About a week ago during a discussion on the RCSE regarding a new TD task involving hi-starts, I was asked to debrief the contest. If nothing else, I'm a man of my word so the following applies:
The specifications of the hi-start were determined after extensive testing and were finalized with the use of exactly 100 feet of the "Hobby Lobby" red rubber and 230 feet of 80 pound monofiliment line. Identical fittings and small hi-start chutes were used on each. Each hi-start was given a breakin period of about a dozen launches last weekend. Before the contest this morning, all six were staked at the far end of the TPG Poway field with about 30 feet of separation between hi-starts. This allowed two hi-starts to the left of the road, one on the road and three to the right. Each hi-start had its own assigned landing tape (a standard 25 foot AMA tape in this case). A line was drawn perpendicular across the field about equal to where the winches are normally staged on their pedestals. Stretching the hi-starts to this line netted exactly 20 pounds of tension as measured with a fish scale. Although the specifications we were using would have allowed 25 pounds of tension, we limited max tension to 20 pounds so the pilots flying built up gliders wouldn't be unduly handicapped. However, you weren't allowed to stretch to beyond the established line. This ensured that all six hi-starts would provide exactly 20 pounds of tension and an equal opportunity for launch. As luck would have it, 18 pilots showed up to compete which broke down into a perfect three bu six man heats per round. The rules were a combination of traditional AMA TD and F3J. The pilots meeting took a little longer to complete as the details were explained to everyone's satisfaction. Before the contest, we didn't know whether we'd be able to complete three or four rounds, but it was established that the matrix would be reestablished after each round. All three classes (Master, Expert and Sportsman) were considered the same for the purposes of establishing the matrix. In fact, the participants in each heat were determined by drawing their contest number from a hat. This ensured adequate mixing through the initial rounds. It was also decided that the last round matrix would be established by flying seeded man on man (SMOM). In this case, the worst six cumulative scores flew together, the middle six scores flew together and finally the best six scores flew together. All the rounds were to be in a typical 10 minute window F3J format. We used a PA system and a countdown timer as per the IHLGF. In addition, each hi-start was numbered from one through six. The pilots in each heat were assigned to individual hi-starts by virtue of picking a number out of a hat. This eliminated pilots camping out on their favorite hi-start (favorite not by tension but by positioning on the field). Finally, each chute was also marked from one through six which was critical in determining which chute to retrieve for relaunch attempts. Yes, relaunches were allowed since this was partially an F3J contest. The scoring was one point per second of airborn time during the 10 minute window. If more than one flight was attempted, the last flight within the window counted whether it was the longest or not. Any landing beyond the 10 minute window as counted down to zero on the PA system was penalized 100 points plus loss of landing points. Since the purpose of this contest was to put the "soaring" back into thermal events, it was decided to detune the importance of landings. For this contest, although we used a standard 25 foot AMA tape, any landing from 50 through 100 points was worth 50 points and any landing from 49 through zero points was worth 25 points. If you weren't on the tape, the landing was a zero. The maximum points available per round was a theoretical 600 (10 mintes times one point per second) plus 50 landing points for a total of 650 points. Of course, 600 flight points weren't available as the time on tow deduced from the window time. This time on tow varied from a low of 5 seconds to a high of 12 seconds with eight seconds being average. After landing, flight points were added to landing points to obtain a total and then all six competitors in each heat were normalized against the highest raw score for the heat. With the specifications of the hi-starts we used, launch heights varied from a minimum of about 120 feet to a maximum of about 180 feet. These heights are estimates as we didn't have a laser range finder. However, they're probably reasonably accurate as the telephone pole at Poway is 38 feet high and launchs varied from 3 to 4 telephone pole heights As expected, the launch height was determined primarily by the conditions when each heat launched. Early in the morning with no lift or wind, the launches seldom got to 150 feet. Later in the day when lift or wind was available, launch heights improved slighty. The important thing however is that the launch height within each heat was stablized with a maximum variation between the low and high launcher per six man heat of about 20 feet. Interestingly, after the contest was over and some pilots were flinging their DLHLG's, it was noted that they were able to achieve almost the same launch height as with the hi-starts. The conditions at Poway when the first heat prepared to launch at 0920 were typical for SOCAL this time of year. The temperature was about 55 degrees with a clear but hazy sky under a high pressure system. Wind wasn't an issue and remained mostly calm for the duration of the contest. This didn't bode well for thermals for the day. Most competitors realized that they'd need a relaunch during the first round as it was unlikely that anyone would make a full 10 minutes in these condition. This made for an important tactical decision because if you waited too long to relaunch, you wouldn't have enough window time remaining to improve on your first attempt. A few wiley veterans realized that by sqeezing out six or seven minutes without a relaunch that they could bury the cometitors in their heats. Consequently, the scores from the first round started to disperse nicely and continued to spread throughout the contest. After completing two rounds by 1130, it was decided that the third round would be our last. For this round the seeded MOM matrix was implemented. The contest was concluded, the equipment stowed and awards presented by abou 1230. All in all, everyone had an opportunity to fly for 30 minutes and were extremely enthusiastic about the new formal. The TPG officers will discuss how many of our monthly contests next year will include this format. The voting varied from including it in all contests, to every other contest (6) to once a quarter (4). Obviously the format was well received. I'd also like to offer a few personal observations. It was recognized going into this contest that hi-starts weren't a panecea and there were potential problems with their use. Yes, we did encounter a few problems. These are listed below in no particular order: 1. The weeds are bothersome at Poway this time of year and if a hi-start got caught on a weed, the potential launch height of the next launch could be compromised. 2. If pilots stayed on tow too long and overflew the stake, it took a long time to untangle and retrieve the hi-start for a potential relaunch. 3. Cross winds or erratic launches caused the hi-start lines to cross over themselves. The numbering of the chutes became important to ensure you relaunched on the correct hi-start. 4. Heavy or molded gliders didn't suffer as much as I thought. We had an Artimis, Hera, Tragi, Zenith, etc. competing, and they didn't seem to suffer in launch height. However, they did tend to stay on tow for a second or two longer and lost window time to lighter competitors. OTOH, the traditional benefit of a European molded glider designed for F3J was also lost as most competitors were reluctant to strike out to the far horizon searching for lift when only 150 feet of launch height was available. 5. Typical F3J tactics were very much in evidence. In fact, the contest was won with a deliberate decision to come off tow at five seconds to maximize window time (a risky tactic given the loss of 30 feet of very restricted launch height). 6. This type of contest is almost as manpower intensive as F3J. To be done correctly, you need a hi-start tender as well as a pilot and timer. Although many of us were making do with only a pilot/timer pair today, this denied the timer the opportunity to help the pilot during the first few minutes he was airborn as he was retrieveing the chute for a potential relaunch. An observant timer nearby to point out something to the pilot would have avoided the requirement to relaunch in some cases. 7. Athough the large majority of pilots relaunched at least once during the three rounds, a very few skilled pilots completed the three rounds without a relaunch. 8. This format definitely equalizes launch height as typically six gliders were all launched simultaneously to within a few feet altitude of each other. 9. This format absolutely puts the challenge back into soaring. When you're starting a 10 minute flight in poor conditions from 150 feet, you can bet there's no such thing as a "no brainer". It's not often that I have to work as hard as was necessary today. 10. This format definitely is a great learning tool. Since most of the action is close in, everyone can see what's going on and there's plenty of time for observing. In essence, it's very similar to a HLG contest where everyone's congregating in the only reachable thermal. If you make a mistake, it's immediately apparent. If TPG pilots stick with it, we'll have a new cadre of Masters in a few years. 11. If this type of format catches on, it will require a redesign to achieve the optimum glider. For traditional AMA TD, gliders are designed to provide excellent launches, soaring and landing. For F3J, soaring is paramount and landing less so as glider tend to be bigger and V-tail configured. In this format with a hi-start and 150 feet of launch height where landings are largely irrelevent as they're easily achievable, a typical 3 meter TD glider is definitely not the optimum. I don't want to get into a discussion of the optimum glider until the format is finalized. 12. This format will continue to be massaged with possible changes being to eliminate the ability to relaunch and to make the actual landing points count albeit at a reduced rate. To wrap up, soaring skill and good tactical decisions definitely came to the front in this format. Of the eight Master pilots competing, Arthur Markiewitz was second with a score of 2,993.8 out of a possible 3,000. Mike Smith was third with 2,947.6, Bren Lugo was fourth with 2,604.4, and George Joy was fifth with 2,211.2 Modesty prevents mentioning the winner with a perfect 3,000 points. A few Expert pilots including Don Richmond, Garth Warner, Steve Hurd and Jon Colton also scored in the 2,100-2,300 point range. Beyond this, the scores started to decrement rapidly with the median score being about 1,900. BTW, the Compulsion with the new FS01 airfoil is now two for two in the last two contests. Finally, the Marines will benefit by a truck load of nice toys for their Toys for Tots campaign. It's hard to imagine a better day of competition RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off.
