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WC F3B - 2007
Upcoming:
World Championship
F3B 9-15.july
Saturday 14th of july -
last day of WC F3B 2007
Started of with distance round 7 and we will hopefully soon finish of
the competition with speed round 7. Espen and Jojo got a beating while Knut
Vidar did well against A. Herrig almost beating him. Very hot here today but
we need to wash and clean all the gear so I dont we can go hiking in the
mountains.
NEW
- Various launch photos
Friday 13th of july -
fifth day of WC F3B 2007
Wonderful weather but too hot for a Norwegian... (see
picture) Or maybe good ;) We had 3 tasks today. Speed and distance round
6 and duration round 7. Tomorrow we will end the event with distance and
speed round 7. The Norwegians (As many others) are not super happy with the
speeds and some distance but we did well in duration... We are tired but
have had a nice time down here.
Team Norway. Espen, Jo, Egil and Knut Vidar
Friends from France with "Jojo attitude" ;)))
Somebody wanted pictuers of
winches and turnarounds.
Here they are ;)
Ready for a mountain with the Aris?
Is a good F3B model too!
Thursday 12th of july -
forth day of WC F3B 2007
What a day. Yesterday was not so good but today we are pretty happy.
Fairly good results from all the Norwegians except Espen that switched model
(from RaceM to Aris) and was out of trim (yes he has not had many winch
flights this year and not a singel winch comp...). Knut Vidar (Crossfire V)
stopped cutting bases in speed and when there is air he loves to fly fast
distance (24/26 against Hoffmann). Jojo also switched model in round 5 and 6
(Skymax4 -> Crossfire V) since he wanted to see if his speed improved. It
did not especially do that so he guess it is not the models that makes him
do fairly good speeds and not more. Skymax4 can easily fly with a lot of
ballast while the Crossfire V is easy to fly smooth long turns with. Today
the weather have been awsome and the competition is running smooth so there
were no or little time for updates of the web. Luckily we got super help
from Bernhard Henschel that arrived from Germany to help the Norwegian team.
Thanks Bernhard! Bernhard has lived some years in Norway and is a nice guy.
So for a little info asked from guys: Winches: Most winches are Hollenbeck,
Ober and other standard F3B winches but many have also homemade or winches
we have not seen. they all seem to work well and the launches are not won so
much on equipment but rather setup, how you launch and what way you launch.
Sadly there has not been a single winch testing but on the other hand I know
most people have tested and did a lot of work trying to conform with the
rules. I have looked a bit around before, after testing and during the week
and not seen any suspicious things. As mentioned other places the Herrig's
does not launch higher than others so much but they do it the right way and
work with what they have. If they have 250 or 280m does not seem to have a
huge effect on their speeds since the go in at fairly the same altitude (deppending
on wind maybe only) and fly very flat flying with positive G most of the
speed. Most use the small "fuzz" pedal you find with the Hollenbeck winch
and you can have it in the hand or on the ground. No pedals seems to have
stuck (that I have heard about) but the very muddy ground keeps us thinking
about that we might hold it in our hand instead of using the foot. Launching
technique differs a lot but any method seems to work well even in the calm
conditions. To tension up quite a bit is though needed deppending on ballast
offcourse. Before we came here we heard rumours about a lot of ballast but
this is not the case with all models. Some fly the heavy and some light.
Different flying techniques and planes needs different thinking.
A few incidents have happened that needs thinking. To collect your model on
base B in distance is not good if they still fly and to have spectators
close to the launching corridor is also dangerous. Another safety issue is
the turnarounds and wet (or very hard) ground. We have seen them come loose
but not completely. All is carefully checking and rearranging their
equipment.
Tun models with a stand and Graupner with a small stand
So what are the hot models? Well offcourse the Radicals is working. Atleast
in the hands of the Herrig's. Fransisco Pantano (Argentina) have been flying
superb with a small Freestyler and with little help. The Czech models Ascot
and Ceres seems to be nice. Tool is ok. Crossfire is still working well.
Though Espen flew some badly with Aris I am actually thinking it is good for
F3B in light version. Jojo's Skymax4 works but needs better thumbs to show
its potential. Last words is possibly that a stiff and correctly built model
might be faster than a budget built consumer model of the same kind!
Finally some words about sportsmanship. I (jojo) do not like that some bend
and twist the rules slightly. On the other hand the rules are not all super
and needs some attention. With two launch directions a line crossing for
example is not hindering a launch mostly since you can go both ways. This
helped the South Africans when all their 3 lines were cut and messed up.
they just moved over to the other launch line and launched anyway and ended
up with 1000p I belive!! In the last days it has happened that some got new
working time two times in the same round when they scratched for points...
Wedensday 11th of july -
Third day of WC F3B 2007
OK we now have a new Contest Director. Reto Schilliger that has run the
distance up untill now has taken over the complete work as Contest Director.
Good luck with the work Reto!
Today we have flown 1 and 3/4 speed and 3/4 distance. The Norwegians have no
super scores but we are here and not you ;)))
The weather is not cooperating very much as rainshowers is coming in all the
time delaying starts. But the temperature is ok and the sun is upon us now
and then. Sunscreen is the thing in 20min at a time..
Egil ready with Knut Vidar's Crossfire
A radical 4m up
Tuesday 10th of july -
Second day of WC F3B 2007
Words of TM snatched from
www.vingen.no :
Knut Vidar got his first 1000p in distance so the distance in round 2
was a success... Jojo flew an ok duration today. All the Norwegians got a
beating in the speed since it was not set up with 4 groups as they anounced
before the start of the round but were "redone" to one group. Herrig's are
awsome.. Not easy to match at all. We struggle a bit with the contest
management and language problems. Things dont get announced correctly at
times. Jojo's duration was "stopped" ("no more launching", then something in
German)
and Jojo flew the time out but did not get the time. Bad.. But he did
get a good score in the second so we will not make any more fuzz about it.
Jojo flew two(!) great distances. First one he got 17 against 13. Nice
flying. Reflight because of a middair. Jan Hansens wing went wing against
wing on another model. Looks repairable and He will fly again tomorrow. In
the reflight Jojo just as well took 1000p again. This time split with two
others. Watch is now 17:15 and we are on with duration 3. Espen is just
finished missed 3 sec and that is ok. Most filled in this round. Knut Vidar
in group 5 and Jojo in group 6. Few pictures today, sorry. They have puled
out a lot of hay on the launching area so the mudd was not so bad today.
Knut Vidar had a difficult round while Jojo went skyhigh in his duration to
finish the day.
08:00 Arrived at the field and batteries are out. Weather looks ok now
but some thicker clouds here and there makes it impossible to say.
WERE is Roo? He is missed by friends it seems in this muddy place
Egil is sort of awake
Monday 9th of july - First
day of WC F3B 2007
20:03 Finished for the day. Distanse for the Norwegians were ok for Espen
and Jojo (18/20) but not so good for Knut Vidar (17/21). Speed was ok but
not more for Espen. Jojo got a nice speed in his group (we fly 4 groups in
speed when brake for rain). Knut Vidar had some awsome launch in not so
great conditions and was ready for a low 18sec but missed A-base sadly. We
ended the day before the speed was over but not so important since we fly in
groups. Yet another spin on the line towards the spectators today but it was
a great save by the pilot.
11:06 First task was duration and is just finished. It was raining and
conditions were quite difficult for many (0-2m/s wind small development of
thermals but not much and mostly small). We struggle with the launches but
testing shows the winches are very good. We have also made "UFO" walking on
the lines so they dont stop in the grass. Next task is distance but we have
a small delay because of rain.
Herrig plane and Herrig washing Webershock's
wing.
Nice guys that always smiles. I think they are good pilots too... ;)
08:45 Raining this morning but the lines have to get out! Our last team mate
Knut Vidar Moløkken arrived by plane directly from Turkey yesterday (lovely
Turkey;) and we are a complete team now.
Yesterday two things happened that needs to be mentioned. First of all I
am quite happy with the organizers. Most things are running well. Secondly
on the layup of the latest WC's we have two winchlines and spectators
directly on the side of the launchline. Yesterday one model stalled on
launch and went directly into the crowd. Happily the pilot managed to save
it and come up again before it went further. We need a safety net and distance
to spectators. Today the organizers have closed one side of the launching (delaying the
event) so that we can get one winchline area cut. I hope this WC is all about
sportmanship and the correct winners.
Sunday 8th
of july - Last day Emmen Cup (pre-event WC)
18:22 The final speed is
over and it was fun to watch in the start but it ended with people running
for cover. It was dead air with a little fill of air from one side but then
it changed and a good shower came over us. For some of the last ones it was
not a happy flying I think. But some does it well and a light rain makes no
difference or?
http://www.f3b-wm.ch (click World Cup Emmen)
Podium winners left and Jojo receiving his "price" on the right
Roman (Lomcovak.cz)
gets his model in the air in the flyoff speed.
Heavy rain when he launched.
left: Herrig throws. Middle: Jan Hansen (DEN) RaceM (X). Right: Cool scenery
16:25 Nearly ready with
round 2 distance and that is final for this event I guess. Espen got a very
bad one, Jo got a reasonable 18/20 and Egil a lovely one on 19/20 together
with good guys. So Egil is happy right now. The guys on the bases seems to
do a nice job and no or few mistakes made. There has been some severe
crashes (among them Liese, GER came home with small pieces). I would say a
great day of flying and cool to have an event with more distance rounds than
other tasks ;) The best 20 pilots will fly a flyoff speed task. Results
after the second distance should be out in a few minutes.
11:00 Soon finished
with distance round 1 and Espen started early with heavy rain after just a
minute of flying. It was only a small rainshower and the sun is high and
warming well. Espen got a beating and was probably either heavy or need some
time adjusting his settings. Egil started early and missed some meters in
the launch comparing to later pilots. Though his results were not so good I
think he flew well technical. Jojo had an ok launch and went far out to
circle a bit on a thermal upwind before he started the task. Worked out well
and 19 against S.Bøhlen 20 legs is a good start.
This one needed to get away fast as he was right in the winchlines ;)
Saturday 7th of july
Evening report
So we are finally finished for today and team manager meeting is waiting for
Egil. Due to technical problems, show program, opening ceremony and a bit
late start we only managed one duration and one speed task. We had to quit
for the show when only about 20 pilots were left and offcourse the
conditions were not the same in the evening. But good that they finished it.
Espen flew a 19,46 with one bad turn. Most pilots now flew
around 17-19sec I think (did not follow all...).
Check the results at
http://www.f3b-wm.ch
On the show parts we got to see some nice turbine planes, helicopter, Tun
Modellbau sailplanes with klapptriebwerke (3 big ones), a 2,2m nice scale
model, a NAN models Shadow electric and a big Swift with smoke. The Swift
was quiet and very nice (luckily the tow pilot landed fast..)
More pictures of show HERE
Midday
 World
Cup pre-event is on this weekend and duration is finished with about 106
pilots entered. All the Norwegians did full time in not easy but fairly good
morning conditions. There has been a lot of delays in the speed because of
equipment failure but now just before the opening ceremony and airforce
display (it will be cool). Espen got a 20. something but he might get a
reflight. Egil messed it up in the launch. It is strange for him to be 50m
from the winch while launching and going around the turnaround towards
himself. He got a 26. Jojo got very bad launch but since most pilots in
front of him were on well above 20sec so he was happy
with a 19,26sec.
Best speedtime was early by Andreas Herrig with a 15,6s
Left: Egil gets his tx. Right: the new RaceM X flown by Jan Hansen
Nice scenery. Tomas Bartovsky checking winches and tx's
Launchline
Friday 6th of july
Jojo made
him self a lot of work at friday... Changing all the clamps on our winches.
About all teams are on place. We have team-spots in a nice hangar. Weather
not to bad. And we also got a first look to the air-show they are going to
have tomorrow. Our hotel is OK, but the brakfast was not norwegian standard
at all... Many teams stays at same hotel.
Just before we met up with Bernhard Henschel Jojo had to stop for a few
flights on a field. It has been raining hard but for an hour we had good
weather. In the evening we had dinner with Bernhard and that is always nice.
Bernhard flies a lot of German Eurotour together with his friends and knows
stuff. Hopefully Bernhard will join the Norwegian team this week.
On our way
to WC F3B Jojo and Egil stopped at Wasserkuppe since this is a famous
sailplane place in Germany. Finally Jojo managed to fly his full composite
Swift from Mibo modeli (flew remarkebly well) and Egil flew his Mini Corrado
(with a loop diameter of insane size). A few Germans also tried to have a
good time though they did end up in the woods and parking lot below.. Not
super conditions today but we did fly and had a very nice evening in the
village below. The German sailplane museum at the top had to be visited
offcourse and it was nice. What is more natural than to see pictures of
Norwegian pilots at WC on large posters (Gjermund Westad) and names written
on WC F3B models from 1983 in York ;)
 
left: Egil carries Jojo's heavy Swift. right: Jojo with a typical scale model
lift..
 
left: a german with the bigger model swift also from mibo model appeared
right: interrest for sailplanes was huge in younger years
 
left: poster of Gjermud Westad in the museum
right: samba, mibo among others have provided some newer models
On the way to WC F3B Egil and Jojo attended Nordic
Champs F3J
Nordic
Championship F3J 30.june - 1.july
Results individual - round 1-2-3-4-5-6 - team
40 pilots. 10 in final. 6 preliminary rounds and one final. First day was
heavy winds with rain and lots of models were damaged including Aril Røsvik
running. Second day was less wind and ok weather in the morning before
continuous rain made only one final possible.
Briefing while the weather was nice...
1st place team Norway 2 (14012p), from left: Rune Svendsen
(Perfect/Brio), Egil Roland (Perfect), Jostein Myhre (Perfect), Erik Morgan
(Perfect/Crossfire)
 
From left: 3rd place team Norway 1 (13379p), 2nd place team Sweden1
(13406p)
 
Left: Senior winners 3 times Norway. From left 2nd Jostein Myhre (Perfect),
1st Arnfinn Lie (Viktor, Aspire), 3rd Erik Morgan (Crossfire, Perfect) -
Right: Junior winners from left 2nd Teemu Ranta, FIN (Sharon), 1st Jack
Bjørnberg-Krantz, SWE (Superior), 3rd Chris Olesen, DEN (?)
 
Lots of rain this weekend and even price giving ceremony in rain
Tall grass in one end on day 2.
Alf Erik with model and Aril injured in a towing incident.
  
left: nice dinner on the boat to Denmark. Middle: Full storm in the same
place. Right: sick after the storm on the boat?
Some of the Norwegians waiting for better weather in Denmark
29.june 07 - picture Arne Bruun
Its raining outside but the organizers are "prepared" ;)
Danish model pilot and his cabin at Nordic Champs....
Team manager: Egil Roland –
pb: 16,71s
Pilot: Espen Torp
- RaceM - pb: 14,24s
Pilot: Knut Vidar Moløkken - pb: 17,18s
Pilot: Jo Grini -
Skymax4 / Crossmachine / Crossfire V - pb: 16,69s
Helper: Bernhard Henschel
Helper: Miro
-> Roo ??
He is on a new Walkabout!
News for the F3B community:
There is a new Goodrum F3B pilot!!
Congratulation to Michelle, Craig and their family from all of us
Check the "Now this is a transmitter" picture (and a few
more)
Or even the new site www.f3x.za.org
For those that don't know Michelle and Craig are the nicest and best husband
and wife pilots we can think of. There is always a smile on their face and
though they are always the last in bed they still rage the top of the lists
in F3B and F3J World Championships.
Now remember the name Mathew...
Welcome to F3X.no
This site contains all information you need about
F3B, F3J and F3F in Norway.
The text is sometimes in Norwegian...
Beware that for the time being there might besome links
that does not work properly...
Ever wanted to start with
something that is:
Fast, Cool, Silent and on the edge of what's possible ?
F3X is just that!
Do you also like to compete with the best ?
And maybe become World Champion ?
There are possibilities out there - Just grab them.
So get yourself a sailplane and start practice.....
As always - the National Teams of Norway likes just that....
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