Yesterday was a good training for the pilots, and judges also had a lot of work checking the free programs and getting things ready.
Today was the first contest day and we actually managed to get one (1) flight done, the weather is giving us a lot of troubles. Clouds keep hanging too low and it has been raining almost all day...
We have almost everyone here, except still waiting for one Norwegian pilot to arrive. We'll see if it ever works, since the bad weather is basically all over Scandinavia. And it is cold. For tomorrow, the weather doesn't look too good either, but that allows me to do some office work and things ready for the Glider contest starting on the 20th.
Today I got help to the contest office, Mia started today and is a big help. Also one of the judges assistants, Tuula, is a VERY big help, since she made all the folders for judges ready before the contest. That is just not an easy job.
Nice thing too, we got some publicity. A few days ago, a local news paper Aamuset wrote an article about the contest.Today Turun Sanomat wrote an article about how the weather is giving us hard time, the link is here, but it is only in finnish.
It has been very busy 1,5 weeks for me, but I am not complaining. Au contraire my friend, I enjoy this work very much. And there is one good thing about a rainy day. It allows you to get some sleep at decent time... well, decent and decent, but before 2am. Luckily also the weather report says, that our next briefing is at 10:00 am. So now I have some time to catch at least some sleep :)
So, untill tomorrow.
sunnuntai 15. heinäkuuta 2012
perjantai 13. heinäkuuta 2012
2 down 3 to go...
Midnight sun air show and Jämi flyin & airshow are happily behind us, both were nice and fine airshows as always. Worked in both of them, volunteer as always. A lot of work and I would do it again any minute!
Actually, I am doing it all over again... After Jämi I moved myself, my car and all my stuff to Oripää, to get the Nordic Aerobatic Championships ready. Nordics is always organised in turns with Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Last year it was Norway, next year is going to be Denmark.
We started preparations last winter already, and we have received so far over 30 entries. Unfortunately also few cancellations due to technical, meteorological, medical or financial reasons. Things happen, no can do. I was hoping to see all the nordic pilots in Oripää, but you can't always get everything.
We have already some finnish pilots here, as well as danish and swedish. Also the swedish judges have arrived and tomorrow we can expect the Chief Judge to arrive. Maybe also some finnish judges and other organisation. This past few days have been really busy. I have been setting the contest office up, cleaning up the cottages and campers for the people accommodating here, cooking evening meal for people since the airfield restaurant will be open this evening, shopping, arranging accommodations outside the airfield, etc. etc.
Now we're having breakfast, press conference, training, cleaning, printing, checking papers etc etc. day. So, I'll get back to you later!
and btw, 3 to go... Nordics as a contest director, World Advanced Aerobatic championships in Hungary as an assistant judge and World Glider Aerobatic Championships in Slovakia as an observer. Huh.
Actually, I am doing it all over again... After Jämi I moved myself, my car and all my stuff to Oripää, to get the Nordic Aerobatic Championships ready. Nordics is always organised in turns with Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Last year it was Norway, next year is going to be Denmark.
We started preparations last winter already, and we have received so far over 30 entries. Unfortunately also few cancellations due to technical, meteorological, medical or financial reasons. Things happen, no can do. I was hoping to see all the nordic pilots in Oripää, but you can't always get everything.
We have already some finnish pilots here, as well as danish and swedish. Also the swedish judges have arrived and tomorrow we can expect the Chief Judge to arrive. Maybe also some finnish judges and other organisation. This past few days have been really busy. I have been setting the contest office up, cleaning up the cottages and campers for the people accommodating here, cooking evening meal for people since the airfield restaurant will be open this evening, shopping, arranging accommodations outside the airfield, etc. etc.
Now we're having breakfast, press conference, training, cleaning, printing, checking papers etc etc. day. So, I'll get back to you later!
and btw, 3 to go... Nordics as a contest director, World Advanced Aerobatic championships in Hungary as an assistant judge and World Glider Aerobatic Championships in Slovakia as an observer. Huh.
maanantai 11. kesäkuuta 2012
Lost in time...
I have been very lazy. I mean very. Couldn't even finnish the story from UK...
so, here goes.
We managed to fly all flights for the contest. Even against strong wind. At some times, it looked like the glider was just staying there, hovering against the wind. But still everyone managed to stay in the box. Or almost :) Here you can find the CD's report from the contest. All the results are available here.
In Beginners class there was 3 pilots, they flew only Known sequence which - of course- was very easy. Basic manoveurs, good way to enter to contest world... Winner got the highest prosentage of the whole contest, 82,659 %. Way to go Robert Rizk. He did flew with a safety pilot, there was cameras in the cockpit to ensure it was really him flying the plane. Oh, did I mention? He is 13 years old. Ok, 13 and a half.
Very promising young guy. Seems to have a good head on the shoulders. Other pilots in Beginners were David Aherne (2.) and Nick McCloud (3.).
In sportsman, there was 5 pilots. 1 Pilatus, 4 flew with ASK-21. Best score was a bit over 80% Adam Lindsey. I am pretty sure we'll here from him later. Other pilots were George Rizk (2.), Rodolphe Herve (3.), Michael Corcoran (4.) and Peter Sharphouse (5.)
In intermediate class there was just one pilot. David Gethin. Finnished first (and last) with 66,230 %.
Advanced had 2 pilots, presumable seeing them in Wagac 2012 in Slovakia as well. David Morgan 65,345 % and Richard Brown 65,153 %. Very close as you see.
In unlimited the contest was very interesting. There was also one non-UK-pilot, Dietmar Poll from Austria. He won the whole thing with 79,018 %, but obviously didn't recieve the trophy for Brittish Champion. That went to Maz Makari, 72,717 %. The contest between him and bronze medalist Paul Conran was very tight, since he received 72,607 % which is only 0,110% less. Fourth was David-John Gibbs with 56,079 %.
About judging... Since I am not on the CIVA officials list yet, I need the rankings in order to earn my place there. I am not in a rush, I am perfectly happy working with "my judge" Kimmo Virtanen in the CIVA contests, but this was a good practise. For what I know, for the next 2 years there is no way even for me to judge in a CIVA contest... But I did well. When I received the RI's from our Chief Judge, the first thing came out of my mind was "are you kidding me?". I finnished second. For my readers who are not that familiar with Ranking Indexes and all this comotion about judging, it basicly means that I was the second best in knowing in what order the pilots end up in final scores. The smaller RI is, the better. In Civa sanctioned contests, where there is 8-10 judges, you hardly ever see RI less than 10, but the less judges there is, the smaller the RI is. We had 5 judges and my RI was 2.40. So I can be proud of my debute.
I must say THANK YOU all in Buckminster Gliding Club. Thanks Paul for inviting me. It was a great trip and a good opportunity for me. It was great to see all the familiar faces Paul, Maz, Rachel, David-John, Alex, Chris, Graham, Dietmar, Nick and Jen... And all the new people I met.
Thanks to the people in Cross Swords Inn. A perfect place to stay the nights and have dinner and few beers. The food was excellent and service... well, you couldn't hope for more!
Special thanks to Jen and Nick for the sleepover before my flight at their house and the excellend dinner Jen cooked. Besides, they have ADORABLE little Jack-dog there :)
And to Charles for picking me up and to Nick about the ride back to the airport!
Untill the next time!
so, here goes.
We managed to fly all flights for the contest. Even against strong wind. At some times, it looked like the glider was just staying there, hovering against the wind. But still everyone managed to stay in the box. Or almost :) Here you can find the CD's report from the contest. All the results are available here.
In Beginners class there was 3 pilots, they flew only Known sequence which - of course- was very easy. Basic manoveurs, good way to enter to contest world... Winner got the highest prosentage of the whole contest, 82,659 %. Way to go Robert Rizk. He did flew with a safety pilot, there was cameras in the cockpit to ensure it was really him flying the plane. Oh, did I mention? He is 13 years old. Ok, 13 and a half.
Very promising young guy. Seems to have a good head on the shoulders. Other pilots in Beginners were David Aherne (2.) and Nick McCloud (3.).
In sportsman, there was 5 pilots. 1 Pilatus, 4 flew with ASK-21. Best score was a bit over 80% Adam Lindsey. I am pretty sure we'll here from him later. Other pilots were George Rizk (2.), Rodolphe Herve (3.), Michael Corcoran (4.) and Peter Sharphouse (5.)
In intermediate class there was just one pilot. David Gethin. Finnished first (and last) with 66,230 %.
Advanced had 2 pilots, presumable seeing them in Wagac 2012 in Slovakia as well. David Morgan 65,345 % and Richard Brown 65,153 %. Very close as you see.
In unlimited the contest was very interesting. There was also one non-UK-pilot, Dietmar Poll from Austria. He won the whole thing with 79,018 %, but obviously didn't recieve the trophy for Brittish Champion. That went to Maz Makari, 72,717 %. The contest between him and bronze medalist Paul Conran was very tight, since he received 72,607 % which is only 0,110% less. Fourth was David-John Gibbs with 56,079 %.
About judging... Since I am not on the CIVA officials list yet, I need the rankings in order to earn my place there. I am not in a rush, I am perfectly happy working with "my judge" Kimmo Virtanen in the CIVA contests, but this was a good practise. For what I know, for the next 2 years there is no way even for me to judge in a CIVA contest... But I did well. When I received the RI's from our Chief Judge, the first thing came out of my mind was "are you kidding me?". I finnished second. For my readers who are not that familiar with Ranking Indexes and all this comotion about judging, it basicly means that I was the second best in knowing in what order the pilots end up in final scores. The smaller RI is, the better. In Civa sanctioned contests, where there is 8-10 judges, you hardly ever see RI less than 10, but the less judges there is, the smaller the RI is. We had 5 judges and my RI was 2.40. So I can be proud of my debute.
I must say THANK YOU all in Buckminster Gliding Club. Thanks Paul for inviting me. It was a great trip and a good opportunity for me. It was great to see all the familiar faces Paul, Maz, Rachel, David-John, Alex, Chris, Graham, Dietmar, Nick and Jen... And all the new people I met.
Thanks to the people in Cross Swords Inn. A perfect place to stay the nights and have dinner and few beers. The food was excellent and service... well, you couldn't hope for more!
Special thanks to Jen and Nick for the sleepover before my flight at their house and the excellend dinner Jen cooked. Besides, they have ADORABLE little Jack-dog there :)
And to Charles for picking me up and to Nick about the ride back to the airport!
Untill the next time!
torstai 24. toukokuuta 2012
Thoughts from above…. and a bit from the ground too
23.5.2012
It was time
to travel to UK. The Glider nationals. Scary, and yet so exciting!
I drove to
Tampere and picked up a friend. He dropped me off to the airfield and is going
to take care of my car during my trip. Excellent service I’d say J
I like Tampere airport. There is a lot of traffic. Right when I walked to the plane, one of our F/18’s took off. I just love the smell of jet fuel in the morning… well, afternoon, and evening goes too. Nice way to start the trip!
I like Tampere airport. There is a lot of traffic. Right when I walked to the plane, one of our F/18’s took off. I just love the smell of jet fuel in the morning… well, afternoon, and evening goes too. Nice way to start the trip!
After
takeoff it was rather easy to keep track where we were going, but after the
Baltic sea I was completely lost and only could guess where we were. I don’t
know if I ever get tired of staring out of the window of an airplane. I was
reading part of the journey – the judging rules of course, but couldn’t help
taking peaks out of the window every now and then. The view is spectacular! No
clouds, sunny day, and all you can see, is the sea. Then you see a coast,
reaching to the sea. Seems to be longest white sand beach (or so it appears to
the plane, 10km high) I’ve ever seen. It looks like an island. Might be one
close to Swedish coast. But I am just guessing. Then there is more coast line,
then again sea. At some point I saw oil riggs down there, or that’s what I
think they were. Definitely not cruise ships, but there was a few of those too.
The closer we get to UK, it seems to be getting a bit of foggish hazy and I
really can’t see the horizon. Nor the
ground or sea anymore. There as a good turn here, and a the plane seems to be
going down so we’re getting close.
This trip
is a good opportunity for me. Even I am not in a rush to the CIVA list as a
judge, this gives me a good perspective on few things. First, how things are
done somewhere else than in Finland. I have only judged in Finland and been an
assistant in a CIVA contest. Now this is a National contest in a different country.
I am getting an assistant from there, and the second challenge is here. All the
conversations, figures, everything in English. Good thing the “aerobatic
language” is pretty similar in Finnish too. One might call that “Finglish”
Time to
close the computer, we’re landing.
24.5.2012
I arrived
to Stanstead perfectly on time and a colleague picked me up. Thanks to Charles, I got to Saltby well and safe =) Although I must say, the traffic is freaking me out. The bigger roads were
ok, but small roads are just scary, the cars DO drive on the wrong side of the
road. Besides, already twice I have tried to go in to the car – the wrong side…
:D
Welcome
here was warm and nice, a many familiar faces! Good to see people. Airfield is quite
big and with a lot of small bunnies
everywhere and birds. Pheasants and
Quils and something I don’t know the
name in English. Big birds anyway.
The accommodation at Cross Swords Inn is
perfect. The hosts of the pub are great and the food is delicious. The place
has 3 guestrooms and I am staying in Fishwell cottage, a nice twin bed room! I got
a basket of food with me in the evening after dinner for late night snack or
breakfast. Of course I enjoyed it this morning, only to realize you could get
breakfast from the airfield. Need to try that tomorrow, with a full English breakfast.
View from front of the Pub
The Pub itself, the Cross Swords Inn
I'm staying here, the Fishwell Cottage!
Contest director Chris Cain
Paul Conran & Maz Makari
Chief Judge Manfred Binder and wife
Just finished
a briefing, no flying yet, but preparing everything.
So,
Briefing postponed, next briefing at 11.
torstai 17. toukokuuta 2012
Season start for me...
Today was the first day of the first aerobatic camp. Or it was supposed to be. Weather seriously sucked the whole day. Spent most of the day indoors, but spent it good. Checked one free program, read the rules and finally got out and built half of the box with a bunch of people. It took less than an hour to set up 4 first box marks. We'll (they'll) continue tomorrow, then check the places from air and do the final adjustments. The trick is, the box is slightly (app, 500m) in a different place than last year. To enable better (and 2 other) judging positions.
It was delightful to return to Oripää after the winter. The new hangar is up and *HUGE*. There is already 6 planes in (2 Christen Eagles, 2 Pipers, 1 Ultimate and 1 Pitts), and there is still a lot of space!
It was delightful to return to Oripää after the winter. The new hangar is up and *HUGE*. There is already 6 planes in (2 Christen Eagles, 2 Pipers, 1 Ultimate and 1 Pitts), and there is still a lot of space!
Sorry about the photo, it is taken with my phone but you'll get the idea....
Several people has already arrived, and first glider just drove here, SZD-59 Acro. Two YAKs has been "on hold in Lahti, there is complete CAVOK over there... But, now it looks like there is a chance, the clouds are climbing up so we'll see.
I need to go back to home for one night, my kid has an English test tomorrow at school, but we'll be back tomorrow afternoon and hopefully catch an airfield full of action! I sure need the practice on judging, next weekend I'll be judging at UK glider nationals in Saltby. This is a great opportunity for me to start the "judging carreer". And will be great to see familiar faces!
maanantai 30. huhtikuuta 2012
Starting the countdown...
just a bit more... few more weeks and the season starts for me too...
I know the guys have started flying already, at least most of them. And by guys, I mean the aerobatic people of Finland. This is the problem compared to the rest of the Europe. The season starts late. Good thing we have (almost) lost all the snow already. At least from southern parts of Finland.
Anyway, 3 weeks to go for the first aerobatic camp this year. Thu-sun in Oripää, hope the weather allows a lot of flying!
If I look back this winter, it has been quite aerobatic too... We have prepared the bid to Krakov meeting for CIVA, (with good results, as you know) we have prepared the Nordic Aerobatic Championships, been on expos to market the contest, been in touch, doing things, planning this summer etc etc.
This summer is going to be busy as ... well, very busy . For some weird reason, my June is not that fully booked as it usually has been at this time of the year. It is good tho, I am in school and I just can't have too many absent days... So on June, I am not going to spend every weekend on the airfield. Only 2... :D On the first weekend I will spend in Vantaa, in Petikko, where there will be an RC Freestyle contest, and just like 2 years before this, I promised to host the whole thing. So, if you decide to visit Petikko RC field on June 3rd, you'll have to listen my voice the whole day. So bring your Peltors :D
Then of course there is the Midnight Sun airshow (website also in English, just click the flag in the upper right corner) in Kauhava. Wouldn't miss it in the world. Been there for the last 2 years and again volunteering there. Along with our excellent Midnight Hawks, the Patrouille Suisse will be there. Along with several others in flying and static display.
The main airshow this year is of course Jämi FlyIn. I will be working there for the ... hmm... what? 7th or 8th time. Many times, anyway, and will do that for the rest of my life I think. Can't wait to see the whole list of display planes and pilots. As usual, I don't see much of the show, but will work in the info. Can't really see the show, but ... well, let's see if I can catch a glimpse at least! And get to meet all friends there.
And this is when the rush hour starts... After the airshow in Jämi, I will be going to Oripää for the next 2 weeks. We (as in Turun lentokerho, Turku Flyingclub) will host the Nordic Aerobatic Championships, me as the assistant contest director. Have to say, I have the best possible team here.
After Nordics, I will travel to Hungary for the World Advanced Aerobatic Championships. I will be there as an judges assistant, just like last year in Dubnica. And after that, there will be the World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships in Dubnica, Slovakia. And going there with the Finnish Glider aerobatic team. They will update their blog soon again, I hope... (and yes, I am a bit responsible about that too)
So, as you see, it is going to be a busy summer. And I can't wait!! :)
I know the guys have started flying already, at least most of them. And by guys, I mean the aerobatic people of Finland. This is the problem compared to the rest of the Europe. The season starts late. Good thing we have (almost) lost all the snow already. At least from southern parts of Finland.
Anyway, 3 weeks to go for the first aerobatic camp this year. Thu-sun in Oripää, hope the weather allows a lot of flying!
If I look back this winter, it has been quite aerobatic too... We have prepared the bid to Krakov meeting for CIVA, (with good results, as you know) we have prepared the Nordic Aerobatic Championships, been on expos to market the contest, been in touch, doing things, planning this summer etc etc.
This summer is going to be busy as ... well, very busy . For some weird reason, my June is not that fully booked as it usually has been at this time of the year. It is good tho, I am in school and I just can't have too many absent days... So on June, I am not going to spend every weekend on the airfield. Only 2... :D On the first weekend I will spend in Vantaa, in Petikko, where there will be an RC Freestyle contest, and just like 2 years before this, I promised to host the whole thing. So, if you decide to visit Petikko RC field on June 3rd, you'll have to listen my voice the whole day. So bring your Peltors :D
Then of course there is the Midnight Sun airshow (website also in English, just click the flag in the upper right corner) in Kauhava. Wouldn't miss it in the world. Been there for the last 2 years and again volunteering there. Along with our excellent Midnight Hawks, the Patrouille Suisse will be there. Along with several others in flying and static display.
The main airshow this year is of course Jämi FlyIn. I will be working there for the ... hmm... what? 7th or 8th time. Many times, anyway, and will do that for the rest of my life I think. Can't wait to see the whole list of display planes and pilots. As usual, I don't see much of the show, but will work in the info. Can't really see the show, but ... well, let's see if I can catch a glimpse at least! And get to meet all friends there.
And this is when the rush hour starts... After the airshow in Jämi, I will be going to Oripää for the next 2 weeks. We (as in Turun lentokerho, Turku Flyingclub) will host the Nordic Aerobatic Championships, me as the assistant contest director. Have to say, I have the best possible team here.
After Nordics, I will travel to Hungary for the World Advanced Aerobatic Championships. I will be there as an judges assistant, just like last year in Dubnica. And after that, there will be the World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships in Dubnica, Slovakia. And going there with the Finnish Glider aerobatic team. They will update their blog soon again, I hope... (and yes, I am a bit responsible about that too)
So, as you see, it is going to be a busy summer. And I can't wait!! :)
tiistai 21. helmikuuta 2012
Nordic Aerobatic Championships 2012
We got the World Glider Aerobatic Championships when CIVA decided to give that to us for 2013, but before that, we have a golden opportunity to practice everything one year in advance, since it is our turn to host the Nordic Aerobatic Championships 2012 in Oripää. We're doing it all with the same organisation that already has committed to the WAGAC/WGAC 2013, so that makes thing so much easier.
We already sent out first bulletin, we have recieved first entry forms and already got judges from Sweden signed up, as well as the Finnish judges. Discussions about Danish judge are still going on, as well as the Chief Judge. We were supposed to get Nick Buckenham to be the chief judge, but unfortunately we had to adjust the dates a bit and so he is unable to join us. But we'll see, I am sure we'll get a good CJ for Nordics too.
So, if you're interested, go check out our Nordics website, www.nac2012.fi
We already sent out first bulletin, we have recieved first entry forms and already got judges from Sweden signed up, as well as the Finnish judges. Discussions about Danish judge are still going on, as well as the Chief Judge. We were supposed to get Nick Buckenham to be the chief judge, but unfortunately we had to adjust the dates a bit and so he is unable to join us. But we'll see, I am sure we'll get a good CJ for Nordics too.
So, if you're interested, go check out our Nordics website, www.nac2012.fi
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