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Bob
Stalick
President, NFFS |
This is my next to last
column as President of the NFFS, and next month,
I will be asking for your indulgence as I reminisce about the past 7+ years
in
office. However, this month, I have some news of interest for you.
• NFFS Election
If you were like me, you noticed that the last issue of the Digest did not
contain your ballot for the upcoming NFFS election. Well, by now you should
have received your ballot by special first class mail. If you have not received
it, please contact Walt Rozelle ASAP (see inside cover of this Digest for
address). It was one of those inevitable snafus... But, it is important that
you vote. You have until December 1 to get your ballot postmarked. So do it
now!
•Nostalgia Rules
and approved models on the Website
For the past twenty years or so, the NFFS has published hard copies of the
Nostalgia Rules and a list of the eligible models for Nostalgia. That list
has been sold at no profit to the organization. Beginning now, you can find
the current NFFS Nostalgia Rules and the complete list of eligible models
on line at the NFFS website (Freeflight.org). The rules have been there for
awhile, but the list of models just made the scene.
•Nostalgia Rules
Update
Although there have been a number of minor changes to the Nostalgia rules
in the past two years, the current rules book will not be updated until the
end of 2004. We have attempted to keep our rules making procedures in line
with that of the AMA so that there can be a consistent and uniform approach
to all of the rules. Look for the official update in about a year.
•New Nostalgia
designs
I just got a packet in the mail with three proposed Nostalgia power designs.
These three are all from Argentina, and when approved by the committee, will
be featured as 3 views in the Digest. Subsequently, they will appear as full
sized plans in the NFFS plans service.
•Classic Towline
Glider
I have fielded a
few calls and answered a few emails about the Classic Towline rules which
were published in the last issue of the Digest. These are the official rules
under which we will fly during 2004 and which we will follow for the National
Cup competition. I agree with some of
the callers that they are less than perfect; however, we can make alterations
to them for 2005. I suggest that you make recommendations for changes as you
have a chance to experience the current rules and find their shortcomings
or notice areas of improvement. The Competition Committee of the NFFS, headed
by Bob Perkins, will be the organization which will make the modifications
to these rules.
•Classic Towline
Redux
Last weekend, I had the chance to time and fly A-1 glider while checking out
the new Classic Towline rules. I launched, timed and/or observed about a dozen
flights. What I noticed was that the 15 second launch rule is generally easy
to follow. Only one flight that I observed took longer than 15 seconds from
launch to release. It is a bit of a challenge for the person who is the launcher/timer.
This person needs to be pretty ambidextrous in order to click on the watch
at the time of launch. It would be better to have a launcher and a timer instead
of a person who doubles as both. The other help would be if the timer uses
two watches. One for the tow time and another for the flight time. But it
can be done.
I want to close this column
with a personal announcement. By the time you read this column, I will be
married to the widow of a late friend of mine. It is time to begin a new life,
and I look forward to it. To all of you who supported me during the time of
my late wife’s illness, please accept my heartfelt appreciation for your
support. I consider the free flight community as my
friends.
More next month.
Bob Stalick
