Topic: UK F3B - Your Country Needs You!!

Hi all

If anyone is interested in competing in F3B next season there is a possibility of us hosting a pre season training/try-out day, the venue will be confirmed based on the geographical location of the majority interested, or there might be a possibility of hosting two different venues on different days.

F3B is the pinnacle of flat field soaring which will challenge even the very best pilot, using the same model to fly duration, distance and speed.  We need to revive this event which unfortunately over the past recent years has seen a decline in numbers, so please come along and have a go as it's not as hard as you may think, worst case you might even enjoy yourself.

There will be experts on hand to provide one-to-one help, talking you through and explaining the different tasks and demonstrating the techniques to make you more competitive and successful.  It does not matter what model you fly as long as it has a tow hook there will be winches provided so you just need your transmitter and model.

First step - if you are interested then please reply to this post so we can gauge the level of interest, also please let us know which part of the country you live in?  If you do not want to go public then please send me a PM.

We really look forward to seeing some new faces next year...........why not give it a go!
 

Depending on dates, I will have a go.......

Wouldnt mind a go if the dates are good

me too

This particular forum has been a bit lacking on the F3B scene.  Glad to see you here *harry* 

Look forward to seeing details of where & when.

  Stuart.

How easy is it to add a hook to an F3F or is that a bad idea 

Tom

Give Aus a call at ACE models he can sell you one for £9.00 

Shall I put you down as a yes then??

Would be interested in this, but have no competing or flat field experience.
I'm in Hampshire
Alex

F3k is good fun too

no need for expensive winches, cheaper models and most importantly you are pretty much guarenteed at least 80 minutes of flying in the days competition.

no need to arrange a team to help you, no time to set up courses in the morning, easy to practice on your own. Even more variety of tasks than F3B.

simple fact is that all flat field soaring in the uk is struggling to gain interest, as to which is the most exciting or the "pinnicle" is purely subjective.

FIGHT! 

Great to see you guys coming on here to talk about this. Actually I think one of the major factors is purely that folks just need to know what to expect in a comp, what's involved - you know - the basics, so that it's not a total unknown when one turns up.

Would love to hear more...

Z

a kid's party has more tasks as well. Pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey. Bit like f3k - last one down while standing on one leg reciting the bmfa manual! ;-)

Is it really necessary to criticise f3b when someone is trying to promote it? 

To be honest and its only my opinion, f3k looks boring compared to f3b, yes theres skill involved but bit like watching paint dry, Im not taking anything away from the f3k lads I just prefer f3b, saying that I dont like durration in f3b, I do like speed though ..

Scott r   "wishing he hadnt said leave the tow hook off his new vampire f3b"

Leaving the took out of an F3B model.......now I am sure there is some sort of law against that!

No bun fighting here please - there is no excuse not to fly both F3B and F3K next season as there is only one clash in the comp dates.

There will be 3-4 of us regular F3Br's entering some F3K comps next year, it would be great to see some F3Kr's having a go at F3B this way we can support each other?
Just look at some of the best rc glider pilots in the World both past and present, you will find that they fly more than one discipline, so lets get the UK on the podium at the next World Championships

F3K or DLG in general is a great way to practice and tune your air reading skills, Joe Wurts writes some interesting articles about this that can be found on the web...............Joe Wurts one of the best pilots of our time and he flies F3B, F3J, F3K and F3F............just to prove my point above!

Just going back to the point that Charnwood raised about expensive models and winches etc, this can be as expensive as you want it to be.  In the first year there is no need to worry about a winch as you can buddy with an existing pilot, this will help too with teams.  As for the model, like I said before as long as it has tow hook you will be okay.  That is unless you can throw it to 250m?
Even if you have an electric model then please bring that fitted with a height limiter this will be fine.

So Charnwooduk, shall I put you down as a maybe, a yes or a no?

UK on the podium at the next World Champs eh.....picture this.....next up Scott from the UK.....Speed-Ballistic. Duration-From mouldy back to kit, a couple of weeks. Spot Landing- Vertical at 200mph and 2ft below marker......LOL. Yep can't wait....he's got his own podium up Leek, it's called Leek......Wwwaaattcchhhhooouuuttt it's Scott.  Ant.

'Course its not as hard as F3F!

Opps! Sorry..........Slipped into 'Clive' Mode there.....
 

Opps! Sorry..........Slipped into 'Clive' Mode there.....
 

I miss the Doc  ....

This might be a stupid question, but could i enter a 2 meter model? Ive always wanted to try a winch launch but never been anywhere with the kit to do it and the previous owner of my glider removed the hook so I've only ever sloped it, so would someone be willing to show me the ropes of winch launching if I did come along. I'm in the south near Brighton but I would be willing to travel a bit for this.

Yes no problem, the more the merrier!

So to all that replied to this orignal thread, are we going to see you tomorrow??

Adam Richardson?
Compact?
Satinet?
Gromit?
Gonesoaring2003?
Muchalucha?

It would be great if you guys can make it..............see you in the morning, see the thread "F3B Pracitce 27th Feb for full details.

Harry

Not this time Harry.

To be honest the prospect of driving back down the m1 on a Sunday night is very off putting.

Hey Harry

I was really keen to make this date, but unfortunately, work has piled up a little too much, so I'm at that all weekend 

But please keep us posted on events etc as I would really like to have a go at some flat.

Cheers

Z

So to all that replied to this orignal thread, are we going to see you tomorrow??

Adam Richardson?
Compact?
Satinet?
Gromit?
Gonesoaring2003?
Muchalucha?

It would be great if you guys can make it..............see you in the morning, see the thread "F3B Pracitce 27th Feb for full details.

Harry

In reality how much flying time can somebody expect to get in at one of these sessions?

Andy

At a practice day like tomorrow, if you have your own frequency.............how long do your batteries last for??

OK - so how about at an event if a round is three different flights?

F3k is good fun too

no need for expensive winches, cheaper models and most importantly you are pretty much guarenteed at least 80 minutes of flying in the days competition.

no need to arrange a team to help you, no time to set up courses in the morning, easy to practice on your own. Even more variety of tasks than F3B.

simple fact is that all flat field soaring in the uk is struggling to gain interest, as to which is the most exciting or the "pinnicle" is purely subjective.

Wheres the web link for f3k.  The barcs one display a db error!

You'll find lots of info in the DLG section of the Flyquiet forum.

PDR

Wheres the web link for f3k.  The barcs one display a db error!

The site was hacked and destroyed heres a link to googles cached information
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:wZaaBLEBbPIJ:www.barcs.co.uk/F3KF6DDLGs/WhatisF3K/tabid/90/Default.aspx+f3k+gliders&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&source=www.google.co.uk

Average flight time at a normal comp of 2 rounds would be about 40 minutes of competitive flying, of course many stay on to do some sport flying or even fly the whole day before and camp overnight which gives you a full weekend of flying and socialising with friends.  Barbeques, drinks and evening DLG.........fantastic, roll on the summer.

So you in then??

Sorry Harry I cant attend tomoz, only have the morning free.

Scott Ravenscroft

Average flight time at a normal comp of 2 rounds would be about 40 minutes of competitive flying, of course many stay on to do some sport flying or even fly the whole day before and camp overnight which gives you a full weekend of flying and socialising with friends.  Barbeques, drinks and evening DLG.........fantastic, roll on the summer.

So you in then??

A normal comp is only 2 rounds? Thought you had an A and B league? Which one is second fiddle in inclement weather? I'm assuming the A and B league pilots don't fly rounds together?
 

Andy

Hi Andy

We have not used the A&B divide for at least 3 years now, there is only one league which means everyone has a chance to win a place on the UK team for the World's.

This has worked out great so far, if we can set the course up earlier in the day then we try and get in 3 rounds but this is subject on the number of refly's etc, we also now have a least one 2 day event which this year will be at the Wetlands with camping on site so we should get 7 rounds in with plenty of sport flying as well.

Today was a good day with 5 new faces who all flew very well, shame about the break for rain but everyone flew and learned something.

Hope to see you soon Andy?

Harry.

Hi Harry

Not sure how many of the f3b community visit this forum so would you pass on my thanks to everybody who helped the newbies today.

Really enjoyable day (apart from the bit when it rained).

See you at the next comp

Joel

I also had a top day, winch launching was a great fun and not nearly as scary as i was expecting thanks Joel 4 letting me use your winch, will try 2 make a few comps this year
     Regards Paul Mid

Thanks to all the helpers and flyers today.  Good to catch up with old friends and meet some new faces.  In spite of the weather doing it's best to rain on our parade, we all got quite a bit of flying in, with even the odd thermal going through.  Steve's Jeti 2.4GHz system with the vario is impressive, and great for fine tuning launch technique.  Wetlands is a great field (even if it did live up to it's name...).  Hope to get up there again sometime this year.

Simon

Hi Harry,

Just wanted to say a big thanks for organising the practice day, everyone was really helpful, taking the time to assist with explaining 2 of the 3 tasks and demonstrating the skills which need to practiced.

Look forward to getting along to some F3B comps this year.

Thanks

Martin

Well, I'm really gutted that I missed this :(
I'm also going to miss the speed comp as well :(
Never mind Holiday was booked well in advance.
I hope to be joining Martin, Simon and Joel this year for some comps.

Cheers
Jon

Where's fish meadow?

On your door step, you could roll out of bed!
 



Upton on Severn, Malvern, worcs

Not far off M5/M50

excellent.......

Fish Meadow, now that sounds like a place that could flood
The thought of driving all the way ooop north does put me off of F3B a little.
But I do want to have a go forsure.
Jon