The Summer league has started!

 

  What a fun weekend and day of challenging British F3F!  With the sun shining and barely a breeze to hinder our merry band as we skipped up the trail to the Ice cream slope it was great to have the chance to catch up with some old friends as we waited for the wind to join us.

  It also gave the chance to look around at the variety of models being raced, from memory the field included.

Device, Mamba, Freestylers, Extreme, Toxic, Pitbull, an Orden and of course the Saker.  As a judge of models the weekend wasn’t very scientific, the Mamba won and Devices cam second from the top and second from the bottom of the leader board.

2 sleek models

  My own day could be summed up quite well in the first 2 rounds, both times I found myself pushing out from the slope in desperate search for a thermal as my Saker lost height.  Round 1 had a re-flight and a top 5 time, round 2 didn’t have re-flight and I ‘enjoyed’ a sedate 88 seconds on course before heading off in search of lift.

  As the wind built and kept swinging around, a heavier approach to ballast seemed to deliver results for me.  Different pilots were clearly wrestling with the issue of ballasting.  It would be harsh to suggest that “if you got good lift you go fast- if you not you don’t.” didn’t have a large amount to do with the results with in each round but the better pilots made the most of the good stuff and managed to minimise the damage of the poor air.

  The Saker was proving itself to be more than competitive in the conditions, only to be let down by my thumbs on the last round of the day.  It’s 2 land out avoiding flights did make me feel more confident with the air frame and the race conditions.

and thats league 1 done

Champion of Champions race

   The weekend saw what I believe was the 13th champion of champions race.  A 2 day race over a full weekend that has regularly provided some great racing and even better memories- one of my flying ideas tht seems to have worked out pretty well.

  As Slope dog and I set off into the drizzle this year, there was certainly more hope than expectation but even as the morning rain fell the Welsh hill tops were visible and the course was laid out on the VR98 slope before lunch.

Regardless of my own performance (I even managed to stand on my sunglasses before round 2), for many pilots it was their 2nd race all winter and we were loving it- isn't that the point?  Stefan and Mark were clearly the class of the field but as the sun came out just about everyone had some air to enjoy.  With 9 rounds in the day there was the chance for everyone.

We're off and William had every right to be happy with his performance

Mark colouring his Device nearly worked as a disguise, if the model names weren't on the flaps

More smiling pilots, A wining smile from Stefan and Super CD Graham

all that fun can just get too much some times!

If a weekend like this doesn't wet your appetite for the summer what will?  See you in 3 weeks

The next model name will have to be Red Kite

   Another Saturday afternoon thrash with the Falcons on Whiteshite hill.  With the breeze building and even some spring time thermals I was really surprised that there were not more human pilots there.

  For much of the afternoon I was sharing the airspace with the resident group of Red kites.  This time I remembered the better camera so here's a pic,  These guys really know what they are doing and don't seem to be bothered at all by my toys.  Seeing them there does help to make the day- makes me want to make a new model- just to call it Red Kite:-)

  I did my usual trick of taking 3 models but only flying 1 of them, this tie the Falcon was first out of the bag.  It was the first time this year that I have experienced that 'kick' as a thermal comes on to the slope and you have to start to modify your turns very quickly.

  I was joined by an M60 EPP model.  I have some great memories of when these were used in EPP 60 racing.  I had forgotten just what good sports flying models they are.

Does this count as the last session of the Winter?

   I'm not sure if the melting snow is the right metaphor but this week feels like the end of the winter.  A short notice session had me thrashing my Falcons around the sky with a huge smile on my face- even if I was shivering.

  A winter that feels like I have had more flying than I have managed in years has been very short of races, this was emphasised by the cancellation of the final Midlands winter league of the winter.  Trying to run a winter league is by no means an easy thing to do.  My Own Local slope at Whitesheet managed 1 race and on the only other day we gathered there was no wind, whilst on 2 days that were cancelled I was flying on the slopes.

  Here's hoping that the Champ of Champs gets some luck to make up for some of the lack of racing.  I can feel my dad taxi duties building for the summer already!

  I've been flying a combination of my Sakers and Falcons through the winter and simply having fun.  I am enjoying flying these models more and more.  Not having a sheet of settings has been a good chance to try different things and approaches- and most of them can work if you get the right air and fly the attempted style well.  I have been using the CG further forwards with more elevator and delayed snap flap in bigger air to what feels like good effect- enjoy flying them, fly them more, fly them better- this flying business is easy:-)

  

Enjoying the different days of winter flying

  This winter has been a bit of a write off for racing, Sod's law has taken full effect but this has meant that I've been able to enjoy the wide variety of flying that's on offer.  This month's Southern winter league race was cancelled and yet again I found myself on the race slopes.  With the lift building from 'scratchy' to filling in very nicely by early afternoon- if a little cold.

  With so few pilots and walkers on the slope at this time of year it does give you the chance to get close too the wildlife and the local red kites are far from worried about my activities.

  A different slope and very different conditions to last weekend's thrashing on the Wrecker but the same model.  As I tell my better half- that's why I only have 1 model, I can't think of many conditions where it isn't the best model for making me smile.  OK she knows there's a Saker and a Falcon, even if she doesn't know which is which.  Booth took to the skies so smoothly and without incident today you just can't help but have confidence in them finding lift.

  I'm not convinced that Slope Dog is too keen on staying out all day in the winter but she does like to meet me at the model once they've landed.

  Now for some warmer weather please?

 

Winter's Day on the Wrecker

 

The madness of model flying does seem to have you doing the daftest things. As I arrived at the wrecker with the North wind was really biting but I was treated to a Raptor being put through its paces.  The raptor must be the slippiest aerobatic models out there.

  I couldn't get a picture of my Falcon but with just 800g of ballast she was really ripping up the wrecker.  If the Wrecker hadn't lived up to it's reputation on landing I would have had 1,200k in next time.  There's not a better slope for rewarding turns that have you back on the racing line.  When the air when from good to great- so did the Falcon.

 Thanks to Andy who took this Falcon video, so much fun just flying fast and not worrying about how long!

Mike Evans was having fun with his Freestyler, unfortunately the Vantage of Andy B was going too fast for my camera. 

Bruce's Printed flying wings just look so much fun.  It was fantastic that as the number of pilots on the slope built up, models of all shapes and sizes were being flown and generating huge smiles- just chuck it off a hill!

An Ahi was one of the less expected models there but once Les got the hang of launching, it went really well.

Pilots are a hardy bunch and with the new range of head ware their looks are improving too!

Winter league- well we tried

   If part or the reason that we race is for the mates banter outside in the fresh air then Saturday's southern winter league certainly ticked those boxes. Unfortunately the wind just didn't come. 

  I did manage a bit of scratchy sports flying but that was about it. It is sods law that when other races have been cancelled I've found myself flying in good conditions but that's part of the sport. I'd still rather turn up and try. 

  Great to see JP enjoying his Saker!