Team Work By Paul Winter
When I go to a competition, wherever it is, John Benzing (JB) usually goes with me as we usually compete together. I find it very reassuring to have someone around to help, someone who knows you and has the same respect for the sport as you do. The most unnerving thing is having a stranger launch your plane, especially when they don’t know what they’re doing although it must be said that a good and clear hand-signal from the flyer to the launcher is paramount.
When the pilot 2 places before is about a quarter of the way through his pattern, you should be checking your lines in case anyone has trodden on them or been caught up in them. Clean your lines with a cloth especially if you are on tarmac, because when lines are oil-laden, they have a tendency to pick up all sorts of crap from the tarmac!. Then fuel up your plane. The reason I suggest being ready 2 places ahead of yourself is so that you are ready to take the circle if the pilot before you calls an attempt. At that point you only have 3 minutes to get airborne so have your assistant ready holding your handle, make sure that your starter battery, primer bottle and chicken finger are all right there and ready and that you are correctly placed to walk your plane into the circle.
In my opinion, what upsets the judges more than anything else is when a flyer enters the circle and fumbles about because he is not ready and is not working as a team with his helper. So as soon as the flyer before you has landed, signal to your helper that you are ‘on the move’ walk your plane into the circle and have your helper place your handle in the centre of the circle, with the safety stray loop ready for you to slip you had through and take the handle. Remember to check the wind direction and ask the judge(s) to move to where you want them to stand.
Prompt your assistant if you will have to turn your plane over to start it. This ‘turning-over’ can alarm even the most experienced of competitors so in other words, ensure that your ‘team’ knows the battle plan! I don’t have to worry about this particular problem as my aeroplanes start on wheels.
Prime your engine and get it to knock, and when you are ready, give the judge(s) a very clear verbal and hand signals that you are about to begin and start your engine. Check that your assistant is secure in holding on to your model while you walk out to the handle, casting an eye over the circle as you do so for any debris or bumps in the ground. MAKING SURE THAT YOU PUT ON YOUR WRIST STRAP, give your assistant a clear signal to release your model.
JB is probably one of the best launchers around. We fly together a lot and he is familiar with my signals and manoeuvres, as I am with his. He knows to release a model, not push it, and that he only has a few seconds to leave the circle with my equipment before I’ve completed my first lap and my plane is on top of him! Remember, the ideal launch is a simple release, allowing the plane to fly out of your hands. But the launcher's job does not end there. He must wait until the flight is completed to walk the plane back to the plane-park. It is extremely frustrating for the pilot when he’s down on the ground with no one ready to collect him. This also, of course, slows down the whole flow of the competition. Also, if he watches your flight he can comment and make constructive criticism. The only time that JB hasn’t launched or collected my plane for me is if he is flying next himself or concurrently in another circle. And it’s a 2-way team thing; I launch and collect for JB as much as he does for me. And if we can’t support each other then usually there is someone around who can fill in. But do remember that the ‘someone’ who fills in simply won’t be as conversant with you and your ‘ways’ as your usual partner.
JB and I have been flying together for 6 years now and the greatest team work came towards the end of a particular UK Nats where JB was preparing to fly. It was pouring with rain and Robin Soanes and I put in some spectacular team work to get JB launched in the best possible way. I carried JB’s model while Robin put the handle in a plastic bag to keep it dry. As JB prepared his model I was going backwards and forwards wiping the lines dry while Robin held the handle and lines off the ground.
As JB started his model I held it off the ground until the very last second to launch. As JB approached the centre of the circle, he took the handle from Robin and out of the plastic bag, Robin exited the circle, I put the plane on the ground and JB gave the signal to launch. Keeping the plane off the ground until the very last second helped prevent the prop from blowing surface water into the air intake. The direct result of this smooth teamwork was the JB was relaxed and flew very well, moving from 5th place before the flight to 2nd place. Proof, if ever you needed it, that team work helps.
I mentioned about poor launchers. Both of us have experience of other people launching us, in some cases very well and in some cases disastrously. JB had an experience of a launcher all but drop his model and I had the experience of someone launch my plane which instead of launching, tipped forward and broke the prop.
I wrote an article about 5 years ago called ‘A Year With JB’.
Virtually nothing has changed and I can count on him to be there when I need him. I am also proud to say that the reverse is also true, whenever and wherever possible.