Preliminary Flight #3

A nice sleep in today as we will head out to Site #1 for Ethan's flight later this morning.

Todays flying Schedule is:
Site #1 - Ethan at 11:31
Site #2 - Michi at 15:20
Site #1 - Dave at 16:05
Site #1 - Chad at 17:49

Note: These flying times are always subject to change but the website start list has been updated pretty fast when delays are encountered. (weather, airport traffic etc)

Early reports have the flying stopped due to low cloud at the flying site and... lets see...  looking at the scores it looks like several have stopped mid flight.  They will get to restart the flight with the entire schedule being flown and judged, but only the affected manoeuvre and the unscored manoeuvres that follow will be scored. The combined total is the pilots score for the round.
  
Although there was a short delay, things have started up and flying is underway at both sites. Michi snuck away early this morning to Hinwil and put in 4 practice rounds with the British team. Most everyone else stayed in bed :-)

Ethan was following Ireland's Michael Blake (29) who sadly lost his Oxai Hybird this morning to an electric issue that toasted the receiver.  He had his backup ready to go on the flight line this morning and had a nice flight considering. I heard through the pattern grapevine that Andrew Jesky and some other American team members offered assisted in supplying parts etc to help him out. Great sportsmanship and I am sure he appreciated their offer.  

Wind direction is from ????

Michi arrived in time to see Ethan fly his third round under slight crosswind conditions. Direction of flight was a concern but opted for the right to left approach. He had a good flight again with minor errors and scored a 404.

Jason's Epic is guarded 24/7 :-)

Latest Angels Shadow

Both Chad, Agnes, Kelly and I headed off to practice at Hinwil field and enjoyed the early afternoon watch the Japanese team fly. The Kazakhstan and Korean teams also flew before Ethan and Colin arrived. I managed one flight before packing up and heading back to site #1 for my flight. Chad and Agnes followed after another practice round with Ethan and Colin trailing.

Action at Hinwil... Kazakhstan is up as we await our turn.

Kelly and I assembled the planes early and waited for my start time. Michi was down flying at site #2 just before me so the rest of the team was down there to support him.  Pat stayed behind with my bib just in case.  As time was approaching my "B" team carried the planes & gear out and I prepared to have Pat and Kelly as my helpers. The other members did make it just in time to help out.
I had a decent start but mismanaged the crosswind conditions on several manouvers and that cost me. My top hat spin was poorly positioned as well. Sadly my expectations fell far short of the mark I had set. I scored a 360.

Birthday Boy Kevin Caton and his Oxai Citrin.

After the flight I was brought up to speed on Michi's flight which unfortunately was not his best performance. He scored a 382. We consoled each other after he came over from the other flight line :-) 

Chad relaxes in a nice shady spot awaiting his start time.

Colin and Ethan will be able to see scores as they are punched in to the scoring computer.

 Chad was up next after we watched various flyers handle the windy conditions. He had his best round to date and scored a solid 448. He was happy with the results and gladly took them under the conditions... although it seemed to calm off as he flew... karma?

We headed back for showers and then dinner at the Glotthoff Miami Disco/Restuarant.

Dinner outside tonight.

Tomorrow is Day 4 of Preliminaries = No sleep in!
Site #2 - Michi at 08:39
Site #1 - Dave at 09:15
Site #1 - Chad at 11:04
Site# 1 - Ethan at 15:56

PS Want photos? Spend an hour looking at this link to a fantastic "daily" photo album of the event... http://www.modellflugfotos.ch/fotos-2015/f3a-wm-dienstag-11-8-2015/