There was a decent amount of testing during the break, with a couple of reflights too.
Jake’s gamble with the reflight paid off with about a five minute gain.Team USA currently is in first place.
One big difference today is the warmth in the dome with the sun. Props are not turning in the wind as they have been. Air is much better and over 20 minute flights are going to be mostly normal this round I believe.
Arend of Team Canada is threading the girders up at the top. While he was trying to steer, the plane hung up, got loose, hung up, got loose again, but in the balloon movement I believe the air currents folded the tailboom and it came down broken. A big blow as that had the makings of a great flight.
Hans of Team GBR just launched and it is climbing really well. Unfortunately it got hung up.
The Ukrainian juniors had a flight up that was threading the girders and got caught. Their team has immaculately built models and they fly really well. They seem to have a hard time not outclimbing the site.
Jake Palmer appears to have a great flight up again, flying up near the pizza. Landed with 24:46.
One midair, but both recovered. Not sure whose models they were.
Three models currently hung. One had been threading the girders above the plastic wrap around the pizza. I have never seen this before.
Kagan is now up, just under the pizza. Very slow RPM on this cruise. Bumping the plastic around the pizza. Hung and came loose! Bumping girders. Got caught up in another hung model. Not coming down. Missed that he had a midair while blogging, reflight coming up.
Chris Luo has a nice flight going now. Needing to steer, and did a great job! Dead sticked in, should be a good time for him.
Brett had a great flight, peaking just below the girders. Stayed there for a very long time, coming down with another 27 minute flight, cementing his place in first.
Zoltan also followed up with another 25 minute flight. His shorter model recovered from upsets really well.
Kagan just landed with another good flight.
Mark Benns and Tony Hebb both got 25 minute flights in the last round. Great round from Team GBR.
And with that, the last planes are down, recoveries are taking place and everyone is packing up. That’s all for now, will add video links and pics later.