*Attached the text here in email format for those who might have trouble
downloading or opening the word file*
*-Ben*
*Dear Friends,*
The situation of the F1D class at the international level is much more
complex than to react based only on emotions, temper or personal interest.
As we all like this class, we would like to keep it on the long term.
Please, read the following text from this point of view. Maybe it is a bit
long, but I intended to give as much details and background as I could,
including some historical data.
*The role of Hungary concerning the class:*
F1D was adopted to become championship class by a Hungarian proposal, and
Hungary was one of the 5 countries which participated in the first WCh
(1961, Cardington). After the second WCh (1962, Cardington) the two years
periodicity came in, but there was no offer for the 1964 WCh. Hungary put
in an offer for 1966 to save the class contrary to the fact, the hall in
Debrecen was not fully adequate for the90 cm models, mainly because of the
quite small floor area. Since we had at least one offer for the WChamps,
but in about the recent ten years, time to time I had to inspire the only
two potential organizers to put bids in to have at least one.
At the time of the previous rule change, Hungary was the reigning team
world champion and I was the vice world champion. Now Hungary is the
reigning European team champion, fourth time in a row, seventh time in the
total of ten EuChamps. We have three individual title (Ree (2) and Orsovai)
and further podiums (all the three team members). Several world records
were also set by the present team members in Cat.II site (Orsovai (6), Ree
(5), Sukosd (1)).
15 years ago the resistance against the rule change was much stronger but
later on the high majority of competitors became happy with the radically
changed rules.
Believe us, the Hungarian indoor flyers are no way the enemies of the US or
other indoor flyers.
*Let me share what are the two main problems with F1D? *
1.
*Our favorite class is in serious danger* to be dropped as championship
class, having rather low number of participating countries at our
championships. (At WCh the max. number was 17 in 1986 Cardington, at EuCh
15 in 2003 London.)
Recently FAI-CIAM movement is in progress to increase the minimum number
of entering countries to have valid continental and world champs (so called
first class events). The long time existing present value is rather low,
minimum 4 countries are required (FAI Sporting Code, General Section,
paragraph 3.5.3.1), but it is criticized since a while.
Because of the increasing of this minimum number to 14, two FF classes are
in immediate danger, F1D and F1E (slope soaring gliders by magnet
steering), and in general the junior championships. As the juniors are the
future, the FFSC unanimously and strongly opposed the drastic increase of
this minimum number. We can’t say the 4 is a realistic number, but a
drastic increase is a knife on the throat of these classes. Finally, it was
decided, that classes which have junior champs are exemptions. But
recently, you have seen in Slanic, only three countries were participating
in the junior event, therefore the minimum number of 4 was not met. Just
the exceptional situation in Ukraine (the fourth country on the final entry
list but didn’t appear) gave the possibility to celebrate the winners as
champions (after getting permission from the CIAM Bureau during the days of
the event).
There are several countries active in indoor, but never or just
occasionally participating at champs. It is very important to increase
their chance to participate. To increase their interest a World Cup serial
in F1D probably would be helpful. Romania would be ready to participate in
a World Cup serial (by organizing the Otto Hints Memorial), but other
events would also be needed in other countries. We have chance for that
only if the cost of these would be as low as possible by using smaller
sites, flying shorter flights during less days.
1.
*There is lack of organizers, *at the moment we have only one country,
Romania at Slanic.
The main reason we had only two potential organizers in the last 18 years
is the rental cost of the halls. Before, Japan had to cancel one time,
because the cost of the hall raised up to 38 thousand USD. Another case was
the cancellation of a Czech bid because the hall cost increased to about 10
times higher value after the privatization.
We had these two organizers, because In Slanic the cost is not as high as
in case of a sport hall or hangar (the part of the mine we use is not used
for other purposes). The fair hall in Belgrade was used in the summer break
and the organizer had some state support.
Now we have lost Belgrade, because the support would be possible only in
case of minimum 16 entering countries at a European champ and 25 countries
at a WCh. No one of these values was reached ever in case of F1D and we
have no chance to reach them in the near future. So, by now, we have only
one potential organizer, at least up to 2016.
That is a luck Romania became active again, I was inspiring them as before
I did so with the Serbian organizers as well. (I also spent a lot of time
with the CD of the first champs in Serbia dealing with the organizing and
contest running details.)
There is another new danger for maintaining the championship status: in
case there is no championship organizer for a 4 years period, the class may
lose this status. It already happened before, we had no WCh organizer in
1964, and no EuCh organizer in 1989, 1995, 1999 and 2001.
It was said, F1D became too much Europe centric. Maybe yes, as only Europe
gave organizers since 1996 up to2016. The European countries keep the
championship status of the class, keep the class alive internationally,
otherwise we already would have been lost this status. The only stable
oversees participants are the US and Japan.
*Details Relating CIAM and my role in CIAM: *
I have about 30 years CIAM experience (as FF sub-committee member,
delegate, Bureau member as 3rd vice-president and treasurer). My main
mission in these activities always was to support FF (first of all indoor)
and the whole aeromodeling sport. I was involved in nearly all kind of CIAM
activity, including several rule change procedures as well. You may believe
me I always was in favor of the class instead of my own or any national
interest. By my mind it is important, that I am the only Bureau member, who
always remained active competitor, national team member, participating at
championship level as well. This way I know both sides.
It is funny, but somehow understandable, that according to my long time
experience the majority of top competitors are against the changes in all
classes. (Look at the message of John Barker on this list.) When I have
tried to reach a majority agreement between top Hungarian competitors in a
given class, it never succeeded (the only exemption is F1D).
*About the rule changes:*
The 0.4 g rubber is not a new idea. First, already in 2002 (!), Dieter
Siebenmann raised up the 0.4 g rubber idea when models were disappearing in
the CargoLifter hangar at a height of about 80 m. Later on, since about 4-6
years, time to time we were talking about possible changes at the European
and world champs, including a smaller span as well to fit to the reduced
airliner limits. (Just a remark: by my mind, the 55 cm span raised up first
by Rich Doig years before the previous rule change, also to fit to the
actual limits for hand luggage.) John Kagan in Belgrade told us, the US
team never had problem with the boxes which accommodate the 55 cm models.
On the other hand, we had problem in 2003 at Heathrow airport returning
from the EuCh.
So, the intention to put in such a proposal is not new, I was pushed since
years by some competitors – not only in Hungary – to do it, some others
were against. The situation explained in points 1 and 2 affirmed the
intention to submit the proposal to help a wider range international
activity in the potential countries by the shorter flight and event
duration and the easier access to build reliable models. Of course, there
is no guarantee for that, but at least it gives chance.
The implementation date of the changes is January 1, 2015, therefore the
first championship using the new rules will be the 2015 EuChamp, then first
at world champ in 2016. We intend to apply the rule changes already in this
year at the Hungarian events.
Kind regards
Andras Ree
On Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 6:10 PM, András Reé <ree_at_eik.bme.hu> wrote:
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BEN SAKS
www.bensaks.com
Received on Mon Apr 28 2014 - 19:15:50 CEST