06-05-2023, 06:42 PM
Hi there,
A bit of depth to the choice of flying a race through mountains, or any other natural obstructions...Due to the altitude restrictions the valleys you have to fly through create the 'race track' as the mountains on either side hedge you in. Taking the 'racing line' around the corners, close to the mountain sides would save you time, and there are opportunities to take short cuts with a few hundred feet altitude to spare. If you plot a GPS route and IFR it you will loose out to the pilots who plot a GPS course and fly with a heading bug on that course but cut every corner and take shortcuts over lower ground that becomes visible. Part of the challenge is that there can be various different flight paths that could be used and it is up to each of us to try and come up with the quickest route.
Thanks, Simon.
A bit of depth to the choice of flying a race through mountains, or any other natural obstructions...Due to the altitude restrictions the valleys you have to fly through create the 'race track' as the mountains on either side hedge you in. Taking the 'racing line' around the corners, close to the mountain sides would save you time, and there are opportunities to take short cuts with a few hundred feet altitude to spare. If you plot a GPS route and IFR it you will loose out to the pilots who plot a GPS course and fly with a heading bug on that course but cut every corner and take shortcuts over lower ground that becomes visible. Part of the challenge is that there can be various different flight paths that could be used and it is up to each of us to try and come up with the quickest route.
Thanks, Simon.
AS 423 Simon Utley.