Message: 20       
   Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 14:57:13 -0700
   From: Simon Van Leeuwen <lomcovak@telusplanet.net>
Subject: [RCSE] FAI F3J Worlds - Some Hindsight from a Local

As time permits, I'll meander about some of the goings on at the Worlds;

In the second round on this day Eric Heemskirk (Canadian team) got the
opportunity for a re-fly, as the Danes had apparently experienced RF
interference on the flight line earlier in the day's rounds.

What exactly precipitated the decision is still not understood. I believe it
was Peter Mikkelsen who launched and immediately went in. Warren who was timing
observed no launch camber present before launch. In the melee that followed,
Peter debated whether to launch his second aircraft, all the while concerned
about interference.

Keith the contest organizer was nearby, and after a short discussion, granted a
decision to a re-fly. Later when the rounds had finished for the day a re-fly
was announced, along with the randomly drawn contestants who would also have an
opportunity to improve their scores. Eric Heemskirk was one of those drawn. In
my capacity as team manager I attended the manager's meeting called to sort out
the re-fly. Dr. Liem, our team manager had to fly out on business - it was pre-
arranged I would take over. I actually got to wear all the hats - great
experience I must say.

I detected controversy amongst the managers as soon as I entered the tent.
Another of those chosen for the re-fly was a Brazilian. Marco, team manager for
Brazil had inquired as to the score his pilot received during the round in
question. He was told a 1000 (won the round). Unbeknownst to me, Marco elected
not to have his pilot re-fly, and announced this.

There was a lot of consternation about the validity of the re-fly in the first
place. It had not been adequately determined just what the problem was that
precipitated the re-fly. One thing was sure, there was no interference present
after the incident.

When Marco told me his intentions to defer on the re-fly, I told him his pilot
must fly! He had concluded that due to the win, why risk any sort of anomaly. I
pointed out that his pilot should defend his position by possibly winning the
round for a second time, or the worst case scenario, at least either way
suppress those pilots who would garner a score less than his. As we all know.it
can boil down to a single point (or less) to determine overall position). Add
to this, I had become aware of the next pilot randomly drawn for the re-fly.Joe
Wurts.

Marco turned quickly and announced he would like his pilot to participate in
the re-fly. Hands/arms flew up everywhere, as managers demanded a re-draw. Joe
had a much needed opportunity to entrench himself in the top ten, if memory
serves he had a less than perfect round at some point that day or previous (he
zeroed a landing(?) and was overheard to say "this will probably cost me the
championship"). Keep in mind my pilot Eric had a not-so-good round either that
day.

I yelled at the top of my lungs that the decision had to stand, AND that the
fact that the fourth pilot had already been drawn, we must agree to the
circumstances as they were. I'm not sure why, but no one challenged me, and we
went back to our teams with the decision. Marco spun around and looked at me
kinda perplexed, but as he had "already" sunk his own boat I had to preserve
Eric's attempt at improving his lot. The Germans immediately paid their 10
bucks launched a protest.

I divulged my conversation with Marco to Jim McCarthy as we walked back to our
teams. He frowned then smiled, I could see the wheels turning; first trying to
block Joe and then supporting his inclusion in the re-fly.

As we walked to the flight line, Eric and Arend (his caller for this pivotal
flight) discussed which aircraft to load. Conditions were dead calm, "maybe"
there might be some end-of-day residual lift, it was gonna to be interesting.
Both Eric and Arend possessed Tsunami Super Lights (and I MEAN light - 1700g
comes to mind). The decision was to prep the Super Light.

Everyone achieved excellent launches. As usual Joe bugged out, I don't think
anyone followed. The rest of the clan sorta looked here, and there, Eric found
nothing but trash. Still less than five into the round and he was down looking
for a re-light. On the way up the Tsunami was, well, "straining". Our tow-hulks
Kevin Hansen and Dave Webb, were performing their usual D-9'er act.

BOOOM..

It's kinda neat, no, BIZARRE when you get to watch as a flap servo ejects
itself with incredible pomp and circumstance. Immediately the airframe beat
itself, and I mean beat itself (where is that Michael guy). I must have been
pumped, as I swear I saw everything in slo-mo. The shock wave disassociated the
V-tail along with the upper portion of the rear fuse, the opposite aileron
servo pooped it pants and beat a retreat for terra-firma forgetting his chute.
You know those hula-dancers and their arm movements, the main wing did this,
with the V-tail trying to keep up (not). As the aircraft turned towards that
beautiful green grass, I politely suggested to Eric to modulate the flaps, or
whatever was left to try and decrease the descent rate. It flipped, it flopped,
it plunked.

Joe went on to win, if memory serves he was the only chap to do it right, nine-
fifty something and a hundred. We all watched and clapped. Or maybe I'm
thinking of another late-day dead-air lesson in Icon hang-time, I can't
remember now. (Jo: He had just abov 9min flying time. I was helping Craig Goodrum
in the reflight and he popped off in the start. I said he should take the second
line but he did not want to. He should have...)

It took the FAI jury almost three days to come up with a decision on the
Germans protest. It was rightly upheld, the re-fly round was negated. Back to
square one, unfortunately not for Eric or Peter. The real bummer for Eric was
the fact that he should have just stayed on the ground.the second re-light
would never have bested his competitors, let alone his original score.

Pressure.and another lesson in the mechanics of FAI F3J scoring.


Radius Systems
Cogito Ergo Zoom

RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News.  Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to soaring-request@airage.com.  Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off.