The Saltmine Slanic Romania
DAY 3 Contest Day rounds 3 and 4
A sharp frost overnight in Slanic would not disrupt or change the flying conditions underground, a sustained cold snap however can improve the air quality … Team GBR full of Espresso, eggs, and a plan to improve arrived 40 minutes before the contest begins and after some swift trim changes and some brief test flights we were ready.
9am the 3rd round begins the 3 hour slot, Tony Hebb opting to fly first as we had hoped the air would be best first thing… Tony’s model cruised to a good height and looked good for a strong time, unfortunately the air was a little bumpy but Tony improved his flight from yesterday with a 22.53 min.
Mark flew next launching and topping out a few metres below the catwalk at 55metres… all looked promising however the same lumpy air Tony flew into brought marks to a premature end at 22.34 minutes…
Hans had had a torrid first day but was able to readjust and nailed his 3rd round flight with a superb 24.39 minute flight…
Lunch was served and team GBR tried to not over indulge fully aware of the task ahead.. we managed to save some for later… doggy bags..
Immediately after lunch Tony started again and flew higher, requiring Mark to steer twice at high level (a nominated steerer can be allowed if competitor has certain visual impairments). Tony again a little conservative (launch height) 21.53minutes
Hans was determined to carry on from where he left off… and did not let us down with a fabulous 24.30 flight and to top a great GBR team day Mark was able to put in a superb 26.19 minute flight …
Team GBR are in a solid Silver position with 2 flights remaining, and Mark is sitting in the Bronze medal position.. … tomorrow anything change ….
Again, credit to the Romanian Federation, Istan kiss especially efficient and a brilliant Contest Director…
really great to be supported by Antonis Papadopoulos CIAM President … also photo bombing the vice president of the Romanian federation Szijjarto Szilard ..both enjoying there first trip to the mine
https://www.fai.org/news/day2-2025-fai-f1d-euros
Final Day Contest Day rounds 5 and 6
Breakfast as usual, coffee a plenty, rain in the air as the team travelled to the Mingus for the final downhill trip…
9am the 5th round begins the 3 hour slot, Tony Hebb opting to fly first again, Tony’s model flew high but lacked some sustain the good news improving on his earlier flight… Hans wound his 0.4grams of rubber and launched his model with confidence, unfortunately the model headed toward the side wall too early making his steer very tough with high torque on it, the model ended up being broken on tow curtailing Hans 5th flight….
Mark flew next launching and topping out a a metre below the catwalk… all went to plan as he was able to see the model safely to land at an identical 26.19minutes improving his and the teams score.
Lunch was shorter.. only 30mins so not anytime at all to feast… focus was on the next flights
Immediately after lunch Tony started again and flew as high as he had been all week, higher, Mark steered twice at height and Tony landing with his best time of 23.47mins… a great way to end.
Hans was determined to carry nail one with his backup model, on from where he left off… the model failed to reach a good altitude so no improvement…
Team GBR are in still in Silver position with a single flight remaining, Mark strangled the hell out of his rubber and sent the last chance saloon model up with some attitude… the model stayed high for a long time, team GBR’s hearts starting to race a little only to be let down with some mid air turbulence which blew his model along the hall reducing his duration from what could have been the longest flight to a 25.53minute flight..
That was it… Silver Team Medal and an Individual Bronze for Mark… a chuffed team buzzing and the celebrations to follow this evening…
