Meetings and Minutes

Ken Morrissey breaks the F2A World Record four times at the recent European Championships with a final, magnificent speed of 307.4 kph.

Ken Morrissey was a member of the British F2A (Speed) team at the 2011 European Championships in Czestochowa, Poland. Ken broke the current world record of 302.5 kph each of the four times that he flew. His flight in the fourth and final round was an astonishing 307.4 kph.

The engine was a Halman Special, 2.5 cc producing 2.5 bhp and running at 40,000 rpm. Ken’s “pit crew” were the other two team members, Paul Eisner (individual bronze championship medal) and Peter Halman. It was Peter’s magic fingers that set the engine on each of the flights.

In the first round, Ken recorded 304.3 kph which smashed the current world record by almost two kilometres per hour. In the second round, he broke his own record by 0.1 kph. In the third round, he broke that record by a further 1.5 kph and in the fourth round, with another increase of 1.5 kph, he broke that record with a magical speed of 307.4 kph.

In four flights he took the world record from 302.5 kph to 307.4 kph. When the top competitors are separated by just tenths of a second – and sometimes by just hundredths of a second – then the overall increase in the world record of 4.9 kph shows just how astounding this achievement of Ken’s really was.

On lap 6 (of 9 laps) the TransiTrace electronic timing system recorded 309.3 kph. Nothing like this has ever been seen in F2A competition flying since it was first introduced as an FAI class. Ken was deservedly, and to wild acclaim, crowned F2A European Champion.

Please see below, a rule change notified by the Silent FLight Technical Committee:

BMFA CONTEST RULES

SECTION 7

BOOK 1

GLIDERS

PAGE 19
5.3.2.2. LAUNCHING GENERAL.

DELETE PARAGRAPH 3

REPLACE WITH
Launching may be made by winches but only if each winch meets in all respects paragraph 5.3.2.2.in the FAI rule book from (a) through to (s) Take special note of the battery specification.
In addition launches may be made by fitting the model with a suitable electric motor and propeller with appropriate battery and control equipment. The point at which the motor is cut shall be controlled by a height limiting device of the type specified on Page 32 in BMFA CONTEST RULES BOOK 2 ELECTROFLIGHT.
The actual height of the cut-off to be determined before the start of the contest task based on the height expected to be reached during a typical launch by means of a winch.

Speed 6th Centralised Results Speed 6th Centralised 14-08-11

Aerobatics 3rd Centralised Results Aerobatics 3rd Centralised Results 07-08-11

F2C 5th Centralised Results F2C 5th Centralised Results 07-08-11

F2D 4th Centralised Results F2D 4th Centralised Results 10-07-11

2011 F2A Speed Leagues 2011 Speed Leagues 14-08-11 Rev 1

2011 F2B Team Selection Table 2011 F2B League Updated 07-08-11

2011 F2C Team Selection Table 2011 F2C TS Spreadsheet 07-08-11

2011 F2D Team Selection Table 2011 F2D Team Points 10-07-11

5th Speed Centralised Results Speed 5th Centralised 03-07-11

4th F2C Team Race Results F2C 4th Centralised Results 29-06-11

F2C Team Selection Table F2C TS Spreadsheet 29-06-11

We are pleased to confirm that RAF Cottesmore has been secured as the venue for the 2011 BMFA Silent Flight National Championships on the 27th, 28th and 29th August.

RAF Cottesmore remains a secure site and as such we are required to provide notification to the RAF of all people attending and their vehicle details prior to the event.

If you would like to attend the Silent Flight Nationals either as a competitor, supporter or spectator, please complete the attached form and return it to the BMFA at Chacksfield House.

SF Nats Entry Form 2011 b[1]