Gliders Soar at National Soaring Contest

Burt and Kathie Compton of Marfa Gliders are hosting a national soaring contest at Marfa Airport this week. Marfa hosted several contests in the 1960's, and the 1970 World Soaring Contest (the first ever in the USA.) The pilots and staff for this 2006 World Class National Contest are coming from all over the United States, and will enjoy the sights and sounds of Marfa for the duration of the 10 day event.

The pilots are John Byrd of Fort Davis, TX, J.C. Hauchecorne of Seattle, WA, Tom McKnight of Midland, TX, Francois Pin of Knoxville, TN, Frank Reid of Jefferson, SC, Jayne Reid of Jefferson, SC, Bill Snead of Georgetown, TX, Patrick Tuckey of Fort Worth, TX, and Michael Westbrook of Midlothian, TX.

The Competition Director is Charlie Spratt of Charlotte, NC, the scorer is Rick Sheppe of Post Mills, Vermont, and the line chief is Dennis Wright of Hobbs, NM. The towplane pilots are Roger Amis and Burt Compton of Marfa.

Of the current pilots, John Byrd and Bill Snead flew at Marfa at the legendary 1969 Nationals, featured in the Robert Drew movie "The Sunship Game". Burt Compton was the chase crew for his father at that contest, which had over 80 gliders entered, the largest fleet ever assembled for a national soaring event.

The motorless gliders climb by circling upwards in the rising thermal updrafts that are exceptionally strong in the Marfa area. Then they race around several 150 to 250 mile triangular courses ranging from Van Horn to Presidio to Marathon, up over the Davis Mountains and back to Marfa. A GPS data logger onboard proves to the scorer that the pilot flew the entire course. The pilot with the fastest average speed is awarded the most points for the day, and after 9 racing days the pilot with the most cumulative speed points is declared "National Champion".

The current contest began June 20 and ends June 29. You can watch the gliders being launched around 1:30 pm, at the airport, or visit the Marfa Gliders website.