National Free Flight Society

SEN 3153

  1. Americas Cup so far
  2. Re: SEN 3152 Reply to Bob….Regarding thermal detectors
  3. Another Wandering Elephant

America’s Cup So far

Here’s a quick update so all can strategize their end of the year contest plans.

America Cup results – with individual placings
Key to competition abbreviations and number of sportsmen:
SWR  11  1
Kiw  12  2
NAC  10  3
MM   16  4
SCA   8  5
SAN   4  6
NCA   1  7
Srn   3  8
Lac   3  9
Hat   4  10
Spe   3  11
Cas   2  13
Hur   7  18
Can   7  19
Act   0  12
CEN   3  16
COL   3  15
HOS   4  17
NAT   9  17
NWC   2  21
Rck   2  24
USF   4  26

F1A
1   Pecenkovic, Enes    109  SWR-1 Kiw-1 NAC-4* MM-4* SCA-2* NCA-1 CEN-1 COL-1*
2   VanNest, Brian      107  NAC-3* MM-1 SCA-1 Cas-2* HOS-1 Rck-1
3   Barron,  Andrew     103  SWR-2 Lac-2* Hat-2* Hur-1 Can-2 NWC-2* USF-2
4   Parker, Jim         102  SWR-5* Kiw-2 NAC-2 MM-3* SCA-3* Srn-1* Spe-1 HOS-2 NAT-3*
5   Puhakka, Risto       99  SWR-3 Kiw-5* Hur-3 Can-1 CEN-2 COL-3* USF-4*
6   Danier, Jama         98  NAC-1 MM-5* Lac-1 Hat-1 Hur-5* Can-5
6   Bauer, Ken           98  SWR-4 Kiw-4 SCA-4* SAN-2 NAT-1 USF-3*
8   Barron, Peter        97  Kiw-3 MM-2 Lac-3* Hat-3 Can-4 USF-1*
9   McKeever, Mike       72  SAN-1 Cas-1 NAT-4
10  McQuade, Pete        67  CEN-3 COL-2 Rck-2
11  Ulm, Gene            45  Hat-4 NAT-2
12  Nobel-Cambell, Paul  44  Srn-2 Spe-2
13  Stepanenko, Klim jr  43  Hur-4 Can-3
14  Spence, Steve        42  Srn-2 HOS-3
15  Nikolajeras, Vidas   25  Hur-2
15  Jenson, Blake        25  NWC-1
17  Langelius, Jan       21  Spe-3
17  Brocks, Peter        21  SAN-3
19  Fradkin. Igor        20  NAC-5
19  Jones, Charlie       20  NAT-5
21  Farmer, Jim          19  SCA-5
21  Guo, Daniel          19  HOS-4

Key to competition abbreviations and number of sportsmen:
SWR   7  1
Kiw  15  2
NAC  20  3
MM   15  4
SCA   8  5
SAN   7  6
NCA   4  7
Lac   1  9
Hat   1  10
Hur   7  18
Can   7  19
Act   0  12
I-C   5  14
CEN   3  16
COL   2  15
HOS   6  17
NAT   8  17
Bro   4  20
NWC   4  21
TAN   5  22
Rck   1  24
USF   5  26

F1B
1   Jones, Charles     106  SWR-2 Hur-1 I-C-1 HOS-1* NAT-1 Bro-3*
1   Fitch, Jerry       106  SWR-1 SCA-1 SAN-1 NCA-2* CEN-2* NWC-1 TAN-4* USF-1*
3   Ghio, Walt         102  SWR-3 Kiw-2 NAC-1 SAN-5* NCA-3 USF-1*
4   Jensen, Blake       98  Kiw-4 SCA-3 SAN-3* CEN-1 COL-2* TAN-1
5   Simon, Greg         93  NAC-2 I-C-4 HOS-2 Bro-1
6   Norvall, Larry      92  SWR-4* MM-3 SCA-4 SAN-4* NWC-2 TAN-3
7   Perkins, Daryl      90  SAN-2 NCA-1 NWC-4 TAN-5* USF-3
8   Andriukov, Alex     79  Kiw-1 NAC-3 SCA-5* Hur-3 Can-3*
9   Pivonka, Jace       74  CEN-3* COL-1 NWC-3* TAN-2 Rck-1
10  Davis, Mike         70  Kiw-3 SCA-2 NCA-4
11  Crowley, Paul       69  I-C-2 NAT-2 Bro-4
12  Felix, Ron          68  Kiw-5 Hur-2 Can-4
13  Schlosberg, Aram    63  MM-4 Can-5 HOS-2
14  Gross, Jerry        50  Lac-1 Hat-1
15  Horak, Ladi         49  MM-5 Can-1
16  MacKenzie, Patrick  46  Hur-4 Can-2
17  Simon, Evan         43  HOS-2 Bro-2
18  Kovhavi, Itti (jr)  41  NAC-5 USF-4
19  Gerspacher, David   40  HOS-5 NAT-4
20  Malkhasyan, Sevak   30  MM-1
21  Guest, Bernard      28  MM-2
22  Schroedter,Martin   24  NAC-4
22  MacCleery, Rich     24  NAT-3
24  Shailor, John       22  I-C-3
25  Pacelli, Brian      20  NAT-5
26  Booth, Bill         19  SWR-5
26  Mathews, Tony       19  Hur-5
28  Sifleet, Bob        18  I-C-5

Key to competition abbreviations and number of sportsmen:
SWR   1  1
Kiw   6  2
NAC   7  3
MM    8  4
Srn   1  8
Lac  -x- 9
Spe   1  11
Hur   1  18
Can   1  19
Act   0  12
NAT   1  17
NWC   1  21

F1C
1   Parker,  Faust     103  Kiw-1 NAC-1 MM-2* Srn-1 Spe-1* NAT-1
2   Menanno, Guy        72  SWR-1 Kiw-3 NAC-2 MM-4*
3   Shvedenkov, Yury    50  Hur-1 Can-1
4   Chesson, Don        46  NAC-3 MM-3
5   Roberts, Mike       45  Kiw-5 MM-1
6   Ellington, Jeff     39  Kiw-4 MM-5
7   Mc Burnett, Ron     25  NWC-1
8   Malkhasyan, Taron   24  Kiw-2
9   Buskell, John       21  NAC-4
10  Ghio,Walt           19  NAC-5

Key to competition abbreviations and number of sportsmen:
SWR   2  1
MM    4  4
NCA   0  7
Srn   2  8
Spe   2  11
Act   0  12
HOS   2  17
NAT   4  17
NWC   1  21
TAN   1  22
Rck   1  24

F1P
1   Hanford, Bob       100  SWR-2* Srn-1 Spe-1 HOS-1 NAT-2* Rck-1
2   Fedor, Mike         94  SWR-1 Srn-2 Spe-2 HOS-2 NAT-4*
3   Smith, Emrick, jr   71  MM-3 NWC-1 TAN-1
4   Secor. Randy        25  MM-1
4   Hayden  Ashworth    25  NAT-1
6   Kerger, Terry       23  MM-2
7   Jim (North) Parker  21  NAT-3
8   Kelly, Jim          19  MM-4
9                        0

Key to competition abbreviations and number of sportsmen:
SWR   5  1
Kiw  11  2
MM   12  4
SCA   6  5
SAN   6  6
NCA   2  7
Hat   3  10
Cas   2  13
Hur   2  18
CEN   4  16
COL   5  15
HOS   1  17
NAT  10  17
Bro   2  20
NWC   3  21
TAN   3  22
Rck   3  24
USF   1  26

F1G
1   Jones, Geralyn     107  SWR-3* Kiw-1 MM-4* Hur-1 NAT-1 Bro-1
2   O’Dell, Tiffaney   104  SWR-2 Kiw-4* MM-1 SCA-5* SAN-2* CEN-1 COL-1 NWC-3* TAN-2*
3   Fitch, Jerry       103  SWR-1 Kiw-2 MM-5* SCA-1 SAN-1* NCA-1* COL-2 NWC-2* TAN-3* USF-1*
4   Ghio, Walt          92  SWR-4 MM-3 SCA-2 NCA-2
5   Jones, Darold       84  SWR-5 CEN-4 COL-5* NAT-2 Rck-3
6   McGrath, John       73  Cas-1 CEN-2 COL-3* Rck-1
7   Ewing. Rick         50  NWC-1 TAN-1
8   Brocks, Peter       47  Kiw-3 SAN-3
9   Menanno, Frank      43  CEN-3* COL-4 Rck-2
9   Richardson, Mike    43  SAN-4 Cas-2
11  Pykelny, Mike       38  SCA-4 SAN-5
12  Guest, Bernard      27  MM-2
13  Rousseau, Don       25  Hat-1
13  Markos, Chuck       25  HOS-1
15  Mills, David        24  NAT-3
16  Gross, Jerry        23  Hat-2
16  Silin, Dima         23  Hur-2
16  Simon, Greg         23  Bro-2
19  Kruse, Matt         22  SCA-3
19  DeLoach, Skilly     22  NAT-4
21  Mathews, Tony       21  Kiw-5
22  Gerspacher, David   20  NAT-5

Key to competition abbreviations and number of sportsmen:
SWR   3  1
Kiw   3  2
MM    2  4
SCA   1  5
SAN   1  6
NCA   0  7
Srn   1  8
Cas   1  13
Act   0  12
NAT   5  17
NWC   1  21
TAN   1  22
TCC   1  23
Rck   1  24

F1H
1   Parker, Jim        101  SWR-2* Kiw-3* MM-1 Srn-1 NAT-1 TCC-1
2   Jensen, Blake      100  SWR-1 Kiw-1 MM-2* SCA-1 SAN-1* NWC-1 TAN-1*
3   VanNest, Brian      97  Kiw-2 Cas-1 NAT-2 Rck-1
4   Fedor, Mike         39  SWR-3 NAT-5
5   McKeever, Mike      22  NAT-3
6   Guo, Daniel, jr     20  NAT-4

Key to competition abbreviations and number of sportsmen:
SWR   2  1
Kiw   2  2
MM    5  4
SCA   3  5
SAN   3  6
NCA   2  7
Srn   1  8
Spe   1  11
Cas   1  13
Act   0  12
HOS   2  17
NAT   8  17
NWC   1  21
TAN   1  22
TCC   1  23
Rck   1  24
USF   1  26

F1J
1   Parker, Faust      100  SWR-1 Kiw-1 MM-4* Spe-1 NAT-3* TCC-1
2   McKeever, Mike      99  Kiw-2* MM-2 SCA-2* SAN-1 NCA-1 Cas-1 HOS-2*
3   Perkins, Daryl      75  MM-3* SCA-1 SAN-3* NCA-2* NWC-1 TAN-1 USF-1*
4   Lorbiecki, John     52  HOS-1 NAT-1
5   Fedor, Mike         48  SWR-2 Srn-1
6   Hanford, Bob        44  NAT-5 Rck-1
7   Secor, Randy        26  MM-1
8   Spence, Steve       25  NAT-2
9   Bartick, Don        23  SAN-2
10  Schneider, Glenn    21  SCA-3
10  Hayden  Ashworth    21  NAT-4
12  Kerger, Terry       18  MM-5

Key to competition abbreviations and number of sportsmen:
SWR   2  1
Kiw   5  2
NAC   7  3
MM    8  4
SCA   3  5
SAN   4  6
NCA   2  7
Lac  -x- 9
Hat   1  10
Spe   1  11
Cas   3  13
Hur   1  18
Act   0  12
I-C   2  14
CEN   1  16
COL   1  15
HOS   3  17
NAT   5  17
Bro   2  20
NWC   1  21
TAN   1  22
TCC   1  23

F1Q
1   Schlosberg, Aram   103  MM-1 Hat-1 Hur-1 NAT-1
2   Murphy, Jack       101  SWR-2* Kiw-1 NAC-2 MM-5* NCA-1 Cas-3* CEN-1 COL-1* HOS-3* NAT-5*
3   Parker, Julie       99  SWR-1 Kiw-5* NAC-5* MM-4* Srn-1 Spe-1 NAT-2 TCC-1*
4   Tarcher, Ben        98  Kiw-2* SCA-3* SAN-1 NCA-2 Cas-2* NWC-1 TAN-1
5   Richardson, Mike    77  Kiw-4* NAC-1 MM-3* SCA-1 SAN-2* Cas-1 USF-3*
6   Seachrist, David    69  Kiw-3* NAC-3 I-C-2* HOS-2 NAT-3* Bro-2
7   Brooks, Clint       65  SCA-2 SAN-3 USF-2
8   Sifleet, Bob        50  I-C-1 HOS-1 NAT-4* Bro-1*
9   Ioerger, Tom        46  NAC-4 MM-2
10  Pykelny, Mike       44  SAN-4 USF-1

Key to competition abbreviations and number of sportsmen:
SWR  13  1
Kiw  10  2
SCA  -x- 5
SAN   4  6
NCA   3  7
Hat   1  10
Spe   1  11
Cas   3  13
Act   0  12
I-C   1  14
CEN   5  16
COL   0  15
HOS   1  17
NAT  10  17
Bro   2  20
NWC   2  21
TAN   2  22
TCC   1  23
Rck   2  24

F1S
1   Murphy, Jack       101  SWR-5* Kiw-4* MM-4* NCA-1 Cas-2* CEN-1 COL-3* HOS-1 NAT-5* Rck-1
2   Parker, Julie       94  Kiw-5* MM-5 Spe-1 NAT-3 TCC-1
3   Tarcher, Ben        88  SAN-3* NCA-3 Cas-3 NWC-2 TAN-2
4   Sechrist, David     76  MM-2 I-C-1 Bro-1
5   Norvall, Larry      73  SAN-2 NWC-1 TAN-1
6   Menano, Frank       51  SWR-3 Cas-1
6   Brooks, Clint       51  Kiw-2 SAN-1
8   Menanno, Frank      48  CEN-3* COL-1 Rck-2
9   DeLoach, Don        47  CEN-2 COL-2
10  Pangell, Rick       44  SWR-4 CEN-4
11  Morris, George      30  SWR-1
12  Malkhasyan, Sevak   28  MM-1
12  Skorepa, Edward     28  Kiw-1
12  Morris, Charlie     28  SWR-2
12  Grogan, Harry       28  NAT-1
16  Calvert, Phillip    26  NAT-2
17  Avia, Yuda          25  Hat-1
18  VanNest, Janna      24  Kiw-3
18  Donnelly, Robert    24  MM-3
20  Edmondson, Lynn     23  NCA-2
20  Lorbiecki, John     23  Bro-2
22  James, Jon          22  NAT-4
23  Bartick, Don        19  SAN-4
24  Murphy, Jerry       18  CEN-5

Key to competition abbreviations and number of sportsmen:
Kiw   9  2
Cal   9  4

F1E
1   Jones, Geralyn      52  Kiw-1 Cal-3
1   McKeever, Mike      52  Kiw-3 Cal-1
3   Richardson, Mike    42  Kiw-5 Cal-4
4   Brocks, Peter       26  Kiw-2
4   Terzian, Fred       26  Cal-2
6   Skorepa, Edward     22  Kiw-4
7   Tarcher, Ben        20  Cal-5


Jim Parker
SCAT America Cup Administrator


Re: SEN 3152 Reply to Bob….Regarding thermal detectors

From: Steve Helmick

Make a rule to Ban grass longer than 3″ or metric equivalent…maybe 75 or 100mm. The last big FF contest I won (F1A, 1995) earned me enough $$$ to retire. All I did was watch the 12″ high grass for thermals, though for full disclosure, I didn’t actually measure the height of the grass. I never was very good at watching thermal streamers. I did better watching the birds; specifically, Swallows. NEVER launch based on hawks or seagulls. They lie and start flapping right after you launch. Swallows are after the bugs sucked up from the grass in that thermal.


Another Wandering Elephant

There has been quite a bit of discussion following the World Champs about onboard flight recording. That means some form of accurate flight time recording.  There has been work of refining the rules, improving the technology, helping the organizers and making it more enjoyable for the sportsman.

In getting there we have all talked about many thing around this.  My thinking and probably most of us thought that we would get those extra seconds when our flight went out of sight of the timekeeper.  But in talking with a couple of very experienced team managers who have a done a big number of championships and people who travel to more big events than I do the response was not what I expected. They were convinced that we could do better because timing overall would be more accurate and at the present moment a significant number of people are given more time than they earned!  There is a couple of reasons for this. The first is that many people use them and most look the same. So what happens is the model flies some distance that still easy to see  the flasher but the model is getting hard to see. The timekeeper loses sight of the model but can see the flasher. The timer keeps on timing but he cannot always determine which model  is being  timed. To keep giving the sportsman the benefit of the doubt the timer does not clock off right away. Could be timing another model.  In the case where the model is some distance away and it is obvious that the timekeeper is still working, no one  is going to distract time timer from the  difficult job.  In addition intentionally or not we, sportsman, Team manager, helper put a lot of pressure on the timer to keep on timing. Quite often the sportsman may not know the flight time independently  during the flight or think or like to think that he official timer did a good job so the time will not be disputed  So not only did you lose some time because you flew behind a tree bit the other guy got extra because he faded off in to the further distance where the end of flight was very soft and hard to see and very dependent of the actual eyesight of timer that is extremely variable.  So there are more dubious plusses that are real early OOS?