{"id":989,"date":"2019-12-10T00:01:21","date_gmt":"2019-12-10T00:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ukcompetitionballooning.com\/?page_id=989"},"modified":"2019-12-09T20:19:43","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T20:19:43","slug":"3d-shape-task","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ukcompetitionballooning.com\/index.php\/3d-shape-task\/","title":{"rendered":"3D Shape Task"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row gap=”20″ equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1575220154122{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;border-left-color: #dd3333 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #dd3333 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #dd3333 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #dd3333 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”3D Shape Task” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:30|text_align:center|color:%23dd3333″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1575220049291{padding-right: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”juicy_pink” border_width=”2″ el_width=”20″ css=”.vc_custom_1575220022153{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1575220287201{padding-right: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;}”]15.20\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 3D Shape Task (3DT)<\/strong> (for events with logger scoring)<\/p>\n

15.20. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 1Competitors will attempt to achieve the greatest distance within a set airspace.<\/p>\n

15.20.2 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Task data:
\na.description of set airspace(s).<\/p>\n

15.20.3 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The result is the accumulated horizontal distance between valid track points in the set airspace(s). Greatest result is best<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Competition Ballooning – 3D Shape Task<\/p>\n

The rule (or information) for this task is set out in Chapter 15 of the Event Rules<\/p>\n

This could be regarded as the simplest task and possibly the fairest when trying to judge the skill of flying, as all competitors take off from a common launch area and all are aiming for the same target. The launch period is usually about 30 minutes so the only remaining variable is any change in wind direction between first off and last off. As stated in the rule you will be given the position of the set goal\/target on the task sheet at the briefing. The goal is a place defined by grid reference on the competition map, usually a road junction. The target is a prominent cross displayed in the vicinity of the goal (usually in the field adjacent) or at a specified coordinate e.g. 200metres to the north west of the goal. If you are only given the goal reference you head for that and the cross will be close to it. Often you will only be given the coordinates of the target with no associated goal and this will be found in the middle of a field. Whichever, the first thing to do is to draw a line from your take off point to the target (or goal) and find out what direction that route gives. Remember that on a large launch field your take off point may be some distance from the common launch point so you may need to adjust your route once you arrive at the launch site. Referring to the weather information sheet will then give you an idea at what height you will need to fly to take you to the target. The next thing to do is to draw a line back from the target in the direction that the ground wind is coming from; that should give you the direction that you will be finally flying in over the target to drop your marker. The next decision is whether to take off first, in the middle with everybody else or last. There is no correct answer. In Japan when faced with multiple tasks and the winds dropping out altogether after a couple of hours it is always best to take off early. Another advantage of early take off is a fairly unobstructed approach to common targets. However having a few balloons in front will tell you a lot about the wind changes near the ground as they run in to the target and if far enough in front may well allow you to correct in time if there has been any major change. As you take off it is worth noting the wind direction near the surface. You may then amend the ground wind route into<\/p>\n

This is what is called a \u2018virtual task\u2019 as there is no\u00a0target or border\u00a0to aim for on the ground and you only have points in the sky to fly to\u00a0defined by shapes. That is why the task data states that it is \u2018with logger scoring\u2019 only. These can still be flown\u00a0using an \u2018old fashioned\u2019 paper\u00a0map without a GPS but that makes it very difficult; a GPS with moving map reduces the workload considerably.\u00a0The most common 3D shapes have ended up being named after food; there is the\u00a0pie\u00a0(or wedding cake)\u00a0and the\u00a0do\u2019nut. The wedding cake is as shown in Figure 1. This is the information you will be given on your task sheet. As in a wedding cake there are three tiers\u00a0with each tier smaller than the one below. The diameter of the tiers is given as shown and these are typical values. The levels of each tier are also given and again these are typical. In this example the height of the ground would not have been<\/p>\n

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Figure 1:\u00a0The Pie (Wedding\u00a0Cake).<\/p>\n

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higher than about 100ft AMSL (above mean sea level) so the lowest level height you start scoring in is above the highest\u00a0point\u00a0on the ground\u00a0that you will be flying over.\u00a0The idea is that you try to fly the maximum distance\u00a0within\u00a0the cake. This could be the diameter but can be increased by doglegging through\u00a0area if you can \u2013 or even backwards should the winds allow! It is the horizontal distance that is scored and not the vertical; going up and down through any area does\u00a0not\u00a0add anything. If you fly within the second tier (B) you achieve twice your distance logged and in the third tier (C) three times the distance\u00a0so the more you fly in these areas the better the score.\u00a0(Figure 2)<\/p>\n

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Fig 2:\u00a0Vertical track through\u00a0a pie (wedding cake)<\/p>\n

Your\u00a0track points are scored from your logger so you don\u2019t have to record your entry or exit into these areas. So, to score well you need to enter the higher tiers as soon as you reach them. Thus, the skill is to \u2018transition\u2019 between each level just at the point where each edge of the tier meets the other.\u00a0\u00a0You do not get disqualified if\u00a0you\u00a0leave the pie during the flight\u00a0but\u00a0it is only the track points<\/p>\n

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Figure 3: Predicted winds through the pie (straight blue lines) with actual track (red line).<\/p>\n

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within the pie that counts. If you don\u2019t get the transition perfect it is better to err on staying in the lower area slightly longer than climbing too early (or descending too late) and flying out of the pie.\u00a0As the wind alters with height you must plan your route through the pie. This is best done by starting at the top and working downwards. So, in this example, you take the 2,500ft wind and lay the direction across the top tier with it crossing the middle.\u00a0\u00a0You\u00a0then\u00a0take the 1,500ft wind and draw\u00a0that back from where the top line hits the upwind\u00a0boundary of the top tier and draw back across the second tier. Likewise, you use the 500-750\u2019 wind for the lower tier. That should give you your entry\u00a0point (Fig 3). In fact, in this example, the pilot found that there was a lot more left below 500\u2019 so used this on the last segment to extend his track. The aim is to cross the upper tier with maximal distance and one can adjust the entry and exit points of each tier before and after if it can give you extra distance\u00a0in those\u00a0segments; as long as you aim to get the maximum distance in the top tier, worth 3x your track distance.\u00a0When you are flying the\u00a0task,\u00a0you may find the winds have\u00a0altered from that observed or forecasted; in these\u00a0situations,\u00a0you may have to sacrifice\u00a0some distance\u00a0by flying above parts of the lower tiers to give you a better score in the upper tiers; sometimes you miss the upper tier or tiers altogether!<\/p>\n

The task data may define the centre of the pie or it may instruct you to declare the centre\u00a0yourself\u00a0(a pilot declared 3D shape) in the logger\u00a0either on the ground before\u00a0take-off\u00a0or at some defined point in the flight. Occasionally it may instruct you to declare the centre along a certain northings or eastings line\u00a0so that the task occurs at a defined point in the flight\u00a0placing it\u00a0after or between certain other tasks.\u00a0In the pilot declared 3D shape you estimate the entry point\u00a0as explained\u00a0and adjust the centre accordingly.<\/p>\n

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Figure 4: The\u00a0do\u2019nut<\/p>\n

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The\u00a0do\u2019nut\u00a0is\u00a0not as complex. You have two concentric circles and have to fly within them as far as possible. Again, as the rule states, it is the accumulated horizontal distance between valid track points in the area that counts. The normal approach is to fly low into the area to the left of the centre, \u2018kiss\u2019 the inner boundary and then climb to move to the right around the\u00a0do\u2019nut: that is\u00a0assuming you are in the northern\u00a0hemisphere\u00a0where it is usually\u00a0\u2018right with height\u2019, the opposite\u00a0occurs\u00a0in the\u00a0southern\u00a0hemisphere.\u00a0Part of the skill is climbing at a rate that keeps you within the\u00a0do,nut\u00a0and does not expel you too early.\u00a0There are usually no height boundaries so you can fly as high and as low as the general rules allow. To predict the entry point, draw the lower level wind such that it just \u2018kisses\u2019 the inner circle and the line back predicts your entry.\u00a0You can\u00a0fly the\u00a0do\u2019nut\u00a0the other way around by flying the high leg\u00a0first\u00a0and then the low leg; this may depend on the terrain\u00a0or\u00a0what may obstruct your\u00a0predicted\u00a0track such as sensitive areas. I flew it once this way around in Poland where the upper half of the\u00a0do\u2019nut\u00a0was over wood and lower down such the ground level\u00a0winds had\u00a0more left and flying the\u00a0high-level\u00a0part\u00a0initially\u00a0was an advantage.\u00a0\u00a0There are other shapes that can be described. The next\u00a0most used is the \u2018Islands\u2019 where\u00a0you\u00a0are confronted with a number of circles or squares\u00a0one\u00a0behind\u00a0another, usually diminishing in size and increasing in the multiplier applied to your track length and not necessarily in a direct line behind one another. I am sure others will be thought off.<\/p>\n

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\n

The Pie \u2013 World Championships 2012, Battle Creek USA.<\/p>\n

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Written by David Bareford[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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