Jury Report on 1999 Free Flight World And Junior European Championships F1A F1B F1C
FAI Jury
Pierre Chaussebourg |
FRA |
CIAM 1st Vice President |
Ian Kaynes |
GBR |
CIAM FF S/C Chairman |
Itzik Ben-Itzhak |
ISR |
1979 F1B World Champion |
Dates
25 to 31 August 1999
Location
These two Championships were organised together in the NEGEV district by the Aeromodelling Association and the Aero-Club of ISRAEL.
Participation
195 competitors from 34 nations for World Championships.
55 competitors from 15 nations for Junior European Championships
Accommodation
Teams and officials were accommodated in a vast hotel in the city of ASHKELON, 80 km south of Tel Aviv, by the sea side, about 200 m from the beach.
Food was excellent, including various oriental specialities, a number of hors d’oeuvres, and several options of hot meals and great desserts. Wine was included.
Every morning, around 04.00, after a short breakfast, each participant was provided with a box containing enough food to survive all day. and each team collected one or several coolers full of water and ice.
Lunches were taken, back at hotel, around 15.00. Afternoons were used for nap, rest and beach until dinner around 21.00.
Flying site
Competitions took place on a vast uninhabited plateau. The weather was exactly the same on each day: low wind at sun rise, becoming no wind at all after one or two hours, to give strong thermals with turbulent air and strong dust devils around noon and later.
Competition
Took place on three days with a last flyoff in the early morning of the reserve day.
F1A was flown simultaneously with F1B Junior
F1B with F1J Junior
F1C with F1A Junior
The fact that European Junior was added to the World Championship was a heavy task for the organisers, but they managed to run these two events with efficiency, and there was no real problem except that the starting line was about 500 meters long…
The processing, both during the contest at random and after the contest for the winners, was efficient. Three competitors had to be disqualified in the F1A class:
– One during the contest for a too large model area
– One after flyoff for a too long tow line
– One Junior, also after flyoff because of a too large flying surface.
All measurements and calculations have been made several times by different people and with different instruments that have been checked and rechecked.
It must be noted that most of the time, FAI specification certificates are given blank to the competitors by their NAC and models have not been correctly processed before contest.
It should be mentioned in the information bulletins of next championships that each NAC is responsible about the processing of his competitors models and the validity of FAI certificates. It is a drama to have to disqualify a Junior placed second or third and ruins his team classification because of a few square centimetres and the fault of his NAC.
Timekeeping
Most of the timekeepers were young Israeli modellers who were experienced, and spoke good English There was also a good contingent of foreign modellers who were also very competent. All were well equipped with good binoculars and tripods.
Tour, Opening and Closing Ceremony
There was an excursion, on the last day, after the last flyoff, and the rest of the day was spent to visit the historical city of Jerusalem. Several buses were organised. each one with a guide speaking the language of the transported teams. This was particularly interesting about the history of Jerusalem as well as about the history of Israel.
Opening ceremony had been organised in a vast antique Greek amphitheatre. It was not too long but In a warm atmosphere and followed by local dances, a short air show and a nice buffet.
Closing ceremony and prize giving took place at the hotel, by the swimming pool, at the end of the banquet. Everything was excellent and very well run by Arik Sinai and Eran Engel
Conclusions
Even if it has been a success, we don’t recommend running junior arid senior events in the same contest:
– It is a too much work for the organiser
– Juniors do not receive as much attention as they should, even if everything has been done to avoid that.
It was not possible to do other than to have a single flyoff in early morning in each class, because of typical local weather conditions. Only one deciding flyoff is not convenient. We may have too many models making long flights, which makes correct timing much more difficult and may provide difficulties. Even if it seems easier for organisers, because only one round has to be organised, it should be preferred to have at least one or two flyoff rounds in the evening before to go to the instant death of the unique early round.
Despite the fact that we had to get up at 04.00 every morning of that week, these two championships were a great success.
It has been a good opportunity to visit this country where many of us want to come back.
The organisation was perfect. There was many people working in the organising committee, each one with a special work to do. Everything was well planned and well done.
Everyone must be congratulated for these two very good championships.