I'm happy to be writing to you from Ireland where I am representing Canada at the World Championships for model precision aerobatics. (F3A) for the third time. I am having a great time in this most beautiful land. The scenery is fantastic, and the people most hospitable. Many times when the team is wandering down the street in Mallow, we are approached and chatted to by locals that are interested and enthusiastic about why we have come, and what exactly it is we are doing here. I try to explain....
After a few days of practice in Bantry and then our official team practices, model processing, and getting settled into accommodations, it was time for the opening ceremonies. This time around, I felt that the organizers hit it bang on for the length, and the program content. Most pilots were still adjusting to the time difference, and were tired from the long day behind us. I had the feeling that this was realized by those making speeches, and therefore opening ceremonies came and went in perfect flow.

 

 

They had us march out into the track parking area in front of a well attended grandstand accompanied to music played by a local band. We ended up standing by our flags. All countries raised their own flags while they played the FAI anthem.

The grandstands were well attended by team supporters from all countries and also quite a few locals. At the opening ceremonies and every day people from in and around Mallow arrived and were shuttled in to the flight lines to watch the prelims and finals. Throughout the day competitors and spectators would sit on the steps of the grandstand to eat lunch and watch flights from the opposite side. Many models were flying well past the 150 meter flightline marker.. and very close to those viewing from the grandstand. From this perspective, all corrections can quite clearly be seen. .. Oh how we cheat. (Below, Chad, Dan and Tony visit the flight line transmiter impound of flightline 2.)

 

 

 This is a shot from behind flight line 1 and you can see how one could be flying near the grandstands(Jugdes sat under the blue tents. The competitor ready boxes are to the right. The big white tents to the left were the transmitter impounds and cover for competitors. The big orange/brown building is the track grandstand. Food could be bought there for breakfast and lunch. Our banquet was held in the top level just after closing cerimonies on Saturday night.

The contest was flown on two flight lines. Each day we changed flight lines. The judging panels were divided into 4 groups. The judges stayed where they were. The pilots rotated in a way so that each pilot flew in front of each panel of judges once to complete the preliminary competition. Finals were held on flightline 2 only.

 Another shot of the club house