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 — Sink crossers

11 pilots · ranks 1–35 · median 11 · middle half 8.5–22.5

Low — Share of the flight spent in air that wasn’t sinking group median P17 in this field (54 percent)
High — Distance covered between climbs group median P83 in this field (3.0 kilometres) · usually a strength
High — How round and consistent the circles were group median P81 in this field (0.18 ratio)
High — How low the pilot gets between climbs group median P78 in this field (53 percent)

19 pilots · ranks 2–36 · median 20 · middle half 10.5–28

Low — Low saves dug out from the bottom of the band group median P28 in this field (0.0 count)
Low — How much of the thermal the pilot climbed before leaving it group median P29 in this field (31 percent)
Low — How round and consistent the circles were group median P29 in this field (0.15 ratio)
Low — Glide L/D against the field median group median P30 in this field (0.92 ratio) · usually costly

6 pilots · ranks 12–37 · median 23.5 · middle half 15.3–32.5

Low — Climbs joined on another pilot's marker group median P8 in this field (17 percent)
Low — Time spent flying with a gaggle group median P13 in this field (6 percent)
Low — Distance covered between climbs group median P15 in this field (1.3 kilometres) · usually costly
High — Share of the height gain made outside thermals group median P82 in this field (27 percent)

Not clustered: 37. Gary Herman — only 5 of 20 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%).

36 pilots on 20 behavioural metrics formed 3 groups.