SEN 1200 - 8 April 2008
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- Australian FF Champs
- SOUTHERN SKIES FF SERIES "SOUTHERN SKYMAN"
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AUSTRALIAN FREE FLIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008
OzDiesel Total
1 Roy Summersby 120 120 111 120 120 591
2 Peter Lloyd 97 120 120 120 120 577
3 Stan Hinds 120 90 120 120 120 570
4 Phil Mitchell 120 71 120 120 120 551
5 Malcolm Campbell 94 120 120 56 120 510
6 Peter Wright 120 74 120 51 120 485
7 Martin Williams 86 49 120 90 120 465
8 Herbert Reich 24 66 120 100 120 430
9 Peter Greenhill 120 120 60 120 0 420
10 Percy Wright 86 67 83 107 59 402
11 Des Slattery 120 0 120 80 68 388
12 Harry Sokol 120 120 43 73 356
13 Graham Maynard 54 76 33 93 91 347
14 Barry Frederickson 45 111 40 36 39 271
15 Dennis Parker 79 34 73 186
16 Darren Jones 78 93 0 0 0 171
P-30 TotaFO
1 Vin Morgan 120 120 120 360 171
2 Terry Bond 120 120 120 360 135
3 David Hegarty 120 120 120 360 87
4 Phil Mitchell 120 120 120 360 2
5 William Jones 120 120 110 350
6 Leigh Morgan 88 120 120 328
7 Brian Taylor 84 120 120 324
8 Ron Aird 120 120 82 322
9 Adrian Bryant 28 120 118 266
10 George Baynes 83 115 64 262
11 Albert Fathers 77 113 37 227
12 Herbert Reich 39 120 159
Comb. % Open Class Max % ClasFO Ti %
1 Brian Van Nest F1A 180 180 180 180 100F1A 281 156
2 Vin Morgan F1A 180 180 180 180 100F1A 215 119
3 Phil Mitchell F1A 180 180 180 180 100F1H 137 114
4 Colin Collyer OR 180 180 180 180 100OR 190 106
5 Neil Murray F1A 180 180 180 180 100F1A 130 72
6 Colin Crowley F1J 120 120 120 120 100F1J 53 44
7 Paul Rossiter F1B 180 180 180 180 100F1B 76 42
8 Dave Ackery F1H 120 120 120 120 100F1H 0 0
9 Don Boughton OR 180 180 180 180 100OR 0 0
10 Tahn Stowe F1A 180 180 180 180 100F1A 0 0
11 Nikolay Nikolov F1A 180 175 180 18099.1
12 William Jones F1G 120 115 110 11293.6
13 Mark Armour F1G 120 120 94 12092.8
14 Darren Jones F1G 120 120 120 9492.8
15 Albert Fathers VR 180 128 180 18090.4
16 Brian Taylor P-30 120 81 120 12089.2
17 Rob Wallace F1A 180 180 111 18087.2
18 Peter Wright VP 180 180 106 18086.3
19 Sonya Burfein F1G 120 120 81 10384.4
20 George Baynes F1B 180 180 90 18083.3
21 Stan Hinds F1J 120 120 120 6083.3
22 Paul Rossiter F1B 180 180 102 16382.4
23 Roy Summersby OP 180 180 180 6478.5
24 Harry Sokol F1J 120 80 80 12077.8
25 Ted Burfein F1A 180 113 118 18076.1
26 Gottfried Bachman F1A 180 180 180 3573.1
27 Christof Bachman F1A 180 90 180 8665.9
28 Gary Odgers OR 180 141 96 10863.9
29 Alan Jack F1A 180 180 155 62
Vintage Glider Total
1 Malcolm Campbell Seraph1953 180 180 133 493
2 Phil Mitchell Nebula1954 180 101 180 461
3 Des Slattery Nebula1954 180 110 133 423
4 Colin Collyer Manta 108 102 180 390
5 Peter Wright Seraph1953 173 76 132 381
6 Roy Summersby Jader 1952 41 180 108 329
SOUTHERN SKIES ROUND 1
F1C Total
1 Alan Jack 180 157 180 180 180 180 158 1215
2 Roy Summersby 180 180 180 180 180 104 180 1184
3 Bill East 172 166 180 156 180 115 137 1106
4 Colin Crowley 180 142 180 180 682
5 Graham Maynard 38 38
Open Rubber Total
1 Colin Collyer 180 180 50 410
2 George Baynes 180 180
3 Peter Greenhill 150 150
4 William Jones 10 136 146
5 Dennis Parker 12 12
SOUTHERN SKIES ROUND 1
F1A Total
1 Nikolay Nikolov 132 180 180 141 180 180 180 1173
2 Vin Morgan 119 180 144 180 180 180 119 1102
3 Craig King 21 180 180 180 156 180 180 1077
4 Rob Wallace 180 142 180 180 180 61 150 1073
5 Neil Murray 180 85 180 15 180 180 180 1000
6 Christof Bachman 123 99 180 180 81 180 149 992
7 Tahn Stowe 180 180 82 138 142 180 67 969
8 Brian Van Nest 180 180 72 68 98 180 180 958
9 Antony Koerbin 136 180 180 104 65 81 180 926
10 Ben Lewis 106 180 180 117 180 77 70 910
11 Phil Mitchell 180 104 108 116 180 77 97 862
12 Albert Fathers 100 139 59 113 64 180 180 835
13 Gottfried Bachman 40 124 75 90 139 180 168 816
14 Ted Burfein 180 55 84 180 180 89 768
15 Malcolm Campbell 119 110 180 0 86 180 75 750
16 David Brawn 180 97 277
17 Henning Nyhegn 131 131
18 Tom Oxager 19 19
19 Martin Williams 7 7
F1G Total
1 Albert Fathers 110 120 120 120 119 589
2 William Jones 120 120 120 120 90 570
3 Darren Jones 120 120 120 90 118 568
4 Mark Armour 120 94 92 68 120 494
5 Malcolm Campbell 120 71 191
6 George Baynes 120 120
7 Sonya Burfein 94 3 97
Open Power Total
1 Des Slattery 64 180 164 408
2 Peter Greenhill 122 139 95 356
3 Stan Hinds 120 9 129
F1H Total
1 Brian Van Nest 120 120 120 120 120 600
2 Rob Wallace 91 120 120 120 120 571
3 John Lewis 120 120 120 120 58 538
4 Phil Mitchell 110 103 120 120 68 521
5 Malcolm Campbell 120 120 58 63 120 481
6 Ben Lewis 118 77 103 46 120 464
7 Vin Morgan 120 120 90 120 10 460
8 Dave Ackery 83 83
9 Des Slattery 27 27
HLG Best 3
1 Phil Mitchell 44 60 18 5 42 146
2 Peter Lloyd 36 55 40 131
CLG Best 3
1 David Hegarty 18 60 55 25 38 45 160
2 Phil Mitchell 25 60 19 18 47 132
3 Don Boughton 18 5 29 35 30 33 98
Scale StatFligTotal
1 Gary Odgers SE5A 42 36 78
2 Stan Hinds Grumman Turbo Trac 40 37 77
3 William Jones Luton Minor 38 30 68
F1J Total
1 Colin Crowley 120 120 120 119 120 599
2 Tom Oxager 120 107 115 120 120 582
3 Terry Bond 120 120 120 91 120 571
4 Alan Jack 120 120 107 120 71 538
5 Peter Wright 120 120 102 120 37 499
6 Roy Summersby 110 120 33 82 120 465
7 Stan Hinds 120 120 120 360
8 Harry Sokol 120 26 35 79 30 290
9 Des Slattery 120 54 22 196
10 Henning Nyhegn 90 90
Scramble Total
1 Martin Williams 419
2 Than Stowe 404
3 David Hegarty 308
Vintage Power Total
1 Roy Summersby Swiss Miss 180 180 180 540
2 David Hegarty Pyloni1950 62 180 124 366
3 Des Slattery Stompe1952 123 111 123 357
Vintage Rubber Total
1 Roy Summersby A-Fram1935 180 180 180 540
2 Malcolm Campbell Lim Jo1952 108 169 166 443
3 Brian Taylor Lim Jo1952 180 180 360
4 Graham Maynard Seuter1950 180 180
SOUTHERN SKIES ROUND 1
F1B Total
1 Richard Blackam 180 161 180 180 180 180 180 1241
2 Paul Squires 176 180 161 180 180 180 180 1237
3 William Jones 180 180 144 180 180 180 180 1224
4 Andreas Gey 180 180 180 163 180 159 180 1222
5 Igor Vivchar 180 180 180 180 180 140 180 1220
6 Dave Ackery 180 118 180 165 180 163 180 1166
7 Terry Bond 180 180 180 152 108 180 180 1160
8 John Lewis 180 138 180 180 180 116 180 1154
9 Barry Frederickson 180 146 180 146 134 180 180 1146
10 Mark Armour 135 180 159 180 180 180 120 1134
11 Neil Murray 159 180 102 137 141 172 180 1071
12 Leigh Morgan 180 180 180 142 132 138 109 1061
13 Paul Rossiter 180 180 126 119 87 180 168 1040
14 Albert Fathers 136 117 59 166 104 147 60 789
15 Brian Van Nest 122 162 152 167 180 783
16 George Baynes 144 108 131 383
17 Graham Maynard 141 0 173 314
18 Adrian Bryant 180 180
Trans Tasman Results
AUS NZ
F1A Vin Morgan 1102 Craig King 1077
Tahn Stowe 969 Rob Wallace 1073
Phil Mitchell 862 Antony Koerb 926
F1C Roy Summersby 1184
William East 1106
Colin Crowley 682
F1B William Jones 1224 Paul Squires 1237
Terry Bond 1160 David Ackery 1166
Leigh Morgan 1061
Average 1039 1096
Australian Free Flight Champion 2008 : Phil Mitchell
Col Somers Memorial Trophy Best Overall in Vintage: Roy Summersby
SOUTHERN SKIES FF SERIES "SOUTHERN SKYMAN"
From:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
G'Day again Roger,
could you please post the following on SEN.
As the "ICEMAN" melts as the Northern Hemisphere summer approaches the
following "SKYMEN" are soaring Downunder.
The winners of the Southern Skies Free Flight Series 2008 :-
"SOUTHERN SKYMAN F1A": ROB WALLACE, NEW ZEALAND
"SOUTHERN SKYMAN F1B": WILLIAM JONES, AUSTRALIA
"SOUTHERN SKYMAN F1C": ROY SUMMERSBY, AUSTRALIA
full results soon. The series was a great success with a very nice Timex wrist watch
and certificate awarded to the above winners at the presentation banquet in
Omarama, New Zealand.
We plan to run the series again in 2010....so be ready to soar
Downunder in two years time.
best wishes
Phil Mitchell,Tahn Stowe,Rob Wallace,Chris Murphy
Southern Skies FF Series was proudly sponsored by the Australian Free Flight Society,
Free Flighters of New Zealand and the New South Wales Free Flight Society.
Australian Champs Report
From: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I'm sure you'll be interested in the Aussie Champs and Southern Cross Cup results and report as prepared for Free Flight News.
Wishing you all the best.
David Brawn
Biggles Free Flight team & Brisbane Free Flight Society
31st Annual Australian Free Flight Society Championships
21 - 24 March 2008, Narrandera, New South Wales.
Now that Ros is renting a house in Brisbane I have become a Qantas 'Frequent Flyer' so it seemed appropriate to apply to Brisbane Free Flight Society for associate membership and make preparations to visit the AFFS Champs and Southern Cross Cup at the Narrandera flying site made famous by Alan Jack's 2007 report. Models would be a bit of a problem so I scratch built a pair of simple F1As over Christmas and traveled out with model box, winches, timers etc inside a hard shell 'golf guard' case. We met up with Alan Jack at Sydney airport as we waited for our 'oversize' luggage; Alan's giant yellow outer case containing two model boxes arriving but no sign of my 'golf guard' and the delay making a report also meant we missed the last flight of the day to Brisbane. Rain in Brisbane precluded any trimming so Wednesday 14.00 had me setting out on the 1,300km drive to Narrandera, sticking to the 110k speed limit and overnighting in Moree saw me arrive at the Fig Tree Motel at 17.30 Thursday to find myself next door to the 'Vikings' Henning Nyhegn and Tom Oxager. A short stroll away the Camellia Motel had been booked out by the organizers who ran an open invitation BYO barbecue each evening during the champs.
Friday 21 March 1st Day
Contests start early at 07.30 so in the pre-dawn gloom I follow Henning and Tom's instructions to drive 31km down the Newell Highway, turn left at the big grain silo resetting the odometer to zero and then drive 15km SE until I see the 'FF' sign to turn left onto the dirt track entrance to the 'field' for a couple of gates and another couple of kilometers to the parking area marked by thoughtfully provided portable toilets. As the dawn arrives the extent of the 'field' becomes apparent, under an azure sky the knee high dead grass and small thorn shrubs stretch away to tree lines on the blue misty horizon; I've never been on such a big 'open space', if you rolled Salisbury Plain flat this is what it would be like. Underfoot the ground is rock hard after the Oz drought with patches of 'hoof holes' to turn the unwary retriever's ankle.
First day is local contests for 'Oz Diesel' (1.5cc plain bearing diesel power), P30, Vintage Glider (Designs built and flown pre 1955), and Combined Open - an interesting approach to combining all classes in one contest by counting flights and flyoffs as percentages of each class's max (Biggles F1H flyers would love this idea with its 120 max).
As the sun rises so does the temperature (28C), thermals and the flies. Thermals are big and powerful so that later I watched an F1A on a spinning descent for over 15 minutes from a test flight, in the light breeze the model only traveling 400 metres. Surprisingly given the thermals being marked the vintage A2s on 100m lines all drop at least one flight, Malcolm Campbell the least giving Brisbane its first win. Similarly no one maxes out in Oz Diesel giving Roy 'all things power' Summersby his first success. P30 and Combined Open each have a third of the entry max out with fly offs scheduled for the next morning at 07.00.
Having done a little trimming, the big thermals a deterrent unless you have got your DT set just right, I spent the day meeting my new club members and getting the feel of the contest; among the FAI fliers its obvious M&K et al have been selling a lot of gear with hardly anyone flying a 'home built'.
Oz Diesel 5x120secs 16 flew
1 Roy Summersby 591
2 Peter Lloyd 577
3 Stan Hinds 570
Vintage Glider 3x180secs 6 flew
1 Malcolm Campbell 493
2 Phil Mitchell 461
3 Des Slattery 423
P-30 3x120secs 12 flew 4 in F/O
1 Vin Morgan 360+171
2 Terry Bond 360+135
3 David Hegarty 360+87
Combined %Open 3x Class Max 29 flew 10 in F/O
1 Brian Van Nest F1A 540+281 156.1%
2 Vin Morgan F1A 540+215 119.4%
3 Phil Mitchell F1H 360+137 114.2%
4 Col Collyer OR 540+190 105.6%
Saturday 22 March 2nd Day
Everybody was out even earlier expecting two 07.00 flyoffs and the start of F1A & F1C first rounds at 07.30 but arriving at the massive paddock and portaloos we found a strong 25-30kmh northerly wind beneath a cloud filled sky so the flyoffs were postponed to the next day. Compared to Friday it was very windy and distinctly cool as 19 F1A and 5 F1C fliers bunched towards the carpark end of the line for a slightly delayed start; no poles and find your own timekeeper.
F1A 7x180secs
There were plenty of high-tech models in evidence including the 'home builts' of the Vikings, Henning and Tom, while the low tech end of the market was me and Albert Fathers flying a Sija kit model.
In the cool strong wind there was a distinct reluctance to fly early, the dead grass stalks being flattened by the wind except at the base of a thermal marked by them all standing upright. Seeing such a thermal base approaching fast Alan launched for me to be first away, up off the top for a comfortable max but not inspiring enough to take anyone with me. Woes there were aplenty amongst the F1A as Craig King was down in 21 seconds with three others below a minute; Craig battled through only dropping another 24 seconds to take third place. Only 7 maxes in 19 flights for round one. Retrieval was across the worst area of 'hoof holes' with flights over 5 minutes in danger of reaching the road, causing the Vikings Henning and Tom to pull out after round one declaring it too windy and too rough.
Tales of woe dogged the F1A fliers through the day; Rob Wallace clearly leading into round 6 followed a gliding hawk, bunted the wrong way and was down in 61 seconds and could still have made 3rd but dropped another 30 seconds on the final round to let through his team mate Craig King. The top three had all dropped the first round but then flew reasonably consistently leaving the others to make the mistakes; it really was a day when anybody flying reasonably, and with the energy to retrieve seven long flights, could have won. The cheerfully popular Nikolay Nikolov proving the most consistent to win from Vin Morgan; of 109 recorded flights only 50 were maxes.
F1C 7x180secs
If consistency is required of F1A it is expected of F1C fliers. Col Crowley certainly looks the part with his immaculate flight line gear along with his manager wife who times, spots the model and retrieves; despite his straight motors he seems on a par with the geared models. Roy Summersby's models fly on rails, while Bill East's V-tail underfin design has the potential. Add Alan Jack's geared own design and we were up for a bit of a contest. Bill dropped in rounds one and two, joined by Col and Alan in round 2, leaving Roy Summersby seemingly unassailable. Then in the sixth round Roy turned in a 104 seconds flight for Alan to go ahead. Despite a terrible 'right' launch in round seven Alan made enough airtime to beat Roy by half a minute.
Open Rubber 3x180secs
While F1A&C action was on the windy flight line the domestic Open Rubber competition was a war of nerves amongst the parked cars as fliers took models out, put them away again, almost on an 'I'll fly mine if you fly yours' approach until Col Collyer settled the debate with two maxes plus fifty seconds.
F1A 7x180secs 19 flew
1 Nikolay Nikolov 1,173
2 Vin Morgan 1,102
3 Craig King NZ 1,077
4 Rob Wallace NZ 1,073
5 Neil Murray 1,000
6 Christof Bachman SWI 992
7 Than Stowe 969
8 Brian Van Nest USA 958
9 Antony Koerbin NZ 926
10 Ben Lewis 910
11 Phil Mitchell 862
12 Albert Fathers 835
13 Gottfried Bachman SWI 816
14 Ted Burfein 768
15 Malcolm Campbell 750
16 David Brawn UK 277
17 Henning Nyghegn DEN 131
18 Tom Oxager DEN 19
19 Martin Williams 7
F1C 7x180secs 5 flew
1 Alan Jack UK 1,215
2 Roy Summersby 1,184
3 Bill East 1,106
4 Colin Crowley 682
5 Graham Maynard 38
Open Rubber 3x180secs 5 flew
1 Colin Collyer 410
2 George Baynes 180
3 Peter Greenhill 150
Sunday 23 March 3rd Day
Another early start to be greeted by the wind, causing the flyoffs to be postponed again, not quite as strong as Saturday and with sunshine but it would make for another hard day's retrieving in F1B.
F1B 7x180secs 18 flew
Perhaps is was the slightly lighter wind, the sunshine, a wealth of thermistors and wind meters, or better familiarity with mostly mechanical systems, but whatever the reason the F1B flyers looked rather more accomplished than their F1A counterparts. To drop a flight was to plummet down the score board so Paul Squires (4secs Rd1, 19secs Rd3), Richard Blackam (19secs Rd 2) and Bill Jones (36secs Rd3) seemed out of contention until round four, as they continued maxing to start climbing the board thanks to others mistakes. At the end of round five only Igor Vivchar, flying on rails after patient waits in each round, was clear and seemingly unassailable. Then the unthinkable happened and Igor sixth round score came in as 140 seconds dropping him to fifth. Round seven was easy, ten maxes from fourteen flights, confirming that if you keep flying well you will always stand a chance.
Vintage Power 3x180secs 3 flew
Roy Summersby's elegant Swiss Miss (1954?) Rather out classed Dave Hegarty's Pylonious and Des Slattery's Stomper for a clear win.
Vintage Rubber 3x180secs 4 flew
A-Frame twin pusher is not an easy plane to fly but when it goes its mighty impressive; Roy Summersby (again) producing three impressive maxes from the 1935 design to head off the Brisbane fliers.
F1B 7x180secs 18 flew
1 Richard Blackam 1,241
2 Paul Squires NZ 1,237
3 Bill Jones 1,224
4 Andreas Gey GER 1,222
5 Igor Vivchar UKR 1,220
6 Dave Ackery NZ 1,166
7 Terry Bond 1,160
8 John Lewis 1,154
9 Barry Frederickson 1,146
10 Mark Armour 1,134
11 Neil Murray 1,071
12 Leigh Morgan 1,061
13 Paul Rossiter 1,040
14 Albert Fathers 789
15 Brian Van Nest USA 783
16 George Baynes 383
17 Graham Maynard 314
18 Adrian Bryant 180
Vintage Power 3x180secs 3 flew
1 Roy Summersby 540
2 Dave Hegarty 366
3 Des Slattery 357
Vintage Rubber 3x180secs 4 flew
1 Roy Summersby 540
2 Malcolm Campbell 443
3 Brian Taylor 360
Monday 24 March 4th Day
Having a bit of a 'lay-in' I missed the delayed flyoffs and arrived during the Scramble; a much underrated 'fun & fitness' event that should be, IMHO, an integral part of all championships. When I did arrive I nearly creamed Stan Hinds scale entry, a twin electric Gruman Turbo Tracker, by thinking of trimming in the downwind area but no damage done. Its the day of the mini classes but with only five flights we have a more civilized start time; the sun is up (as well as the flies) with light winds making for a good flying day.
30 Minute Scramble minimum scoring flight 15secs
All Mills75 powered with septuagenarian Dave Hegarty lining up against Martin Williams and Than Stowe it all looked a clear run for Than's flying 'snoopy wing' made from a plastic estate agent's board ahead of the older fliers. But this is a championships where it pays to keep going as Martin and Dave tried to stay within reach so that just before the finish Than had a sub15 flight, Martin fueled up for a long final flight of 78 seconds so just piping Than by fifteen seconds for the headline 'Veron Cardinal wins Aussie Champs'.
F1G-F1H-F1J 5x120secs
Mini classes are flown from the same line as the main FAI classes, with this much space you don't need to move the line so today's southerly breeze simply means people run in the opposite direction to yesterday! F1J has the highest entry (unlike UK) but only just, resulting in 26 fliers occupying the line for each one hour round.
As with the Senior classes, and all classes generally, this was a championships where dogged determination was likely to get its reward; and so it was to be.
F1G 5x120secs 7 flew
Five maxed the first round but not Albert Fathers who dropped ten seconds. Although Albert had only compiled four maxes in twenty comp flights so far he now went on to 'max out' in F1G edging out Bill and Darren Jones in the fourth and fifth rounds for a well deserved win, and Brisbane 123.
F1H 5x120secs 9 flew
Brian Van Nest had already won the Combined Open flyoff earlier and the form stayed with him to max 'clean' making up for his disappointment in F1A&B. Rob Wallace seventh after round one maxed through to the finish for second while John Lewis clean until the final round was down in fifty eight seconds. Phil Mitchell could still make second and Vin Morgan third if they maxed but poor flights and towline failure kept them out of the places.
F1J 5x120secs 10 flew
'Splat' of the whole championships went to Tom Oxager in the forth round when an impressive climb was followed by a heart stopping full power-on return to the rock hard earth; the whole flight line could heard holding its breath before the final 'whump'. Tom cut a Clint Eastwood figure as he looked across to the wreck and while Henning went to see if anything was salvageable Tom strode calmly back to their car, reloaded with another of his immaculate F1Js and maxed the refly.
Three were clear after three rounds but then Stan Hinds stopped while both Col Crowley (1sec) and Terry Bond (29secs) dropped. Poor fifth round flights by Alan Jack and Peter Wright kept them out of the placings while Roy Summersby was having an unusal off day to finish down the order at sixth.
30 Minute Scramble 3 flew
1 Martin Williams 419
2 Than Stowe 404
3 Dave Hegarty 308
F1G 5x120secs 7 flew
1 Albert Fathers 589
2 Bill Jones 570
3 Darren Jones 568
F1H 5x120secs 9 flew
1 Brian Van Nest 600
2 Rob Wallace 571
3 John Lewis 538
F1J 5x120secs 10 flew
1 Col Crowley 599
2 Tom Oxager 582
3 Terry Bond 571
HLG 3 from 6 60sec max 2 flew
1 Phil Mitchell 146
2 Peter Lloyd 131
CLG 3 from 6 60sec max 3 flew
1 Dave Hegarty 160
2 Phil Mitchell 132
3 Don Boughton 98
So at the conclusion of four days duration competition flying across seventeen classes we've had just two flyoffs and its time to head back to the Figtree to shower off all the dust and fly-boot prints ready for the AFFS Presentation Dinner.
AFFS Presentation Dinner. Narrandera Racetrack 19.00 for 19.30 Monday 24 March
This is one event you should not miss. As a last minute cash entrant I didn't have an 'information pack' so thought it was 19.30 for 20.00 but being the last arrival meant I got a seat at the New Zealand table alongside by boyhood hero Bill McGarvey. Around the tables were all the overseas competitors, 7 Kiwis, 2 each of UK, Swiss and Danes, plus Igor Vivchar (Ukr) and Andreas Gey (Ger) with his family; the visitors almost outnumbering the Australians. Aeromodellers, even after four days in a vast dusty paddock, scrub up rather well so it was a well dressed crew for the buffet dinner and desert with the prize giving taking place between servings plus raffle ticket draw prizes drawn at random intervals (which rather detracted from the 'official' prize giving). Good food, a couple of beers, and convivial company (I was seated between Bill McGarvey ( a boyhood hero of mine from his plans in Aeromodeller Annual) and Craig King).
After all the electronics in use on the flying field it would have improved the presentations if there were some at the dinner, and perhaps keep the raffle ticket draws for after the main event; but these are small quibbles on a well run closing ceremony.
Southern Cross Cup 25-27 March 2008. Narrendera.
Tuesday 25 March
After the AFFS presentation dinner the heavens opened, it rained hard and steady as electrical storms orbited the town gladdening farmers' hearts after the long drought; a cattle station at Borree Creek near the flying site was rumored to have received 100mm of rain in a localized thunderstorm. We slip/slide down the dirt track beneath heavy black clouds to be ready for the 07.30 first round in F1A and start of the Open Power and Open Rubber contests, a gentle breeze tempting some into early test flying as the dawn arrives. Numbers are a few down after the AFFS Champs but when you drive these distances for a contest most fliers stay for the 6+ days of flying.
Open Power 5x180secs 4 flew
Roy Summersby and Stan Hinds flew older F1C planes on 10 second runs, which seems very long compared to modern F1C, to be well ahead of Des Slattery's Cox powered balsa and spruce traditional power model.
1 Roy Summersby 900
2 Stan Hinds 797
3 Des Slattery 606
Open Rubber 5x180secs 7 flew
After indifferent AFFS contests Mark Armour got it all together with an interesting lightweight model; wing, tail and prop from his best coupe mounted on an open fuselage with 34grms of rubber. The resulting combination giving two minute motor run climbing all the way to make three minute maxes look as easy as shelling peas. Only Don Boughton's traditional large model could have caught Mark but Don was caught out by arriving fully wound for his last flight just after the 12.30 finish.
1 Mark Armour 900
2 Paul Rossiter 742
3 Don Boughton 720
F1A 7x180secs 18 flew
After the windy AFFS F1A contest the fliers looked a lot happier in the light breeze though the cool conditions kept many on an extended tow before deciding the air was right even though these electronic bunters profess a 3+ minutes in dead air. In these light conditions it would be a contest of 'no mistakes' but even so there were notable drops by NZ team members Rob Wallace (99secs Rd1) and Antony Koerbin (52secs Rd4) and the classic 'forgetting to set the DT arm' by Martin Williams (22secs Rd2) on his mechanical Stamov model.
13 clear after round one as a light mizzle settled in for round two where there were eleven maxes with 9 clear; Neil Murray recording the agonizing 179secs and Ben Lewis 178secs. Henning Nyhegn provided an entertaining attempt when the covering on top of an inner panel stripped off during tow for a banshee-scream descent, then comfortably maxing the refly.
For round three the mizzle had increased to light rain, still with a light breeze under 10kmh, which while not affecting the models seemed to upset the fliers with just seven maxes scored leaving 3 clear. More close misses with Phil Mitchell 171secs, Vin Morgan 168secs, Gottfried Bachmann 164secs, Alan Jack 159secs, Tom Oxager 149secs and Craig King 142secs now joining the chasing bunch.
Round four brought improving weather as the day started to warm up, Antony Koerbin's big dropped flight reducing the clears to two with the chasing pack close behind. Conditions continued improving with the top eight fliers all maxing rounds five, six and seven to leave just two fliers clear; Henning Nyhegn and Brian Van Nest with Neil Murray a second behind in third.
A pre-dawn 07.10 flyoff on Wednesday morning was to settle the result. I arrived late due to missing the field turning by 10kms then when I did arrive in the parking area I nearly ran down Henning who had chosen to tow through the cars; he released thirty seconds later and didn't blame me for the less than perfect launch. Brian was towing to the south of the cars but each circle looked fraught, as if he might tow in but he brought it all together for a classic bunt launch to settle straight into the glide. Both gliders drifted slowly away in large circles as the dawn lightened the sky behind them, both seeming on perfect trim with Brian's seventy second winning margin being the difference in launch heights.
F1A 7x180secs 18 flew
1 Brian Van Nest USA 1,260 + 255
2 Henning Nyghegn DEN 1,260 + 177
3 Neil Murray 1,259
4 Phil Mitchell 1,251
5 Vin Morgan 1,248
6 Bill McGarvey NZ 1,233
7 Tom Oxager DEN 1,229
8 Craig King NZ 1,220
9 Ben Lewis 1,218
10 Gottfried Bachmann SWI 1,179
11 Rob Wallace NZ 1,158
12 Christoph Bachmann SWI 1,143
13 Antony Koerbin NZ 1,132
14 Alan Jack UK 1,095
15 Nikolay Nikolov 1,062
16 Martin Williams 1,056
17 Malcolm Campbell 1,011
18 Ted Burfein 803
Wednesday 26 March
The rain has gone, there's a pleasant 10kmh SW breeze, making for one of those idyllic flying days as the dawn lights up the horizon; but we know that with the warm weather will come the flies.
F1C 7x180secs 4 flew
This is getting like an F1C family picnic with everyone within speaking distance, and as per usual it is a game of 'no mistakes' except that Bill drops the first round. Then its all maxes until Alan misreads (I'm being diplomatic) his sophisticated wind/temp LCD screen readout to record 107secs from a full height climb; Alan's electronic wizardry was much admired during the champs but its sophistication is beyond all but Alan. Col Crowley dropped in rounds five and six, his 'over the shoulder' launch technique giving a couple of flat launches proving his only inconsistency, allowing Roy to drop time but still win.
F1C 7x180secs 4 flew
1 Roy Summersby 1,222
2 Bill East 1,209
3 Alan Jack UK 1,187
4 Colin Crowley 1,163
F1B 7x180secs 14 flew
The good weather, a light breeze under an azure sky with the air warming from a cool beginning, presaged a tight contest where any time dropped would be regretted. Timing for Alan Jack (F1C) and Mark Armour (F1B) meant I was rather committed in all rounds so possibly missed some of the dramas that occurred. Having dropped in the AFFS event Igor Vivchar was taking no chances, studiously watching thermistor and sky from within his zipped up light windcheater before deciding it was time to launch. He was not alone as fliers generally concentrated hard on selecting the right air giving 11 maxes out of 12 first round flights; the second round was all maxes and it wasn't until the third round that the field started to thin with eight fliers still clear. Round four saw David Ackery (126secs) and Paul Rossiter (108secs) fall from grace and then there were six clear. In the fifth it was Terry Bond (163secs) and Andreas Gey (147secs) and then in the sixth Paul Squires (176secs) left us with three clear going into the last round; where they all maxed for a Brisbane Vs Ukraine flyoff on Thursday morning.
Bill Jones, assisted by wife Dale and son Darren, had flown by 'feel' rather than thermistor to his first seven round 'max out'. Mark Armour by comparison, buoyed by his Open rubber win, was a study in concentration, stalking the line, riveted to his thermistor for the first rises in temperature, then sniffing the air for a final decision; as his timekeeper I learned that when Mark threw his hat away anywhere we were within five seconds of a fly/no fly situation. All that concentration, plus good preparation, paid off with every flight an easy max.
Work commitments meant I left for the big drive home on Wednesday afternoon and missed the early morning flyoff where Bill suffered a four second disaster, his DPR malfunctioning after a first attempt with faulty VIT line, while Mark pushed Igor all the way with a four minute plus flight; so the favorite won but only just from two Brisbane fliers, it looks like I'm an affiliate to a club of very enthusiastic and competent free flight fliers - sort of Biggles Down Under.
F1B 7x180secs 14 flew
1 Igor Vivchar UKR 1,260 + 308
2 Mark Armour 1,260 + 276
3 Bill Jones 1,260 + 4
4 Terry Bond 1,243
5 Andreas Gey GER 1,227
6 Paul Squires NZ 1,218
7 Ben lewis 1,116
8 David Ackery NZ 1,131
9 Paul Rossiter 1,098
10 Leigh Morgan 1,059
11 John Lewis 1,059
12 Graham Maynard 934
13 Neil Murray 717
14 Adrian Bryant 180
Hints and Tips for Narrandera
1. Allow yourself time to recover from the flight before the contest, and possibly time to recover your box/luggage - mine was delivered in Brisbane on Sunday 23 March, shame I was in Narrandera then!
2. Pre-enter and book your Presentation Dinner places as even at the Racetrack numbers are limited to 64 (I think) along with your Narrandera accommodation as every room is taken at Easter.
3. Talk to everybody. There's such a range of characters and all are helpful. My personal highlights were meeting up with Aussie aeromodelling legend Adrian Bryant, and the 'Crocodile Dundee' of Queensland flying Des Slattery; plus thanks to everybody.
4. Obtain a mesh 'head net' to go over your hat and face to protect you from the flies. Oz flies are the world's most persistent trying to walk on your eyeballs while timing, up your nose, or in your ears, and the hotter it gets the more active they are - better staying sane with a 'head net' than going mad without one.
David Brawn
Biggles Free Flight Team and associate member Brisbane Free Flight Society.
For Sale
For Sale: brand new in the box OS .15III converetd to ignition. The plan was to use it in a Goldberg Cumulus or Interceptor, it is now up for sale, cost me $250. I will add a nice clean set of Cumulus plans with parts details and a booklet from Goldberg as to how to trim the model. $250 the lot.
Also: two brand new in the box Cox Killer Bee .049s $50 each, and I will add a few glo-heads. e-mail or call (410)778-3933 after 6:30 evenings. thanks Joe Wagner
More Anselmo ...
Dear Anselmo
I do completely agree with your ideas.
Not only, but in many other different kind of competition it is strictly forbidden to use the competitor's own equipment: for example in the singlehanded sailing Class at the Olimpic Games the boats are supplied from the Commitee and assigned to every Competitor by draw a few days before the competitions begins.
I think that this would be most fair even in Aeromodeling: the organizing Committee could buy a number of models, of course all strictly identical, and assign them by draw to every competitor the day before the competition actually starts.
Not only in this way the ability of the best Competitor would be clearly show, being the models all identical, but that would be even practical, as in this way could be avoided the transport of bulk cases from distant Countries, Custom's problems and so on.......
Sincerely
Antonello Ruscazio
EUSFFC
From: Joe Wagner
Roger,
Could you post this information on the web site. The EUSFFC meet is on April 26th and 27th. We have over 40 events plus 15 FAC events. Trophies and merchandise for each event, first, second to third place. CDs are Tom Kerr and Arnold Waldner. Tom’s contact is: (410)778-4605. e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
..................................
Roger Morrell