Eastern Soaring League Newsletter – September 2007
2007 OFFICERS AND STAFF
Tony Guide - President
David Beach - Secretary/Treasurer
Tom Kiesling - Contest Coordinator
Anker Berg-Sonne - Scoring Systems Coordinator
Jeff Steifel - Public Relations Coordinator
John Hauff - Clinic Coordinator
Phil Barnes – Winch Conditioning
Jose Bruzual – Web Master and Publisher
Ed Anderson – Web Site and Newsletter Content Editor
FROM THE EDITOR – Ed Anderson
As the ESL 2007 season draws to a close let’s look back a bit and thank the people who made all those contests possible. Of course I mean the Contest Directors. These guys take on a big job when they agree to be CD. The success or failure of the event falls on their shoulders. To all of the CDs, thanks for all you did for us this season.
And let’s not forget the local club members that the CDs draw upon for help, for resources and for general support. We sometimes think that a club that is a member of the ESL must have a big sailplane pilot population, but in many cases this is not so. That means that the local burden may fall on very few people. So, whether you helped set-up the winches, cooked lunch, brought supplies, supplied tables and tents, or just brought the ice, you made a big contribution to the events. To all of the workers, we extend our thanks.
To all the pilots who stepped up to the winch or hand launched a glider into the air, thanks for making these events fun and exciting. From those of us who are new, and those of us who have a lot to learn, thanks to all of those people who took a novice under their wing. Thanks to the people who timed and coached the sportsman so that they could improve their flying skills. And thanks to the experts for showing us how flying should really be done. These were lessons, the value of which can not be measured in dollars and cents.
Last, but certainly not least, thanks to everyone who just offered a welcoming hand. Thanks to those who smiled and welcomed strangers with the opportunity to become friends in flying. Thanks to all the people who rushed to the aid of a flyer in distress. A pilot with a broken plane found help from his competitors in the form of parts, expertise, tools or just encouragement. When a plane was stuck in a tree, poles, line and assisting hands seem to appear from nowhere. A walk in the woods, to find a plane that is “out there”, is not quite so lonely when friends join you in the hunt.
For me, flying in ESL contests has not just been about how I scored. It has been about learning, growing as a pilot and the opportunity and a privilege to get to know all of you. That has been the greatest value of all.
Clear Skies and Safe Flying!
CONTEST REPORTS
Anyone can post a contest report in the ESL forums. If you were there, let us know how it went.
Photos are welcome too! Visit here to read contest reports posted by others.
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=15
PHOTOS FROM THE LISF 2 CONTEST IN NY
All photos courtesy of Rudi Oudshoorn of LISF
October Contests
Consult the Web Site for Updates and Registration
http://www.flyesl.org/calendar.asp
Reading ESL TD End of Season Contest
10/06 - 10/07, 2007
Location: Reading, PA
Sanctions: AMA and ESL
Registrar: Anker Berg-Sonne
Phone: (978) 897-1750
Event: Thermal Duration - CD, David Beach and Anker Berg-Sonne.
Task times to be announced before each round.
Landing Task- graduated spot.
ESL winches and DBSF retrievers will be used. Competitors will help run retrievers.
Event Homepage: http:///
Awards: Expert and Sportsman awards to 3rd Place daily. Awards for best two-day performance.
Max Entry: 2 Flyers per channel
Register before: 10/5/2006
One day fee: $15.00
Two day fee: $30.00
On field registration: Yes *Additional charges may apply, check "comments" for details.
Schedule: Check-in Time 8:00 a.m.
Pilots meeting 8:45 a.m.
First Flight 9:00 a.m.
Directions: From Rt 422 follow signs to Daniel Boone Homestead. For a map to the flying site, click here and for directions click here.
Comments: 2 per channel will be allowed if you are willing to time for the person you are sharing a channel with. ESL Annual Meeting held on field after contest on Saturday.
ESL Top Ten Season Standings to be awarded after the contest on Sunday.
Provide your own food and drinks.
East Coast HLG Festival - ESL HLG EOS
10/20 - 10/21, 2007
Location: Wilson, NC
Sanctions: AMA and ESL
Registrar: Richard Proseus
Phone: 252-291-8598
Event: This is a two day event with 8 rounds on Sat and 4 rounds Sun morning with the top scorers advancing to 3 final rounds after lunch.
Event Homepage: www.downeastsoaringsociety.com
Awards: Expert: TBD Sportsman: TBD
Max Entry: 2 Flyers per channel
Register before: 10/16/2007
One day fee: 0
Two day fee: $40.00
On field registration: No
Schedule: Check-in Time 8:30 a.m.
Pilots meeting 9:15 a.m.
First Flight 9:30 a.m.
Directions: Field is adjacent to exit 51 of HWY264 bypass. Field is on Birdie Rd. Signs will be posted.
Comments: Lunch will be provided to contestants Sat & Sun. Others may purchase for $5. Friday (10/19) will be informal flying. There will be a warm up contest sometime during the day. Raffle: There will be a raffle. One ticket provided with registration. Additional tickets available for $10 each.
PLANE LOCATORS – A Good Low Cost Investment
As we have seen at ESL contest, planes sometimes end up in the woods. They can be VERY had to find. A Walston can find your plane 3 miles away but costs $150 for the transmitter. It is definitely recommended for everyone, however if $150 is a bit steep for you, a plane locator is cheap insurance to protect your plane, and electronics. Since most planes go down within a couple hundred feet of the field, an audible plane locator may be adequate to the job and is inexpensive until you can justify a Walston locator. Here is one that I use.
SkyKing RC Lost Model Locator - $20
Turn off the transmitter and this thing screams out! It also works with PCM receivers which some do not. It is not yet ready for 2.4 GHz, but they are working on it. It can be heard for quite a distance. Ask me how I know. ;-(
The battery monitor features are great for gliders. At about 7 grams, it is light enough to be used in hand launched gliders too.
http://www.skykingrcproducts.com/accessories/lostmodel/lost_rc_model_alarm.html
Review
http://www.slopeflyer.com/artman/publish/skyking_lost_model_alarm.shtml
Low Voltage Watch
Every time you turn on your plane it checks the pack voltage, under load. It will sound an alarm if the pack gets too low, even in flight.
Channel Conflict Test
If you are on 72 MHz you can use the plane locator to test to make sure no one is flying on your channel. Simply turn on the receiver, leaving the transmitter off. If the device does not go into lost plane mode then someone else is on your frequency. This may save your plane, or someone else's.
Assists with range checks.
If you lose signal during your range check, the locator will sound the lost model alarm.
PUT YOUR NAME IN THE PLANE
Regardless of whether you have a locator or not, be sure to put your name, address
and phone number in your plane. Aside from being an AMA requirement, if you do lose
your plane, someone who finds it will have the opportunity to return it to you. If your
contact info is not in the plane, they can't return the plane to you.
2.4 GHz Watch - Spektrum Modules work in Hitec Transmitters
I exchanged e-mail with Mike Mayberry, Hitec Product Support. He indicates that Spektrum modules work fine in Hitec Transmitters. XPS modules also work with Hitec Transmitters. Mike says that using one of these in a Hitec transmitter will not void the Hitec warranty. You can read his comments here, posted in the Hitec support forum where Mike is the moderator.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6237215/anchors_6237882/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#6237882 He also notes that the Futaba module should work too, but he has not tested it.
ESL LOGO ITEMS NOW AVAILABLE
The ESL is fortunate this year to have a wide selection of items that bear the ESL Logo. We have two suppliers, who are providing different items, so we have something for everyone.
Visit the ESL Store
http://www.flyesl.org/store/
We hope to have embroidered ESL T-shirts and hats at the LISF Hand Launch and Winch Launch events at special prices. If you would like one, let me know so I can be sure to have one in your size.
HERE TO SERVE YOU
I hope you find value in the ESL Newsletter. Perhaps a piece of useful information that will help you this season. If you have ideas or input for the next Newsletter, please feel free to write. Perhaps you have a quick tip to share. These little gems can make a big difference in competition. Why not pass them on.
Since the ESL season ends in October, I will send out an October Newsletter. After that, a reduced schedule will probably be used.
Send your notes, comments, photos or complaints to Ed Anderson, ESL Newsletter and Web Site Content Editor, at aeajr@optonline.net
Best regards,
Ed Anderson
ESL Content Editor
aeajr on the forums |
ESL Newsletter - September 2007
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Posted - 09/29/2007 : 09:46:22 AM
