FAI Free Flight World Cup 2024

1. Walt Ghio, USA

2. Per Findahl, SWE

3. Mike Roberts, USA

Advance information

Listed on the SCAT web page and Facebook (FreeFlight group)

Schedule of competition

Listed on the SCAT web page

Duration of rounds

One hour 15 minutes

Breaks between rounds

No break between rounds scheduled

Maximum durations in each round

First round for F1A,B,C,Q was 240 seconds. Round 2 flight time was 180 seconds. The 3rd round was 150 seconds for all classes. Rounds 4 & 5 were 180 seconds. 5 rounds were flown.

Interruptions and delays

Round 2 was delayed due to moving the flight line further upwind

Weather and visibility

Weather was very cool (6C to start) with a strong (5-6 m/s) wind from the NW. Wind increased to 7-8 m/s. Strongest winds for round 3 (8 m/s) then slight drop to 6 to 7 m/s for rounds 4 and 5. Morning flyoff Feb 15th was cool (2-4C at the start) with 0-1 m/s variable wind and excellent visibility.

Flight line - changes of position

The flight line location was located North West from the camping area to allow max utilization of the available space. Unexpected very strong wind from the NW had models traveling across Holloway road. Contest was delayed to see if the wind shifted or abated. A decision was made to move much farther West to allow for the long distance flights (up to 2 km in 3 minutes). For the morning flyoff (Feb 16th) the same flight line was utilised.

Number of starting poles

Each competitor selected a location on the flight line and flew the contest from this position. No poles were used. Markers identified the area in which each event was constrained.

Number of competitors per pole

No poles were used.

Local rules or deviations from Sporting Code

Deviations from the Sporting Code were: the lack of starting poles. 5 rounds were used rather than 7 (see above). Flyoff was a 10 minute maximum Feb 15th morning. A team competition was provided for each event including F1Q.

Observations on timekeeping

No issues with timekeeping.
F1B flyoff had a timing incident. Jerry Fitch (USA) had won with a time over 8 minutes. Jerry was using the Mini Neurone altimeter/gps system and showed the CD that he had actually done close to 6 minutes. CD accepted the electronic evidence which changed the results and moved Jerry from 1st to 14th place. The time keeper had timed the wrong model. Electronic timing was an experiment at this (and the other Fab Feb contests) and showed the limitations of manual timing. See the about time report from Roger Morrel

Prize-giving and issue of results - confirm organisers provide results with full names, nationalities and number of juniors

Full results provided. Electronic results published on SCAT electronic web page and on Facebook Free Flight Group. Prize giving on the field on Feb 15th morning.

Any incident or accident

No incidents or accidents

Protests

No protests