Ok here's the skinny.
Harry DeBoer wrote:
OK
Now that most of the smoke has cleared, where can we find more out
about F3B;
1. what are the task?
F3B is a multi task event. 3 Tasks Distance, speed, duration.
You are all familiar with duration.... except... there is only 1
task (10 minutes no variations). You can launch multiple times too
since you are given a working time window. So if the air is really bad
and it stinks so bad that you feel relaunching will get you more time go
for it. Also landing is 5 points per meter.... and no skegs , mass
launch or wait if you want. You are flying MOM
Distance: you launch against other pilots. you must ask for
permission to launch... your working time is 7 minutes and the on course
time is 4 minutes. In that 4 minutes you have to do as many laps as
possible. You don't have a landing task so you can land at the far end
of the field if it will get you another lap. You follow good air and go
fast in good air, you try to lose as little alt as possible during each
lap. If you are getting beat by someone with better air you can relaunch
as long as you have enough working time left to get more laps than you
have. Once working time ends so does your count. so if you had 2 minutes
left of 4 and the 7 ran out you only were on course for 2 minutes... but
that might be better than a total of 4 if the air was reallllllly good.
When there is good air this is the most fun part of F3B... its a horse
race... its a strategy when the air is iffy. You are flying MOM
Speed: Speed is considered the luck factor. You don't fly MOM....
only 1 pilot at a time... so the air can change drastically from
beginning to end. You have a 2 minute working time and must do 4 legs
... you enter the course from BASE A fly to base B back to A , back to
B then cross the finish line at A as fast as you can..... ballast is
necessary to carry speed and not lose altitude.
2. what equipment is needed?(suppliers)
For F3B winches are needed and a good plane. To start with you don't
need an F3B winch... you can practice with a TD setup. Same for the
plane, as you learn you will need to consider a change. F3B uses mono to
launch and a brake that prevents unspooling of the drum. This lockup of
the drum allows the line to build tension... This is where launches that
exceed Ford long shafts are possible. The energy in the mono is
spectacular. With a TD brake there is no lockup so the line will
unspool... this isn't allowed in F3B. Also power in an F3B winch is
reduced by meeting a certain resistance.
Ballast, mono, a plane capable of ballasting. A plane capable of extreme
launches... If you already have an F3J ship you will be able to start.
If you don't have a spar don't use mono.
You will need 2 watches too... And a tripod
3. how do you get started?
Find someone to do it with you. Why first it is a team event. Second it
makes it easier to learn. One can call turns and tell you when you
aren't flying straight (to the course).Of course if you have someone who
already knows it will be easier. If you are interested after reading all
this send me an email and I will give you my phone to help you thru
some of the basics.
4. what airplanes qualify?
The planes are usually F3B planes for strength and speed. But if you
have an F3J plane you probably can start right away, you might not be
fast but you will be capable.Again you need a spar if you fly mono. If
you are just trying it on braided line any plane will teach you the
basics...
5. about how much dose it cost to compete?
As a team you buy line for the event. So in the area of 25 - 40 / spool
depending on where you get the line and what line you get. I use new
line during contests and turn it into practice line after. If it breaks
it's repairable for practice but at a contest you don't usually have
time to repair it.
6. on average how many people do you need to run a contest?
That depends, you need 2 at least per team... but let me tell you 2 is
tough (I know I did it at the last TS and won't do that again)... 4 is
right, the TS will have 6 man teams.... you can hold a contest with a
few 3 man teams if you want... so at minimum probably 12 pilots... for a
decent contest.
Getting together with people who already know how will remove alot of
the learning curve. Give it a try... if you have a contest with
beginners by all means use TD winches to get them flying... just
separate the mono and braided... braided line saws thru mono real quick.....
I hope some of the other F3B'ers will throw stuff out there.
seriously would like to know
Harry
--
Jeff Steifel
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