International organizations bid to host the F3B World Championships, which are held every other year. The 2003 World                                          Championships will beheld in Germany.

     World Championships are typically very well organized events, with all of the fanfare one would expect from such a large  international               event. The level of competition is fierce, yet camaraderie and friendships are equally as important. US pilots have done very well, in                     international F3B competition, and include World Champions Daryl Perkins, Joe Wurts, Skip Miller  and Dwight Holley. The US Team                   has also placed very well.

For more information visit the 2003 World Championships website at: http://www.f3b-wm-2003.de/

 

 Team Update #1
31 July, 2003

The team arrived in Stuttgart bleary eyed on Wednesday, July 30.  After  getting our vehicles we headed for Kirchheim to get settled in.  We got checked in to the hotel, had a quick beer, then headed off to town to stretch the legs and find dinner.  Had a great meal at a local Gasthaus, then back to the hotel. 

Thursday morning four of us headed to Sindelfingen (a suburb of Stuttgart) to claim the 18 parcels that FedEx shipped for us.  Back to the hotel, met up with the others, then off to the field to check out all the equipment, fly a little, renew old friendships (for Daryl, Darrel, and Gavin), and make some new ones (for everyone). 

Tonight is a wedding reception for the organizer and the assistant CD (don't you wish you had it so good!) at the airfield.  Thats it for Day one at the World Championships.

 JT
Team Update #2
1 August, 2003

Day two in Germany.  The team headed to the field early to process planes and check winches.  This took the better part of the morning, then we got our first chance to fly on the actual contest site.  Thelift was really good and the guys got a chance to fine tune things and dial the planes in. 

At times it looked a bit like Visalia on Friday, with planes flying everywhere without much control.  We wrapped about 3 pm and headed back to the hotel.  Mike Smith and I went out in search of a little red wagon to help us haul batteries and winches between the parking area and the flight line (its a long way).  After some searching, we found a really cool wood sided wagon with 8" tires that will be perfect.  The guys put it together while I was off at the first official Manager's meeting.  This was what we consider the pilot's meeting. 

Tomorrow is the Kirchheim Open (Eurotour F3B contest) and we will be at the site by 630 am to be ready to fly by 8 am.  This is the REAL tune up.  Thats it for today.

JT
Team Update #3
3 August, 2003 (early morning)

Day 3 and the first day of the Kirchheim Open, a Eurocontest scheduled as the pre-contest to the Worlds. The team had its ups and downs, and is using this event as our final practice with the full team together. Not too concerned about the results and want to use it to learn the site, bracket turns, and get a good look at the competition. For this contest distance working time is 6 minutes, speed working time is 3 minutes. Puts a crimp in normal launch- relaunch strategy and opportunity, but sort of moves things along. This contest has about 120 pilots and we got through one full round and about half of the second round of distance. The Worlds will have about 75 pilots.

This day was typical of the rest of the contest, at the field by 630am, back at the hotel after a quick dinner at the site around 1000pm. Its gonna be a long week.

The hit of the contest are a pair of Argentinian kids, Joaquin and Rodrigo. Joaquin is 10 and flying an Estrella in competition. Rodrigo is 5 and flew his Dad's Estrella on Friday. These kids are GOOD, and will be giving the world class pilots a run for it in (not too many) years.

Tomorrow is the end of the pre-contest and opening ceremonies for the Worlds, then the real thing starts tomorrow. The updates may lag a bit because we are getting back to the hotel so late.

JT
Team Update #4
3 August, 2003 (evening)

Todays report. The guys did much better today as a team. Looking better.

Sunday, Aug. 4 marked the end of the Kirchheim Open. The team got the kinks out and looked much better as a working unit. Tomorrow the flying begins in earnest.

The opening ceremonies followed the end of flying about 5 pm. These consisted of a parade of the nations, introduction of all the pilots and TMs, speeches by local dignitaries, and a really neat aerobatic demonstration by a local in a Laser 300. A nice addition was the pilot calling his maneuvers (in German) on the radio which was piped over the PA. Nice touch.

We set up for tomorrow's beginning of the Worlds, then headed out for dinner. And the fun begins...

JT
Team Update #5
4 August, 2003 (pm)

Day 1 of the World Championships. The team had a great day and leads both the team and individual classifications. We have completed Round 1 and Duration of Round 2. The practice that we got during the Kirchheim Open paid off with great teamwork, which the results support. We hope to keep performing at this level, its going to be a long contest.

The highlight of the day was a thermal the size of Rhode Island that started out by rattling the trees behind the contestant's tent row, then came across the corner where Poland, the Netherlands, and Norway were camped. The thermal was so strong it literally ripped their tents out of the ground, tore them apart and rained the debris all around. A plane was picked 75-100', then came back down with some damage; it was airborne for about 45 seconds. We were all in awe of the power of this mini-twister. The contest paused for about 30 minutes while order was restored in the encampment area.

And on to day two of the worlds...

JT

(See the photos for yourself at http://www.f3b-wm-2003.de/pictures/04.08.03/index.htm).


Team Update #6
5 August, 2003 (pm)

Day 2 at the Worlds. We completed round 2, round 3 speed and half of round 3 distance. The team had a fairly lousy time in the balance of round 2, but seem to be coming back to form in round 3. Daryl Perkins smoked the speed course with a 15.19 as the 5th pilot up. The closest came late in the round with a 15.48. DP flew a very impressive course. No weather related incidents today, but its still hot and uncomfortable. And you think Muncie is bad, imagine it day and night, with no ice or air conditioning. Thats Germany.

JT
Team Update #7
7 August 2003 (am)


(Sorry about no report yesterday, I was totally wiped.  DP participated in a round table talk last night, I hit the wall and didn´t go, passed out at 9 pm.I have an XL world´s T for your contest.  Here isthe report).

Day 3 at the Worlds:  Conditions have been tough, and the home court edge the Europeans have in regularly flying in this locale and conditions really showed.  All the guys got edged in their distance rounds.  Speed was a crapshoot for good air, and all did their best with what they got. Daryl cut base B and had to go back, leading to a slow time.  The duration round at the end of the day was interesting, with lift hard to read. 

Mike is flying consistently and currently the high man for the US team.  We hope to improve on the last couple day´s performance going into the last few days. 

The organization has been impressive, with 4 rounds half of the next task complete in 3 days.  It looks like they will complete 8 full rounds before all is over. 

JT.
Team Update #8
7 August, 2003 (pm)

Day 4 Worlds:

It is still hot as the dickens here. The team is still having its ups and downs, with consistency difficult to find. We are into round 6, with 8 rounds planned.

One of the guys from Australia and one from Spain have organized a hand-chuck contest, with written rules and all. The idea is you get one sheet of 4 mm balsa, glue and noseweight only, no reinforcing materials. Hand launch only, no mechanical aids. This afternoon (Thursday) has been filled with as many test flights of these little guys as contest flights of the big molded ones. Tomorrow at the lunch break is the REAL contest (for the chuckies).

JT
Team Updated #9
8 August 2003 (pm)

Day 5 at the Worlds.

 The team stand 6th overall.  The flying has been tough at times, and the Europeans have performed in an outstanding manner. These guys are good.  Seven rounds are completed, along with duration in round 8.  We expect to finish round 8 tomorrow to complete the contest.  The closing banquet is tomorrow night, then we make preparations to return home. 
The highlight of the day was the hand chuck contest after the end of flying, around 700pm.  There were about 14 teams entered, and they were broken up into 3 heats to qualify for the flyoff.  The longest flight in the prelims was 55 seconds by the Australian team, followed closely by the UK and Spain.  In the flyoffs Spain prevailed with a flight of 51 seconds.  Not bad for one piece of balsa, no plans, whatever tools were on hand, and a lot of
ingenuity.

On behalf of the team I want to thank all of you that have followed these reports for your support and best wishes.  F3B deserves more support in the US, and you are the ones that can make that happen. 
JT
Team Update #10
9 August 2003

Day 6, last day of the Worlds. 

Competition is over.  In the individual classification Andreas Bohlen (Switzerland) was first, Pasi Vaisanen (Sweden) was second, Reinhard Leise (Germany) was third.  In team Switzerland was first, Germany second, Sweden third, the US team placed sixth.  Individually, Daryl Perkins 17th, Darrell Zaballos 19th, Mike Lachowski 20th, Gavin Botha 30th.  Details of the rounds and lots of pictures available on the Worlds website.  We are ready for home, air conditioning, and more familiar surroundings. 

JT