Jury Report on 1999 Free Flight World Championships F1E For Seniors And Juniors
FAI Jury
Pierre Chaussebourg |
FRA |
CIAM 1st Vice President |
Ivan Horejsi |
CZE |
CIAM FF S/C member |
Miroslav Sulc |
SVK |
Delegate |
Dates
Location
Liptovsky-Mikulas Slovakia
Participation
Seniors: 28 competitors from 9 countries
Juniors: 19 competitors from 7 countries
Accommodation
Teams and officials were accommodated in two comfortable hotels, one in the city of Liptovsky Mikulas and the second near the village of Liptovsky Ian where there was registration secretary, team managers meeting, banquet and prize giving.
Flying site
The flying site was perfect for FlE. Meadows used as pastures, without any obstacles, and coming down to the valley: harvested fields. All of it under the main range of the High TATRAS mountains. At a distance, there was an artificial lake upwind and the surface was often mirror like. Watching the models with binoculars with the lake in the bottom was very beautiful.
Weather
The weather was superb: temperatures well over 20C with low wind. In fact too nice weather for FlE gliders and the thermals had to be guessed rather than taking use of the pure slope soaring.
Competition
The contest organisation was perfect. There is a military Academy in Liptovsky Mikulas and the people in charge of running the Championships, namely M. Earkas and M. Nosko are in high post there. They know how to get things organised and how to lead the people. Timekeepers were students of that school. They were well equipped and did very well, for the Championship as well as during the World cup contest, which followed.
The maximum duration was 4 minutes for the 1 round, and 5 minutes for the 4 subsequent rounds
The third round was the most difficult with only 9 maxes. Three competitors made full score, so we had a flyoff for the seniors.
The winner made more than 5 minutes, using only 2/3 of the slope and with almost no wind, which was a very good flight.
Opening and Closing Ceremony
The opening ceremony took place in a cave, in the low TATRAS mountains, at a few kilometres from Liptovsky-Mikulas. We went there by bus, and after climbing in the forest for a few minutes, we came down in a cave where all the teams and officials met in a huge room with wonderful concretions. A chorus sang the national Slovak anthem, which was beautiful and exceptional in such a place.
The closing ceremony took place on the main square of the city. Jury members and the mayor of the city who made his speech in very good English and spoke also excellent Franch awarded FAI medals and diplomas as well as local medals and diplomas to the winners.
The banquet took place at hotel in a very warm atmosphere. On this occasion the F1E World Cup was presented to the 1998 winner Juraj Uhrin from Slovakia.
Tour
There was a tour in the Tatra mountains, with a visit to a traditional village. Lunch was taken in a small restaurant in a skiing resort: the weather was nice, only snow was missing…
There was also a special “swimming session” in hot thermal water, which was well appreciated, even by the FAI Jury.
Conclusions
This F1E Championship was excellent. There is no problem in this class, organising junior and senior events together.
F1E is a very nice class, the models are simple and there is no sign of complexity increase. It is not necessary to go to high mountains to fly this class; a small hill is just perfect. No doubt that this class should get more participants in the future.
The organisers did very well. They must be congratulated for an excellent organisation in a beautiful country.