World Championship Video Archive

Someone rcgroups just put up a link to the 2013 F3b World Championship video stream. It seems like there are many hours of footage available. I.e pretty much the complete event. LINK.

Bermuda Wetlands

Bob's Cobra has been found thankfully! Inevitably Mike found that he had been within a few metres of where it was eventually found. Why does that always happen?! Photos here (ipad etc) or slide show:

2013 Report - 2014 Team Selection

Here is a report from Clive Needham on the 2013 and thoughts on 2014.

First of all congratulations to Steve Haley (Fosa) on once again being top of the League table with a perfect of 1000 points at all four contests with three out of the four to count. Second was, still a junior, Simon Haley (Precious) 2859 points and a close third Mike Challinor 2807 (Fosa Lift) Simon also awarded the Nigel Mead Trophy as the most improved pilot of the year It is difficult to assess the 2013 season because of all the cancellations and abandonment’s due to the weather, thus resulting in fewer of you as a proportion attending all of the comps which were available The benchmark for a full season is the number who have attended at least 4 out of the usual available 6 or 7 comps, in 2012 (which was a full season) fewer pilots achieved this, therefore we are too reliant on this dedicated group which can cause difficulties if some are unable to attend. 14 Competitors attended in 2013 of those 11 listed on the final results flew in 3 or more contests.

We have been helped a little this year by the return of Dave Worrall, Norman Quirk and Mike Holtby and I hope some of you who have not flown for a year or two will also return in 2014, plus those who dip in and out of the League will make the effort to attend more. I can think of at least 6 who fall into these two categories. Thanks are due to Steve and Simon Haley for setting up the matrix and compiling the results for most of the season, a duty which was latterly taken over by Tom Satinet.

Final League Standings for 2013

Final League Standings for 2013. A good year for weather generally, but we were unlucky on the F3B contest days. Models from memory. Each pilots best three scores from four count, as per the BMFA rules.

		Date	11-06-13	21-07-13	22-09-13	06-10-03
Rank	Name	Best 3 Scores	Round 3	Round 4	Round 6	Nationals	Model(s)
1	Steve Haley	3000	1000	1000	1000	1000	Fosa
2	Simon Haley	2859.127	899.988	940.598	943.875	974.654	Precious
3	Mike Challinor	2807.3	921.358	981.177	904.765	459.39	Fosa Lift
4	Bob Dickenson	2637.647	905.31	889.442	765.78	842.895	Fosa Lift/Estrella
5	Dave Worral	2633.751	0	778.599	918.956	936.196	Crossfire - elec
6	Mike Holtby	2580.452	837.95	852.483	890.019	0	Cobra
7	Tom Satinet	2566.536	0	916.16	918.637	731.739	Stinger/Tragi 704
8	Norman Quirk	2473.687	808.952	0	780.761	883.974	Vampire/Strega - elec
9	Clive Needham	2314.033	802.89	688.875	0	822.268	Dingo - Elec
10	John Whittle	2160.928	954.499	940.212	266.217	0	Ascot
11	Bill Haley	1668.761	0	531.62	455.409	681.732	Precious
12	Brian Johnson	1478.784	729.232	749.552	0	0	Ascot
13	Simon Jackson	790.446	0	0	790.446	0	Estrella
14	Phil Goddard	667.371	0	667.371	0	0	Ceres Lift

Oktoberfestpokal 1991

Seen on facebook - some British presence here I think! Certainly British number plate.

Photos from Chris Jubb

Chris Jubb kindly emailed me a load of pictures he has take down the years. Over 100 pics so grab a tea/coffee/beer/babycham. Click here for non flash devices. For PC users if you click the photos it will take you to larger versions you can scroll through with the arrow keys at your own pace.

Gyros in F3X

Gyros are starting to cause controversy in F3X circles. It seems some people think they are allowed in competition, but I think if you read the rules, they are not allowed.

e.g. from the FAI F3 rules: 1.3.3. Category F3 - Radio Controlled Flight This is a flight during which the model aircraft is manoeuvred by control surface(s) in attitude, direction and altitude by the flier on the ground using radio control

To my mind if a gyro moves a control surface it is against this rule. Planet soaring is worth reading, however I am still worried that previous CIAM discussions seem to allow gyros in spite of fairly clear cut rules.

I would highly recommend reading this article from Roman Vojtěch's excellent site - here Roman spends a day flying an f3b model with a gyro.

Someone has pointed out that 1.3.3 is a description rather than a definition. However:

According to paragraph (F3B Rules) 5.3.1.1: Definition of a Radio Controlled Glider: Model aircraft which is not provided with a propulsion device and in which lift is generated by aerodynamic forces acting on surfaces remaining fixed in flight, except control surfaces. Model aircraft with variable geometry or area must comply with the specification when the surfaces are in maximum and minimum extended mode. The model aircraft must be controlled by the competitor on the ground using radio control. Any variation of geometry or area must be actuated at distance by radio control.

This would appear to cover gyros as well (definitely being a definition), but from a recent CIAM meeting, it seems they are in favour of gyros. Apparently a more technical, more expensive system will encourace more entrants! I think we need to get this situation clarified properly. It seems a rule change is not on the cards due to an CIAM rule freeze. It feels a bit like FIFA at the moment.