, and be relevant in RC Soaring’s future, we need a single, new, integrated SAP that will unify the launch types and allow participation and recognition of LSF members’ accomplishments, regardless of how the model is launched. For the sake of the LSF SAP and its survival, let’s have more discussion and be as inclusive as possible before it is completely gone.
Go downwind and soar.
SOURCES:
RCGroups
LSF new iSAP proposal by Fabien Gagne
www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2621724
Pompano Hill Flyers
www.phflyers.com
