..but I found something far more interesting.
In the big empty field next to my house, (along which runs a small creek and usually a good place for "critters" to photograph) I came upon something I have kinda' seen over the years, but never wandered closer to see what was really happening. This time, I did wander over to where the people were and met up with 2/3 of the United State's, Internationally competitive radio-controlled "Formula 1" glider team, called Team USA F3B.
F3B is a code according to the Sporting Code of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI)
F = Model Airplanes
3 = Radio Controlled
B = Sailplanes
The F3B class is the Formula 1 of the Sailplane model classes, it's the High-Tech class without technological limits.
These sailplanes are winch-launched, reach up to about 750' in altitude, then through a series of electronic "eyes", navigate through a set course, making u-turns when the reach the beep on each end, making 4 passes before crossing the finish line. I know, ho-hum, and was what I would think as well, expect they reach speeds in the initial dive after reaching their timed trial altitude, of around 115mph(180kph) and whizzing by at the end, cross the finish line around 65mph(100kph).
That's FAST!
Anyway, was a fun afternoon, managed to fill a 1GB card and have a few shots to share so far:
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