Page 47 - MFW June 2024

SeriesRd1
SeriesRd1
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2024
2024
2024

We had scheduled this competition for February but to get full attendance
we postponed to mid-March. The weather was booked for a great
weekend. A total of ten competitors entered with Dave James and Joe
Wurts the only pilots who attended on a single day, the Sunday.

The course was set up, which always takes a little time, allowing for
downwind launching in light winds for the first slot of the day, duration.
Most pilots achieved the full ten minutes despite the challenge of super
heavy F3B planes. The noticeable thing with light winds is the use of
lighter and lighter winch lines achieving improved launch height. Coming
in for landing with these models now feels like landing a high-speed brick!

The air was reasonable and thermal activity was just starting to build. Jane
Hiscock and Kevin Campbell turned up after we had two rounds of
duration recorded (rounds 1 and 2) then we started into distance in groups
of two, completing two rounds. There was some good air on the course
and several slots got impressive heights and laps in. Lots of bells and
whistles and winch retrieving with the Hawkes Bay weather really playing
ball with a light breeze right up the winch lines - Perfect!

We then planned to get into the speed task, managing 3 complete speed
runs each pilot, this was cool. Peter Williams set the pace in his first run for
the weekend with a time of 17.42. The air did appear slow and many
weren’t clocking those faster speed runs. No doubt it showed we haven’t
done much speed practice. Launch height was also a struggle but at least
the sun was out and straight into our eyes on launch! The Saturday we
completed two rounds of F3B and round three of speed.

A great night out for a meal and a catch up with all the pilots along with
watching the crusaders get thrashed again! It was good to talk about some
launch and flying techniques during the evening and then head home to
charge batteries and bodies.

Sunday’s weather was a repeat so we set up again with a gentle downwind
breeze. Into duration for the two groups, unfortunately, Richard Thompson
backed out, not feeling that flash. The first slot of the day was harsh, and Top to bottom:
no one found or managed ten-minute air with things on the improve for Peter Williams Launches Stewart Cox – Estrella
group two. We flew round 4 duration as thermals really started to form a glider.
Line up of timers, callers and pilots.
little stronger. We jumped into distance after this for two rounds and the air Dave James pilot and Richard Thomson calling
did have its times where it was really buoyant and then the next slot was during distance.
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