Author Topic: '22 Japan Nats and world's oldest competitive flyer! (Read 2739 times)

Akihiro Danjo · « **on:** October 10, 2022, 07:47:49 AM »

From October 7 to 9, the Japan C/L National Championships were held here in Japan for the first time in three years.
The number of participants was probably the largest ever, 54, probably because many of them were more passionate about competing after two years of cancellations due to Covid19.
Friday was the official practice day, Saturday was the qualifying day with a total of 54 participants, and 15 went on to Sunday's Final.
The final results were 1st, Muramatsu, 2nd, Nogome, 3rd, Hiki, which was exactly the same as the Japanese team members at the '18 World Championships.
Most notable was Mr. Minoda, who is probably the oldest F2B competitor in the world. He is 90 years old!　Of course, he is not just participating, he is very competitive!　The result was 45th place out of 54 participants. Amazing!(see pic)

A photographer took a lot of photos, and I will post the URL later when they are posted on the Internet.

Aki

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #1 on:** October 10, 2022, 08:38:14 AM »

Thanks Aki. Eager to see them.

Dave

john e. holliday · « **Reply #2 on:** October 10, 2022, 08:50:28 AM »

That is great that the indvidual cam still compet at 90. Gives me hope as I am walking further each day without the cane. I await for more pictures. Thanks.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #3 on:** October 10, 2022, 10:00:41 AM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on October 10, 2022, 08:50:28 AM

That is great that the indvidual cam still compet at 90. Gives me hope as I am walking further each day without the cane. I await for more pictures. Thanks.

Hey Doc! Notice that in the one phot that he has a cane in his left hand!! Gives me a few ideas!! Almost like a third leg!! You just have to be limber enough to see the overheads reasonably or be able to do them blindly! Looking forward to seeing the other pictures.

Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

M Spencer · « **Reply #4 on:** October 10, 2022, 08:26:52 PM »

Quote

You just have to be limber enough to see the overheads reasonably or be able to do them blindly!

Better than not doing them at all . Smart asses trick was lay down flat for them .Of course , its easier popping upright again when your 18 or 20 .

Walking to a flying field , your noticably more limbered up when your there , in the cooler weather .

Frank Imbriaco · « **Reply #5 on:** October 11, 2022, 05:25:38 AM »

We had John D'Ottavio flying at 90.
Wasn't Lew Woolard also flying at 90 ?

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #6 on:** October 11, 2022, 06:25:11 AM »

Wes Dick still flies at 90...Lew flew his last flight at 93...gives us all hope....

Dave

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #7 on:** October 11, 2022, 06:46:15 AM »

Hello Akihiro
THANK YOU for the report. Very happy to hear that you were able to hold your Nationals again. Looking forward to seeing more pictures too.

It is good to hear about modelers such as Mr Minoda who are still active. Modelers like him give the rest of us a reminder to stay active!

John McFayden · « **Reply #8 on:** October 11, 2022, 03:07:10 PM »

90, that would give me just over 20 years to learn to do a crisp wingover!

Akihiro Danjo · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2022, 03:56:55 AM »

Many photos of Japan Nats taken by Hayasaka san can be seen here. Enjoy.

https://3d-hemisphere.com/Album2/2022_CL/album_2022senshuken.html

Aki

katana · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2022, 05:06:01 AM »

Quote from: Akihiro Danjo on October 13, 2022, 03:56:55 AM

Many photos of Japan Nats taken by Hayasaka san can be seen here. Enjoy.

https://3d-hemisphere.com/Album2/2022_CL/album_2022senshuken.html

Aki

The thing that strikes me is - they ALL look like aeroplanes ie. defined cockpits, rudders, fuselage's! So many PA planes in comps seem to be a set of wings, elevator's and a 'tube' to connect the two - not attractive IMO!

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2022, 06:38:48 AM »

Thank you for posting the link to the pictures; a lot of really beautiful airplanes there. The flying site looks challenging - surrounded by trees.

Akihiro Danjo · « **Reply #12 on:** October 13, 2022, 08:05:52 AM »

FYI, we are competing under FAI rules so BOM rules do not apply. From a quick look, it appears that about 1/3 of our models are ARC/ARF models, and the other 2/3 or so are not.

Aki

Sean McEntee · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2022, 08:39:55 AM »

Quote from: Dan McEntee on October 10, 2022, 10:00:41 AM

Hey Doc! Notice that in the one phot that he has a cane in his left hand!! Gives me a few ideas!! Almost like a third leg!! You just have to be limber enough to see the overheads reasonably or be able to do them blindly! Looking forward to seeing the other pictures.

Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Jim Thomerson did the overheads without looking

john e. holliday · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2022, 10:18:29 AM »

54 beautiful airplanes and what a job they had arranging for concourses. The video of the flying shows a gorgeous flying location which looks like an air force base. Bet the judges were exhausted at the end of flying. Thanks for pictures and video.

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2022, 10:44:14 AM »

Wow, coming off a thread where we are discussing body position then watching the Japanese pilots sure makes me think that Gieseke had Japanese relatives!

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #16 on:** October 13, 2022, 11:37:59 AM »

Beautiful planes!

I also enjoyed the pictures of the pilots. What body english!! These pilots look like real athletes putting everything into their flight performance.

Akihiro Danjo · « **Reply #17 on:** October 13, 2022, 12:37:18 PM »

It rained heavily on Friday, so many flyers wore rain boots on Saturday.
The flight circles in Japan are not paved, but dirt or grasslands.

Aki

Howard Rush · « **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2022, 02:27:23 PM »

Quote from: Scott Richlen on October 13, 2022, 11:37:59 AM

What body english!!

That’s body nihongo.

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #19 on:** October 13, 2022, 03:08:57 PM »

Quote

That’s body nihongo.

Dōmo arigatō idaina zenchi no kenja

Mike Scholtes · « **Reply #20 on:** October 13, 2022, 03:36:09 PM »

Wow, those are some gorgeous airplanes! A few ARFs but majority appear to be self-built by flyers. Also a beautiful flying site, though I imagine the winds are interesting. For those who have not visited Japan, it is a beautiful, rugged, mountainous country. Hard to find a flat spot to fly models that doesn't have a temple on it already.

Gerald Arana · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2022, 07:31:42 PM »

Quote from: Akihiro Danjo on October 13, 2022, 03:56:55 AM

Many photos of Japan Nats taken by Hayasaka san can be seen here. Enjoy.

https://3d-hemisphere.com/Album2/2022_CL/album_2022senshuken.html

Aki

OH so many "BEAUTIFUL" airplanes! Thank you Aki for posting them.

Cheers, Jerry

Paul Walker · « **Reply #22 on:** October 14, 2022, 10:06:07 AM »

I saw a Blue Max 94 in the pictures. That was Kaz Minado's model name. Was he flying there, or has he retired from flying?

Akihiro Danjo · « **Reply #23 on:** October 14, 2022, 10:45:28 AM »

Quote from: Paul Walker on October 14, 2022, 10:06:07 AM

I saw a Blue Max 94 in the pictures. That was Kaz Minado's model name. Was he flying there, or has he retired from flying?

It is BM94 itself, but the current owner bought it from Kaz and flies it. Kaz san has not flown competitively for the last 5 years, but still flies C/L occasionally. I used to fly C/L with Kaz, Hiki, Yokoyama and many other club members but since we lost our flyingfield, I don't fly anymore.

Aki

kevin king · « **Reply #24 on:** October 20, 2022, 12:41:57 AM »

If I placed 1st I would give the trophy to Mr. Minoda.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #25 on:** October 20, 2022, 01:25:41 PM »

Quote from: Akihiro Danjo on October 14, 2022, 10:45:28 AM

It is BM94 itself, but the current owner bought it from Kaz and flies it. Kaz san has not flown competitively for the last 5 years, but still flies C/L occasionally. I used to fly C/L with Kaz, Hiki, Yokoyama and many other club members but since we lost our flyingfield, I don't fly anymore.

Aki

Aki I'm sorry about your field and also to hear Kaz isn't flying. He is too young yet to stop. We have lost our field(s) here several times. We were able to keep looking and find new venues even if there were further away. Is anyone there trying to find something? Sure hate to see your whole group give up.

Dave

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #26 on:** October 20, 2022, 02:02:38 PM »

Aki:

I agree with Dave: do not give up on finding a flying field! Our club lost our field and it took us 5 years to get it back. It was a lot of work, but part of it is determination and part of it is luck. In those 5 years we kept flying - finding county park areas and private property to fly from. But we held together and finally got a permanent flying field. It can be done!

Scott

Richard Fleming · « **Reply #27 on:** October 20, 2022, 05:48:09 PM »

It is so cool to see them still fly at that age, I know it makes them feel younger! Great craftsmanship.