26th Annual World Wide Postal Competition, 2017-2018, Including Sky Bunny

results are reported with event listings below

Eight contestants entered 13 events with a total of 28 entries.

The 2018-2019 World Wide Postal Competition announcement has been posted.

2017 -2018 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 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 event.

Flights may be made outdoors between July 1st 2017 and June 30th 2018 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 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, 2018; 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 – New event this year, 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.

No entries.

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.

No entries.

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.

No entries

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.

No entries.

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.

No entries.

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.

42” Vintage/Oldtimer
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Jim Moseley 120 120 120 360 Senator
2 Jim Moseley 120 117 237 Wren
3 Jim Moseley 103 103 Vargo

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.

P-30
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Jim Moseley 120 114 120 354 Saturno
2 Jim Moseley 120 91 109 320 Maximus

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.

36” Freewheel Rubber
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score
1 Jim Moseley 119 93 120 332 Senator

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.

No entries.

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

KK Senator
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score
1 Jim Moseley 120 120 120 180 540 Senator

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.

No entries.

Towline Glider – Any glider, straight tow only 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 90 second maximum followed by 60 second increments.

Towline Glider
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Graham Percival 90 44 90 224 Lulu

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.

Small Towline Glider
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Graham Percival 43 56 60 159 Dab

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 Hand Launched Glider
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Joshua Finn 18 20 19 20 22 17 116 Carbonette 6

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.

6” Tiny Catapult Launched Glider
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score
1 Joshua Finn 55 57 50 57 53 55 327 Carbonette 6
2 Dick Couglas 7 10 10 27
3 Manuel Cisneros 4 5 12 21

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 Hand Launched Glider
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Joshua Finn 17 22 16 16 22 20 113 Carbonette 8

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.

8” Tiny Catapult Launched Glider
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Hope Finn 41 32 49 37 45 40 244 Aleda

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 (small)
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Hope Finn 58 59 53 60 60 57 347 Carbonette 12
2 Brad Williamson 38 54 40 45 40 15 232 Kestrel 12
3 Bruce Williamson 39 32 34 36 32 30 203 Phantom 12
4 Brad Williamson 30 31 29 34 29 30 183 Sandpiper 12
5 Bruce Williamson 27 23 28 30 29 24 157 Tornado 12

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.

Catapult/Handlaunched Glider (large)
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Graham Percival 57 60 57 53 41 39 307
2 Graham Percival 42 35 33 60 56 60 286
3 Brad Williamson 30 31 29 34 29 30 183 Sandpiper
4 Joshua Finn 34 34 36 37 37 38 179 Piglet
5 Graham Percival 24 22 30 22 29 21 148 Sting 18
6 Bruce Williamson 24 23 19 21 23 20 130 Cloud Dancer

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.

Tip Launched Glider
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Score Plane
1 Joshua Finn 60 52 58 30 48 47 295 Roadkill
2 Hope Finn 19 16 18 20 18 18 109 Balsagam

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

No entries.

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

No entries.

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

No entries.

 

 

8 thoughts on “26th Annual World Wide Postal Competition, 2017-2018, Including Sky Bunny

  1. April 1, 2018

    Gary,

    Saw you asking for some scores. Here’s some from an evening of flying my newest Carbonette 8. Still needs some work and the conditions are rough.

    8″ Tiny Hand Launch, Josh Finn, Carbonette 8: 17, 22, 16, 16, 22, 20

    Got another entry in tonight, this time with Hope’s Carbonette 12. So this one’s for Under 12″ CLG. Hope was flying until it go so dark we could barely see it on the way up. Flew great though!

    12″ CLG, Hope Finn, Carbonette 12: 58, 59, 53, 60, 60, 57

    -Josh

  2. Dear Gary,
    26th Annual WWP Comp. 2017 – 2018.
    I have borrowed a computer and e-mail to send you my entries for 2017 – 2018. All the flights were in 2018.

    GRAHAM PERCIVAL
    Catapult/Handlaunch Glider (Large)
    CLG 42 35 33 60 56 60 = 286
    CLG 57 60 57 53 41 39 =307
    HLG Sting 18 24 22 30 22 29 21 = 148

    Small Towline Glider
    Dab 43 56 60 = 159

    Towline Glider
    Lulu 90 44 90 =224

    It was a windy day when I did the HLG flights using an old Catapult model. On some of the flights the silly- putty D/T operated VERY early! My CLG flights were made during some of the good weather we have been having in recent weeks. The towline models are ones I have used in previous years for the WWP contests. Both were flown on days when there was only light drift. The final Lulu flight was in strong lift and took nearly 90 secs. to come down after D/T!
    It was great to fly in these events. Thanks for all you do.

    Graham Percival.

  3. Hi Gary!

    I’m Brad Williamson. My brother Bruce and I have a YouTube channel called “Nighthawk Gliders.”
    We are fairly new to the Free flight scene and have been making some CLGs of our own that have been a blast to fly.
    Our friend Josh Finn suggested we submit some entries to your contest here… and so… here we go!

    We’ve been mainly building 12” and 18” CLG models and are quite happy with them. We have tried in vain to make an 8” model or smaller, but, let’s just say we got work to do to come up with something reliable.

    We recorded most of our flights late one evening on June 28th at a local park before sunset. It was a bit too breezy, dampness was setting in quickly, we didn’t get any thermal assists, and daylight was burning fast… so, it may not have been the best time to record flights, but… hey, it’s all fun and the results turned out better than expected.

    Catapult/Handlaunch Glider (small)
    12” CLG (Brad, Kestrel-12) Times: 38, 54, 40, 45, 40, 15
    12” CLG (Brad, Sandpiper-12) Times: 30, 31, 29, 34, 29, 30
    12” CLG (Bruce, Tornado-12) Times: 27, 23, 28, 30, 25, 24
    12” CLG (Bruce, Phantom-12) Times: 39, 32, 34, 36, 32, 30

    Catapult/Handlaunch Gliders (large)
    18” CLG (Brad, Sandpiper-18) Times: 30, 31, 29, 34, 29, 30
    18” CLG (Bruce, Coud Dancer-18) Times: 24, 23, 19, 21, 25, 20

    This was fun! Thanks for hosting this contest. If you do this again next year, we will certainly participate!

    Brad and Bruce Williamson
    (Nighthawk Gliders)

  4. Hi Gary, your reminder on FFML sparked me into life.

    I now only get to fly four times a year, a 500 mile round trip, and I just missed the May opportunity due to weather and fact that the Geneseo field was flooded. Next date is in July, too late for this year’s WW.

    I dug out my flight cards from 2017 August and September contests. Results not very impressive but have applied them to your classes as below :-

    42” O/T Senator 120 120 120 360 (No f/o flight made)
    Wren 120 117 – 237
    Vargo 103 – – 103

    36” F/wheel Senator 119 93 120 332

    Senator 120 120 120 180 540 ( Unlimited f/o of 226 but here shewn as 180 )

    P30 Maximus 120 91 109 320
    Saturno 120 114 120 354

    Jim

  5. Gary, here are a few more scores for the postal. We’ve had some nice flying weather. My discus launch flying was…interesting. That 57 second flight was going to max, but it hit a metal fence post. I was ticked off after that and it reflects in my scores. Hope’s DLG flights aren’t very long, but she’s also very pregnant and deserves every handicap and excuse we can give her. What a trooper!

    8″ CLG: Hope, Aleda 41 32 49 37 45 40

    >12″ CLG: Josh, Piglet 34 34 36 37 37 38

    6″ HLG: Josh, Carbonette 6, 18, 20, 19, 20, 22, 17

    6″ CLG: Josh, Carbonette 6, 55 57 50 57 53 55

    Discus Launch Glider: Josh, Roadkill, 60 52 58 30 48 47

    Discus Launch Glider: Hope, Balsagam, 19 16 18 20 18 18

    -Josh

  6. It is indeed sad that aeromodelling as we know and love it it pretty well dead. The days of 100 + entries in 1/2 A are long gone. We all know the reasons, but just finding someone to fly with is a big problem for the few of us that are left.

    Postal meets are about all that is holding the gang together. Some of us can make Geneseo or Muncie. But travel is getting be more difficult every year. So is chasing when you are in your mid 80s!

    Keep ’em flying!

    1. (to Bill Warner) – Bill, this is David Aronstein. I saw your comments here – assume you are the same Bill Warner who wrote FF Sport & Scale columns in the magazines back in the 1970s & 80s? I was just starting then. Was much inspired by your ‘Ms Peach’ Embryo Endurance design. Also I was in the Mid Hudson Modelmasters, Poughkeepsie, NY. You corresponded a lot with our newsletter editor, Earl Van Gorder. I would love to get in touch with you. Darcy White has my contact info….

      Also I recently ran into another mutual acquaintance, Fernando Ramos, at the 2019 Indoor Nats.

      I hope you read this!

      -David Aronstein

  7. Gary,
    The OCD has three events to support the postal competition. They are 6” Catapult, 20” Rubber, and Sky Bunny. The contest held on 8/12/2017 had two entries in 6” Catapult and none in the other two.
    Those who entered 6” Catapult were Manuel Cisneros and me. By the time we started flying the wind was up and the contest was almost over. We each flew three flights.
    They were:
    Dick Douglas; 7 sec, 10 sec, 10 sec, for a total of 27 sec.
    Manuel Cisneros: 4 sec, 5 sec, 12 sec, for a total of 21 sec.

    The contest had great weather, calm and cool. It was poorly attended. It reminds me of a phrase in the late 60s that asked the question “What if they gave a war and nobody came?” oh, well, we’ll try again next year.
    Dick Douglas

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