These are the kind of thoughts I had when I first read the post about the
rule change. Flying in my one and only F3J contest a few years ago in
England with a local club northeast of London, I saw that the most
competitive pilots were flying very light weight, long-span gliders, towed
up on light, stretchy mono (and where possible by guys who could run fast
and were not all that big). They were using one-man tows, straight ahead,
no pulleys, etc.
Keith McLellan
Hawaii
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "James V. Bacus" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 8:34 PM
Subject: Re: [RCSE] A note of interest for the F3J guys.
> I think there is no easy solution and banning tethered lines in very
> understandable to prevent similiar accidents in the future.
> For those not familiar with F3J towing (many in the US): you only have 5
> minutes to run out on the field, stake your lines, and prepare before the
> flight. This process is often hurried and introduces some very real
> dangers.
>
> So, If everyone uses two towmen pulling straight (without a pulley) will
it
> change the competitive advantage of having two big and strong guys?
Kinda,
> in no wind to light wind situations you will want towmen that can run fast
> as well. They won't need to be quite as big because they now only have the
> tension of the plane, not 2X. The difference between "good" towmen and
> "bad" towmen will be more noticeable when not using a pulley, especially
in
> light conditions.
>
> Since you won't be able to get line speed needed in no wind/light wind
> conditons having a specialized "light air" plane in your 3 airplane quiver
> would be advantagous (more so than previously) to make the most of the
> tension you do have.
>
> Does this change the weight of the line you would use? Maybe, I might
try
> something extra light and stretchy in those no/light wind situations.
>
> Did I miss any possible stratedgy changes this might introduce?
>
>
> Mark Taylor
> Tower for Team US and Team Ukraine at 2000 World Champs.
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "James V. Bacus" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 5:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [RCSE] A note of interest for the F3J guys (& gals, if
> appropro.)
>
>
> > This does not sound well thought out...
> >
> > In the two man option the man who runs with the pulley is gonna get
> WHAPPED
> > HARD if the man who is acting as the "spike" looses grip.
> >
> > Tows with out a staked in pulley, if even by two average men takes about
> > twice the exertion to even getting close to what we think of as a
> > competitive tow. Time for a different set of models now, and damn is
that
> > expensive.
> >
> > I personally liked it the way it was, maybe they should have spec'ed the
> > equipment we should use or something a bit less drastic.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >
> > At 04:26 PM 3/25/2001, Les Grammer wrote:
> > >Off of the FAI exchange came the following announcement:
> > >_____________________________________________________________
> > >
> > >British Association of Radio Control Soarers
> > >Thanks to Nick Neve UK delegate to CIAM Meeting for the information
> > >and to Chris Bishop, Chairman of BMFA SFTC who wrote the following:-
> > >
> > >Major change.
> > >
> > >With immediate effect as of Monday 26th March the F3B & F3J rules will
> > >prohibit the tethering to the ground of any hand towline while towing.
> > >
> > >Two man towing is still is OK, as is the use of pulleys. Winch
turnaround
> > >pulleys and bungee stakes are not affected by this ruling.
> > >
> > >Although this was not on the published CIAM agenda it was obvious that
> the
> > >subject of stakes and pulley towing was going to be discussed following
> the
> > >tragic death last year in Slovakia. This change has been introduced on
> the
> > >grounds of safety following that event.
> > >
> > >There had been late proposal from the Swiss backed by various other
> > >countries to introduce winches. It was unanimously (nearly) felt that
> > >banning the stake was a better solution and that F3J would not loses
it's
> > >identity as a hand towed only event.
> > >
> > >For those able to get out and practice it gives you something to think
> > >about. Quite a few fliers have already come to realise that in windy
> > >conditions there is little to be gained from using a pulley and that a
> > >straight two man tow gives equal if not better results.
> > >
> > >In calm/light wind conditions one tower will now act as the stake but
> with
> > >the option of increasing the line speed by moving away from the tower
> with
> > >the pulley.
> > >
> > >There were no other major changes.
> > >
> > >Full details will be posted on the FAI web-site next week.
> > >
> > >There will also be a statement issued on participation in non FAI
> > >sanctioned International events. There's nothing new here but it will
> > >clarify the situation.
> > >
> > >Chris Bishop
> > >Chairman SFTC
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >-Les Grammer, NWSS
> > >
> > >RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe"
> > >and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> > Jim
> > Downers Grove, IL
> > Member of Chicago SOAR club
> > ICQ 6997780 R/C Soaring Page at
> http://www.mcs.net/~bacuslab/soaring.html
> >
> > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe"
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> >
>
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