F3F Taster Session - Whitesheet 2nd October

[oipigface]

 

        Recently, several silent flight disciplines (e.g. F3K, F3L and GPS Triangle) have been running taster sessions for pilots who may wish to have a go without incurring the costs of getting kitted up with expensive gear. We thought it would be a good idea to do a similar thing for F3F. 

          Even if you are not especially interested in winning competitions, F3F is worth trying. For one thing, it provides an objective measure of improvements in your flying skills and by joining in you will find yourself able to fly at a higher level than you think possible. For another, you won’t have to stick to your local slopes. There’s a welcome for F3F pilots at many events across Britain, Europe and around the world 

         The rules are very simple. After launching from the centre of a 100m course, leave the course in a specified direction then re-enter within 30 seconds. Fly ten laps. (Buzzers sound to indicate when you have left the course, when you enter, and when each lap has been completed.) Land. Scores are based on the time taken to fly the 10 laps. 

         Doing well at F3F requires not only the ability to fly fast and accurately, but also to interpret and exploit the conditions on the slope. The rules may be simple but doing well is not, and even if you never do very well you’ll have a good time. 

 

         Weather permitting, we intend to run a Taster Session as part of the next Whitesheet Open Slopes session (scheduled for one day over the weekend of August 27/28th).  A course will be set up and manned. Anyone who fancies trying their hand can either fly their own plane (which can be anything, as long as it doesn’t have a motor, doesn’t weigh too much and doesn’t have a very pointy nose) or one of two RaceM’s (one Mode 1, the other Mode 2) that will be made available. If time permits, we will run a short competition between pilots who have never competed in F3F before. There will be a modest prize for the winner. 
 

If you fancy a go, please let me or Nigel Witchalls (Nigel_W) know, especially if you a not a member of the Whitesheet club.
 

[MikeE]

Well done on getting this organised John.

Hope you get a decent turnout.

[oipigface]

The RaceM’s are almost ready to go, but they will need to be checked in the air before the Taster Session scheduled for next weekend. To do this properly I am going to need some help, so if any Whitesheet F3F pilots have time during the week to give a hand, I’d be grateful. There are two planes, which I’ve put new gear into where necessary. I’ve also dug out an old transmitter, which I’ve switched to Mode 2. Since I don’t fly Mode 2, it will be hard for me to check that this combination is OK.
 

So….a volunteer or two, please! The weather forecast looks pretty good for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

[oipigface]

Anyone remember where RaceM’s like to have their C of G?

[Nigel_W]

The recommended starting point was 96-99mm.  I would go for 96 for this purpose.  I presume some pilots would fly well rearward of this.

[Nigel_W]

There will be a weather call for the White Sheet open slopes day later in the week, but based on the current N/NE forecast which would not be suitable for F3F, we may well be looking at next month for the taster session.   Will post here when known.

[oipigface]

7 hours ago, Nigel_W said:

The recommended starting point was 96-99mm.  I would go for 96 for this purpose.  I presume some pilots would fly well rearward of this.

Thanks, Nigel. Your memory (or notes?) coincides more or less with mine. I prepared the two planes yesterday so that the CG’s are easily varied between 93 and 103. 
You’re right about the forecast, too!

[Ian F3F]

not seen a Race M in years!  looking forward to seeing them

 

Ian

[Phil.Taylor]

and - if it does run - and there are no "F3F tasters" to go for it - you have all the ingredients for something I thought of a long time ago - a "one model" F3F race for those who have already tasted F3F  Usual rules but you have to fly the RaceM, or the RaceM ! 

Phil.

[MikeE]

I was thinking from memory around 103.

[Nigel_W]

Disappointingly we have concluded that the wind next weekend will not be amenable to a F3F session at White Sheet.  Also the September Open Slopes day at White Sheet coincides with an F3F competition at Long Mynd, and  there is another competition mid-September in Wales.  Hence there will not be enough volunteers to run the day in September either.

As a result the club has concluded that we can plan for a F3F trial session in the spring, probably in April-May.

However the Winter League season starts in October, with very relaxed monthly F3F comps in the north, midlands and south, so plenty of opportunity for those interested to turn up and ask questions, watch, or give it a try.  All comers welcome!!

[oipigface]

With the first taster session now scheduled for 9th October, it’s time to make sure the RaceM’s are set up properly. Today’s conditions at Whitesheet look perfect for the job - 12mph SW, so despite continued difficulty with walking, I am planning to get up there about midday. 
I should be OK with my yellow one which is set up on Mode 1, but the other is on Mode 2 and it would save the hassle of switching it over and back again if some kind F3F pilot were to give a hand. It would also ensure that the plane/Tx combination is tested. A really kind person could also help reduce the amount of walking I have to do.

I see a consultant in Exeter on 19th October.

[wookman]

Good luck for the 19th JT.

[Redbird]

I can come to help, should be there 1.40pm. 

[Nigel_W]

The taster session date has been set as 2nd October, due to a scale event being booked for 9th.  Apologies for the late notice. 

It would be ideal if anyone thinking of coming along could let me know by PM or post here, but turning up will be fine.

[MikeE]

Perhaps worth editing the title page John.

[f3fman]

Good to see you today John, you had the Mode 1 model going well, hope you get the Mode 2 set up going as well as that ..... I so nearly got to fly a Race M

[oipigface]

Had a good afternoon yesterday! Both planes flew well (on mode 1) although conditions were slacker for my old yellow one. The white one was supposed to be on Mode 2 as well, but I had failed to reassign the channels correctly, and my ratchet fitting skills are not what they might be. John Bennett (F3FMan) kindly agreed to test fly it, but I didn’t think it wise to start abdominal surgery on the Tx given the risk of losing screws in the grass. If I do manage to get it sorted, John, you could turn up on the day and I’ll make sure you get to have a go with it.

Bruce Hudson turned up specially to make sure that I didn’t have to walk a lot, or carry anything very heavy. I think he should be called the The Kindest F3Fer in the West.

Physio this morning. I’m having a half-hour session once a week on a machine that was invented by NASA for the rehabilitation of astronauts returning from lengthy spells of weightlessness. It’s called an Antigravity Treadmill. You put on a pair of trousers styled much like the well-known Wrong Trousers. (I feel like shouting ‘Help Gromit!’ as I put them on.) They zip into a framework set above a treadmill. The framework also carries a inflatable rubber ring at waist height which supports your body weight. The more it’s inflated, the lower the weight bearing down on the treadmill. Mostly I have it set about 50% which means I can walk at a natural pace without any pain at all. This is not only good for preservation of the knee, but it also makes me hopeful that a bit of surgical amendment might get me back to a more normal life. Alternatively, I could lose half my body weight!

[oipigface]

It looks as if the Taster Session may be blessed with flyable conditions on Sunday, so there’s some pressure to make sure that both RaceM’s will be flyable. I spent most of yesterday sorting the white one out for operation in Mode 2, but I’m reluctant to try test flying with controls configured in an unfamiliar manner. So I’m hoping that a Mode 2 F3F pilot will be prepared to join me at Whitesheet on Wednesday (when the forecast is benign all day). 
Let me know if and when you can help.

[Nigel_W]

If anyone would like to give F3F a try at the taster day on Sunday please let me know, as confirmed attenders are a little low at the moment.