Flying style

Pilots grouped by how alike their flying was.

Analysis computed

The groups are flying style, and not score. The spread of ranks in each group shows where that style paid and where it did not.

Group A — Committed racers

7 pilots · ranks 1–11 · median 5 · middle half 2.5–6.5

Low — Share of race time spent hunting for the next climb group median P13 in this field (31 percent) · usually a strength
High — How much of the thermal the pilot climbed before leaving it group median P86 in this field (72 percent)
High — Low saves dug out from the bottom of the band group median P83 in this field (1.0 count)
High — How low the pilot gets between climbs group median P81 in this field (51 percent)

1. Jon Durand
2. Mitch Butler (most typical of this group)
3. James Wynd
5. Todd Wisewould
6. Steve Docherty
7. Jason Kath
11. Neale Halsall

Group B — Clean gliders

3 pilots · ranks 9–13 · median 12 · middle half 10.5–12.5

High — Glide L/D against the field median group median P95 in this field (1.85 ratio) · usually a strength
High — Share of the height gain made outside thermals group median P93 in this field (9 percent)
High — Climb rate at thermal exit group median P88 in this field (1.4 metres per second)
Low — Gliding wide of the optimal course line group median P16 in this field (-20 percent)

9. Mick Lamb
12. Hughbert Alexander (most typical of this group)
13. Peter Burkitt

Group C — Lift keepers

6 pilots · ranks 4–19 · median 15 · middle half 11.3–17.3

High — Share of the flight spent in air that wasn’t sinking group median P89 in this field (65 percent)
Low — How low the pilot gets between climbs group median P16 in this field (14 percent)
Low — Glide speed between climbs group median P19 in this field (48.5 kilometres per hour) · usually costly
High — Gliding wide of the optimal course line group median P76 in this field (11 percent)

4. Richard Martin
10. Paul Bissett-Amess
15. Tushar Pokle
15. Jay Kubeil (most typical of this group)
18. Bruce Atkinson
19. Donny Gardner

Group D — Circle climbers

3 pilots · ranks 8–22 · median 17 · middle half 12.5–19.5

Low — Share of the height gain made outside thermals group median P7 in this field (0 percent)
Low — Climbs joined on another pilot's marker group median P8 in this field (0 percent)
High — Time to core thermals group median P82 in this field (57 seconds)
High — Climbing faster than the pilots sharing the thermal group median P81 in this field (76 percent) · usually a strength

8. Michael Smith (most typical of this group)
17. John Harriott
22. Peter Adriaans

Group E — Low leavers

2 pilots · ranks 14–20 · median 17 · middle half 15.5–18.5

Low — How much of the thermal the pilot climbed before leaving it group median P2 in this field (0 percent)
High — How round and consistent the circles were group median P93 in this field (0.21 ratio)
Low — Climbs joined on another pilot's marker group median P8 in this field (0 percent)
Low — Time spent flying with a gaggle group median P8 in this field (0 percent)

14. Scotty Ireland (most typical of this group)
20. Jason Carman

Not clustered: 21. Steven Crosby — only 11 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 23. Hossain Tefaili — only 8 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 24. Adrian Connor — only 9 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 25. Dustan Hansen — only 9 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 26. James Atkinson — only 3 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 26. Randall Clotworthy — only 1 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 26. Marcus De Vecchi — only 3 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 26. Neil Hooke — only 5 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 26. Jason Lannstrom — only 2 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 26. Keith Lavers — only 3 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 26. Paul Lawrence — only 1 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 26. Colin Mackie — only 1 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%).

21 pilots on 20 behavioural metrics formed 5 groups.