SEN 2833

1. 2021 U. S. Free Flight Team Selection Finals
2. Don Zink
3. Jim Walston

2021 U. S. Free Flight Team Selection Finals

From : William Booth

The French World Championships Organizing Committee has committed to the CIAM that they will make a go/no go decision by Saturday May 15.  Should they decide to proceed, the World Championships are scheduled to run from August 14 to August 21, 2021 in Moncontour, France, the same site as 2013.  If they decide to postpone until 2022, our Finals will be rescheduled to a later date at a time of year with more favorable weather.

If they commit to hold the World Championships as scheduled, we will conduct our Team Selection as follows:

The 2021 Finals to select a Team for the World Championships will begin with Registration & Processing on Sunday May 23, 2021.  The site will be Lost Hills, CA. The CD will be Larry Norvall.

Flying will start on Monday morning May 24 with F1C in the early round and F1A in the late round and will continue through completion as outlined in the 2021 Team Selection Program.

There is no qualifying, but you must pay your program entry ($90 per event) and your Finals entry fee ($250 per event) to Colleen Pierce at AMA no later than the close of business Friday April 30, 2021.
Colleen’s e-mail is:  cpierce@modelaircraft.org
Colleen’s phone number is: (765) 287-1256 EXT 252
AMA’s address is 5161 East Memorial Drive, Muncie, Indiana  47302

Reduced rates are available for Finals participants under age 25, first time participants and participants returning to the Finals after a layoff.

All other aspects regarding flying protocol, model requirements, timing responsibilities, etc. will remain as described in the approved Program document except for additional reserve days as noted below.  Covid protocol will be published in Finals bulletins that will follow and will be strictly enforced.

Weather in Lost Hills can be challenging at the end of May.  Please make your travel arrangements to assume we will use both previously scheduled reserve days AND the following Saturday and Sunday May 29th & 30th, should we need those days to complete our competition.   Protests based on having to adjust your travel arrangements because you did not leave these days available for flying will not be accepted.

Should circumstances dictate the World Champs be postponed to 2022 after we have selected our Team, that Team will be kept in place for a 2022 World Championships.  Should the World Champs be cancelled altogether after we have selected a Team, that Team will be replaced.  A regularly scheduled Finals in the fall of 2022 will select a Team for 2023.

These Finals and the path to the World Championships are obviously very different from normal.  Should you decide to participate, please be sure you have considered and accepted all the challenges and uncertainty we are faced with.  It is up to the individual participants to weigh the health, travel and expense issues required both to get through the Finals as well as to France and back.  It is possible quarantining may be required at your own expense once you arrive in France.  As of now, you will be required to prove a negative test for Covid before being allowed to board a flight back to the US.

Finally, you will only have a little over two months to completely plan your trip to France and prepare yourself for competition.

Thanks to everyone for being patient while we discussed all the options.  While not ideal, we believe this is the best path forward under the circumstances.

Thanks,
Bill Booth, Chairperson
Free Flight Team Selection Committee

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Please join us to finally celebrate the life of Donald Marvin Zink.  We’ll be gathering to share stories, prayer and beautiful  music as we honor his life, legacy and contributions.
Our celebration is held in person at his church, Shepherd’s Grove and also on Zoom for those who cannot attend in person

FYI:   Our church has been open for several months, all protocol has been carefully taken.  You will be safe if you decide to attend in person.

If you’d like to send photos or messages, or if you’d like to contact us:  TamiD@kidsarefirst.com or to Shirley at szink@kidsarefirst.com

Zoom:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87491734176?pwd=bzVGaVJiNU5VNFFaMFZLMTBzOWdOZz09

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Jim Walston, RIP

From: david mills

Fellow Free Flighters,
I spoke to Wanda Walston earlier today and was told that our old
friend Jim died peacefully in his sleep on February 16 after a long bout
with Alzheimer’s.   She invited all of us to his internment at the National
Military Cemetary in Canton, Georgia on Wednesday, March 10, 3:00 pm.  She
hopes to see many of us there.
I’m wearing my Walston transmitter in my suit lapel.  He’d like that.

David Mills