37th Annual Tangerine

The Tangerine Soaring Championship is arguably the oldest annual Thermal Duration Contest still scheduled every year in USA. Beginning in 1973, the Orlando Buzzards Radio Control Soaring Society have conducted this premier Soaring contest every year and have attracted more than 100 entrants in some years. Part of the attraction is the timing of the event which has always been during the cooler months when enthusiasts from the North can no longer fly due to the weather. Florida is an attractive destination for itchy Northern thumbs that haven’t seen a transmitter in months. The contest has been attended by a whos who of US and international soaring talent and to this day is still a “must do” event for every RC thermal contest pilot. Early in the championships evolution the date for “The Tangerine” was always early in the year. In recent times the Thanksgiving weekend has been a much better choice with more flyers able to attend a Friday, Saturday Sunday event. The Tangerine contest format has always included a Grand Champion on Sunday where the best pilot for the entire weekend is crowned after a sudden death fly-off between the best 5 pilots. The 2010 event was held on NOVEMBER 26, 27 and 28, 2010.
These links will take you to each report on the flying fun each day of the 37th Tangerine.

Friday DLG and RES Report

Saturday UNL Report

Sunday UNL and Grand Champion Flyoff Report

The following text about the event is an excerpt from the 2010 Tangerine flyer.

37th ANNUAL AMA SANCTIONED TANGERINE SOARING CHAMPIONSHIPS
ORLANDO, FLORIDA NOVEMBER 26 – 28, 2010
Sponsored by: HobbyTownUSA, Sanford FL, Horizon Hobby, Soaring USA, Tailwind Gliders, Frank Tiano Adhesives, Dymond Modelsport, Hobbico and Great Planes, AeroFoam Hose Monster Bungees, MM Glidertech, Castle Creations, Tower Hobbies, Sky Bench Aerotech and CERMARK

EVENTS:
FRIDAY NOV 26th: AM: DLG CONTEST PM: RES THERMAL DURATION
SATURDAY NOV 27th: UNLIMITED THERMAL DURATION
SUNDAY NOV 28: UNLIMITED THERMAL DURATION

FORMAT: HONORS CALL-UP / OPEN WINCH

AWARDS: 1st TO 3rd PLACE IN ALL EVENTS INCLUDING BOTH SPORTSMAN & EXPERT CLASS IN SAT & SUN UNLIMITED EVENTS. SPECIAL TANGERINE GRAND CHAMPION AWARD ON SUNDAY.

Sponsored by the Orlando Buzzards R/C Soaring Society

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Safety: Managed transmitter impound for duplicate frequencies. Most pilots on unique frequencies.

On-Site Food: Food will be available on site Saturday & Sunday as well as at near-by restaurants.

Registration: Pre- registration is available here on this website to claim your frequency or on-site registration.

Daily Awards: Top 3 places for each event and pilot classification.

Honors Call-Up: Top pilots from previous round scores Called-Up for launch to begin next round.

Grand Champion: A Grand Champion will be determined by a fly-off at the end of Sunday’s unlimited contest. The top five scoring pilots will fly a precision duration and landing round with the highest score for that round becoming the Champion. The pilots with the top five weekend total scores will be in the fly-off. Either DLG or RES (each normalized to 1000) score from Friday will be added to the scores for Saturday and Sunday’s Unlimited contests. The five highest totals will meet in the fly-off.

CONTEST SITE: Buzzards Home Field: Entrance off Red Ember Road, Oviedo, Florida.

From Oviedo, go east on SR 419 for 2.2 miles, turn right (south) on Lockwood Road for 2.0 miles, then left (south) on Old Lockwood Road for 0.5 miles, and left (east) on Red Ember Road (unpaved) for 0.4 miles to marked field access on left. See enclosed area map.

CLASSES & CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA FOR UNLIMITED EVENTS:

EXPERT: (1) Working on LSF Level IV or V, or

(2) Previously placed 1, 2 or 3 in overall standing at a sailplane contest with 30 or more entries, or

(3) Volunteer to fly in Expert class.

SPORTSMAN: (1) All others

(Note: Above criteria applies to all pilots, and pre-empts current FSS class standings)

ENTRY FEES: Friday DLG & RES: $10.00 per Event

Sat & Sun: $25.00 per Event (includes complimentary catered lunch)

TASKS:
FRIDAY AM – DLG (HANDLAUNCH): TASKS PER CD CHOICE

FRIDAY PM – RES: Thermal Duration/Landing

SATURDAY – UNLIMITED: Thermal Duration/Landing

SUNDAY – UNLIMITED: Thermal Duration/Landing

(Tasks are subject to change at the discretion of the Daily Contest Director)

AWARDS:

Pilot Classifications:

DLG: 1st through 3rd place. (flown in one class only)

RES: 1st through 3rd place. (flown in one class only)

EXPERT UNLIMITED: 1st through 3rd place. (Awarded Daily)

SPORTSMAN UNLIMITED: 1st through 3rd place. (Awarded Daily)

GRAND CHAMPION FLY-OFF: A Grand Champion Trophy will be awarded to the winner of the Grand Champion fly-off.

CHECK-IN, REGISTRATION AND PILOT’S MEETING:

REGISTRATION TIMES: Friday DLG – 8:00 to 9:00 AM Friday

Friday RES – Noon to 1:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Sunday: 8:30 to 9:00 AM

PILOT’S MEETING TIME: At the end of each Registration Period listed above.

CONTEST DIRECTORS:

FRIDAY – DLG HAND LAUNCH: Raed Elazzawi 407 277-9719 E-Mail: raed5@yahoo.com

FRIDAY – RES: Rich Kiburis 407 306-1280 E-Mail: richard.a.kiburis@lmco.com

SATURDAY – UNLIMITED: Rick Eckel 407 366-8852 E-Mail: raeckel@usa.net

SUNDAY – UNLIMITED: Rick Eckel 407 366-8852 E-Mail: raeckel@usa.net

GENERAL CONTEST RULES:

1) All flying will be in compliance with the AMA safety code.

2) Each pilot is responsible for verifying receipt of the correct frequency pin and radio from the impound area and for returning the same radio to the impound with the pin. Any scoring errors must be reported prior to the end of the contest for correction.

3) Field boundaries are designated by existing fences and tree lines. All flights terminating outside the designated boundaries will incur a zero flight score. Low flying over designated no-fly zones will incur a zero flight score.

4) Any pilot landing outside the field boundaries must return their transmitter and frequency pin to the impound prior to retrieving their sailplane unless they are the exclusive user of that frequency.

5) Pilots must remain outside the safety line boundary of the designated landing zone except as necessary for retrieval after landing. Violation will result in a zero landing score.

6) Any pilot causing a flight safety issue or concern may be subject to loss of flight score, at the discretion of the Contest Director

FLIGHT SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT

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