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Day Two: The WAC News 8/22

The first Edition of the WAC Daily News, in which Carlys Soljolm reports "At the time of this report (5:15 pm Thursday) we had flown through pilot #42, just past the halfway point in the Known."

A Visitor's report

I was able to visit the WAC Thurs through Sunday -- couldn't pass up the chance to see something like this so close to home! Wish I could have stayed on but the weather (great on Thurs, Fri and Sat) did shut things down by 10:00 or so on Sunday morning. From the postings on the Web, it looks like they have only been able to fly two more pilots in the free since Sunday morning.

The contest site is ideal. All aircraft are hangered (unlike most WACs) and the box is well placed. The site could accommodate many more visitors than I saw this weekend.

When the weather was good, flights were going at about 4-6 per hour. Each pilot is allowed a 15 minute window to complete their flight and most choose to at least fly through the box executing a half roll and laydown eight prior to repositioning for the dive into the box. A fair number of judging conferences (often 15 minutes long - some of these are actually breaks for the judges) also tend to slow things down.

But the wait is worth it! I watched most of the known and about 30 flights of the free. Our team is doing well -- the Russian and French pilots are tough to catch. It's interesting for me to see for first time the differences in style between the European and American figures. Our team has adopted much of this style for the competition. I was prepared to see "steep" 45's but I felt that most of the high scoring flights flew the same 45 degrees we try to fly in the States. What I did see were somewhat exaggerated positive pulls just before inside snaps, higher energy caps on humpties, and very interesting spin entries. Most of the European competitors typically set up for a spin by placing it right after a vertical maneuver ending with a cap at very low energy. The aircraft typically would not show a high angle of attack during the very short horizontal line after the cap. Entry into the spin is very abrupt (the figure would be zeroed at most regional contests - "forced"). Since CIVA rules do not score position like IAC, there is no position downgrade for the spin being placed so close in position to the vertical line used to set up for it. I never got a chance to talk to any of the competitors about spins - it would be interesting.

Matt flew his free so well that he is currently (flight is not finished) in 21st even though he zeroed his slide. I didn't have a copy of his free to look at (I didn't know if he wanted wheels up or down) while I was watching but I was very nervous when I saw such a beautiful vertical line up (no cheat) and a pretty long slide. It was clear he slid the wrong way when we saw him after the flight.

My understanding is that the American judge and two other judges were removed from scoring (I'm unsure of whether this applies to both the known and the free) but they will be included in subsequent flights. Apparently there is a "normalization" test applied to each flight that requires that all scoring judges fit within limits of the average of the rest. I am unclear how this might differ from just leaving the judges in and allowing TBL to handle any problems.

News from WAC is slower in coming out than I had hoped (I should have posted this yesterday myself!). I hope anyone in attendance with access to the Web will type a few lines of news (even if its just "Wx sucks - ceilings low") to keep us informed. If you want to "see" the weather in Ok City, there is a live camera on the web at one of the TV stations:

http://kwtv.rigroup.com/

Hoping for better weather and more news,

Dave Swartz

Webmaster's note: Anyone in attendence who can make these kinds of observations is invited to join the WAC-Talk mailing list and get the word out on what is going on. The international aerobatics community is depending upon you to provide these kinds of insights...

Sunday 8/25

Flying of the Freestyle resumed this (Sunday) morning, but was soon interrupted by a report of low clouds. A weather flight was launched which reported ceiling 3,000 and visibility 3.5 - 5+ miles except in the SW quadrant where a shower was spotted moving toward Page field. The Southwest Boundary Judge soon reported moderate showers and flying was again halted before it had begun.

A weak shower, amounting only to "sprinkles" crossed the field and visibility cleared to the SW. Contest Director, Carl Whittle ordered flying to resume. However, by the time judges had reached their stations, light rain had again resumed, this time coming from the NW. At this time (noon, Oklahoma time) light rain continues to fall and judges have abandoned their stations for the cafeteria tent and an early lunch. We hope to be able to resume flying after a one hour lunch break. High overcast will probably eliminate the need to move judges to the west side of the box as has been done each day until now due to the blistering Oklahoma sun.

Everyone on the airport has reminded Whittle of his long standing promise that "it will not rain in Oklahoma in August".

Tuesday, 8/27 Report

The pilot briefing was at 7 am this morning. We are on stand down for the weather again, to be reassessed at 10 am. The heavy overcast this morning is beginning to break up. The low scud at about 1,000 or 1,500 feet is moving through, but we see more following. There is another high layer above, but it won't interfer with flying.

The weather forecast calls for those low clouds to raise by about noon to 4,000 ft. The Oklahomans say it is typical for this low scud to burn off in late morning. We hope to be able to fly, then, this afternoon. There is still some indication of intermittent light rain throughout the day, but we'll hope that doesn't materialize, or is minimal.

Senator James Imhofe will be on site today at about 2 pm. Originally he had intended to fly in, but will instead come by car because of the weather.

EAA President Tom Poberezny will also arrive today. He is expected in at 11 am.

Last night the German Team, in conjuction with MP Propeller and Gerd Mühlbauer, hosted a Germanfest evening. They served sauerkraut, brats, and beer. Though the weather was less than cooperative - serious downpouring of rain turned the surrounding area into a series of lakes and mudholes - the party was well attended. To add to the German atmosphere, a roving accordian player played polkas. Upon request, he even provided the background music for those who performed an impromtu "Chicken Dance".

We are standing down until 2:00 Oklahoma time due to the weather. Still Low scattered clouds, with overcast and cool temp. Will let you know at 2:00 about weather.

Tuesday, 8/27 Report Number 2

WAC '96 continues 'on hold' due to inclement weather. Cool air spilling out of showers to the southwest have cast a slight chill on this normally baked plain. At 3:00 p.m. Oklahoma time, a large "sucker hole" ringed with clouds, but showing brilliant sunlight and blue sky above opened for a five mile radius around Page airport.

Contest Director, Carl Whittle issued the call for aircraft and judges to the lines. There was a flurry of activity as planes and pilots taxiied from the large, WWII hangar to the flight line. Judges rushed to their chairs and faces turned to the sun in anticipation.

No sooner was the field made ready than the clouds began to close in again. There was hushed spell over the field as everyone watched and waited silently in anticipation of improved ceilings. It was not to be. Jury President, Mike Heuer was sent aloft in John Morrissey's beautiful silver Luscombe airplane and reported cloud bases at 2,100'. At least 2,500' is required. See Weather.

Showers are again spotted in the southwest quadrant and should be over the airport within a few minutes. Despite the disappointment, everyone continues to wait and watch for an opening in the weather. Whittle has called for another 'stand-down' until 5:00 p.m. when the weather will once again be evaluated. It is not hopeful for today, but there are promises for improvements tomorrow.

Notable arrivals on the airport today include Mr. Tom Poberezny, President of the Experimental Aircraft Association and Senator Jim Inhofe. The ESPN television crew is hard at work filming for a one-hour tv special to air at prime time on October 8. They have some excellent footage.

Thanks to all you internet surfers who have sent greetings or called the office. Some of you have come to Oklahoma City and it has been a genuine pleasure to meet you and show you our little office where the information is uploaded to Larry Lowe, our esteemed Webmaster in California. More later.

We continue to wait and watch.....
Carl Whittle, Director

Wednesday Freestyle Intel Bittie

We're Flying!

Here is the current on-the-scene account of events at Page, from Contest Director Carl Whittle:

"Another hole opened in the clouds over Page airport at about 3:45 p.m. today. Forces were immediately mobilized and the first pilot Ludwig Hofmann, Germany, #51, was launched at about 4:00. Ramon Pardo of Spain followed and flying began. We are completing the freestyle (Programme 2).

The skies are overcast at 5,000' with lower cumulus at 2,200' in all quadrants. Cumulus build-ups are visible in the east, south, southwest and west. Very light rain is falling but flying continues. Spirits seem to be raised with the sound of engines in the air once more.

Conditions are less than ideal, but judges, pilots and volunteers all seem determined to fly as long as we can. I thought the world would like know that WAC '96 is back in the air. We will fly as long as possible tonight, perhaps as late as 8:00 if weather will cooperate. Briefing in the morning is scheduled at 7:00 a.m. as usual.

Thanks to everyone for the encouraging e-mail we are reading it all and enjoying it immensely."

Carl Whittle
Director, WAC '96

Thursday Freestyle Intel Bittie

We're Waiting

Briefing was held at 7:00 a.m. under 300' overcast ceiling in fog. Temperatures are definitely on the cool side with warm sweaters and jackets desirable. Normally at this time of the morning in Oklahoma we would already have temperatures in the 90's. This weather is incredible.

Judges are on the line. Boundary judges are on 10 minute stand-by. Pilots and planes are ready. Pilot reports indicate tops of the first layer at 3,500' with a second layer broken to scattered above that at about 5,000'.

Waiting and watching continues.....

Thursday Freestyle Intel Bittie

Freestyle complete

Dominique Roland just finished his Freestyle. He was the last one to fly that program. Debby Rihn-Harvey flew next-to-last. Linda Meyers Morrissey also flew this afternoon. Now we wait for the scores.

Carlys

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