Since Sunday there has been low cloud every morning that has prevented any contest flying before 2pm. The same was true today except it rose by about 1130 enough to fly the last 5 pilots of Prog 2 with a free break between 5 and 6. This made the sequence much easier for them but even so there was a zero in figure- 1 by an American pilot and in the 8-point roll by one of the French. Because of all these weather delays, and the consequent fear that the Programme- 3 would be started and not finished, the CD and Jury decided to reduce the field for the second unknown further from 75% of the pilots to just 50%.

It looked for a while that this meant that none of the UK guys would get a go at this sequence, but then it became clear that the "Independents" would not be included in those making the cut so happily Nick Onn was able to get a slot as the second on the abbreviated flying list. He then had in fact to fly first because the Russian girl who was due to be #1 had gone back to the hotel and missed her slot. The decision had changed about this between the 0900 briefing and the 1200 implementation, so she might reasonably be disappointed but thats the way it goes sometimes. Nick then turned in a very good flight as wind dummy and was leading the Unknown after the first 8 had flown it - we saw no scores after those before close of play at about 6.30pm when loow cloud again stopped flying.

Tomorrow there are just 11 or so of these unknowns to fly and then the contest will be over. The second sequence is less technical than the first, but we have still seen nervous pilots make big mistakes - like a spin that was 180 over, a tail-slide that just went completely sideways and so on. Although the complete scores are obviously not yet in, it looks as though the GBR mens' team will be in 5th place after the big three and Lithuania. So maybe that's not so bad after all. And, of course, I have once more won he coveted crown of undisputed World Aerobatic Champion in the 200 horsepower category - an event last contested in 1998 in Trencin, Slovakia. What a pity that this classification is not recognised by the organizers... Toddy, Kabes and Co arrived today, watched the flying and then managed to blag their way into the free booze and food party this evening at Kermit Weeks Fantasy of Flight establishment, so it looks like their stay is off to a good start. So no second unknown for Patrick, Val or myself but a free day tomorrow to get a bit of shopping etc done before returning at the weekend. Expect final Classic results etc Friday morning (my money is on a Russian) and the 4-minute stuff maybe Saturday.

Bye all
Alan
 
July 2nd
Hi there,

Yesterday we got roughly half way through the first unknown, and with luck it will be finished today once the low cloud clears. We may even get to start on the second one, which is pictured below. We should have no real difficulty in completing Programme 3 before the end of Thursday, but there has to be a cut of 25% of the field for this last programme. All 3 of the UK male pilots will survive the cut, but unfortunately Val's free programme errors could not be made up yesterday. The organisers may allow the lower 25% to fly after the rest if weather permits, but their scores will not be included in the final standings.

In Team terms, I think we are currently fifth behind Russia, France the USA and Lithuania. When you see the scores, you will notice that I had a problem with the Unknown. Maddeningly, I started to roll the wrong way on the last roll element of the last figure, having previously flown all the more technical bits without any significant errors. I guess I was just a little anxious to finish and lapsed for a millisecond in concentration. as soon as I started I knew it was wrong, but the Giles rolls real fast and 45 degrees comes up very quickly!!! Gongggggg.

Regards to all, and thanks for your support... (JP fill in the rest)
Alan
 

June 30th
Hi there,

WAC today was troubled by weather conditions. Overnight rain caused low cloud during the morning. Flying started about 2pm, but was interrupted mid-afternoon by a big rain shower and then eventually cut short by strengthening crosswinds at about 7.15pm. As a result there are still 3 pilots who have not flown their free programme and there is a chance that we will see cross-wind protests and possible re-flights by one or two pilots. Because of the wet conditions, I think there is also a good chance of low cloud tomorrow morning and even more delay. We'll see. Consequence for the UK pilots is really having no firm idea when the 1st unknown will start. So we are trying to be as ready as you can without any clear idea about the likely box orientation or judging position for our actual flights. Its a case of think about it in many different ways and then select the best plan when it all starts for real.

There are obviously no definite rankings at this stage either, so hard positional news will have to wait a bit. Away from the flying itself, there seems to be a pleasant lack of politics, a pretty well run contest and lots of camaraderie. So it is a good natured contest to date.

I'll get more news to y'all when I can,
Cheers,
Alan
 

Nick, Patrick and myself all had steady flights, but only Nick was able to do it all inside the box. Anyway we are all sitting between 71 and 76 percent with at the moment a dozen or more pilots behind us - there having been the usual smattering of guys and girls who overstretched themselves with short sequences that were just a bit beyond them. Unfortunately, these included Val who exited a big "N" in the wrong direction and then started her spin downwind, for two eggs and a break. But there were others who did far worse...

The first unknown figures were all drawn up yesterday and various sequences submitted by different countries at this mornings briefing. I'm pleased to say the British proposal was selected by the Jury as the best design, so that's what we will start sometime tomorrow, weather permitting. If you can see an image below, that's the task.

Well, bye for now. May have some more news tomorrow.
Alan
 
June 28th
Hi Folks,

WAC Q Programme finished this afternoon just seconds before the rain started to fall. a very great relief to the CD etc etc.

The most significant thing you can say about this programme is that it was not very discriminating. It was difficult to score really well, because of the very complex figures 2 and 3. But it was also unlikely to really screw up very many people either. The result is that the top pilot has less than 80% and the 44th pilot has more than 70%. It was therefore a day when even one small mistake cost a lot of places, even though not necessarily a lot of points. For example, my own flight was pleasingly sharp except for one under-rotation on a 3/4 vertical flick. Just 15 or 20 degrees off here was enough to lose 10 - 15 places. A more positive thought is that these scores will now be dumped anyway, and the free programmes tomorrow and Sunday should provide a more valid test. Not to mention the Unknowns, of course. Anyway, I finished 39th, Nick 40th, Patrick 46th and Val 47th. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.

There are a number of 6-figure sequences for the frees, but still most have chosen 7 figures. As ever, we will see in due course where the best strategy lies for this set of judges. I suspect that it will not be a conclusive result.

For Toddy and any others planning to come visit Lakeland, be sure to use exit 25 from I-4, the County Line Road turn off, not Exit 27 which is signposted for the airport but gets you to the north side. Take County Line Road south, over the railroad crossing by the "Gentlemens' Full Liquor Showgirls Bar", and on to Medulla Road where you take a left at the light by the cemetery. A mile or two further east you come to the WAC site entrance.

But then you probably know the way better than I do, especially the bit about the bar.

Cheers to all
Alan
 

WAC Q Programme finished this afternoon just seconds before the rain started to fall. a very great relief to the CD etc etc.

The most significant thing you can say about this programme is that it was not very discriminating. It was difficult to score really well, because of the very complex figures 2 and 3. But it was also unlikely to really screw up very many people either. The result is that the top pilot has less than 80% and the 44th pilot has more than 70%. It was therefore a day when even one small mistake cost a lot of places, even though not necessarily a lot of points. For example, my own flight was pleasingly sharp except for one under-rotation on a 3/4 vertical flick. Just 15 or 20 degrees off here was enough to lose 10 - 15 places. A more positive thought is that these scores will now be dumped anyway, and the free programmes tomorrow and Sunday should provide a more valid test. Not to mention the Unknowns, of course. Anyway, I finished 39th, Nick 40th, Patrick 46th and Val 47th. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.

There are a number of 6-figure sequences for the frees, but still most have chosen 7 figures. As ever, we will see in due course where the best strategy lies for this set of judges. I suspect that it will not be a conclusive result.

For Toddy and any others planning to come visit Lakeland, be sure to use exit 25 from I-4, the County Line Road turn off, not Exit 27 which is signposted for the airport but gets you to the north side. Take County Line Road south, over the railroad crossing by the "Gentlemens' Full Liquor Showgirls Bar", and on to Medulla Road where you take a left at the light by the cemetery. A mile or two further east you come to the WAC site entrance.

But then you probably know the way better than I do, especially the bit about the bar.

Cheers to all
Alan
 

Today was arrival and Reg day in Lakeland, so we are now all gathered. Four UK pilots out of a total of 54 or thereabouts, from 11 countries. Of this total 3 or 4 are 'independent' Americans recruited to swell the entry fee coffers and one 'independent' Russian - Chmal who won WAC in 1996 - who used to be on Kasum's Team but obviously does not see eye to eye with Victor Smolin now that he runs things.

We drew lots for the Q Programme start order, as follows: Nick, 13; Val, 28; Patrick 37; and me 41. So there is a strong chance Patrick and I will not fly until Friday. After the parading of the Teams and the speeches we had a night airshow. First up were three Harvards who did a formation show with strobe lights and illuminated smoke. You just wouldn't believe the number of exciting barrel rolls (all to the left of course) and wing-overs they were able to pack into an action-filled 12 or 15 minute display. Next up was a guy in a powered micro-light who must have had about three times his own body-weight of pyrotechnic devices stowed aboard on take-off. He swooped around for an eternity letting off innumerable fireworks. Quite pretty really and pretty riveting until it became clear the wing wasn't made with anything as flammable as butyrate dope and the climax was actually not going to be an Icarus-like plunge amid burning wreckage.

Then we had a glider show with wingtip pyros. First red, then yellow, then yellow again and finally... you guessed it, yellow. This could have been enlivened by a flick roll or two, or perhaps a flat spin, but alas it was not so to be. Lastly came a solo show by the 'Starlight' Texan T6, or actually, another Harvard. This started promisingly with the theme music from 'Close Encounters' as more and more candle-power was set shining and flashing on the belly of the plane. Then some pretty colourful roman candle-type fireworks started belching forth stars from the guts of the beast, but the music unfortunately took on a rather more militaristic feel with strqins about how great it was to be an American because they are all free (except for the stop lights of course) and really good at beating up smaller countries and kicking ass generally. Not really such a good sentiment for an event with different countries coming together in peace and harmony. But what the hell, we had the thrill of another 12 minutes of left barrel rolls to delight us. I guess the control column of a Harvard just won't move to the right of centre (nor forward of it for that matter, for they were all display pilots - miaaooow). At least we were spared the Indian - sorry, Native (or, at least, earlier immigrant flux from a different direction) American - dancing this year. I guess there are none left in the Sunshine (and thunderstorm) State.

The other really interesting news is about the box, of course. Everyone who has ever flown here knows that Florida, like most of rural USA is divided into mile-square 'sections' and that all roads run due N-S or E-W. So it is here, and there is a county road that runs right through the centre of the box in the E-W direction. There is also a huge runway to the North of the box, also set due E-W and there are minor roads running N-S on the south side so that you can always be certain of your heading. But there just had to be a snag, didn't there?

Because some of the area is pretty boggy, and thus in order to ensure that all the box markers could be set out and the corner judges placed other than in dinghies, the whole goddam square has been set at a cunning 7-degree angle rotated anti-clockwise when seen from above. so at every stop of every roll, spin etc you just have to remember to fudge in the 7-degrees in the appropriate direction from the clear parallel lines merging into the far distance.

So the strategic questions being asked are whether the guys with the white sticks will be able to tell you are using the section lines and mark each figure out of 8.5, or whether to be a smart-arse and fly always 7-degrees off the obvious headings, hoping that it is the right 7-degrees and not actually 14-degrees off because your brain farted and now you are being marked out of a maximum of 7 for each figure. Answers please, on the back of an envelope to: Philip "Twicer" Knight, Contest Director, WAC 2003, The Magic Kingdom, Florida, USA.

More when we have something to report.....
Alan

And, yes Don, I know that there are still a few old colonials subscribing to this little newsletter, and I also know that you will realize that I'm just kidding. Well, maybe.

Note from Steve Todd - BAeA Exploder Manager
Please note that, for the duration of WAC, AC has complete exemption from all normal operating decorum and can say it exactly as he sees fit. Remember where he is and what he has to endure. T's in the 90's, humidity through the roof and Charlie bangers regularly leading him to question the sanity of competing in FL in the middle of summer. International subscribers - this is our joker being played. Sorry !

Toddy
 

... it isn't. Sunny that is. At least not yesterday or today (Sunday). Go to www.weather.com and type in Immokalee in the 'City' field. This is what happens when you take a World Championship to a new location.

Oh well, just like Swansea really!

Alan
 

I've now been here 7 days and have become time-adjusted if not yet really temperature adjusted. Patrick Williams and I have joined up at Immokalee (30 miles ENE of Naples, FL) since Monday. Also here are Olivier (Swiss) and Maurizio (Italian). I am flying a Giles G202, and have it all to myself. The three others mentioned are all sharing a CAP232 which just arrived here today. Two more Italians may arrive tomorrow but they have been ferrying aircraft from Denver, Colorado (must be about 14 hours flight time) so may be just a bit tired on arrival.

The place we are staying is good value and has email, internet and so on, but is close to Naples and so 40 minutes drive from the airport. Nothing in Immokalee itself has the computer connections, nor the lack of bugs. Nevertheless the people there are very friendly, country folk and not at all spoilt by the usual South Florida tourism.

Its interesting to introduce the continentals to Southern Fried cuisine, baby back ribs and so on. Wait till we get them on the breakfast game tomorrow...

In the mornings the cloudbase is about 2,500 feet, so OK for training but it would be touch-and-go for a competition if it stays this way. Big T-storms again this afternoon, so had to bale out the plane before second flight. Still got an impromtu shower at inverted point of 4-point roll on figure 1, but at least it was a warm shower as the temperature inside the aeroplane is certainly well over 100 Fahrenheit in mid-afternoon.

The best feature of Immokalee is the runways. They form two sides of a square, like a L written upside down. The box is on the North side of the E-W runway and the apron is at the very southern end of the N-S runway. As winds are light we have only a very short taxy with the canopy closed, take off straight into the box Northbound and land Southbound again with a minimum taxy time.

Anyway, we have a week to go here before the contest starts in earnest, and so I'll pass on any more news as it arrives.

Regards to all,

Alan