For 2007 there are no big changes planned. FF 2006 went fairly well and although entries were not too big, the new SPORTSMAN class was well accepted, and the Masters event was very successful with an enthusiastic bunch of newcomers in Sportsman joining the Open class flyers.
Johan and Henry are preoccupied with other things this year, so I will be carrying on myself with limited assistance if necessary.
The SPORTSMAN CLASS continues for 2007, but remember that if you qualified for the Masters in 2006 you are not eligible for Sportsman class in 2007 – you have to fly Open class. Just as in the Open class the best performing pilots in the series rounds will be invited to compete in the Masters event at the end of the year, and there will be trophies and prizes.
Models in the Sportsman Class will be limited to a wing thickness less than 12.5% (the Shotgun is around 16%) and a wing loading greater than 17 oz/sq ft (Shotgun about 10). For those who have any idea what a decimetre is, this translates to about 50 g/sq. dm. This is intended to exclude specialist fun-fly models and give the Sunday flyers’ Stiks and better trainers a chance.
You can choose which class you would like to enter, but if you have qualified for the Masters you won’t be eligible for the Sportsman class for the following 3 years.
Sportsmen will fly the same qualifying rounds together with the hotshots, but where necessary we will simplify the events for sportsmen – for example, we won’t ask them to do inverted flat spins and outside loops with a 40 trainer!
Elsewhere on the website there is a list of about 55 events from which the six for each round will be selected. This should ensure that the descriptions are clear and unambiguous so we all end up flying the same manoeuvres!
The 3 rounds in the series will be held in March, May and July. Any group of pilots can run their own series event on any weekend in that month. All they will need is at least two independent judges and a place to fly – plus a set of rules for the round and some basic equipment that most clubs have anyway!
It could make a good Club fun day with any competent pilot able to take part in Sportsman class while the Open class pilots go for broke (not literally, I hope). Why not organise an event between two or three clubs, with each round flown at a different club?
Still with full right aileron?!
The only membership fee for this interest group is the entry fee for the competition rounds.
Any club or group wanting more information should contact one of the National Fun Fly Committee members. We will try to circulate basic information to every club, but often it goes on the back burner unless one or two members take a pro-active role – you are welcome to contact us direct. We can only send rules for each round to clubs or groups that request them or that have participated or shown some interest in the past. /p>
You do not have to be a SAMAA member to fly in the series, but you will have to be a member to fly at the Masters. The only membership fee for this interest group is the entry fee for the competition rounds.
Any club or group wanting more information should contact one of the National Fun Fly Committee members. We will try to circulate basic information to every club, but often it goes on the back burner unless one or two members take a pro-active role – you are welcome to contact us direct. We can only send rules for each round to clubs or groups that request them or that have participated or shown some interest in the past. 
Apart from just enjoying the flying, this is what they were all trying for.
Shaun (2nd), Christopher (The Champion!), and Hennie (3rd).
Contacts: