WRCS - January 2005

Fun Fly - November 2004 The day dawned grey and cool but with a promise of sun later (so much for weather forecasts, it got decidedly chilly in the afternoon) and by 10 o’clock there was a bunch of happy flyers ready to roar while Chris and Kerry put the final touches to the event rules. There were four classes; Stock (the old Price Rite or new ); Sport (conventional planes up to 46 power); Open (planes with bigger engines) and Hovermatic …. Sorry, that should be Hoverbatic (you know, all ailerons and huge rudders) each having to complete 3 tasks.
The first task was the Climb and Glide with a 15 second power run but with a slight difference – firstly you had to taxi down a measured line in the middle of the field (to remind everyone of the club safety rule to do so before taking off at the end of the pilot area not right in front of it) and then there was a spot landing at the end.
The second task re-enforced the taxi and take off requirements by having to taxi to a marked circle, round said circle, down a straight line and round another circle in less than 2 minutes.
The third task was to take off down the centre line leaving the ground at a marked point and then going under a limbo tape! This was followed by 30 seconds worth of as many loop,roll,loop,rolls as you could before landing on the take off point and going back under the limbo – phew!
There were four entrants in the Stock class, Peter Barnes, Mike Minty, George Atkinson, Kerry Smith and Tom Sparkes but it was Peter who had to fly first. He got the highest glide time of 1:37 but missed the spot on landing and in fact Mike was the only one to get any spot points in that class. George demonstrated the most amazing throttle control – it wouldn’t stop! Even on the ground with the barrel well and truly shut the engine continued to tick over beautifully at a very attractive idle! So we tried a finger over the carb …. It continued to idle nicely!
Mark Connor, Peter Barnes, Monte Urdzak, Al Zuger and John Parker flew Magics and cougars in the Hoverbatic class and George wasn’t the only one to suffer from no-shut-downitis, Mark had the same problem in his attempt.
John did the perfect taxy/take-off from the circle. Glides were not that long though Monte’s was long enough to allow another plane to take off.

The Trophy Winners

Tony Warren-Smith with his elderly Precedent Fun Fly and Tom Sparkes were the only entrants in the Open Class while Sport Class drew in Peter Barnes, Tom Sparkes, Brian Porman and Tim Jones.
The Taxying event was the hardest for everyone especially the people with no steerable tail skid – there were more line cuts than in any combat comp! Peter Barnes was looking one of the straightest ….but then he took off – whoops!
The “loop, roll,loop, roll” proved interesting as most people found it very difficult to judge the take-off point so as to go under the limbo. Mike M was an early pole hitter, as was Kerry but luckily on landing and not enough to cause the pole or plane any damage as opposed to Tom who managed to snap the pole at high speed!
Mind you, Peter B took off for a trimming flight and finished up in a tree! Al did a very impressive take-off under the tape and then flipped it inverted but forgot to push the down in ….. it buried itself 5cms into the (luckily) soft mud!
When the dust settled and Kerry & Chris finished their number crunching, the results were, and trophies awarded:

Stock
Sport
Hovermatic
Open

1st Kerry Smith     2nd Mike Minty     3rd George Atkinson
1st Tom Sparkes     2nd Tim Jones     3rd Peter Barnes
1st John Parker     2nd Monte Urdzak
1st Tony Warren Smith

The judges were thanked and everyone went home happy!