FSS 3 at the IRKS fabulous flying field is a wonderful opportunity for all Florida Sailplane Pilots to experience a little bit of what makes F3J such an exciting and increasingly popular contest format. We provided the pilots at FSS 2 with a small taste of F3J MoM bungee launched task flying after the Kennyworld event on Sat and everybody who participated had a great time.
We will be running this FSS 3 event as an F3J style event with experienced F3J pilots leading teams of 3 or 4 inexperienced pilots and teaching them what to do.
Basically we will have at least 8 winches set up in pairs in lanes separated at least 20 meters apart. Each Team of 3 or 4 pilots will occupy a lane and use two winches, (one to launch and a spare.)
A recording on a loud speaker will be used to run the event (as most F3J events do) which basically provides a preparation period of 3 to 5 minutes prior to each group launch. The recording announces the beginning of the preparation time and counts down to the start of the next groups working time.
At the end of the preparation time the 10 minute task working time begins and the team can launch their pilots models, The timed flight time begins when the model comes off the winch line and the flight concludes when the model touches the ground or the recording announces the end of the 10 minute working time. If the pilot lands after the end of working time a 300 point penalty is applied and zero landing points can be scored.
So simply put the goal is to score the longest soaring flight time within the allowed 10 minute working time. You are allowed to launch twice if the first attempt isn't successful but the last flight counts.
Landing tapes are located in each teams lane and can be positioned in the safest place to effect a landing based on the wind direction.
Much of what we do in F3j is not that much different to a normal TD contest except that all pilots in each flight group fly in exactly the same air as each other in a true Man on Man format. It is very exciting, but apparently often misunderstood by those who have not experienced it - hence this event to safely introduce you to a really fun event.
The Team leaders will be Jody Miller, Dillon Graves, Jeff Duval, Gordon Buckland and John Graves. We will divide the registered pilots into Teams on the day. Your Team Leader will be responsible to show each of you the ropes and make sure everybody has a lot of fun.
We will explain more at the 9:45am pilot meeting on Saturday. We expect to have someone on the gate at IRKS at 8:00am Sat and 7:30am Sunday. Pilots meeting Sunday will be at 8:45am for a 9:00am start.
Even though we fly as teams only one member of each team flies at a time and the contest is an individual event. There is nothing to be afraid of - just a lot of fun to be had. Come out and enjoy the soaring and see why the signup for these events in the USA often fill up quickly.
Gordon
PS. Here's a message posted on another thread by Jim Monaco that explains a lot more about how well F3J works for club pilots new and old alike.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=26

Here's a start on the pilots list for the event. Who's coming?
Jody Miller
Dillon Graves
Jeff Duval
Gordon Buckland
John Graves
Enrico Parades
Jim MacLean
John Kennedy
Andy Fox

Count me in, not sure which day or maybe both (depends on my son's soccer tournament), but however I won't miss this no matter what!!
For those guys that are thinking (or worried) about it, we did a bungee version of this format after Saturday flights on Kennyworld on FSS2. It was a entertaining and I would encourage all of you who lost interest in the TD format, come and give it a swirl. I am sure you will too have a blast!
Se ya there!

Enrico

I had shoulder surgery May 2 and I really miss using my right arm! I think I will be able to fly by that time - just not able to throw or lift much! Since there will be friends to help, I can come. Many thanks. Jim MacLean

BTW Will we be using "F3J" winches/line or TD winches?

Hi Jim,
We will use either. You can bring your own winch also if you want to. We want it to be fun.
If you use a club winch we will set the turn arounds at 160 meters. With mono/twine on an F3B winch we will be at 150 meters. We will be able to help you mate.
Gordon

Count me in. John K.

Originally Posted by roxaneandjohn

Count me in. John K.

Great mate! You're in.