FFTC News - issue 31

New Technical Committee

The committee for 2009 is:


International Teams

The following team members have now been confirmed for the 2009 World Championships in Croatia:


2009 Team Managers: F1A/B/C & F1E and Space

Team managers and assistant team managers are required for the 2009 F1A, F1B and F1C FF World Championships, the F1E FF World Championships and the 2009 Space European Senior and Junior Championships. Applications for F1A, F1B, F1C and F1E should be sent to Chris Strachan at 56 Way Lane, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9NQ, e-mail chris.strachan@btinternet.com , phone 01223 860498. Applications for Space Championships to Mike Francis at 4 Delph Park Avenue, Aughton, Omskirk Lancs, L39 5DG, e-mail mike.francis@sky.com , phone 01695 422519. All applications must be received by December 20th 2008.

The Way Ahead

Plans for this conference on Free Flight in the coming seasons are now well advanced. The date and venue are now confirmed as Sunday 1st March 2009, The Gliding Centre, Husbands Bosworth, Near Market Harborough, Leicestershire. Start time is 9:30.


The conference will look at some of the important issues in front of UK Free Flight in the next few years. The object is to improve the relationship between the requirements of the discipline and its participants through comprehensive discussions. The following subjects are at the centre of the Free Flight Technical Committee’s (FFTC) focus and will form the root of the day’s discussion, though it’s likely that the discussions will broaden into other connected topics.

Contest calendar – content and venues.

Classes and rules.

Team selection methods and procedures.

The advance of Technology, particularly in the FAI classes, and the impact of Radio D/T.

The day will feature speakers from the FFTC presenting the current and future thinking on the main subjects. Other speakers will also be giving their personal views and opinions on these subjects in short pre-booked slots. Question and Answer sessions will follow and, in addition, there may be smaller presentations on related topics. The day will finish with an open discussion. However, there will no votes taken. The object is to take opinion that will enable the FFTC to better structure its management of Contest Free Flight through the coming years.

There is no charge to attend – we need your input to make the event properly constructive. Lunch will be provided free but to ensure we cater for the right numbers pre-booking is necessary; contact Chris Strachan at chris.strachan@btinternet.com, phone 01223 860498. If you want to book a slot to speak on the main or connected subjects contact Mike Woodhouse: mike@freeflightsupplies.co.uk,phone 01603 457754.

Rule changes

A further reminder that all the rule changes detailed in the last issue of this news will take effect from January 1st 2009.

The rule change process lasting 2 years was adopted in 2008 (the 2009 changes were a tiding-up of those changes already in the pipeline). This means that the next cycle will commence for proposed changes in 2010. Any proposals for 2010 changes should be submitted before July 2009 to enable proper discussion and comment gathering. After this the next change process will commence in 2011 for implementation in 2012.

E-mail and Web Site

The FFTC has now combined a number of e-mail lists for the distribution of this news, and other notices. This should ensure that as many fliers as possible receive urgent news. The list is also used for the distribution of results. If you’d prefer not to be on this combined list please contact the distributor Peter Williams at peter.f1a@virgin.net

In addition if you know of anyone, not already listed, who would like to receive this news and any other FFTC notices please pass the address on to them.

The current issue, together with back issues and other notices and items of interest, also appears on the FFTC Web site: www.freeflightuk.org

Results Service

Phil Ball will continue to provide the Results Service. If you want to receive results by E-mail please ensure that Phil has your current E-mail address. Contact him at phil.ball@ntlworld.com
Please note that Phil has found many E-mail addresses are no longer valid and has had to delete them from his list.