2018 – 2019, 27th World Wide Model Airplane Postal Competition

RESULTS 

Four contestants entered six events. Some entered more than once in an event for a total of fifteen entries.

The small number of events flown, six out of twenty-four, caused me to decide that this will be the last World Wide Postal Contest. We have had a good, long run, twenty seven years, but there is no longer enough interest to continue. People can continue to fly their favorite events locally.

 

  Cloud Tramp
      1 2 3 4 5   Score
1 Graham Percival   21 33 37 16 16   70

 

  Towline Glider
      1 2 3 4 5 6 Score
1 Graham Percival   90 90         180

 

  Small Towline Glider
      1 2 3 4 5 6 Score
1 Graham Percival   60 60 60 88     268

 

  8” Tiny Catapult Launched Glider
      1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Bruce Williamson   30 28 36 28 26 20 168

Jet Stream 8

 

  Catapult/Handlaunch Glider (small)
      1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Brad Williamson   52 22 27 55 29 17 202 Kestrel 12
2 Brad Williamson   30 34 26 38 34 30 192 Tornado 12
3 Baptista Pereira   35 43 26 29 28 28 189 Vartanian
4 Brad Williamson   23 22 31 23 38 42 179 Sandpiper 12
5 Bruce Williamson   27 28 30 11 38 26 160 Kestrel 12
6 Bruce Williamson   21 35 31 27 16 21 151 Tornado 12
7 Bruce Williamson   25 22 39 19 17 15 137 Sandpiper 12

 

  Catapult/Handlaunched Glider (large)
      1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Graham Percival   44 44 53 37 60 60 298  
2 Graham Percival   54 60 52 52 38 36 292  
3 Brad Williamson   52 22 27 55 29 17 202 Sandpiper 18
4 Brad Williamson   21 25 27 19 19 21 132 Nighthawk 24

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

The purpose of this postal contest is to encourage friendly participation among aeromodellers worldwide with the prime emphasis being on low-key, leisurely flying without the pressures of regular competition.  The Internet permits us to have a worldwide event in the spirit of a friendly local club contest. A wide variety of events are offered including classes for types and sizes of models which have been overtaken or outclassed by modern developments or are perhaps too small to be considered for serious competition work, such as 20” and 25” Rubber, Sky Bunny, Foam Plate and Cloud Tramp, many of which can be flown at any time on smaller local sites without the necessity of travel to more formal contests at larger areas.

It is hoped that these simpler categories will encourage less experienced modelers to make flights, compare notes and improve their flying skills. To this purpose, I have added the Foam Plate Rubber Band Powered Airplane and AMA Alpha events.

Flights may be made outdoors between July 1st 2018 and June 30th 2019 inclusive; it is not required that all flights in any event be made upon the same day but each is to be pre-nominated as official. The general format (with exceptions as noted) is for three or more flights to the specified maximum; after three (or more) maximums are achieved, further flights will be made to a higher maximum, increasing by specified increments until the model fails to reach the duration target for that flight. The final score will be the total of all flights, recorded in seconds; the purpose of this scoring system is to reduce the possibility of models being lost in an unlimited flyoff and as flights may be made at any time within the contest period it does not entail unduly arduous flying sessions to complete same. In classes where maximum sizes are established, the span shall be measured as per plan, not as projected span.

A maximum, called a max,  is the maximum time that may be recorded for a flight, without respect to the actual flight time on the watch being over the maximum. To clarify the concept of maximums, consider an event which requires six flights with a maximum of 60 seconds and a 30 second increment thereafter. If you make six flights and all are over 60 seconds, those flight times are each recorded for scoring purposes as a 60 second flight. The total score at this point is 6 x 60 = 360 seconds. If any of your flights are less than the 60 second maximum, that flight time is recorded and the recorded times are summed for your score. Only if you make all six maxes do you qualify for the next flight, which will have a 60 + 30 = 90 second maximum. If you don’t make the 90 second max, you sum your times so far for your score. If you make the 90 second max, you may make another flight to a 90 + 30 = 120 second max. If at any time, you don’t make the max, you record that lesser time and sum it with all previous flight times for your score. You make no more flights if at any time you fail to make the max for that flight.

Report all actual times recorded for the event, do not report only the final score. I have had submittals of times from other contests listing only final scores. Different contests have different rules for flights and scoring. All flight times are required to verify and make transparent that scoring is done according to the WWP rules.

‘Vintage/Oldtimer classes are for designs authenticated to have been flying outdoors prior to December 31st, 1950, even though plan publication may be of a later date in any kit, commercial magazine, SAM publication, club newsletter, etc.  Entries with different qualifying models may be made in any event, but flights in one event may not be doubled up with any other class for which a given model is eligible  separate flights for each event, please.

The 20” Rubber class is to encourage the flying of all such models designed for outdoor use and not usually considered competitive against larger designs. There is no restriction on publication or production date and all designs published in/on freely available sources i.e. newsletters, websites, etc. are acceptable provided such source and/or details are available to others.

To maximize flying opportunities there is ample scope for a variety of rubber models and gliders to be flown in multiple events and you are encouraged to take stopwatch, pencil and notepad with you each time you go to your local field, or to a contest, as an added incentive to your flying enjoyment. If you make flights in another contest and wish to enter times in the WWP, it is best to record those flight times separately in a format which is consistent with WWP rules. Bear in mind, also, that any number of individual models may be flown in any event for which they are eligible.

A full report will be published here after the scores are received and compiled. To enhance the same, a brief account of weather, site, flying anecdotes, photographs, etc. would be appreciated when scores are submitted. Please ensure that all scores are posted here in Comments, under the Leave a Reply heading, below, by July 15th, 2019; earlier submissions would be most gratefully received! Please provide clear notice as to which class/event they should be posted to. Reporting scores all along should stimulate participation. Flyers who see scores posted better than theirs should take this as an indication that they can do better. Feel free to ask questions.

I welcome any comments regarding amendment to any event rules that might make same more attractive, or suggestions for other classes that might be considered of general interest in any future Contest.

GOOD FLYING – GOOD LUCK – AND … ABOVE ALL … HAVE FUN!

EVENTS:

Foam Plate Rubber Band Powered Airplane – Flown per rules published HERE. This is to give school, scout and other youth groups building foam plate planes an opportunity to participate in an international event and compare times with others around the world.

Sky Bunny – Flown per rules published here. Rule 4, about the contest dates, is amended to conform with the dates of this current World Wide Postal Competition.

AMA Alpha – The AMA Alpha must be built from the materials in the kit, unmodified, except for bending the metal wing clip to produce central dihedral and substitution of a rubber motor of any dimensions. Five flights, no maximum; longest and shortest will be discarded and balance totaled for score.

20” Rubber – For any published/kitted outdoor designs not exceeding 20”/51 cm span . Three flights to 60 second maximum followed by 30 second increments thereafter.

25” Rubber – Any published/kitted models up to 25”/63.5 cm span. Three flights to 60 second maximum followed by 30 second increments thereafter.

30” Vintage/Oldtimer – For pre-1951 designs, not exceeding 30”/76 cm. Three flights to a 90 second maximum followed by 30 second increments thereafter.

42” Vintage/Oldtimer – For pre-1951 designs, with spans greater than 30”/76 cm but not exceeding 42”/107 cm. Three flights to a 120 second maximum followed by 30 second increments thereafter.

P-30 Rubber – Standard P30 rules (page 18). Three flights to 120 second maximum followed by 60 second increments thereafter. (Note that this 60 second increment differs from the 30 second increment in the AMA rule.) No gears or movable surfaces, other than for d/t operation.

36″ Freewheel Rubber – Any published/kitted outdoor design with a freewheeling propeller is eligible, wing span not exceeding 36”/91 cm. Three flights to 90 second maximum followed by 30 second increments

42″ Unlimited Rubber – Any rubber model with wingspan not exceeding 42”/107 cm. No auto surfaces. Three flights to a 120 second maximum, followed by 60 second increments thereafter.

KK “Senator” – A one-design class for this popular design. Three flights to 120 second maximum, followed by 60 second increments thereafter.

Cloud Tramp – Any version of the Cloud Tramp design as published, 8” prop (plastic OK), any type of prop bearing. Five flights, no maximum; longest and shortest will be discarded and balance totaled for score.

Towline Glider – Any glider, straight tow only with no moving surfaces other than autorudder. Maximum towline length 164’/50 meters. Equivalent (164’/50 meters relaxed length) high-start launch systems permissible. Three flights to 90 second maximum followed by 60 second increments.

Small Towline Glider – Any glider to a maximum span of 40”/101.5 cm, straight tow with no moving surfaces other than autorudder. Maximum towline length 164’/50 metres. Equivalent (164’/50 metres relaxed length) high-start launch systems permissible. Three flights to 60 second maximum followed by 60 second increments.

6″ Tiny Hand Launched Glider – For any glider with wingspan no greater than 6”/15.2 cm. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Multiple entries permissible.

6″ Tiny Catapult Launched Glider – For any glider with wingspan no greater than 6”/15.2 cm. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Catapult – a 9” loop of ¼” flat rubber attached to a 6” handle. Multiple entries permissible.

8″ Tiny Hand Launched Glider – For any glider with wingspan no greater than 8”/20.3 cm. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Multiple entries permissible.

8″ Tiny Catapult Launched Glider – For any glider with wingspan no greater than 8”/20.3 cm. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Catapult – a 9” loop of ¼” flat rubber attached to a 6” handle. Multiple entries permissible.

Catapult/Handlaunch Glider (small) – For any glider with wingspan no greater than 12”/30.5 cm. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Catapult – a 9” loop of ¼” flat rubber attached to a 6” handle. Multiple entries permissible.

Catapult/Handlaunch Glider (large) – For any glider larger than 12”/30.5cms. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Catapult – a 9” loop of ¼” flat rubber attached to a 6” handle. Multiple entries permissible.

Tip-launch Glider – For any size of wingtip-launch glider. Folding wings and R/C are not permissible. Six flights to a 60 second maximum, increasing by 30 second increments thereafter.

Peanut Scale – Any type, any period, 13″ maximum wingspan or 9″ maximum length. Total highest three of six flights for score.

Dimescale – Any type, any period, 16″ maximum wingspan, no scale or bonus points. Total highest three of six flights for score.

Phantom Flash – Per kit or plan, plastic or wood prop. May be hand launched. Total highest three of six flights for score.

 

4 thoughts on “2018 – 2019, 27th World Wide Model Airplane Postal Competition

  1. Hello Gary, 2018-2019 POSTAL
    “England calling”! Here are Graham Percival’s entries in this F/F competition. The two flights in the Towline Glider event were done in June 2019 but no third flight before the month ended !

    TOWLINE GLIDER
    90 90 – = 180

    SMALL TOWLINE GLIDER
    60 60 60 88 = 268

    CLG/HLG (LARGE)
    54 60 52 52 38 36 = 292
    44 44 53 37 60 60 = 298

    CLOUD TRAMP
    21 33 37 16 16 = 70 (THREE SCORING FLIGHTS)

    Thanks for organising the WWP. Role on 2019-2020 !

  2. Hi Gary

    Im sending results for the catapult glider (small). The flights were made at 29th of June near Lisbon in Portugal.

    35, 43, 26, 29, 28, 28
    The model is a Vartanian and the wind was strong!

    Thanks!

  3. Hi Gary!

    We just got our last fight times completed today. Nothing like waiting until the last minute… whew!

    On one day, Bruce and I got a series of flights in pushing dangerously close to some stormy weather. The dark clouds were creeping in and the wind was picking up. On the last day, which was today, we had some thermals assisting us, however, we had a hard time hitting them consistently due to some shifty wind directions.

    8″ Tiny Catapult Launched Glider
    Bruce Williamson
    30, 28, 36, 28, 26, 20: Jet Stream 8

    Catapult/Hand Launched Glider (small)
    Brad Williamson:
    30, 34, 26, 38, 34, 30: Tornado 12
    23, 22, 31, 23, 38, 42: Sandpiper 12
    52, 22, 27, 55, 29, 17: American Kestrel 12
    Bruce Williamson:
    25, 22, 39, 19, 17, 15: Sandpiper 12
    21, 35, 31, 27, 16, 21: Tornado 12
    27, 28, 30, 11, 38, 26: American Kestrel 12

    Catapult/Hand Launched Glider (large)
    Brad Williamson:
    52, 22, 27, 55, 29, 17: Sandpiper 18
    21, 25, 27, 19, 19, 21: Nighthawk 24

    Again… thanks for hosting!
    Enjoy flight and enjoy life!

    Brad and Bruce Williamson
    Nighthawk Gliders

  4. Hello Gary

    Please note there will be two for the August 3/19 Cloud Tramp Mass Launch from North Bay Ontario Canada. We could have one more if they complete their build of the Cloud Tramp in time. Thanks Gary

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