Wednesday - July 23, 2003

Mike McGowan was the contest director for 2m this year, which was flown on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, and he wanted to make it a "kinder, gentler" contest this year.  All the task times for both days were in the 7 to 9 minute range, and for the first time I can remember in the years I have been attending the Nats, we were going to get a throw out round in a thermal duration event.  I would have to say it was a very relaxed contest, his recipe worked.  Although I am not sure a throw out round is needed in a thermal duration event at the nationals.

This is the first event were we got to fly on the new landing zones and tapes, and I think they really improved the system from last year.  If there is anything left to iron out, it could only be minor.  These are challenging landings to make as a pilot, but quick and easy to score so the zones are cleared quickly.

The weather for both days was very pleasant, the thermals were there if you could get a big launch and make the right decisions.  After the first day, it was apparent that Joe Wurts was flying very strong again.  He was flying a molded V tail Image from Maple Leaf Designs, a model that he has had in a box for over three years and built just before coming to the Nats.  In fact the first flights were just after the HLG contest on Monday.  But you couldn't tell that by the way he was flying it.

On Wednesday it was simply a Joe show, he won every round he flew in, and scored landing points in each of those rounds as well.  Joe Wurts is the new national champion in the 2m class, Oleg Golovidov placed second with a model of his own design, and Larry Jolly placed third flying an Organic.

The results of 2m can be seen here:  2003 2m Nationals Scores

2003 Nationals Picture Gallery