CL Scale:

2022 F2B World Championships

By Joe Daly | [email protected]

As seen in the January 2023 issue of Model Aviation.

The 2022 USA F2B Team during the CL Aerobatics Nats at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie IN, a week before heading to Poland. (L-R): Joe Daly, Steven Daly, Howard Rush, and Orestes Hernandez. Photo by Jose Modesto.

THIS PAST AUGUST, the FAI F2ABCD World Championships for Control Line (CL) Model Aircraft took place in Włocławek, Poland. The USA F2B team, consisting of Howard Rush, Orestes Hernandez, Steven Daly, and I, competed to a fourth-place overall finish. The individual placings were Orestes, third place; Howard, 26th place; Steven, 27th place (and fifth in Junior); and I finished in 24th place. It was an experience of a lifetime for us. Getting to represent our country and fly CL Precision Aerobatics against the best fliers in the world was more than we could have dreamed of.

The preparation and planning that it took to have a successful week was certainly an undertaking and required a lot of support and help from family and friends. We can’t thank them enough. After losing my airplane at the Nats (which I was going to take to Poland) and unsure whether Steven’s airplane would have a similar issue, our friend, Tom Smeltzer, loaned us two new, take-apart airplanes to take to Poland. That is one of the greatest things in our sport—everyone wants to help and see one another succeed.

Our adventure started on a Wednesday, flying from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to our first stop in London, and then on to Warsaw, Poland. Once in Poland, we picked up all of our equipment, which was a sigh of relief because everything made it and was undamaged!

After we cleared customs, we met up with Orestes in the airport, picked up our rental van, loaded our airplanes, equipment, and luggage, and headed off 2-1/2 hours to Włocławek, the site of this year’s F2 World Championships.

We stayed in an old, but very nice hotel in the center of town, which was located approximately 15 minutes from the flying field. The field was a full-scale airfield with a tower, airplane hangars, and a large, grass runway. After we got settled into our hotels and assembled our aircraft, we went out to the flying site to see what it looked like and to meet up with Howard. We then went to find something to eat. On a side note, the food in Poland was very good.

Orestes gets in a late-night practice before the finals.

Friday morning started with the Warsaw Cup F2B contest. This was a warm-up contest before the World Championships, which was really good practice for Steven and me because this was the first time we had been to the site. All four of the US team members were able to enter the contest, and throughout the two days, we each put up three flights.

The US team did well. Orestes won the Warsaw Cup, I finished in 10th place, Howard placed 15th, and Steven took 24th place and third place in Junior, which got him the bronze medal for that event.

Sunday and Monday were practice days. The practice site was on the other side of the airfield and not as nice as the official circles; however, it worked, and we used it a lot! Monday was also the official practice, processing, and opening ceremonies. After our official practice, we went over to processing in the hangars.

The World Championships are a big deal. Opening ceremonies are similar to the Olympics. Each country’s team members marched into the ceremony carrying their country’s flag and taking their place on the circle. A series of speakers welcomed all of the countries and there were a few demonstrations, such as a traditional Polish dance and a flyover of airplanes. We asked Orestes to carry one of the flags for the US, and it must have been a proud moment for him! It was for us.

The closing ceremonies (L-R): Zbyněk Kravčík (Czech Republic; second place), Igor Burger (Slovakia; first place), and Orestes Hernandez (USA; third place). Congratulations to Igor on his third World Championship!

Orestes carried the flag during the opening ceremony.

Next up was four days of qualifying to determine the top 15 contestants who would advance to the finals. There were 56 pilots from 20 counties competing to become this year’s F2B world champion. The contest format was flown on two circles, with the best score from each circle combined to determine the placings. The schedule for the pilots was one qualifying flight a day for each member. After that was over, the top 15 would compete in a flyoff for the finals, with the best two out of three flights determining the finishing order.

How the USA Qualified

After the first round, Orestes’ and Steven’s scores were solid, and Howard and mine needed some work! The second round was a different story for me. I put up one of my best flights and the judges rewarded me for it. I jumped into the top 15 with that flight. Steven had a rough draw because he was the first one up, and sometimes the judges’ eyes weren’t fully open (in my opinion)! Howard and Orestes both put up good flights. After two rounds, the US was looking good for a medal.

In round three, Orestes continued to amaze us, and the judges as well. Howard and Steven both put up their best flights of the week. My third-round flight was not as good as I had hoped.

The fourth round didn’t change our standings much, and when qualifying was over, Orestes was second, I was 24th, Howard was 26th, and Steven was 27th and fifth in Junior. Orestes was the only US team member to make the top 15, and our focus was then on helping him win.

After Orestes’ first round in the finals, we went out to practice that night and work on a few things with him. The next day included his remaining two flights, and when it was all done, he came in third place and received the bronze medal. Congratulations to Igor Burger on his third World Championships!

Again, the FAI F2 World Championships is a big deal, and the closing ceremonies were just like the Olympics! For each goldmedal winner, the country’s national anthem was played and the contestant got to stand on the podium! Overall, I think the US team did well. We had two rookies (Steven and me), and we had only started flying the airplanes we competed with days before leaving for Poland.

We had a great experience competing at this year’s World Championships. We made a lot of new friends and lasting memories. For me, I could not have been prouder to represent the US—and I got to do it with my son!

SOURCES: