Post by bananaman on Mar 2, 2010 12:25:32 GMT 10
New Zealand Soarfest 2010 report
Dale Ward (Bundyglida), John Jujonovich and myself have just returned from a very entertaining weekend in New Zealand.
Last year we had toyed with the idea of travelling over to compete in the 2010 Soarfest, which is sort of a New Zealand version of Jerilderie, but held over 2 days sometime in February. They call their version of Open Thermal, Premier Duration. The differences are 300m lines, one dropped round every 10 flown and unlimited launches but the last one counts.
I had every intention of setting up for and practicing 300m launches before I went but as usual everything happened in a rush at the end and I didn’t. Long shifts at work, missing out on quality sleep and rain killed off whatever other time was available.
Les Stockley of the Auckland Soar club was very helpful getting us winches and line and helping wherever he could to get us flying over there. We thought we might end up with clunker winches but a NZ pilot John Dolphin, loaned us 2 sweet running winches with all the associated equipment we could use. JJ took his Hollenbeck style/James winch as well so we were well covered for launching.
I took Dale’s Perfect and my 2 Xplorers over with my new flight box. It performed very well and protected the models from the baggage handlers. Even though it had wheels on the bottom and big “this way up signs” it showed signs of being dragged upside down into NZ and the same again happened when I watched it being unloaded here in Brisbane. What can you do?!! Anyway the 3 models were unharmed.
Although we all travelled over at different times, we met up at Matamata on the Friday afternoon for a practice. Matamata is about 30mins north west of Rotorua, across the Kaimai ranges from Tauranga in the middle of the north island. It is a fertile produce bowl with horse studs and one of the world’s best fullsize gliding areas, Waikato. Dale and I drooled at the fantastic grassy slopes that are just everywhere you look.
The field we used had been harvested of onions 6 weeks before so was mostly dirt and not grassy like we and even other NZers had expected. It was surprisingly hot and would get very dusty over the weekend. The large field still had hundreds of kilos of onions lying around and it smelt like it, the soil was far more compact than it looked as there had been some recent rain which had also flattened out the furrows well. It was surrounded by crops of almost matured corn, around 3m tall. It was a great site for thermal generation.
Anyhow we set up and started flying. No real issues, a 300m launch just happens faster and you end up a bit lower. I managed to snap off my 2.4Ghz antenna base, and had to do a field repair but got flying again. Everything was going well, until I noticed Dale doing low aerobatics over the corn. “You OK?” …. “No!!” he answered. I was up high in a thermal but kept an eye on it as it arced into the corn. I got a really good line on it which was a blessing later. However when I looked back, my model wasn’t where it should have been in the sky! A bit of up elevator and scanning for signs soon found it hiding in front of a grey cloud. Phew, panic over!! Now it’s time to get Dale’s model back. Dale walked towards the corn and was soon dwarfed. We gave him a 1.5m white pole to hold up so we could see his progress and yell directions. However, then the difficulties set in.
The field was surrounded by a multi-wire fence and 2m of gorse (thorny hedge). After much searching we managed to find a hole to push Dale through. He got pretty scratched up. Unfortunately it wasn’t near the model. The corn stalks were about 30cm apart and the foliage closed in over the top so there was very poor visibility. 20 meters in we couldn’t see the pole or hear Dale. We started to stress that he might get lost in there, I decided to drive up the fence past the thorny wall to see if there was another way in. Luckily I found the field was split into corn and potatoes and with the help of one of the Kiwis worked out a reverse sighting using the markers I had used. We were pretty sure that we could walk straight to it about 10m into the crop and after trekking through the potato crop, pretty much did. If it had landed further into the crop, it may have only been found by a harvester. Much to Dale’s and everyone’s relief, the damage was cosmetic and confined to one leading edge. Good thing the top third of a corn stalk is fairly soft. His Perfect isn’t perfect any longer, a pity. The post mortem back at our simple lodgings showed the battery had died, despite having just come off charge. Load checking will now be one of Dale’s preflight items.
That night we caught up with the other pilots and we had an enjoyable beer and chat out at the full size gliding field. We watched a very impressive foamy scale glider with a retractable up and go system and a crazy rescue of a new Stobel DLG from the top of a big pine tree by Kevin Botherway. The sunset on the Kaimai ranges was spectacular. It all looked good for the next day.
Saturday morning we met our cabin neighbors, Joe Wurts, his wife Jan and their friendly Labrador before meeting the other pilots at a local café for breakfast before heading out to the field. The event setup was quick, nearly half the pilots have been World champ team pilots and they’ve had Joe’s extensive contest experience as a guide as well to tune their natural talent. The format is pre drawn heats and automated timing with a CD playing. You get 3 minutes before the start and the slot happens ready or not. (I have a copy of the CD)
My first flight was a beauty in the light air and I got a great time and landing. I thought it would be good if that happened every time, it didn’t. I got too confident. My next flight was 6.40ish and an out landing as I tried working a very low upwind bubble. I went from hero to zero like that for the rest of the comp. My launches were pretty average and even when I did get a decent one I was an easy 5/10m lower than the others. My air reading and resulting decisions were not paying off. Dale however was on fire. Apart from where his rudder horn failed on a launch and the rudder fluttered horribly resulting in an aborted flight. The day before another Pike Perfect had the same thing happen. Both after I launched them!! The ball-link just sits in a dollop of bog, not a very strong installation. JJ was a bit like me, doing great in some rounds and bombing out in others. He did do well when Joe called for him though, Joe’s calls are not complex and are accurate with clear directions. Considering JJ was competing against F3J models, Perfects, Xplorers, Supras etc., learning 300m launches and flying a heavy (repaired) F3B Furio, he did quite well. The last 2 rounds of the day were flown in a tail wind which resulted in some poor launches but spirited flying. Although we could have kept flying it was decided to finish for the day rather than turn the winches for just one or two flights.
That evening before we went to dinner, Dale and I got to have a chat and a beer with Joe about launching, bungees and cross country flying. He is really free with information and very analytical. I asked him about my “different” over arm launch throw and he concluded it suits my asymmetric arm musculature or something to that effect. I assume it is a result of my pre r/c sailplane interest in marathon canoeing. I think the trip was worth it just for that hour chat.
At dinner that night at a local pub with the other pilots we talked about a bit more interaction between Aussies and Kiwis in some future comps, not necessarily the big ones. With today’s cheaper airfares its around the same cost as going to an event like Jerilderie from Brisbane but less than half the total travel time.
Sunday was much the same conditions as the day before but dustier. My inconsistent flying style continued. Dale kept flying well, nailing his times but getting some low 90 landings. In that field of quality pilots that can hurt. JJ had some good flights again and his landings were getting better each flight.
We managed to fly 13 rounds, there were 16 entries. It was unlikely that you would get a rest anytime, if you weren’t flying, you were retrieving or timing. Like we have gone through here, NZ r/c soaring event attendance dropped off from a peak (they used to get 30plus pilots) Official results will come later but Dale was 8th, I was 10th, JJ 13th. The leaders were not separated by much, ie single digits. Joe still managed to win despite damaging his radio and having to rush a setup on a backup one. It occurred when a willy-willy (dust devil) moved through the pits, it was the smallest, slowest moving, longest lived one I’ve ever seen.
I didn’t fly as well as I would have liked, but I really enjoyed the trip. The NZ/OZ sledging was there, but good natured and fun. Everyone was friendly and helpful, the scenery beautiful. Dale and JJ were good company and we had a laugh, learnt a bit more about our great sport and came home with our models in one piece. I’ll go again and I’d like to see some more Aussie faces there next time.
Dale Ward (Bundyglida), John Jujonovich and myself have just returned from a very entertaining weekend in New Zealand.
Last year we had toyed with the idea of travelling over to compete in the 2010 Soarfest, which is sort of a New Zealand version of Jerilderie, but held over 2 days sometime in February. They call their version of Open Thermal, Premier Duration. The differences are 300m lines, one dropped round every 10 flown and unlimited launches but the last one counts.
I had every intention of setting up for and practicing 300m launches before I went but as usual everything happened in a rush at the end and I didn’t. Long shifts at work, missing out on quality sleep and rain killed off whatever other time was available.
Les Stockley of the Auckland Soar club was very helpful getting us winches and line and helping wherever he could to get us flying over there. We thought we might end up with clunker winches but a NZ pilot John Dolphin, loaned us 2 sweet running winches with all the associated equipment we could use. JJ took his Hollenbeck style/James winch as well so we were well covered for launching.
I took Dale’s Perfect and my 2 Xplorers over with my new flight box. It performed very well and protected the models from the baggage handlers. Even though it had wheels on the bottom and big “this way up signs” it showed signs of being dragged upside down into NZ and the same again happened when I watched it being unloaded here in Brisbane. What can you do?!! Anyway the 3 models were unharmed.
Although we all travelled over at different times, we met up at Matamata on the Friday afternoon for a practice. Matamata is about 30mins north west of Rotorua, across the Kaimai ranges from Tauranga in the middle of the north island. It is a fertile produce bowl with horse studs and one of the world’s best fullsize gliding areas, Waikato. Dale and I drooled at the fantastic grassy slopes that are just everywhere you look.
The field we used had been harvested of onions 6 weeks before so was mostly dirt and not grassy like we and even other NZers had expected. It was surprisingly hot and would get very dusty over the weekend. The large field still had hundreds of kilos of onions lying around and it smelt like it, the soil was far more compact than it looked as there had been some recent rain which had also flattened out the furrows well. It was surrounded by crops of almost matured corn, around 3m tall. It was a great site for thermal generation.
Anyhow we set up and started flying. No real issues, a 300m launch just happens faster and you end up a bit lower. I managed to snap off my 2.4Ghz antenna base, and had to do a field repair but got flying again. Everything was going well, until I noticed Dale doing low aerobatics over the corn. “You OK?” …. “No!!” he answered. I was up high in a thermal but kept an eye on it as it arced into the corn. I got a really good line on it which was a blessing later. However when I looked back, my model wasn’t where it should have been in the sky! A bit of up elevator and scanning for signs soon found it hiding in front of a grey cloud. Phew, panic over!! Now it’s time to get Dale’s model back. Dale walked towards the corn and was soon dwarfed. We gave him a 1.5m white pole to hold up so we could see his progress and yell directions. However, then the difficulties set in.
The field was surrounded by a multi-wire fence and 2m of gorse (thorny hedge). After much searching we managed to find a hole to push Dale through. He got pretty scratched up. Unfortunately it wasn’t near the model. The corn stalks were about 30cm apart and the foliage closed in over the top so there was very poor visibility. 20 meters in we couldn’t see the pole or hear Dale. We started to stress that he might get lost in there, I decided to drive up the fence past the thorny wall to see if there was another way in. Luckily I found the field was split into corn and potatoes and with the help of one of the Kiwis worked out a reverse sighting using the markers I had used. We were pretty sure that we could walk straight to it about 10m into the crop and after trekking through the potato crop, pretty much did. If it had landed further into the crop, it may have only been found by a harvester. Much to Dale’s and everyone’s relief, the damage was cosmetic and confined to one leading edge. Good thing the top third of a corn stalk is fairly soft. His Perfect isn’t perfect any longer, a pity. The post mortem back at our simple lodgings showed the battery had died, despite having just come off charge. Load checking will now be one of Dale’s preflight items.
That night we caught up with the other pilots and we had an enjoyable beer and chat out at the full size gliding field. We watched a very impressive foamy scale glider with a retractable up and go system and a crazy rescue of a new Stobel DLG from the top of a big pine tree by Kevin Botherway. The sunset on the Kaimai ranges was spectacular. It all looked good for the next day.
Saturday morning we met our cabin neighbors, Joe Wurts, his wife Jan and their friendly Labrador before meeting the other pilots at a local café for breakfast before heading out to the field. The event setup was quick, nearly half the pilots have been World champ team pilots and they’ve had Joe’s extensive contest experience as a guide as well to tune their natural talent. The format is pre drawn heats and automated timing with a CD playing. You get 3 minutes before the start and the slot happens ready or not. (I have a copy of the CD)
My first flight was a beauty in the light air and I got a great time and landing. I thought it would be good if that happened every time, it didn’t. I got too confident. My next flight was 6.40ish and an out landing as I tried working a very low upwind bubble. I went from hero to zero like that for the rest of the comp. My launches were pretty average and even when I did get a decent one I was an easy 5/10m lower than the others. My air reading and resulting decisions were not paying off. Dale however was on fire. Apart from where his rudder horn failed on a launch and the rudder fluttered horribly resulting in an aborted flight. The day before another Pike Perfect had the same thing happen. Both after I launched them!! The ball-link just sits in a dollop of bog, not a very strong installation. JJ was a bit like me, doing great in some rounds and bombing out in others. He did do well when Joe called for him though, Joe’s calls are not complex and are accurate with clear directions. Considering JJ was competing against F3J models, Perfects, Xplorers, Supras etc., learning 300m launches and flying a heavy (repaired) F3B Furio, he did quite well. The last 2 rounds of the day were flown in a tail wind which resulted in some poor launches but spirited flying. Although we could have kept flying it was decided to finish for the day rather than turn the winches for just one or two flights.
That evening before we went to dinner, Dale and I got to have a chat and a beer with Joe about launching, bungees and cross country flying. He is really free with information and very analytical. I asked him about my “different” over arm launch throw and he concluded it suits my asymmetric arm musculature or something to that effect. I assume it is a result of my pre r/c sailplane interest in marathon canoeing. I think the trip was worth it just for that hour chat.
At dinner that night at a local pub with the other pilots we talked about a bit more interaction between Aussies and Kiwis in some future comps, not necessarily the big ones. With today’s cheaper airfares its around the same cost as going to an event like Jerilderie from Brisbane but less than half the total travel time.
Sunday was much the same conditions as the day before but dustier. My inconsistent flying style continued. Dale kept flying well, nailing his times but getting some low 90 landings. In that field of quality pilots that can hurt. JJ had some good flights again and his landings were getting better each flight.
We managed to fly 13 rounds, there were 16 entries. It was unlikely that you would get a rest anytime, if you weren’t flying, you were retrieving or timing. Like we have gone through here, NZ r/c soaring event attendance dropped off from a peak (they used to get 30plus pilots) Official results will come later but Dale was 8th, I was 10th, JJ 13th. The leaders were not separated by much, ie single digits. Joe still managed to win despite damaging his radio and having to rush a setup on a backup one. It occurred when a willy-willy (dust devil) moved through the pits, it was the smallest, slowest moving, longest lived one I’ve ever seen.
I didn’t fly as well as I would have liked, but I really enjoyed the trip. The NZ/OZ sledging was there, but good natured and fun. Everyone was friendly and helpful, the scenery beautiful. Dale and JJ were good company and we had a laugh, learnt a bit more about our great sport and came home with our models in one piece. I’ll go again and I’d like to see some more Aussie faces there next time.
