2022 FAI F3J World Championships

By Gordon Buckland | [email protected]

As seen in the November issue of Model Aviation

Friday was the day of reckoning with six rounds of flyoffs scheduled, starting with Seniors and finishing with Seniors. With three Juniors flying in the five positions, we had great odds of success if we could get in front of Jaroslav. With Josh, Neal, and Amy as the three Senior pilots, it would mean that we would be launching and helpers would be retrieving every single round without more than the extra 10 minutes they allowed between each set of two flights.

      The first round became a crucial one for both the Seniors and the Juniors. With approximately 8 mph wind and little lift, it was a dance on the tree line to the west. I was throwing for Neal and Charleston in the Juniors, so I spent the entire day with the pilots watching the events unfold.

Sean triumphantly holds the first-place trophy aloft alongside Charleston with the silver Individual Junior award. Third place went to Germany’s Paul Borsdorf.

      In round one, Neal quickly established himself on the tree line to wait for thermal lift to come through, and when it did, he was one of only two pilots who made it work with beautiful, steady bank-angle turns and flying faster than most. He took one thermal downwind to finally retreat back to the tree line, and then took another. In the end, every aircraft had landed early except Neal and Martin Rajsner, of Czech Republic. Neal was sliding back and forth on the front of the tree line, when at 14 minutes in, he eventually left the security of the trees to come home for a triumphant landing. Neal had outlasted every pilot except Martin, and that would be a telling factor in the end.

      In the Junior round one flyoff, the same type of air was still lingering. Charleston mimicked what Neal had done, sliding to and fro downwind just above the trees until he found a bubble and took it back to make time using three different thermals. It was an epic flight that tested all of his skills. This young man has come a long way since Romania.

      At the same time, Sean had flown upwind away from the mayhem on the tree line and checked out really high to outlast the entire group. Sean’s decision not to stay with the crowd proved to be a world championships choice because he was unstoppable for the next five rounds. The favored Junior, Jaroslav, clearly had the skills for all of the flights except that first round of flyoffs, and he inexplicably landed early at a little more than 7 minutes. Although he got five 1,000s for the remaining rounds, he unfortunately could not make up the difference, finishing out of the medals, but he was a class act all week.

Amy became the first women to be crowned World Champion in the women’s category of F3J Soaring. She stands atop the podium alongside silver-medal winner Carolin Weihe, from Germany.

      With round one complete for the Juniors, the order remained the same because the air was easier. Try as they might, the pilots who were short in round one could not catch up. Sean exhibited great composure, and consistent piloting saw him take the individual gold for USA. Charleston was simply courageous as he flew each flight higher and farther than ever before to take the silver medal. Bronze was awarded to German Junior Paul Borsdorf.

      The Senior flyoff rounds were similar in the fact that the air was easier for rounds two through six and the finishing order after round one was carried through to the end. Although I say the air was easier, it still took concentration and concerted effort, but Neal had what it took to finish, and finish he did with a silver medal to Martin’s gold. The bronze medal fell to a gallant but heroic Jo Grini from Norway. He crafted a great contest to finish third.

Neal proudly holds the silver trophy aloft, alongside Martin Rasjner, of Czech Republic, in the gold position, and a happy Jo Grini, from Norway, who took bronze.

      For the first time in F3J history, the women’s category was taken by Amy, who not only contributed valuable points for the Team gold medal but also made the flyoffs ahead of many men. She was a true hero in Slovakia and some tears were shed when she took the podium.

      The presentations were held in front of the hangar with an outdoor banquet that followed. For me, it was an immense sense of relief that we had finally done it—we had taken the gold in both categories after years of preparation and planning. To see Charleston, as my charge, standing on the podium, made me cry like a baby.

      There is nothing quite like F3J in Soaring competition because it requires each pilot to be a member of a team. When that team happens to be Team USA and it is honored with gold medals, it really is a moment to never forget.

Until next time, go downwind and soar!

SOURCES:

League of Silent Flight (LSF)
www.silentflight.org

Team USA F3J
www.teamusaf3j.com

FAI F3J World Championships for Model Gliders
www.f3jwch2020.sk

RCGroups F3J World Championships thread
www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?3480561