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| 22 June 2010 |
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Uncle Sydney's F3J World Champs Preview
By Robin Sleight @ 07:22 :: 288 Views ::
1 Comments :: Front Page News
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Prelim note from Robin Sleight: When Sydney wrote this he included quite a lot of photos. Unfortunately posting it on the site from Sydney's pdf file dropped the photos out and left only the captions in - sorry about that but please contact Sydney by email and I am sure he will be delighted to send you the full pdf document.
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Uncle Sydney’s Gossip Column
Seventh F3J World Championships 2010
France welcomes 29 FAI countries to Dole-Tavaux
“Allons! Enfants de la Patrie!
Le jour de gloire est arrive!”
As the Federation Francaise d’AeroModelisme prepares to welcome 130 plus of
the world’s top F3J pilots to Dole-Tavaux in the Jura Department at the end of
July, nobody knows if the day of glory will arrive on the podium for the French
pilots or teams. One matter is sure. Bruno Delor, FFAM president, and Stephane
Champanet, contest director, together with their legion of helpers will be ready to
make the 7th world champs into a festival of pilot skills and a contest of fun, fine
food and wine and excitement.
The graduated landing tape, introduced only two years ago to separate the tight
margins between pilots, has instead boosted competitive determinations. Contests
in 2010 to date have shown that winning slot times now need to better 9:54
minutes and only landings of 98 or more might secure the targetted 1,000 points.
August weather in Jura promises to be warm and thermally most of the time,
which will encourage top pilots to go for two-second launches even in preliminary
rounds. I have seen several one-second launches - no not two-second - in this
year’s Eurotour flyoffs and the model is released almost horizontally to gain speed
not height.
Don’t expect to see many new models, although there will be new wings and
extended tip panels. Most of the established F3J sailplane manufacturers have
honed their models to such finely tuned performance that it takes some rotten
weather, a slight slip or error to miss flying out 10-minute slots. My hope is that
some rounds, perhaps early morning, late evening or after the odd storm, will
present harsher challenges and rock the form book.
Regular Gossipers know that the pre-FAI contest column gives predictions on
senior flyoff places, new champions and team winners. Many tell me that they
first turn towards the end of the column to get these guesses. So to confuse, we’ll
start with it! Don’t forget to make your own forecasts for flyoff places, let me
have them before the contest starts, and he or she who gets most correct will get a
prize!
So in no particular order, my flyoff places go to Turkey’s Mustafa Koc on the
assumption that his business priorities totally reduce for a week to allow him to
concentrate 100%. He will be flying the new Prestige - about which more later.
He could be joined by Murat Esibatir from the same Soarist Club.
Juraj Adamek from Slovakia deserves a flyoff place for he’s been even hotter this
season. Then France must surely gain a home country place and it should then be
Lionel Fournier who led the field until the last hurdle in Poland last year. No slip
ups this time please!
Arend Borst from Canada will be in France after the fracas prior to Turkey in
2008, this time with his son Simon as a junior pilot. They are still waiting for
extra models at the time of writing, and it’s my view that Canada has the most
simple yet difficult qualifying process to gain a team place. But Arend’s hugely
competitive mindset, going back to freeflight days of his youth in Holland, will
lead to a flyoff place.
After last year’s super Eurochamps in Wloclavek, it would be good to see a Polish
pilot in the flyoffs and my bet goes on Wojciech Byrski who came fourth a couple
of weeks ago in Osijeka.
Philip Kolb in 2008 F3J WCs flyoffs where yet again the champion’s place
evaded Europe’s most successful pilot. Will 2010 Dole-Tavaux be the end of
the trail to win every top award?
Another list of long established expert and successful pilots cannot be ruled out,
but some will need to be because there are too many. These are Jiri Duchan from
the Czech Republic, Joe Wurts flying for the first time in the New Zealand F3J
team, Philip Kolb, surely Europe’s most ofttimes winner but still waiting to be
world champion. Also from Germany, Tobias Lammlein almost became champion
in Turkey, David Hobby from Australia, already twice world champion and
trained professionally as a reader and rider of air, and if I had to pick a wild card
it would be Carl Strautins, another Aussie who can amaze on his day.
Already double world champion, the 2010 F3J WCs in France will give
David Hobby and his teammates a chance to pull off a third champion’s
medal. All indications are that standards have reached an even higher plane,
but that’s the challenge that David relishes.
When Daryl Perkins flew for the first time in the Turkey F3J WCs, he was
convinced that he’s missed the flyoffs two rounds from the end of the
preliminaries. “That means I shall have to compete in 2010,” he told me, “I am
determined to add another WC win to my record.” In fact he did get in simply
because his team-mate Cody Remington blooped in the final round. Both pilots
could easily make the French flyoffs, with Cody having had the edge in both the
US team trials and last week’s team practice comp in the Rockies. Few F3J pilots
will have put in more spot landing practice than these two in recent months - see
Tube videos.
Other pilots who have successful track records such that you would expect to see
them in the flyoffs are Craig Goodrum from South Africa, Ricardas Siumbrys
from Lithuania, Primoz Rizner from Slovenia, last year’s European champion and
prime adviser to Bulgaria’s NAN Models, Marco Generali from Italy, Jo Grini
from Norway and Sasa Pecina from Croatia.
But it’s not my job to just pick the easiest bets. I look for unlikely contenders in
with a chance and these are Shuhei Okamoto from Japan returning to F3J WCs
after having had to stay away due to public duties, Sotir Lazarkov who triumphed
in Osijeka and is such an F3J mainstay in Bulgaria, Austin Guerrier from UK who
assures me he will nail his landings when it counts. For sheer determination and
dedication, I include Aleksandr Volkov from Russia. One Russian pilot travels 24
hours by train to reach his nearest airport, which is then 3 hours from Moscow,
and then onwards to Lyon or Paris to reach Dole.
Primoz Rizner from Slovenia, already the current European champion and
set to help host next year’s Eurochamps in Bovec, will have an ambition to
become world and european prizewinner. That’s a tall order and that’s what
makes every FAI championship such a teaser of possibilities.
So far I have picked 20 plus pilots for possibly 12 places.
Deep breath: my final list of flyoff places is: Mustafa Koc, Juraj Adamek, Lionel
Fournier, Arend Borst, Tobias Lammlein, David Hobby, Craig Goodrum, Jiri
Duchan, Cody Remington, Austin Guerrier, Primoz Rizner and Shuhei Okamoto.
Champion team this time will be Germany with USA second, and the next
champion of the F3J world will be Cody.
TEAM NEWS
On to team news: I try to contact all team managers a few days before this Gossip
asking for latest information, although I know that for those who don’t read or
write English, or for those who are immersed in work or preparations for France,
it must be difficult. To those who replied, many thanks.
Saddest news is that all three Turkey juniors, Esra Koc, Ali Ersu and Cem Aktay,
amongst the first to register, have been forced to withdraw, according to TM
Serdar Cumbus, due to “Very difficult school exams.” What a pity that the
education authorities don’t recognise the importance of FAI scheduling. But I
also applaud those junior F3J pilots still studying who place their hobby second to
academic progress.
Turkey will have their usual senior team, Ilgaz “Doctor” Kalaycioglu, Murat
Esibatir and Mustafa Koc. They want to fly the new Prestige produced in Turkey
by Fineworx, the no-holds barred, no-expense spared F3J special which they hope
will forge the way ahead in moulded models. Prestige was on public show for the
first time at the Italian Lodi Eurotour, or at least the wing was on show. Fuselage,
fin and tailplanes were still in the moulds and prototype wings were fitted to Pike
Perfect bodies. Will this model prove to be the biggest excitement of 2010?
Mustafa Koc showing off the new wing for Prestige, sat at this stage on the
fuselage and tails from a Pike Perfect pending production of the complete
model.
Philip Kolb, joint designer with Benjamin Rodax, poses with the new
Prestige wing, manufactured at the Fineworx factory in Istanbul run by
Murat Esibatir and Philip. Don’t start hankering after your own Prestige
because it is unlikely to be produced commercially.
Murat Esibatir clutching his fineworx Prestige at the Osijeka Eurotour, first
competitive outing for the new model, an ambitious triumph for Murat,
Philip Kolb and Mustafa Koc.
When Brazil competes in the WCs, most pilots wonder what spectacular designs
they will be sporting on their track-suits and T-shirts. They won’t disappoint I’m
sure! Team manager is Norberto Padovanni from Santo Andre; this trip will be
his first “international” flight outside Brazil and he’s more nervous about that than
his TM duties. Senior team will be Mario Sergio de Lucca from San Paulo flying
a Pike Perfect with regular and extended tips, travelling this time with his son
Lucas who will be a helper. He flew in Canada and also Slovakia. Marlon Luz
also hails from Sao Paulo, he flew in Turkey and pilots Supras. Marlon and Mario
fly together most weekends. Third pilot is Mauro Lucio Lopes from Rio de
Janeiro, also a Supra fan, and with distances so wide the three only get togther 2/3
times a year at competitions.
Host nation France will have a new team manager, Ivan Moquereau who was a
pilot last year in Poland. He feels very honoured this time to represent his country
in this special year, he is also fourth pilot should anything untoward happen. With
three Explorers, first pilot will be Lionel Fournier who came so close to the
flyoffs in Wloclavek and he will surely feel the pressure of the home venue. Jean
Bernard Verrier flies Supra Pros, it’s his first WC, but he knows Jura well and
made the flyoffs last year in the French Eurotour. Bertrand Wilmot is in the team
for the third time and is hoping to control the adrenalin this time. Drink more
wine is the answer to that!
Junior team is Robin Galeazzi who has competed before in Turkey and elsewhere
and flies Xplorers with Lionel as spotter. Remi Cutivet is the youngster at 13
years old and sees this year as a stepping stone for his F3J future, while Jean
Baptiste Demay at 18 years old, this will be his first and last as a junior. All the
locals in Jura will be rooting for these six!
Another new TM is David James from New Zealand, best known for contest
directing many National Soaring Championships and their team trials. Late
withdrawal of Sven Zaalberg, who came so close to triumph in Turkey, has made
room for Les Stockley who also flew in Turkey as did Scott Chisholm. For the
first time Joe Wurts will fly for his “new nation” team in an F3J WC. He did fly
for NZ last year in the F3B WC in the Czech Republic, a lonesome role from all
accounts. This time we wish him the success which his record surely deserves.
Try to see the DVD produced by the Slovakian F3J (Litteam) team after last
year’s Eurochamps in Wloclavek. Don’t miss it! It shows how the Slovaks
produced probably the best performance in the contest, and details how the whole
team of wives, pilots and helpers went about making their holiday in Poland an
enjoyable experience. Can they do the same in France: could be!
This year Patrik Michnac will again be TM, Jan Littva junior will be determined
to elevate his title of junior Eurochampion to World status and he will be helped
by senior pilot/father Dr Jan Littva, the team’s senior coach and back as a pilot for
his country after 10 years. Main favourite among the pilots is Juraj Adamek who
is already well placed in the Euroleague together with Juaj Bartek, the hardened
pilot. Helpers as everyone knows hold a vital role in the path to success, and
Patrik tells me that Dusan, Pat’o, Misso, L’ubo, Jano, Julius and Ad’o are more
than ever coordinated - “everyone has run 100 metres in less than 10 seconds at
the last team trial.” Contrast that with the US towmen, chosen on weight and
strength.
Contrast it also with the Canadian team where Kevin Nerling, an F3J and RC
newcomer will be TM and towman together with Landon Langley. Senior team
will be Arend Borst who needs no introduction save a reminder that he was world
champion in Lapeenranta (1992), Eric Heemskerk who also flew in Finland and at
Red Deer, and Keith Thompson from Chilliwack whose prime experience is slope
soaring. Welcome addition to Canadian efforts will be junior Simon Borst who I
am reliably informed came second in the combined S & J team trials, not because
he followed dad into lift, but he looked for and found his own patches of good
air.
Germany’s TM will be Stefan Eder, still youthful, still in deep voice, and
probably today’s grandfather of F3J, better known today as designer of the Satori
and other winning designs from Aer-o-tec. I wonder how many Satori’s will be
flying in Dole; they are selling well in the US and around Europe, my friend
Andre has one and reckons it’s the easiest to fly high performance F3J model
ever, launches high and penetrates like an arrow. We’ll see!
Germany will have full teams of seniors and juniors, hardly surprising from a
country which has more F3J pilots and contests than anywhere. Senior team is also
long established with many triumphs including team champions in Canada in
2004. They are Tobias Lammlein, still studying in Switzerland, Philip Kolb now
resident in Istanbul - and well able to make a speeches in Turkish - and stay-athome
leather-hatted Karl Hinsch. They are all expecting to fly different models,
Tobi sticking with HKM’s High End, Philip seeking early wins for the new
Prestige and Karl Hinsch relying on his faithful Pike Perfects.
Benedikt Feigl will be competing as present world champion, flying NAN
Models, Xplorers 3500 and 4000, and says he is “fully motivated.” Can he become
the next pilot to win two championships? Will he do better than brother Sebastian
who last year in Poland did not live up to expected form in defending his
Eurochampion title.
Junior team will have an 11-year old newcomer, Max Finke, nerveless with
uncanny F3J skills, flying a model new to me “Tortuga,” a treat in store to see. He
will be joined by experienced Manuel Reinecke flying Aspires and old-hand Timo
Ganser with his Xplorers. They will be eager to regain the reputation of being the
junior team beat.
Manfred Wirtz leads the Dutch and we can expect a large team of supporters
waving lots of orange in France. One newcomer to the senior team will be Jaap
Kooy flying Super Starlight and Sharon Pro, and his mates are stalwarts from
many a year, Cor de Jong with Pike Perfects and Peter Zweers with Super
Starlights. I have followed progress of Lesley van der Laan for many years, he
has doubled in height, and it comes as a shock to realise that this year will be his
last as a junior pilot. Egbert van der Laan will be his coach and they are hoping
for a final triumph which would be well deserved.
Erik Morgan gained a team place for Norway but for reasons unknown had to
give up his place, only to find that he could make it and so will travel as a helper.
His pilot place is taken by Jostein Myre joined by Jo Grini and Per Pedersen. They
have two juniors, Stein Marius Pedersen who is 17 and Fredrik Grini aged 13.
Helpers will be Stig Magne Olsen, Charles Obschonka, an Aussie working in
Norway, and the rejuvenated Erik Morgan. In his usual modest way, TM Grini
reports that “Norway is expecting Jojo to be in the final and win it all.” Nuff said!
Finland’s Janne Savolainen will be by himself again this year and looks to join in
with the Brits. He was to fly with Tuomo Kokkonen who has a vital work project.
Janne’s wife and 18-month old baby are off to a wedding. He will bring his
masterful use of English expletives to steer his Pike Perfects.
Theo Arvanitakis is Australia’s TM and will drive the efforts of twice champion
David Hobby, Carl Strautins and Jim Houdalakis, first timer but no stranger.
David and Jim have been working on special launching techniques - even faster? -
and David has been modifying his tips in some “unique” way which boosts dead
air hang time - something to watch for. Meanwhile, Carl has been flying seven
days a week from a very short bungee and “has become as one with his Pikes.”
Sounds very dangerous.
The British team will have a new manager, Nick Kidd, who has been flying F3J
for only a few years. He lives on the Isle of Wight and for every contest he needs
a ferry before he starts his long trecks across the country. Many F3J pilots in
Britain moan at the travel distances required to stand any chance of a team place. I
say to them: take a look at what happens in Russia, Canada, USA, Australia and
many other countries. Some individuals on official BMFA committees urge the
F3J league organisers to spread more contests across the regions to attract wider
participation. What they can’t do is to persuade more pilots to enter. In Britain
F3J pilot numbers are sadly slowly falling. Nick sets a shining example in
enthusiasm.
UK’s senior team will also have a newcomer, Mark Devall, who has flown
thermal contests since the year dot but has never made the top grade at
international level. He will need some beginner’s luck but he’s not lacking in
confidence at this stage. Both Austin Guerrier and Colin Paddon are not new to
championships and although form for both has been variable this year, it is on the
up and Colin won Radioglide two weeks ago.
Mark’s place is due to Adrian Lee’s decision to give up F3J competitions in
favour of another of his hobbies, running, a decision which might surprise many
pilots from around the world who have known him over the past 20 years. He has
represented the UK more times than any other pilot, his hand-built self-designed
High Fives were known for all being red on top and blue below, for most being
rather heavier than you’d expect and each having surprising performance under
his control. More recently, due to shortage of time, he has flown Graphites. He
was undone because he was adamant that if he could “make-do and win” with
what he’d got, then why change?
Adrian is not the easiest man to know. He was gifted and funny when he
impersonated Rowan Atkinson’s Mr Bean. He was Britain’s most consistent and
successful thermal flyer in the UK’s notoriously unkind weathers. He made many
flyoffs but never became an FAI champion, which is sad. Should he change his
mind in the coming years, he will be welcomed back into the fold.
Croatia could well get onto the team podium, led by Damir Kosir, pilots Arijan
Hucaljuk, Sasa Pecinar and Antun “Bearhug” Sikic. Juniors are Arijan “onesecond
launch and practice every afternoon” Hucaljuk, Marijan Balasko and Miro
Suver. Gossipers sometimes ask why I don’t predict flyoff places and winners for
junior pilots. The simple answer is that they are under enough pressure at an FAI
championship without being tagged as a favourite. It is also less easy to follow
form. If forced to pick a new junior world champion, it would be Arijan.
Of all the teams with a language problem, Romania has the hardest job making
itself understood. They organise many FAI championships in all classes and make
a good job look simple. But when it comes to the boring model processing, they
always miss some details. In France we shall welcome TM Traian Tomescu with
senior pilots Milea Catalin, Florica Ionut and Iordan Gheorghe. Sadly the juniors
have been left at home this time.
Italy will be in Dole with lots of fans in full voice. No nation can get voices to
carry so far down the safety corridor The Gallizia family has been tackling this
year’s Eurotour with zest, turning up in Turkey, Bulgaria, Slovakia and home
base at Lodi, all before the middle of May. Father Giuseppe has gained his reward
by topping the Eurotour league after five contests, with Marco and Carlo his sons
sitting in ninth and tenth places. They’ll have a job keeping it up for eight more
events, but they deserve a big cheer.
Third son is the current world junior champion Giovanni Gallizia who has been
studying in the USA for the past year and has not been able or allowed to fly
models. He is due back in Italy any day now and will be coming to the WCs to
defend his title. The big question is whether he will pick up all his skills with
minimum practice? I am confident that he will.
Giorgio Dittadi is Italy’s TM again with an established senior team of Marco
Salvigni, Marco Generali and Thomas Truffo. You can seen why the Gallizia’s
have been practicing, for Carlo and Marco are in the junior team with the third
pilot being Federico Montanini. Let’s see if someone can repeat recent
championship triumphs.
I already hinted at what’s expected of Primoz Rizner but he is also closely rivalled
by Bojan Gergic and Jan Hlastec in Slovenia’s senior team led by TM Pavel
Prhavc, yet another top pilot. Junior team is Jure Marc, Robert Ratjac and Metod
Meolic. All the Slovenians will be acutely conscious that Bovec is the venue for
next year’s Eurochamps. Success in France will set the scene well. To my mind
Bovec next year will become a flying site of world reknown.
As I write, South Africa is howling with vuvuzelas - don’t bring them to France
please - and the World Cup Football Finals. Few people realise that they are
merely practicing for the next FAI F3J World Championships in 2012, to be held
in Johannesburg in the first half of August and organised by the Model Gliding
Association of South Africa. Michelle Goodrum is part of the organising team
along with Lionel Brink and Wolfgang Steffny.
This first successful bid from south of the equator - which means it will be winter
time down there - was accepted by FAI in Lausanne in April. All the delegates
were determined to get out from under Iceland’s volcanic cloud at the time. It’s
going to be a long way to travel, but what an exciting prospect!
In France TM will be Herman Weber assisted by Johan Bruwer snr, the pilots led
by Craig Goodrum, flyoff man from Turkey in 2008 and not bad at F3J for an
F3B man, Chris Adrian and Paul Carnall. They bring three juniors too, Jason
Weber who will help his dad, Ryan Nelson and Tsepho Molefe. Again the aim
must be to take medals back home in preparation for 2012.
To another part of our shrinking world, Japan will be led by TM Hirochi Ohata
with pilots Shuhei Okamoto, Akira Oshima and Tsuneo Horiuchi and sadly no
juniors. I hope that Shuhei will bring his super mini-chuckies - his Craftroom
firm produces an exciting collection - and his absence in recent WCs is explained
by his public duties as a politician.
Estonia are back again too, led by TM and pilot Edvin Penart together with Partel
Peeter Kruuv and Priit Leomar, a welcome return. Lithuania pilots are regulars
at WCs and they too have a TM/pilot in Valdas Braziuans, plus top pilot Ricardas
Siumbrys and Donatas Pampikas. I shall be cheering them on.
One competition in France will be to see who is the youngest junior in the
contest. One contender is Ivaylo Dimitrov from Bulgaria posing in front of
the podium at Dupnitsa this year where he had the misfortune to have his
fuselage and tail cut off by a rival during launch. As part consolation,
Sebastian Feigl, who won the Eurotour event, then donated his prize of an
Xplorer to Ivaylo, a super gesture.
Bulgaria has become a leading F3J country, they run perhaps the most enjoyable
and informal Eurotour on the circuit with super friendly hospitality. It is also the
home of NAN Models, I guess today’s most prolific model glider factory. So far
podium places have eluded their native pilots, but all is set to change for Sotir
Lazarkov has just won the Osijeka Eurotour. In France he will carry TM duties as
well as flying and he will have his daughter Yuliya Lazarkova in the junior team
along with the diminutive Ivaylo Dimitrov and Filip Stamenkov. Two remaining
senior pilots are Konstantin Ranov and Valentin Valchev. Bulgaria will be a force
to be reckoned with in Jura.
What a glorious place to practice with your new model in Bulgaria’s winter
mountains. Yuliya Lazarkova, pride of father Sotir and flying juniors in
France.
This year I was due to visit the Ukraine for the Wilga Cup but sadly could not
make it. Vladimir Gavrylko will lead the team and is also a prolific producer of
top class glider and electric models. Linked with Dr Drela in the US, he is
working on the next radical development to the Supra Pro, although we probably
won’t see it in France. Senior pilots in the team are Vladimir Makarov, Oleksandr
Chekh and Oleksandr Petrenko who are all having success in the Euroleague.
They also have two juniors, Andriy Ordyna and Artem Parkulab. I aim to make
the trip next time!
Top prize for travel determination and distances should go to the Russian team
who have already travelled tens of thousands of miles for Eurotours in preparation
for France. TM and senior pilot is Alexey Shchegolev with Dmitry Gashnev and
Aleksandr Volkov in support, The team will have two juniors Dmitry Gushchin
and Nikita Derzhavinskiy. Will this time be the opportunity for a top place?
Belgium will have its Eurotour at the beginning of July, three weeks before the
big jamboree, and that will enable the seniors and juniors to hit their highest form.
Led by TM Chris Denolf, there are no surprises among the seniors Tom Mertens,
David Claeys and Chris Gyssens. Junior team is Daan Menjoie, Amou Verheijen
and Vincent Beckers.
Sweden has TM Antero Hurtig and pilots Conny Ulvestaf, Magnus Hedlund and
Lennart Arvidsson, but no juniors this time. The team reserves its appearances to
the big events!
Switzerland’s team holds no surprises with TM Rueti Baumgartner and his son
Reto as pilot with Koni Oetiker and Ernesto Weber and I wish them luck with
their dedicated enthusiasm and jovial helpers.
Last but not least is the Czech Republic, home of the most famous and long
established moulded model builders and many of the world’s best pilots. But is
this fame on the wane? I am surprised that they have only one junior this time,
Tomas Kadlec, so for once they won’t be team prize contenders. Senior pilots are
Pavel Kristof, Jan Vacha and Jiri Duchan who came ever so close to winning the
WCs in Turkey. Martin Rasjner is TM and I am pleased to see that Samba’s
Vlastimil amd Jaroslav Vostrel will be there as helpers, and you could not have
better experienced men. I hope to see Jane Vostrelova.
I have gossiped about two USA pilots, but of course I should detail the whole
team. Let me also put on record the generous support they receive from their
sponsors and modellers across the continent. Every two years they donate raffle
prizes and put their hands in their pockets and raise remarkable dollars which go a
long way to paying the hefty bill to attend, like tens of thousands of dollars. No
other nation matches it. Well done!
The USA has a new TM with Michael Verzuh, a popular choice, but I am sorry
not to see Jim Monaco this time. Dave Beardsley is assistant manager and will also
help his son, Brendon together with juniors Conner Laurel and Michael Knight.
Richard Burnoski is the senior pilot I have not mentioned and who will not forget
his ballast ever again! I am not sure if he will continue to fly Supras or if he has
converted to Satoris - maybe a mix. He hails from the Chicago area which again
illustrates just how far team members need to travel to get together. US helpers
and supporters are a well-knit bunch who back their pilots to the hilt. They will
surely go home with medals!
As each year passes in FAI championships, F3J enthusiasts become a closer family
of friendly rivals. If you check, not a dozen of the pilots are new this year to the
circuit. It is almost unhealthy. But it is very warming.
In France next month, 16 of the pilots competing flew in the first WCs at Upton
in England 12 years ago, one Jan Vacha having been as a junior then. I’ve got the
records but not the time to check how many have flown in every WCs since. That
is why Euro and World championships have that magic blend of camaraderie and
competition. Long may it continue and let France add its own touch of excellence.
And to everyone, BON CHANCE!
Sydney Lenssen, June 2010
sydney.lenssen@virgin.net |
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| Comments |
 By
Robin Sleight @
19 July 2010 07:37
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Acomplex way to do it but the missing pics which I was not able to include when transposing this article to the BARCS web site are on the write up by Uncle Sydney on the French F3J World Champs web site. They did a better job than I did!
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