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 — Rough circlers

5 pilots · ranks 1–9 · median 3 · middle half 2–5

High — How round and consistent the circles were group median P78 in this field (0.20 ratio)
High — Low saves dug out from the bottom of the band group median P75 in this field (1.0 count)
Low — Share of race time spent hunting for the next climb group median P25 in this field (31 percent) · usually a strength
High — Time spent flying with a gaggle group median P75 in this field (2 percent)

1. James Wynd
2. Anthony Meechan
3. Mark Tyminski
5. Dean Bayly
9. Andy Schmidt (most typical of this group)

Group B — Glide bleeders

3 pilots · ranks 4–8 · median 6 · middle half 5–7

Low — Glide L/D against the field median group median P8 in this field (0.73 ratio) · usually costly
High — Share of the flight spent in air that wasn’t sinking group median P90 in this field (63 percent)
High — Share of the height gain made outside thermals group median P86 in this field (26 percent)
Low — Low saves dug out from the bottom of the band group median P25 in this field (0.0 count)

4. Hayden Emms
6. Curtis Greenwood
8. Andy Phillips (most typical of this group)

Not clustered: 7. Dave Moore — only 10 of 19 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 10. Damian Hamilton — only 5 of 19 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%); 11. James McGinty — only 2 of 19 metrics available (needs ≥ 60%).

8 pilots on 19 behavioural metrics formed 2 groups.