Jim Payne's Soaring Web Page

This Web Page is hosted by JP Aviation and maintained by Jim Payne. Most recent update: December 28, 2017.
Quick Links: OLC USA --- Dr Jack Thermals (BLIPMAP) --- Dr Jack Wave (WINDIP) --- Model Soundings
Information of interest (Content rather than computer clogging code):
  • 2016 OLC Plus World Champion and OLC Speed North American/USA Champion I would like to thank Jackie (crew), the OLC organizers, and Dennis Tito (sailplane).
  • 2015 OLC Plus World Champion and OLC Speed World Champion Thanks to the awesome Andes Onda (wave) and Sierra Wave the 2015 OLC World Championships reside in the USA. I would like to thank Jackie (crew), Tago (Argentine crew), the OLC organizers, Dr Jack Glendening (weather), and Dennis Tito (sailplane).
  • 2014 OLC Plus World Champion and OLC Speed World Champion Thanks to the awesome Andes Onda (wave) and Sierra Wave the 2014 OLC World Championships reside in the USA. I would like to thank Jackie (crew), Tago (Argentine crew), the OLC organizers, Dr Jack Glendening (weather), and Dennis Tito (sailplane).
  • 2013 OLC Plus World Champion and OLC Speed World Champion Thanks to the awesome Andes Onda (wave) and Sierra Wave the 2013 OLC World Championships reside in the USA. I would like to thank Jackie (crew), Tago (Argentine crew), the OLC organizers, Dr Jack Glendening (weather), and Dennis Tito (sailplane).
  • 2012 OLC Plus World Champion and OLC Speed World Champion Thanks to the awesome Sierra Wave the 2012 OLC World Championships reside in the USA. I would like to thank Jackie (crew), the OLC organizers, Dr Jack Glendening and Doug Armstrong (weather), Dennis Tito (sailplane), and Bill Francis (tows).
  • 2011 OLC Speed World Champion Thanks to the awesome Sierra Wave the 2011 OLC Speed World Championship resides in the USA. I would like to thank Jackie (crew), the OLC organizers, Dr Jack Glendening and Doug Armstrong (weather), and Bill Francis (tows).
  • 2010 OLC Speed North American Champion Thanks to the awesome Sierra Wave the 2010 OLC Speed North American Championship resides in the USA. I would like to thank Jackie (crew), the OLC organizers, Dr Jack Glendening and Doug Armstrong (weather), Greg Cole and Bob Ettinger (sailplanes), and Bill Francis (tows).
  • 2009 OLC 'Classic' North American Champion and OLC Speed World Champion Thanks to the SparrowHawk and the awesome Sierra Wave the 2009 OLC 'Classic' North American Championship and OLC Speed World Championship resides in the USA. I would like to thank Jackie (crew), the OLC organizers, Dr Jack Glendening and Doug Armstrong (weather), Greg Cole and Bob Ettinger (sailplanes), and Bill Francis (tows).
  • Soaring Hall of Fame Thanks At the 2009 Soaring History Symposium at the National Soaring Museum I was honored to be the 2008 inductee. While it is a supreme honor, everyone involved deserves a share of the honor. It would especially not been possible without Jackie's support. Thanks.
  • 2008 OLC World Champion and OLC Speed World Champion Thanks to the awesome Sierra Wave the 2008 OLC World Championship resides in the USA. I would like to thank Jackie (crew), the OLC organizers, Dr Jack Glendening and Doug Armstrong (weather), Bob Ettinger (sailplane), and Bill Francis (tows).
  • 2007 OLC North American Champion and OLC Speed World Champion Thanks to some awesome September weather (four 1,000 km flights) and some early October Sierra Wave the 2007 OLC North American Championship resides in the USA.
  • In the Middle of Nowhere: Pilot and Crew Survival This is an updated version of the PowerPoint presentation that I gave at the 2005 SSA Convention sans some photos that make it too large for the web site.
  • Eaton Trophy Thanks At the 2004 SSA Convention the Eaton Trophy was presented to Linda and John Murray and Jackie and me. While it is a supreme honor for all four of us, everyone involved deserves a share of the honor. Thanks.
  • Thank You My second term as a Region 12 SSA Director expired with the coming of the new year. I would like to thank everyone who helped me along the way. I especially thank the folks in Region 12 for supporting the Director's travel fund. And thank you Jackie for all the support during the whole time. Added Jan 1, 2004.
  • Fall 2003 Board of Directors Meeting. Notes from the Dallas, TX meeting. Posted Sep 16.
  • Return to Kitty Hawk Race.
  • Back in the Saddle Pilot Refresher This event was at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim, CA on March 30 at 9 AM. Speakers were Garret Willat, Jim Payne, Cindy Brickner, and Kepton Izuno. 65 pilots attended.
  • Tactical Ideas. JP's ideas for improving and expanding the sport. Updated Mar 13.
  • SSA eHandbook. Link to John Leibacher's listing of SSA Awards, Badges, and Records. Added Feb 16.
  • Winter 2003 Board of Directors Meeting/Convention. Notes from the Dayton, OH Board meeting and convention. Posted Jan 28. Updated Mar 13.
  • 2002 SSA Awards Winners Winners of the SSA's latest non-competitive awards. Congrats to all, especially Region 12's Dan and Jan Armstrong and Jim Norris. Added Dec 22.
  • New Region 12 Web Page Larry Tuohino has developed a new web site at http://www.ssaregion12.org/. Thanks, Larry!
  • Fall 2002 Board of Directors Meeting. Notes from the Boston, MA meeting. Posted Sep 16.
  • New Region 12 Directors Cindy Brickner was elected Director for the term from Jan 1, 2003 to Dec 31.2005.
  • Region 12 Contest We didn't get home from Uvalde in time to race at Cal City. (With Al Leffler in Canada and others doing other things we didn't have an Open Class.) I flew the last day as a guest with Bob Ettinger in the back seat. The 16,000-foot cumulus marked great soaring; in the blue was not so good. Because of the TFR for the fire, the task was a MAT Inyokern, Oso, and Red Mountain. The last cu was 55 miles from Oso so it was a challenge. Posted Sep 3.
  • Sailplane Development Panel I was able to attend several sessions of the SDP at Tehachapi. What an interesting group of people! Thanks to Jan and Dan Armstrong! They cemented Tehachapi's reputation as a wonderful place. (One thing I learned is that the European Union is establishing the European Aircraft Safety Agency (EASA) which will be a European FAA. I fear for the Europeans as I don't think EASA will nearly as responsive to member state concerns as the FAA is to Congress.) Posted Sep 3.
  • Open Class Nationals I flew the ASH-25 with Tom at Uvalde, finishing 5th. The grass has probably never been taller or greener in August.
  • 15-Meter Class Nationals I flew Bob Ettinger's ASW-27 at Tonopah, finishing 11th. The average winning speed was 100.23 mph.
  • June 2002 EXCOM Meeting. Details of the Detroit, MI meeting. Posted Jun 30.
  • Spring 2002 Board of Directors Meeting/Convention. Details of the Ontario, CA meeting. Posted Feb 16.
  • World Championships in Mafikeng, S Africa Jackie and I were privileged to be part of Team USA at the World Championships.
  • Hall of Fame Region 12's Al Leffler will be inducted into the Soaring Hall of Fame at the SSA Convention in Ontario, CA. John Montgomery who also lived in Region 12 will be the first "historical" inductee.
  • 2001 SSA Awards Winners Winners of the SSA's latest non-competitive awards. Congrats to all. Added Nov 19.
  • November 2001 EXCOM Meeting. Details of the Dallas meeting. Posted Nov 19.
  • Fall 2001 Board of Directors Meeting. Details of the Denver meeting. Posted Sep 10.
  • Contest Rules Committee Election Region 12's Gary Ittner was elected to the Contest Rules Committee replacing Rick Walters who retired. [Thanks, Rick, for your years of service.]
  • Tonopah Region 12 North Contest.We had the best 6 days of soaring weather I have ever seen.
  • June 2001 EXCOM Meeting. Details of the Greensboro meeting.
  • 1,000 km Out& Return On April 2 Tom and I flew the ASH-25 from Mojave to Reno and return at 92 mph.
  • RESCO Cross-Country Soaring Seminar was on Mar 10 at the Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB.
  • 2000 SSA Awards Winners Winners of the SSA's latest non-competitive awards. Congrats to all, especially Region 12 winners, Jan Armstrong, Del Blomquist, and Marty Eiler. Added Jan 15.
  • Book Review Exploring the Monster by Robert Whelan. This is an excellent account of the Sierra Wave and Jet Stream Projects. A must read for pilots interested in wave soaring. As another review noted the only thing missing is an area map and wave diagrams. Added Oct 1.
  • Book Review Fundamentals of Sailplane Design by Fred Thomas. This is an excellent source of technical information for the soaring enthusiast. Added Oct 1.
  • Region 12 Contest CD Hannes Linke managed to get in four days of tasks despite Cal City having the coolest weather in memory. Al Leffler won Open Class and Gary Ittner 15-Meter Class. (Work in Colorado forced me to miss the contest.)
  • Open Class Nationals Tom and I flew the ASH-25 at Uvalde, finishing 2nd. We had eight excellent days of flying.
  • 18-Meter Class Nationals The score sheet looked like a Region 12 contest. Greg Chaffee (from Rosamond!) won, Bill Bartell was 2nd, Rick Walters 3rd, Gary Ittner 4th, and Roy Cundiff 5th.
  • Standard Class Nationals I flew Al Baker's Discus A at Littlefield, finishing 9th. We had two good days, two medium days, and two days where the entire fleet landed out. Meanwhile, the farmer's were so happy to see us come and cure the drought that they were buying glider pilots coffee. For more details, see the contest reports at http://www.ssa.org/.
  • 234 kph 100 km Triangle Details of my World Open & 15-Meter Record claim in wave on May 6. Added May 6. Flight Log posted May 7. Link to Charlie Thaeler's renderings added May 8.
  • Arvin Remembrance Jan Armstrong and her committee put on a fantastic event. The pilots in attendance read like a Hall of Fame reunion. Dick Johnson stayed with us and flew 187 miles with me in the ASH-25 on April 30. Congratulations to Jan and her team! Added May 1.
  • 300 km Record selected as one of NAA's "Most Memorable Records of 1999" Tom and my 300 km Out & Return flight at 269 kph on Mar 3 made the list. (Details) Added Feb 29.
  • 1999 SSA Distance Award Claims/Rules Get involved! It's easy. Updated Nov 15.
  • 2001/2000 Contest Sites & Dates as approved by the Board.
  • 1999 Dust Devil Dash Results Added Sep 15.
  • 1999 Category One Pilots A list of pilots who earned Cat 1 during 1999. Updated Jul 16.
  • 1999 Hatcher Trophy Top 10 scores in the Hatcher Trophy competition. Updated Jul 18.
  • 1999 Standard Class Nationals Report Disci A do great! Added June 27.
  • 1999 Open Class Nationals Report Tom and I have a great time! Added May 31.
  • 1999 Blue Feather Fly-In The 10th Annual event was at Mountain Valley Airport on May 29, 30, and 31.
  • Standard Routes This file contains some standard courses for practicing racing in the Southern Sierra and Mojave Desert. Includes link to download Region 12 (Cal City) contest turn points. Added Mar 30. Updated Apr 09.
  • Walt Roger's Weather Links At the March 27 RESCO "Back in the Saddle" Seminar WX provided this extensive list of weather related links. Added Mar 27. Updated Mar 29.
  • 269 kph 300 km O&R Details of Tom and my US Record in wave on Mar 3. Added Mar 3. Updated Mar 4 with flight renderings by Charlie Thaeler. Approved by NAA on Jun 30. Approved by FAI on Jul 9
  • 247 kph 500 km O&R Details of Tom and my World Record in wave on Mar 3. Added Mar 3. Updated Mar 4 with flight renderings by Charlie Thaeler.
  • 175 kph 500 km O&R Details of Jason and my flight in wave on Feb 8 that was 60 meters short of 202 kph. Added Feb 9. Approved by NAA on Jun 30.
  • 1998 Barringer, Hilton, & SSA DA Winners Unofficial list of winners of last year's competitive awards. Added Jan 15.
  • 1998-1999 Hilton Cup Entries/Rules Added Aug 21. Handicaps added Sep 23. Updated Feb 5.
  • Henry Combs Trophy Winners of the trophy. Added Oct 25.
  • 1998 Region 12 Contest Report We even had a rain day! Added Sep 8.
  • Region 12 Trophies A listing of those who have won Region 12 Open, 15-Meter, Std, and Sports trophies. Updated Oct 25.
  • Uvalde Report A report on the 1998 Standard and Open Nationals.
  • "No Gate, No S.C.U.M." Some thoughts on GPS starts as used at the Open Nats.
  • 1998 Sports Class Nationals Report Tom and I scout the "Ridge." We fly 11 of 12 days!
  • 201 kph 100 km Record Details of Tom and my flight in wave on Mar 27.

Links to some important web sites:

How to contact Jim:

E-mail: JetPilot@Skypark.org
Snail mail: 3721 Knox Ave, Rosamond, CA 93560-641-
Lat/Long: 34 52.22N 118 11.84W (southeast corner of Rosamond Skypark)
Phone/fax: (775) 410-7741

"[First and foremost] Soar safe, [next] have fun, [and then] go fast and far!" -- JP

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Thank you for visiting JP's Soaring Web Page.
Page established January 1, 1998. You are visitor number 14281since November 1, 2008.
Any opinions are those of the author and unless specifically stated as such do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official position of the SSA and/or RESCO. All the normal caveats and legalese apply.

Copyright 1998/1999/2000/2001/2002/2003/2004/2005/2008/2009/2010/2011/2012/2013/2014/2015/2016/2017 by Jim Payne - Material herein can be reprinted and used non-commercially to promote soaring if credited.

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