Team Challenge (Day 7)

Day 7 was also blown out so Ollie organized a "round-table" discussion where pilots could set the agenda by asking a panel of experienced pilots questions.

Mark B launched late in the afternoon and I helped several team members setup and fly as the day glassed off before sunset.  Otherwise, pilots starting packing or getting ready for the catered dinner, awards presentation, and party that evening.

The scores and more pictures are available online.  "XXX" placed first, "Knights in White Dacron" second, and the boogers of team "Aerosnauts" in third.  However, the Team Challenge really isn't about winning a competition, its about pilots learning from each other and learning to work as a team.  As corny as it sounds, almost everyone was a winner at this year's meet.

The trophies are a gorgeous creation of Eric Donaldson who was given a new helmet in appreciation for his work.  Ricker did a great job encouraging sponsors to go overboard with a bevy of non-trival prizes.

The team hoped to fly on Sunday, the day after the meet, but the forecast was totally wrong.  A sunny stable day turned out to be totally overcast and with scattered showers.  We tried to find a spot in Virginia to fly, but the winds were just too strong.  While Allen, Jim, and I continued our drives home on Monday, Dan and Doug joined Randy at Skinner State Park for an afternoon flight.

I missed way too many recent Team Challenges, but will do my best to return next year to help "pay forward" the help I received years ago.