2008 Spring Tune-up Thermal Duration Contest

Here's a final update on the Spring Tune-Up contest scheduled for Saturday, May 17 at Jirik. I've heard from several guys that will be coming, plus I was contacted by new flyer Wayne Norrie of Rochester who is hoping to come up and visit. I think we're covered for launching equipment and I've got the contest stuff, so we should be ready to go. Not to jinx anything, but each time I've looked at the forecast, it looks a little better. The wind will pick up through the day, so we plan to start early and hopefully get some good air. The schedule will be:

The handlaunch will be a scramble with 4-man heats. All up, last man down wins. The open contest will have a variety of duration and landing tasks, and we'll figure out how many classes to run when we see who we get for entrants.

MRCSS 2008 Summer Soar Contest

Where/When

Saturday, June 7 at Jirik sod farm.

What

Contests are fun, and we learn from watching each other. I was especially aware of this at the conclusion of our May contest when two or three guys stood with me for some time just watching Mike Trutwin continue to launch and fly set patterns with his venerable white glider.

Last week I asked Mike -- arguably the best thermal flyer in our club -- if he would be willing to hold a brief mini-seminar at our June contest, explaining and demonstrating techniques or judgments he uses in seeking/ flying thermals. He said he would.

So, on Saturday, after the contest flights are finished and while the CD adds up the score cards,  you are invited to gather around Mike and he will explain (in the manner of Jim  Porter) how and why he does what he does.

Starting time

If you need a test flight, come early. A few of us will arrive about 8 to set up launch and landing zones.

8:30 Gambler MOM flights

9:15 Group photo and pilots' meeting

Contest flying begins at 10

No entry fee.

Fly in one or two classes

• Basically Balsa 2M and under
• RES
• Open

Winners

The top three each class and an over-all champ.

Contest director: Vern Bailey

*** CONTEST SCHEDULE CHANGE ***

The Big One is normally our annual two-day thermal duration soaring contest. Unfortunately, unreasonably high winds caused us to cancel both days of this event when they were originally scheduled for July 12 and 13. The contest has be rescheduled as a one-day event for Saturday, July 26.

• We will start with the basic thermal duration contest… 6 tasks of increasing duration – 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, & 15 minutes –  a very large landing zone for RES type models with a potential score if IN, no score for the flight if OUT.  I think we will have a small penalty for going over the task duration too.  Hmm.  The plan is to use the same scoring sheet that Augie has for the Dog Days contests of past years. Remember the $5.00 entry fee.
• 60”, 2M, standard, unlimited ships, and electrics can compete. You electric assist guys will have to tell us how we can set this up to be fair as far as engine run and what all.  I am sure we can work that out.
• Lunch may be available if we can find someone to barbeque.  I don’t have a portable one anymore. (I can do the cooking so the grille owner can keep flying.)
• After lunch we will pick up where we left off with the contest.

After the Contest

• When we are done with the main contest we can get together and start a new contest or just fly for fun.  Sometime during the two days I hope to fly the “as many loops as possible before landing on the field” contest. We will be flexible with suggestions and other ideas.  Maybe we can get the bungee out as well.

So, come on out and fly whatever you have.  Bring your sun screen, chair, pencils, and stop watches and $5 entry fee.  If you need to contact me I will not get any emails after 4 pm Friday afternoon. You can reach me on my cell at (612) 819-2613.  Looking forward to it guys!

- Thanks
Engleson

Pilot's meeting at 9:30, flying at 10:00.