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U.S. Team Selection For The F2A Y2K ChampionshipsThe excellent Whittier Narrows site in Los Angeles County, california, was chosen for the F2A team selection for the upcoming Y2K World Championships at Londres, France Practice flights on Friday were done in conditions similar to those that confronted contestants Saturday morning. The very cold and dry year experienced by California in La Nina conditions had produced another overcast day with temperatures in the low 70's. Contest Director Howard Doering briefed contestants and officials as East coast visitors buttoned their jackets and grumbled about the cold. Bill Lee in the role of FAI jury settled down with a sheaf or rules to help him adjudicate any issues that might come up. Will Naemura of Portland, OR, drew first flight and he went about preparing his ZALP engined entry. Pull testing the lines while Bill Lee scrutinized the proceeding. Then pull testing the safety lanyard on the handle. Still gossiping, contestants and onlookers looked up as the first flight went off, ZALP running steady but slowly. the aircraft was pulled off the dolly rapidly and Naemura towed it around one lap then leaned on it. The pipe came in suddenly and Will stopped towing the aircraft and spent the next second trying to find the pylon forks. When the ZALP came in everyone looked up as the high whine and doppler modulation told us all that this was no ordinary flight. Nine laps later Naemura had posted a new AMA record, backed up after the contest with an even faster speed. Putting a very high mark up, the remaining two days saw everyone attempting to beat the time. Several web pages here contain the results, notes, and some photos of the meet, |