As Claude Weber is actually very busy in Dubaï to prepare everything for us and doesn’t have time to publish the RMAP files to be used on TwoNav, please find the files here.
WAG DUBAI Maps for TwoNav
Provisional Total Result after 5 tasks at Europeans Championships
After 2 flights and 5 tasks in DebrecenY, you will find there a hand made calculation of provisional total result. This is not official and the officials results are only in the official electronic notice board.
New website for oziTarget
Sean Kavanagh, the smart guy who are developing oziTarget, decided to make a dedicated website to give better experience to the hundreds customers from all around the world.
The first blog (ozitarget.blogspot.com) is still online but no more news will be updated there.
The new address is ozitarget.com: you will find there all breaking news about OT, some videos to understand how to use the different tools and functionalities. You will also find the latest releases and the most important think: you will be able to purchase this perfect software if you don’t have it already!
Don’t hesitate to have a look on all explanations posts I made about all tools of oziTarget.
Map for Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons
You are a lot of pilots to ask me an electronic map of the Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons area.
I made a special map, from OpenStreetMap datas. It means that this map is free to use. Don’t forget that you need to have with you the official map from organizers.
This map is available for Twonav and CompeGps (LMAB2015.rmap) and also for Oziexplorer (LMAB2015 14.png + LMAB2015 14.map).
Beaucoup de pilotes m’ont demandé une carte électronique de la région de Chambley.
J’ai donc créer une carte spécial pour vous à partir des données libres OpenStreetMap. Cela signifie que cette carte est libre de droit et gratuite. N’oubliez pas que vous devez avoir la carte officielle fournie par l’organisation avec vous.
Cette carte est disponible pour TwoNav et CompeGps (LMAB2015.rmap) and aussi pour Oziexplorer (LMAB2015 14.png + LMAB2015.map).
Belgian Balloon Trophy 2015 – Flight 2
After a rainy morning yesterday and a cancelled flight, yesterday evening the weather was with us to take off at Sport Automobile circuit (Francorchamps). 3 tasks on the TDS, JDG-3DT-HWZ.
The HWZ were at 20km from CLA, with an average wind of 10 knots, green flag at 20h00, and end of search period at 21h00 … With a quick calculation we guess that it will be already hard to get the last task in time.
The JDG was really nice to play, and I think the pilots enjoyed it! just after the take off we flew over the sport circuit, that was spectacular!
3DT was a cake, some pilots got really perfect results and it shows the high level of this competition!
HWZ was indeed too far for everybody and some pilots like me forgot the end of the period …
Results of this 3 tasks are already online!
Belgian Balloon Trophy 2015 – Day 1
Today was the first competition day in Vielsalm.
This morning we got a nice TDS with 4 tasks. CLA with PDG-JDG-FON-HWZ.
Well, my worries started with the piball measurements with calms winds approximately 3-5 knots and the JDG was 12 km from the CLA …
To play the PDG was “easy” by using the differents winds, but after that the winds decreased and changed and it was the beginning of a very long flight.
Besides the calms and variables winds, I think it could be better to set the tasks really close together to achieve them quickly …
This evening, the E.D prepared 2 tasks but the flight was cancelled be wise of expected rain.
In my own opinion, we could see on radar that a window of 2 hours without rain was coming. And we didn’t observed rain between 19 and 21 hours. So it’s pity that the flight was cancelled without go on CLA to an other briefing.
Results and task data sheets can be find on the Official Notice Board.
See you tomorrow !
Canowindra Challenge is started!
Here we are! After picking up our Racer, car, trailer and everything else, the Kubicek factory team is ready to fly over the area of Canowindra.
This morning we had a practice flight with almost all the pilots. Winds here are lights and variables, perfect for competition flights!
I was the only pilot flying a foreigner balloon, and it was also the first time ever a Kubicek racer was flying in Australia! Lot of pilots and crews were surprised about the paralite system of my Xtreme Racer. You will find more Information about it in the “My Racer / Envelope” Blog section.
Finally it was a nice 2 hours flight with 4 tasks and I was quite satisfied with 3 out of 4. I will keep you updated! First competition flight will be on Tuesday morning! Tomorrow morning we will have an official practice flight with a task sheet and probably the observers. In the afternoon, general briefing before enjoying a BBQ with all these amazing people here in Australia! Thanks guys for being so welcoming, looking forward for competing this week!
Please find below the schedule of the championship and the link to the official website and notice board.
You can also see all the pictures on this public Facebook album.
Canowindra International Balloon Challenge
Et c’est partit pour le premier championnat de l’année 2015 ! Demain on prend l’avion pour l’Australie afin de participer au championnat international de Canowindra du 12 au 19 Avril.
Let’s go for the first championship of the 2015 season! Tomorrow we are going by plane to Australia in order to participate at the Canowindra International Balloon Challenge Festival, 12th-19th April.
Ce championnat accueillera environ 30 pilotes, pour la plupart Australien, mais également quelques pilotes étrangers comme le champion du monde en titre Yudai Fujita ou encore mon ami et champion Russe Sergey Latypov. Ce sera donc pour moi aussi l’occasion de rencontrer enfin Sean Kavanagh ainsi que le couple Mathew et Nicola Scaife 🙂 ! Un championnat avec un excellent niveau donc !
This championship will meet around 30 pilotes, most of them are Australian, but there are also foreigners pilots as the current World Champion Yudai Fujita, or my Russian friend Sergey Latypov. It will be also the opportunity to meet Sean Kavanagh and Mathew&Nicola Scaife 🙂 ! An high level championship!
Je mettrai en ligne en quasi temps réel les épreuves, résultats et différentes photos sur le blog.
En attendant vous pouvez visiter le site officiel du championnat http://www.canowindrachallenge.org.au
I will update the news, the tasks data sheets, results and pictures in live on the blog.
Meanwhile you can visit the official event website http://www.canowindrachallenge.org.au
European championships calendar
La saison des championnats reprend bientôt, et chaque fédération annonce peu à peu les dates de ses championnats nationaux. Voici le calendrier des championnats européens à venir par ordre chronologique. Les championnats manquant seront ajoutés au fur et à mesure.
As the championships season is about to begin, national federations are announcing their championships. This is the calendar of 2015’s european championships in chronological order. Missing championships will be added progressively.
Belgian Balloon Trophy: 13-17th May 
Official Website: http://bbt2015.balloonfederation.be
Event Director: Jonas Maes
FAI Loggers: YES
Number of Pilotes: 54 already registered
Registration open until: 19/04/2015
Location: Vielsalm
Luxemburg Nationals: 16-19th July
Official Website: TBA
Event Director: Jean Klein
FAI Loggers: YES
Number of pilotes: 15 – first come, first served.
Location: Ettelbruck
European Cup: 29th July – 2nd August
Official Website: http://www.mainfonds.com
Event Director: TBA
FAI Loggers: NO, standard loggers will be used
Number of pilotes: 45
Locations: Mainfonds
Lithuanian National: 29th July-1st August
Official Website: TBA
Event Director: Robertas Komza
FAI Loggers: YES
Number of pilotes: 30
Locations: Telšiai
Czech Nationals: 5-9th August
Official Website: TBA
Event Director: Zoltan Palhegyi
FAI Loggers: YES
Number of pilotes: 30-40 (10 international pilots are open)
Location: Radesin
European Championship: 10-19th August
Official Website: http://deballoons.com
Event Director: Claude Weber
FAI Loggers: YES
Number of pilotes: 105
Locations: Debrecen
French & UK National: 22-26th August
Official Website: TBA
Event Director: David Levin
FAI Loggers: YES
Number of pilotes: 65
Locations: Etampes
Women European Championship: 14-19th September
Official Website: http://ekballonvaren.nl/
Event Director: Mathijs Debruijn
FAI Loggers: YES
Number of pilotes: 40
Locations: Drenthe
Kubicek Super Sport BB26XR
Le Festival International des Ballons à Chateau D’Oex (Suisse) ayant commencé samedi dernier, j’ai eu l’opportunité de réaliser 4 vols à bord d’un ballon Super Sport Kubicek. Je voulais donc partager avec vous mes sensations et impressions sur ce ballon pas comme les autres alliant stabilité des ballons traditionnels et réactivité des ballons de compétition.
During the Festival International des Ballons at Chateau D’Oex (Switzerland) this week, I had the opportunity to realize 4 flights with a Kubicek Super Sport balloon. I wanted to share with you my feelings about this original balloon combining the stability of traditional balloons and the reactivity of Racer balloons.
Durant le festival, le dealer Kubicek pour l’Allemagne, Thomas Koek, m’a généreusement prêté son tout nouveau Super Sport de 2600 m3, équipé du système de parachute Paralite (comme sur mon Xtreme Racer). Voici une comparaison de maquette entre un modèle 3000m3 standard (BB30Z) et un modèle 3000m3 Super Sport (BB30XR).
During the festival, the German Kubicek dealer, Thomas Koek, kindly lend me his brand new 2600 Kubicek Super Sport, equipped with the Paralite parachute system (as my Xtrem Racer). This is a comparison of design between a traditional 3000m3 (BB30Z) and a 3000m3 Super Sport (BB30XR).
Kubicek a donc choisi de reprendre la même forme qui a déjà fait ses preuves sur les Xtreme Racer (1700m3 et 2000m3). Ainsi Kubicek promet une vitesse maximale de montée et de descente de 9m/s (1772 ft/m) et une réactivité incomparable. C’est parti pour le test !
Kubicek choose to adopt here the same shape than its successful Xtreme Racers (1700m3 and 2000m3). Kubicek thus announces a maximal vertical speed of 9m/s (1772 ft/min) and an amazing reactivity. Let’s go for the test !
Vitesses verticales maximales/Maximum vertical speeds
Durant mes vols à Chateau d’Oex, j’ai pu profiter des bonnes conditions et des températures négatives pour voir la vitesse maximale de montée que je pouvais réaliser avec ce ballon. Ceci dit, n’étant pas équipé de sonde de température, je n’ai pas pu vraiment tester la capacité maximale afin de ne pas prendre le risque de surchauffer le ballon de Thomas. J’ai donc atteint gentiment 8.2 m/s (1615 ft/min) en instantané !
During my flights in Chateau d’Oex, I enjoyed good weather and negatives temperatures to achieve the maximum vertical speed possible with this balloon. Please note that I had no thermometer inside the envelope, so I didn’t take the risk to overheat the balloon of Thomas. I finally achieved a vertical speed of 8.2 m/s (1615 ft/min) !
Pour ce qui est de la descente, j’ai également pu pousser le ballon à un taux de descente de -7.6 m/s (-1500 ft/min), sans déformation. Je n’ai pas non plus poussé le ballon à son maximum comme je le fait avec mon Xtreme Racer par crainte de cisaillement important.
About the descent, I achieved -7.6 m/s (-1500ft/min) without distortion of the envelope. I didn’t dare descending too much as I usually do with my Xtreme Racer because of some wind-shear risks.
Vitesses verticales moyennes/Average vertical speeds
Comme on peut le voir sur les extraits de ma trace GPS ci-dessus, j’ai réalisé une montée avec une vitesse verticale moyenne de 6,3m/s sur une minute, ce qui confirme la stabilité du ballon lors des montées.
As we can see on this extract of my GPS track, I climbed with an average speed of 6.3 m/s during one minute, which confirmes the stability of the balloon.
La réactivité/The reactivity
Autre avantage important que procure la forme de ce ballon racer, c’est la réactivité. En effet la forme profilée offre moins de résistance qu’une forme traditionnelle, le ballon va donc se mettre plus rapidement en montée et descente. Cela permet donc par exemple de poser dans des champs plus petits, ou d’effectuer des montées rapides pour prendre une couche de vent plus favorable. Voici les données des traces GPS sous forme de graphique montrant l’évolution de la vitesse verticale (en m/s) en fonction du temps et des coups de chauffe. Vous avez donc en bleu celle pour le ballon BB26XR que j’ai volé, et en rouge la comparaison avec un ballon standard.
An other huge advantage offered by this racer shape is the reactivity. Indeed the racer shape offers less resistance in the air than a traditional shape, the balloon therefore climbing or descending faster. This is good to land in small fields or to climb quickly to reach a better layer of wind. Below is a graphic from my GPS track data, showing the vertical speed (in m/s) according to time and burner activation. The blue line represents the BB26XR I flew, whereas the red line simulates the reaction of a standard balloon as a comparison.
Comme vous pouvez le voir, le Super Sport réagit quasiment immédiatement et l’accélération de la vitesse verticale est presque linéaire. Par contre, un ballon standard réagit plus lentement et l’accélération se fait plus péniblement, avec également une vitesse maximale limitée. De plus, on observe également que le BB26XR se stabilise plus rapidement lorsqu’on arrête de chauffer.
As you can see the Super Sport reacts quite immediately and the acceleration of the vertical speed is linear. Conversely, the standard balloon reacts slowly and the acceleration is harder with also a limited maximum vertical speed. Moreover, we can observe that the BB26XR stabilizes faster when we stop to heat.
Plus d’informations / More infos : http://www.kubicekballoons.eu/envelopes/model-series/super-sport
Quelques Super Sport déjà construits en photos (crédit photos Kubicek website) :
Fly On - Ballooning Blog 