Topic: Ashdown Forest XC glider comp

Ashdown forest Open XC comp:  Sunday 21 August 2011
It's time to fill in that Diary

you can also PM me here with the entry info

EAST SUSSEX

Oooh. Pleased to see this.
 More than a little tempted especially as I have a glider or two that may just be suitable. How's it all run then and what rules? I'm a noob at this sort of thing.

The rule are kept very simple as I am a very simple kinda guy.
Launch
walk to first flag, bring model to first flag, fly a 360 deg turn at the flag
walk to the next flag and so on
you get timed from launch to landing, you get time penalties for relaunches

fastest time winds 

If you plan on using electric launch gliders you will need a height limiter
these can be purchased or hired for the day from martin at esoar, email me for his contact details
I believe it's £5 to hire one

Any chance of some more info on how this hand tow system works aswell?

Any chance of some more info on how this hand tow system works aswell?

Hand tow is 200m of strong fishing line on a real, one end hooked to glider and the other in the hands of a "runner" and just like a kite your glider goes up and pings of the top of the line

Hand tow is 200m of strong fishing line on a real, one end hooked to glider and the other in the hands of a "runner" and just like a kite your glider goes up and pings of the top of the line

A standard towline is 150m.  Are you planning on a longer towline for this event Allen?

Simon

A standard towline is 150m.  Are you planning on a longer towline for this event Allen?

Simon

Sorry my mistake 150m 
The electric launch is limited to 200m

Allen kindly organised the last year's cross country event which had to be held at North Chailey Common owing to administrative difficulties with the Ashdown Forest Conservators which Allen seems to have resolved this year - well done that man!!
The Kent contingent decided that we needed some practice at hand towing before the event, I'd last done it about 20 years ago, so we found a suitable flatish field to practice on and also initiated Simon (swarrans) into the joys of towing but unfortunately it rained rather hard on the chosen day with both flyers and models getting a good soaking. After sort of drying out our sodden models we attended North Chailey event a couple of days later with the predictable results!!

Evidence of our pratting about can be seen here - http://goodwindsoaring.blogspot.com/2010/08/chailey-common-chumps.html

I'm looking forward to the Ashdown Forest event in August but whether I put up a glider remains to be seen. I last did the course - and it's a looong way round - about 25 years ago when I was a younger and a lot fitter so I think it will be electric for me,  but not the flea-powered model I used last year!! I also don't want to give Paul, our very able towman a heart attack running across the forest undergrowth - take a look at the photos to see where I have a habit of landing!

Many thanks for getting the show on the road Allen.

Thanks Eric
But you have to bring something to fly, ITS THE LAW!!!  lol
You know I am trying not to let this event get too serious as it's meant to be a fun day for people to get away from the NORM
yes there will be an annual trophy (if I ever manage to find something suitable) and I'm sure the esoar guys will turn up with some nice models, but for me it's just a case of doing something a little differant and fun, but more importantly expanding my piloting skills. (landing in bracken and trying to retrieve your model without personal damage is a good piloting skill to have)

At least there is a chance of a little slope list too 

I definitely will be flying electric Allen, but whether I fly glider as well will most probably be dependant on the day and the enthusiasm of whoever agrees to tow me up.
I'll bring two or three gliders as well and see which is best suited to the day's conditions.

Cheers - Eric

OK
I was trying to sort a trophy but have decided to have a prise instead

The winner of the Ashdown Forest cross country open will take home..............

The first prise
I have made some decals to go on 
It's will suit the flat landers as well as the slopers 
 

With Decals

Nice one Allen!

Looks like Mike has changed the material for the centre section of the Alula, hopefully it's tougher than the prevoius moulding. 
I expect it's as a result of feedback from people (like me) who have knocked the nose off their Mk2 Alula. 

Nice one Allen!

Looks like Mike has changed the material for the centre section of the Alula, hopefully it's tougher than the prevoius moulding. 
I expect it's as a result of feedback from people (like me) who have knocked the nose off their Mk2 Alula. 

Did that to mine too - the answer is to glue the nose tray on - it stops it happening again 

Did that to mine too - the answer is to glue the nose tray on - it stops it happening again 

Thanks for the suggestion  but as I didn't want to seal the radio gear in, I use 1/2 inch wide strips of white duct tape instead of Blenderm tape to hold the nose tray and that seems to have solved the the problem.   

How do I know, I tested it  here at 2min 05 secs - however make sure you watch the video from the start as Goodwind - http://goodwindsoaring.blogspot.com/ - has produced yet another excellent record of the mayhem on the slopes here in Kent!

easter slope soaring

Update to flyer and information
Please download if you are coming

Not long now Allen 

Can I enter via here?

Open Electric. 2.4GHz   

All good J 

we're still on then Allen? (pending the weather) 

I was not going to mention the W word 
But yes
and looking good 

   

Is there a postcode i can tap into the sat nav at all?

Steve

does your sat nav do longs and lats ?
51.044025, 0.100206

This is the PC of the Tea rooms about 2miles south on the same road TN22 3BH
 

I'm planning to come Allen.
Although I think electric is going to be the practical way of getting round a course on Ashdown Forest unless you're lucky enough to hook a thermal (the thought of having a second tow up in all that gorse and stuff is er interesting!) I'm going to live dangerously and enter my Starlite in the non-powered over 2m category!

I suspect this means that I will only get one short flight but hey, it'll give me lots of time to spectate!

Si

I imagine all re-launches will be off the bridleways, as long as you are not gaining ground air you wont have to launch from where you land. 

does your sat nav do longs and lats ?
51.044025, 0.100206

This is the PC of the Tea rooms about 2miles south on the same road TN22 3BH
 

Ok thanks Allen 

Hi Allen,

I should be able to make it & lend a hand.

I just wondered if it might be helpful to use this website as well, to grab a picture of the exact location, as it shows car parks on an OS map, & you can move the little orange arrow to a precise location.

Try this link, & see if you can home it in a little better.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=547349&y=129371&z=115&sv=547349,129371&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=663&ax=547349&ay=129371&lm=0

So long as it's not too windy, I'll be flying the Medicine Man in the Open Glider class, and, if I'm feeling really keen, the Radian in the 2m Electric  .

Steve, you're welcome to come with me. We can sort something on Saturday if the forecast is looking good.

....by the way Allen, will there be any height limiters available for rent on the day?

I have asked for Bernie to bring 5 as a lot of people seem to have them and we will be able to stagger the hand tows with the electric
As this is not a duration comp so to speak any height limiters or altimeters will be allowed.
I my self will be using altimeter telemetry and my marshal can check my height as I climb and tell me when to shut my throttle  (if I use my leccy model)

Thanks Allen

I'll be there as well Allen.
I'm bringing my new, as yet unflown,  2 metre German electric model (can't remember what it's called), for which I'll need a height limiter.

For a laugh, I've dug out the R/E glider I flew in the very first Ashdown Forest XC competition and I'm just in the process of putting a fresh coat of dope on it! Love the fumes 
However, I've decided against reinstalling the original Futaba M Series gear . . . .  that's gone back in the Mike Trew Countryman! 

See you on Sunday.

I suspect this means that I will only get one short flight but hey, it'll give me lots of time to spectate!

Si

You won't have time to sit around Simon, you'll need to go round the course at least four times and retow Paul and me a couple or three times as well.   

Hiya

Just confirming I will attend, weather permitting of course (getting too old for a soaking).

Andy Campbell
Under 2 mtr electric
2.4ghz
Have own Ht limiter

If the course is anything like Chailey last year - I will bring my extra-fast running shoes .....................

be lucky

Nothing Like Chailey at all
Sooooooooo Much better 

. . . and a lot longer!   

I would suggest bringing a lot of water with you as you're going to need it.
Have you laid on the St. John's Ambulance guys for treating heat exhaustion Allen? 

Hey, I`ve not see "Eeyore" post lately on the South East Flyers forum, & thought this would be right up his street being so close to his "South-East of the Hundred Acre Wood!"

I shall try & get in touch with him & let him know.

Any ideas on what the LZ is like?  I am undecided which plane to bring, but dont want to fly the stork if its a rough landing area.

Any ideas on what the LZ is like?  I am undecided which plane to bring, but dont want to fly the stork if its a rough landing area.

undecided till I get there
either bridle way or short scrub