Author: C. Ettel
Edition: Model Aviation - 1993/01
Page Numbers: 42, 43, 44, 46, 165
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U.S. Team Wins RC Electroflight World Championships

Event and organization

The fourth World Championships for Electric Aeromodeling (FAI F3E) were hosted by the Aeromodeling Division of the Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association and the city of Arnhem–Papendal, August 16–23, 1992. Rudolf Freudenthaler of Austria retained his World Championship crown, with Jerry Bridgeman (USA) a close second by four points; Jason Perrin (USA) placed third, trailing Bridgeman by 21 points. Urs Leodolter of Switzerland finished fourth. With Steve Neu placing seventh out of 39 competitors from 13 nations, U.S. pilots took the team honors.

The site was an athletic field in the Papendal sports complex. The event was organized by Tom Schippers, with competition preparation and administration by Johan Garderen and a crew of officials and helpers. Excellent lodging and dining facilities were available.

Seven rounds were scheduled and seven rounds were flown; the championships were completed on time.

Scoring (F3E)

Each flight combines two tasks flown consecutively and finishes with a precision landing:

  • Distance: 15 points per 150-meter lap between two bases (A and B) in a 180-second period.
  • Duration: Motor-off gliding time scored during a second 300-second period; 1 point per second (up to 300 seconds).
  • Precision landing: scored up to 30 points (a 30-point landing is considered perfect).

A throwaway (drop) round was used later in the contest to remove each pilot's worst score.

FAI-Class Electric Powered Motor Gliders World Championship F3E — Papendal 1992

Team Rankings

  • 1 United States — 12,684
  • 2 Austria — 12,483
  • 3 Germany — 12,204
  • 4 Switzerland — 12,157
  • 5 France — 12,103
  • 6 Italy — 11,784
  • 7 Belgium — 11,257
  • 8 Czechoslovakia — 11,110
  • 9 Australia — 10,973
  • 10 Netherlands — 10,856
  • 11 Sweden — 10,706
  • 12 Great Britain — 10,580
  • 13 Japan — 8,695

Individual Rankings (top U.S. finishers shown)

  • 1 Rudolf Freudenthaler (AUT) — 4,292
  • 2 Jerry Bridgeman (USA) — 4,288
  • 3 Jason Perrin (USA) — 4,267
  • 7 Steve Neu (USA) — 4,129

Competition summary by round

Round 1

  • Rudolf Freudenthaler flew second: 26 laps (390 points), 293 duration, 30 landing = 713 total.
  • Jerry Bridgeman flew fourth: 27 laps (405 points), 291 duration, 30 landing = 726 total.
  • Jason Perrin (15th to fly): 26 laps, 290 duration, 30 landing.
  • Urs Leodolter (12th): 714 total.
  • Round-one standings (top four): 1) Bridgeman, 2) Leodolter, 3) Freudenthaler, 4) Perrin. Steve Neu was 9th with 25 laps and 695 points.

Round 2

  • Bridgeman (3rd to fly): 26 laps, total 711.
  • Perrin: 27 laps, total 727.
  • Leodolter: 26 laps, total 711.
  • Freudenthaler: 27 laps, total 726.
  • Cumulative after two rounds: 1) Freudenthaler 1,439; 2) Bridgeman 1,437; 3) Perrin 1,437; 4) Leodolter 1,425. Steve Neu tied for fifth with Franz Weissgerber at 1,402.

Round 3 (windy, with rain threat)

  • Perrin: 696 (second best for the day).
  • Michael Geringer (AUT): 697 (top for the round).
  • Freudenthaler: 697.
  • Bridgeman: 685.
  • Weissgerber: 683.
  • Leodolter: 682.
  • Steve Neu: 657.
  • The throwaway round came into effect; many pilots recorded their poorest rounds.

A lengthy rain delay during round three caused round four to be postponed to the next day; a makeup day was scheduled.

Round 4

  • Bridgeman: 721 (regained first place).
  • Freudenthaler: 689.
  • Perrin: 690.
  • Leodolter: 701.
  • Weissgerber: 708.
  • Geringer: 674.
  • Neu: 678.
  • Top seven after round four: 1) Bridgeman, 2) Freudenthaler, 3) Perrin, 4) Leodolter, 5) Weissgerber, 6) Geringer, 7) Neu.
  • Team standings at this point: 1) United States, 2) Austria, 3) Switzerland, 4) Germany.

Round 5

  • Freudenthaler: 717.
  • Perrin: 710.
  • Bridgeman: 699.
  • Neu: 691.
  • Weissgerber: 683.
  • Geringer: 682.
  • Roger Strebel (SUI): 681.
  • Urs Leodolter lost his airplane before the duration task and scored 0 for the round.

Round 6

  • Bridgeman: 731 (highest single-round score of the contest).
  • Perrin: 714.
  • Leodolter: 709.
  • Freudenthaler: 709.
  • Frank Schwartz (GER): 702.
  • Dieter Safarik (AUT): 697.
  • Michael Geringer and Martial Lequeu (FRA): 696.

Round 7 (final)

  • Freudenthaler flew his best round: 27 laps, a 300-second duration (subject to a five-point penalty for five seconds noted in scoring), and a perfect 30-point landing, totaling 730 for the round and securing the championship.
  • Bridgeman: 25 laps, 295 seconds duration, perfect 30-point landing = 700.
  • Perrin: 710 in the final round, which cemented his third-place overall finish.
  • The final individual podium: Freudenthaler (AUT) first, Bridgeman (USA) second, Perrin (USA) third.

Other electric events and results

  • Dawn to Dusk: 52 pilots on 13 teams. The Belgian Aero Club won, requiring only 19 flights to remain aloft for the entire period. Their longest flight: 71 minutes 45 seconds.
  • Big Gliders: 16 entries. Winner: Jean‑Pierre Schiltknecht (Switzerland).
  • Pylon Racing: 20 entries. Top three: 1) Mr. Wombacher, 2) Mr. Schlieff, 3) Mr. Dettweller.
  • F3E Open International: 60 entries. Top three: 1) Freudenthaler — 1,413; 2) Bridgeman — 1,407; 3) Geringer.
  • Electric Aerobatics: 22 entries, two rounds. High overall quality; many ROG takeoffs. Winners: 1) Hugo Peyer (Switzerland), 2) Jan Van Beek (Holland), 3) Dennis V. D. Tooren (Holland), 4) Wolfgang Kosche (Germany).

U.S. team and acknowledgements

The U.S. team performed exemplarily, demonstrating high competitiveness and quality equipment. Congratulations to:

  • Team Manager: Bob Sliff
  • Team helper: Brian Chan
  • Pilots: Steve Neu, Jerry Bridgeman, Jason Perrin
  • Bob Boucher (Astro Flight motors)

The techniques used in aircraft design, development, and preparation deserve recognition for the team's success.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.