Page 30 - Demo

29In July 2005 I represented New Zealand as Pilot/Team Manager at the FAI World Championships for F3D/F3E Pylon Racing Aircraft which was held at the Rothenburg Airfield in Saxony in the eastern part of Germany. Rothenburg has previously hosted a number of Eurocup pylon racing events and is affectionately known as %u201cPylon City%u201d, with extensive signage around the area.The Rothenburg airfield has a fascinating history for aviation enthusiasts as it was formerly operated as an airbase. In WWII, it was operated by the German Luftwaffe and was likely used for fighter aircraft operations, training, and logistics. After WWII, the airfield fell under Soviet control as part of East Germany. It was later repurposed by the National People's Army during the Cold War. A museum is now located there, showcasing aviation history with a focus on Eastern Bloc aircraft. After German reunification, the airport transitioned to general aviation and other automotive and model aircraft-related uses.The F3D/F3E pylon world championships are scheduled every two years and this year%u2019s event attracted 60 pilots from 12 countries, with 37 pilots competing in the F3D (internal combustion engine) and 23 in F3E (electric) classes, respectively. Each country could enter a team of up to three pilots, plus Juniors and women entries. This year there were also a limited number of %u201cwildcard%u201d entries to help ensure the financial viability of the event.My preparations began in earnest in mid-February following the NZ Pylon SIG Team Trial and selection process. This only left me five months to prepare as I was the lone entrant representing New Zealand. However, I was fortunate to have Bruce De Chastel, who was flying in the F3E event for Australia, to step in as my caller as we had teamed together at a previous World Championship. Four F3D models and six engines were prepared with the last model being test flown and engines run in the week before departure. I travelled to Rothenburg via Frankfurt along with my models and support equipment. The only issue encountered was with charges for excess baggage.The schedule for the event included three days of open practice, one day for model processing/official practice and four days of racing. Thirteen rounds of racing were planned for each class for the individual and team world championships, with the 10 best results counting. The world championship rounds were followed on the last day by a %u201cSuper Finals%u201d shoot-out for the fastest pilots in each class %u2013 for both F3D and F3E.FAI World Championshipsfor Pylon Racing Model AircraftF3D F3ETom WetherillThe weather conditions during the event were highly changeable %u2013 ranging from very hot/dry conditions during the practice days to very cold/wet/rainy conditions during the race days. This made for challenges for pilots to tune and prop their models to optimize performance in the changing conditions.The F3D field included 10 full teams plus individuals