Nationals Photos

Photos courtesy of Mike Holtby

2016 Nationals Result

Pilot	Dur 1	Dis 1	Dis 2	Speed 1	Speed 2	Dur 2	Total	Rank	%
Jon Whittle	1000	1000	1000	901	965	1000	5866	1	100
Steve Haley	820	1000	1000	1000	1000	1000	5820	2	99.22
Tom Satinet	860	1000	1000	630	685	991	5166	3	88.07
Mike Holtby	990	944	857	636	381	611	4419	4	75.33
Brian Johnson	806	1000	632	629	508	818	4393	5	74.89
Bob Dickenson	1000	889	857	0	653	688	4087	6	69.67
Bill Haley	1000	565	657	523	0	1000	3745	7	63.84
Phil Brandeth	999	571	211	365	330	0	2476	8	42.21

Here, very belatedly, are the results from this years Nats. Congrats to John Whittle on his well flown victory and new PB in speed. The Target looked very fast.

It looks like this will be the last F3B contest in the UK for now and possibly for ever. I was flying f3j at the weekend and it was discussed there how quickly participation numbers have fallen off in the last few years. It is what it is as the modern saying goes. F5J seems to be doing well though, so that is something. Clive thanks for your efforts in running f3b and trying to keep it going. There are some pictures from the contest that Mike H took. I will ask him to send them to me.

Speed Contest 2016

Pilot	Model	R1 Time	R1 Points	R2 Time	R2 Points	R3 Time	R3 Points	R4 Time	R4 Points	Total
Tom Satinet	Avatar/Stinger	16.76	991.6	15.80	946.8	20.00	801.5	20.08	987.5	3728
Simon Haley	Fosa (e)	16.62	1000.0	22.60	661.9	16.03	1000.0	24.55	807.7	3470
John Phillips	Tanga	19.43	855.4	19.03	786.1	20.13	796.3	19.90	996.5	3434
Bob Dickenson	Ascot	21.83	761.3	20.81	718.9	20.67	775.5	19.83	1000.0	3256
Steve Haley	Fosa (e)	17.32	959.6	14.96	1000.0	16.78	955.3	0.00	0.0	2915
Bill Haley	Ascot (e)	22.87	726.7	24.54	609.6	24.89	644.0	22.31	888.8	2869
Jon Whittle	Own Design	18.00	923.3	16.52	905.6	18.03	889.1	0.00	0.0	2718
Phil Brandreth	Sitar/Electra	45.90	362.1	40.19	372.2	35.21	455.3	38.27	518.2	1708
Clive	Ascot (e)	35.80	464.2	0.00	0.0	0.00	0.0	0.00	0.0	464
Average		23.84		21.81		21.47		24.16

After a couple of years of not being able to run the pre-season speed contest we managed to squeeze one in this year. However, fog until around mid day restricted the number or rounds that were flown. Nonetheless it was a good day to try for a PB with light winds making course navigation easier than it can be in strong winds, and thermals being present in the afternoon sunshine.

The first round went to Simon with a 16.62, which was a PB. Round 2 went to Steve with a fast 14.96 (myself a 15.80 for a PB). Round 3 went to Simon with another PB of 16.03. Round 4 went to Bob, who was very consistent, with a 19.83 run. Simon was probably the fastest pilot on the day but cut in round 2 and in round 4 had a cut that I didn't signal properly. He also cut in the ensuing reflight! It was a shame as he showed what a good pilot he is.

In the end I "won" - largely due to other pilots having problems. It was really a day for trying for a PB and getting out to do a bit of flying. Fun as always.

Dates for 2016 BMFA league

Happy new year (?!).... Below are the dates for the 2016 league. I am pretty certain these will remain as they are but I await absolute final confirmation from Mike P/Clive.

• Speed - 12 or 13th March
• League 1 - 7th May
• League 2 - 28/29 May
• League 3 - 25/26 June
• League 4 - 30/31 July
• Nats (League 5) - TBC?
• Nats reserve - TBC

The dates are what is practical to fit in with other events at the Wetlands, which is becoming an increasingly popular site for esoaring, f5j and flower arranging (probably). I'm some what inclined to setting a definite date (either the sunday or the saturday) and trying to stick to that this year, due to work commitments, but we'll go with what best suits the consensus. The situation with the silent flight nationals remains unclear. The nationals reserve will only be organised and flown if the nationals doesn't produce a result.