Firstly,
apologies for the quality of most of the shots. Prior to
the LMAC event, the writer had been playing around with
some photography scenarios
which included taking some over exposed shots. I had set
the exposure compensation to +3.3 on my camera. When I'd
finished "playing", I put the camera back in it's case
and "forgot" about it. Along comes the 7 cell competition
and I said to Kerry "how about you take the photos today
as I will be flying".
"Is
everything on the camera set correctly for me?" Kerry said.
"You ask me that everytime" I said. "Of course it is..."
I quickly replied whilst giving a cursory glance at the
camera settings. After Kerry took a few shots she said
the pictures seem a little odd. "They'll be right I said".
Famous last words! When I decided to take a couple of shots
I realized the mistake and why I should not have been so
dismissive of Kerry's questions. Reset the exposure control
to neutral and "voila!", the last few shots don't look
like it was snowing at Symmons Plains! Whilst I shoot in
RAW mode and you can do a bit in Photoshop, they were too
over-exposed to really do a lot with.
Anyway,
now to the event. A very disappointing turnout. No members
from any other clubs attended to compete. Whether the decision
to fly according to the MAAA 7 cell rules as opposed to
the LEG rules (not yet ratified by the MAAA) that allow
LiPo batteries turned people away, who knows. Questions
were
asked about
the
rules and
the
Club decided that if there were sufficient entries a LEG
event would be run. Disappointingly no-one contacted the
Club to discuss the options. Whilst it would have been
nice to see other club members compete, the 5 participants
had a great day and a lot of fun. Not to mention a share
of some very good prizes. In the morning the weather was
kind although thermal activity was pretty scarce. As the
day heated up a bit, thermals increased but so too did
the wind. Any hope of staying in a thermal was dashed
unless you wanted to follow the thermal South towards Hobart!
One
entrant, Dave Jacobs, decided to test this out and the
wind carried his model southwards at a very rapid rate.
When the spectators realized what was happening Dave's
recently rebuilt model was a long way south of the southern
pine trees, which in themselves are at least 500 metres
away!
All seemed lost as Dave fought to maintain some control
over his model. A rekitting seemed inevitable. Hearing
all the calls of despair, Jacques Wakae rushed over and
took control of the transmitter just as Dave's model disappeared
below the pine trees. It seemed all was lost. Then all
of a sudden the model appeared above the trees again! Remember
this model could well be over 700m away and was just a
speck in the sky. Orientation was difficult to determine.
Whilst Jacques had the Tx, there seemed to be a dozen pilots
flying Dave's model with cries of "left.... more left.....
right......" everyone seemed to have a view on which way
the model was
pointing.
Next the model disappeared below the pine trees again.
It seemed like an eternity it was out of sight; at least
for 4-5 seconds. Surely this must be the end but no. Next
the glider is seen rising
from
behind
the
trees
doing
a
loop! Jacques continued to take directions from all the
observers crying out which way to turn. The best part was
it was working! Jacques could only hope that there was
still some life left in the battery to provide sufficient
power to battle the headwind. After what seemed like an
eternity and to much applause, Jacques brought the model
back to land on the strip! This was definitely the highlight
of the day and an experience unlikely to be repeated. Well
done Jacques!
Chris
Klimeck will provide a detailed report on the competition
which was won by Greg Robertson, followed by myself with
Dave Jacobs third. Unfortunately Jacques Wakae had some
damage to a v tail servo and only managed 4 out of the
6 rounds putting him out of contention.
Thanks
should go to Chris Klimeck who did a great job as CD. Kerry
and Alice for again putting on a great barbecue lunch and the
many helpers who did the timing, without whom the event would
not have ran so smoothly. Last but not least a very special
thanks to the sponsors who provided prizes -
IC
Electronics (Ian Campbell)
Tiger
Models - Launceston
Jacques
Wakae
Put a SPARK in your life and fly electric! George
