Kind of... F3b - Multi task sailplane event. It combines the ability to fly 3 tasks (speed, duration, and distance) by one plane. The tasks are done in the absence of slope lift, so thermal lift is the main component of the day, though launching is perhaps the most important aspect of the event! The person who launches highest normally has the best potential! For each round (1 speed run, 1 distance task, and 1 thermal task) the same plane must be used. F3b is NOT all about speed...though that is perhaps the main "spectator" part of it! Distance is perhaps the main event in that it is the one that normally creates the most separation.
F3F - Slope soaring speed task. It is a timed course fixed length speed run flown in slope lift. The main lift component is the slope lift, though having a good thrower can help to some extent! Planes can be swapped (I think...I may not be right on this) based on the conditions between rounds. There is no landing area, so the entire height of the slope is often used to increase speed. The tasks have defined the planes in most aspects. F3b machines must be able to perform in ANY condition at ANY time. The conditions can vary widely, from dead calm to blowing 30+. Since you have to fly 1 plane per round, and rounds can be spread out over long time frames...even multiple days, having a good all around plane is the best option. Plus they must be able to perform in a thermal environment, so there are comprimises there for the 10 minute task, which is normally flown early morning or late evening in limited thermal conditions. Span is increased for many reasons, but one of which is that they are hard to see at distance! Finally launching is a critical part of the event, so the planes are designed around this as well. Super critical airfoils cannot be used in most cases because the plane will be too hard to get consistant good launches. F3f machines ar designed more for speed. They vary from F3b style planes used in more light air conditions (larger span, lighter) to puer speed machines with smaller spans and critical designs. The sight of a super fast plane doing an uncontrolled snap in a turn is common at times! Since you can swap planes for the conditions, you get a distinct specilization of the design. Turning is critical in F3f, you are almost turning the entire time. So having a good turning plane, with fast acceleration, and minimal drag is key when the wind is blowing. When light having a plane that can milk the available lift and accelerate is key. In general there is a crossover. A good F3b plane will do well at F3f in most conditions. Take the Tragi 702 for example. While this is a "smaller" F3b plane it does well there as well as doing very well at F3f. F3f planes though don't always do well at F3b due to the launching and thermalling requirements. F3f planes are often smaller (105-110 in span) and heavier. F3b planes can carry more ballast and are often flown heavy, but have more span and can carry the weight better. Jason Werner ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew E. Mileski" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 10:52 AM Subject: Re: [RCSE] difference between F3B and F3F machines > yclui_hk wrote: > > Hello everybody, > > > > I am new to competition flying and wonder if someone can shed some > > light on the major differences between F3F and F3B ships. I have > > tried ( may be not hard enough ) to search for internet resouces on > > the subject but all I could find were rules and task descriptions. > > Looking at the rules, both are speed tasks. > > F3B = official, thermal soaring, bring your own winch (tested for > strict compliance to the rules) > F3F = provisional, slope soaring, contest supplied supplied winch > > I've never flown in any contest, but I suspect F3F is faster with > less worries about finding lift since it is flown on a slope. > > -- > Andrew E. Mileski > Ottawa, Canada > http://isoar.ca/ > > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off.
