Free Flight World Championships
FIRST, there was the weather. The organizers had claimed expected winds to be 10 km./hr. It was more like three times that, with gusts of even more for the practice days and Nordic day. The Canadian team withdrew in protest. On Wakefield day the winds abated somewhat; on the last day for Power, the weather was near ideal. The site was much too small for the windy conditions. The wind blew the models into (and in some cases beyond) the city of Burgos. Retrieval became a nightmare, especially for Nordic. Spanish Free Flighters were aware of the inadequacies of the site and expected weather conditions, and had recommended a better site in the south of Spain. This counsel was rejected by the organizers, La Federacion Espanola de los Deportes Aereos (FENDA).
Free Flight: Duration
THE FREE FLIGHT GYPSY is back again for a short visit with all the word from downwind. FAI-CIAM Plenary meeting was held in Paris on April 23-25. The procedure is for the Free Flight technical subcommittee to discuss agenda items and then pass on to the Plenary meeting recommendations for any modifications of the FAI Sporting Code. Plans for World and Continental Championships are also discussed. Indoor World Championships will be held August 22-26 at Cardington, England. Team housing will be high-quality hotel standard with separate bedrooms and bath. Rooms are within walking distance of the contest site. Total package costs are $208 for contestants and $165 for supporters. It is hoped that this is a welcome trend away from "pricey" World Champs (Yugoslavia!).
Free Flight: Duration
The high-technology challenge. Free Flight aeromodeling is undergoing a metamorphosis. At one time, of course, Free Flight was the only aeromodeling flying sport. Then came the offshoots of RC, and CL. Free Flight staggered along, with a few of us still gluing sticks together. The perpetuation and growth of Free Flight always seemed to be based on our ability to teach the Juniors how to glue those sticks together. As our ranks seemed to be dwindling there has been much agonizing about this "Junior problem" and what to do about it. In the meantime, Free Flight competition models of the international class have become highly developed. Design technique, aerodynamics, materials, fabrication methods, and competition strategy have moved into an era that can be called high-technology. This is generally considered as not the immediate answer to the Junior problem, but there is an association that should be considered.
Free Flight: Duration
FREE FLIGHT: an endangered species revisited. By now, you have all read of the great World Championship held this past year in France and the thrilling win of the Wakefield Cup by America's Bob White. January's issue of Model Aviation carried a splendid account of the action by reporter Martyn Cowley. U.S.A. modelers from all branches of the sport can feel proud to know that this most prestigious trophy is once again within our shores. Go back and read that report again, and wonder about this popular worldwide surge of participation in FAI Free Flight, exemplified by the World Champs attracting contestants from over 30 countries; regional championships in Europe, South America, and Australia; by a new World Cup Series; then by a new World Champs cycle for young aeromodelers. And then wonder about the Free Flight bashing undertaken by AMA Executive Director John Worth in that same issue of Model Aviation. What's going on here?
