DIAMOND DAYS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA

Michael C. Steckner

Foreword by Richard H. Johnson

Have you ever wondered what time of year is best for 500, 1000 km ... or 1000+ mile cross country flights? What about that diamond altitude flight? Maybe this book can help plan that next vacation, dream flight or record.

This book catalogues approximately 2900 500+km flights (starting in 1946 with the first North American 500 km flight by Richard Johnson) and approximately 2500 5000+m height gain flights (starting in 1949 with John Robinson's US altitude record). The entire database is reproduced in the appendices; sorted chronologically within a state and sorted chronologically by sailplane type. The data is analysed and presented with 145 graphs similar to the two presented here.

I look forward to adding your future diamond flights into the database!

INFORMATION (revised edition)

LCCN 95-92742. 296 pages, 145 graphs, 14 chapters and 8 appendices. US$35 P.P. (Foreign orders: US$40 P.P. international money order only) Michael Steckner, 418 Eagle Trace, Mayfield Heights, OH, USA 44124. If you want the deleted appendices (loose leaf form), please add $5 US to the order price.

If you have further questions, email me at:

PART 1: CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHTS IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA

Chapter 1 - The best month of the year for long cross-country flights

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Alabama and Tennessee

1.2 Arizona

1.3 California

1.4 Colorado

1.5 Florida

1.6 Georgia and South Carolina

1.7 Idaho

1.8 Illinois

1.9 Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio

1.10 Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska

1.11 Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut

1.12 Minnesota and Wisconsin

1.13 New Jersey

1.14 New Mexico

1.15 Nevada

1.16 New York

1.17 Pennsylvania

1.18 Texas

1.19 Utah

1.20 Virginia and West Virginia

1.21 Washington

1.22 USA

1.23 The other states with no graphs

1.24 Canada

1.25 Alberta

1.26 British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan

1.27 Ontario

1.28 References

Chapter 2 - The best month of the year for fast cross-country flights

2.0 Introduction

2.1 Arizona

2.2 California

2.3 Colorado

2.4 New Mexico

2.5 Nevada

2.6 Pennsylvania

2.7 Texas

2.8 USA

Chapter 3 - Distance versus speed

3.0 Introduction

3.1 Arizona

3.2 California

3.3 Colorado

3.4 New Mexico

3.5 Nevada

3.6 Pennsylvania

3.7 Texas

3.8 USA (1950-69), USA (1970-79), USA (1980-89), USA (1990-94), USA (all)

3.9 References

Chapter 4 - Distance versus time

4.0 Introduction

4.1 Arizona

4.2 California

4.3 Colorado

4.4 New Mexico

4.5 Nevada

4.6 Pennsylvania

4.7 Texas

4.8 USA (1950-69), USA (1970-79), USA (1980-89), USA (1990-94), USA (all)

Chapter 5 - Speed versus time

5.0 Introduction

5.1 Arizona

5.2 California

5.3 Colorado

5.4 New Mexico

5.5 Nevada

5.6 Pennsylvania

5.7 Texas

5.8 USA

Chapter 6 - Flight distance over the years

6.0 Introduction

6.1 Arizona

6.2 California

6.3 Colorado

6.4 New Mexico

6.5 Nevada

6.6 Pennsylvania

6.7 Texas

6.8 USA (Diamond distance only)

6.9 USA

Chapter 7 - The average flight speed over the years

7.0 Introduction

7.1 Arizona

7.2 California

7.3 Colorado

7.4 New Mexico

7.5 Nevada

7.6 Pennsylvania

7.7 Texas

7.8 USA

Chapter 8 - Flight duration over the years

8.0 Introduction

8.1 Diamond flights in the USA

8.2 USA

Chapter 9 - The number of diamond days per year

9.0 Introduction

9.1 Arizona

9.2 California

9.3 Colorado

9.4 New Mexico

9.5 Nevada

9.6 Pennsylvania

9.7 Texas

9.8 500+km flights in the USA

9.9 1000+km flights in the USA

9.10 References

Chapter 10 - The days of the week

10.0 Introduction

10.1 Arizona

10.2 California

10.3 Colorado

10.4 New Mexico

10.5 Nevada

10.6 Pennsylvania

10.7 Texas

10.8 500+ km USA

10.9 1000+km USA

10.10 References

Chapter 11 - The 500+km flights by sailplane type

11.0 Introduction

11.1 General comments on the graphical timelines

11.2 Timeline for Schweizer Corp. sailplanes

11.3 Timeline for various American sailplanes

11.4 Timeline for Burkhart Grob sailplanes

11.5 Timeline for various European sailplanes

11.6 Timeline for Glaser-Dirks sailplanes

11.7 Timeline for Glasflügel sailplanes

11.8 Timeline for Rolladen-Schneider sailplanes

11.9 Timeline for Schleicher sailplanes

11.10 Timeline for Schempp-Hirth sailplanes

11.11 Timeline for SZD sailplanes

11.12 All other designs

11.13 Handicap tables

11.14 References

PART 2: ALTITUDE GAIN FLIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA

Chapter 12 - Diamond altitude gains

12.0 Introduction

12.1 Arizona

12.2 California

12.3 Colorado

12.4 Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, New York, Texas, Utah

12.5 New Hampshire

12.6 Nevada

12.7 Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia

12.8 USA

12.9 Alberta, CANADA

12.10 References

Chapter 13 - Diamond altitude gains per year

13.0 Introduction

13.1 California

13.2 Colorado

13.3 New Hampshire

13.4 Nevada

13.5 USA

13.6 Missing data

13.7 References

Chapter 14 - Diamond altitude gains per day of week

14.0 Introduction

14.1 California

14.2 Colorado

14.3 New Hampshire

14.4 Nevada

14.5 USA

PART 3: APPENDICES

General comments on the databases

References

Appendix A - USA 500+km flights database sorted by state/by date

Appendix B - USA 500+km flights database sorted alphabetically by pilot (removed in revised edition)

Appendix C - USA 500+km flights database sorted by sailplane flown/by date

Appendix D - USA 1000+km flights database sorted by date

Appendix E - USA 5000+m height gain flights database sorted by state/by date

Appendix F - USA 5000+m height gain flights database sorted alphabetically by pilot (removed in revised edition)

Appendix G - Canadian 500+km flights database sorted by province/by date

Appendix H - Canadian 500+km flights database sorted alphabetically by pilot (removed in revised edition)

Appendix I - Canadian 5000+m height gain flights database sorted by province/date

Appendix J - Canadian 5000+m height gain flights database sorted alphabetically by pilot (removed in revised edition)

Appendix K - List of dates on which both 500+km and 5000+m flights were flown

Appendix L - List of dates for which weather maps etc., are available from author

FOREWORD

A staggering amount of work went into compiling the 50 years of sailplane flight data included in this book, not to mention sorting and printing into meaningful and interesting pages. Michael's skills and the modern computer achieved this hitherto almost impossible task.

Especially interesting are the compilations of long and high flights by state and time of year. There one can clearly view the past accomplishments, when and where they occurred, and formulate plans for future significant sailplane flights. I found myself to be unexpectedly inspired when I read Michael Steckner's commendably complete compilation of post-WWII long distance and high altitude sailplane flights in both the USA and Canada. It made clear the fact that we, in general, have made appallingly poor utilization of the large number of great soaring days that we are blessed with here in North America.

As a direct result of this book's publication, the organization and planning for the first Texas wave camp next spring in Marfa is underway. Pilots in other states will likely feel similarly motivated to increase and enhance their badge and record claims. We all need to plan ahead to accomplish more great sailplane flights!

Richard H. Johnson
Dallas, Texas. August 1995.

Addendum added in proof by Michael Steckner:
Richard H. Johnson wishes to make it clear that the Marfa wave camp is not a joke. He reports that NW winds over the mountains of western Texas can produce significant wave activity. He believes that it is possible to exceed 30,000 ft.

KEYWORDS: soaring, gliding, aviation

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