Author: Gordon Buckland

Edition: Model Aviation - 2026/07
Page Numbers: 70, 71, 72
RC Soaring

Soaring Masters Challenge West

By Gordon Buckland gordon@teamusaf3j.com

Mike Smith launches his Phoenix DF to start a round at the Soaring Masters Challenge West contest, which was held in Phoenix in February. Eventual winner Warren Day works the stopwatch.

A new RC Soaring club was formed recently in Phoenix. The founder, John Armstrong, put on an inaugural F5J Tour contest, the Soaring Masters Challenge West, on February 21-22. It was akin to the legendary Southwest Classic, which was once an early spring Soaring staple in the desert. I decided to make the journey to Arizona from Florida with John Kennedy.

The flying site allowed camping, so we rented a motorhome at a very reasonable price and did so in style, right on the field. This was an economical solution for two pilots compared to renting cars and motel rooms, and we had the added convenience of cold drinks, food, air conditioning, and a restroom that were available at any time.

The desert wind conditions for flying were light early on, but the wind picked up to a brisk 12-plus mph as it warmed each day. The interesting thing was how much lift the air had at a height of approximately 180 meters in strong wind early on; full times were achieved by simply ballasting to match the strength of the wind at altitude and gradually floating downwind without turning to burn the clock.

I managed to briefly contact powerlines on my homeward run late in my first flight, and although my Ultima 2 was unharmed, it resulted in an out-landing. Starting with a zero is never fun.

A real benefit of traveling to a faraway contest is making new friends and rekindling old friendships. For me, spending time with legends such as Skip Miller and new AMA Hall of Fame inductee Jim Monaco was an added bonus.

It was great to see a variety of less-common F5J models being campaigned out west. Quite a few of the new NAN Challengers were flown, along with Soaring Lab’s Cayley. The most popular models appeared to be the Prestige PK2 and PK3. The Ultima 2 was also abundant.

John Kennedy was consistent all weekend flying his Prestige PK3s, and I was stoked to see him end up in fourth place. (The scores were later adjusted to show that John actually finished in sixth place.)

The final winner in the Soaring Masters Challenge West was the F5J USA Tour president, Warren Day, with fast-improving Junior pilot Milan Bregman in second. Both flew Challengers. Mike Smith was third, appropriately flying the amazing Phoenix DF. A prize was also awarded for the highest-placing Two-Meter sailplane, of which the odd Radian and F5L models were flown. Thank you to John Armstrong for organizing such a fun event.

The Soaring Masters Challenge West podium (L-R): Milan Bregman, second place; Warren Day, first place; Mike Smith, third place; and Ed LeCroix, who was the top finisher flying a Two-Meter sailplane.
The Soaring Masters Challenge West podium (L-R): Milan Bregman, second place; Warren Day, first place; Mike Smith, third place; and Ed LeCroix, who was the top finisher flying a Two-Meter sailplane.
Oleg Golovidov launches from lane one at the beautiful Hodges Field in Andersonville, Ga.
Oleg Golovidov launches from lane one at the beautiful Hodges Field in Andersonville, Ga.

F5J South East

On the East Coast, the fifth F5J Tour contest of the season, the F5J South East, was held at Hodges Field in Andersonville, Georgia, the weekend of March 21. This site has an excellent grass, full-scale runway and includes the added entertainment of 82-year-old Mac Hodges flying his various ultralight aircraft and, at times, performing cool stunts, such as one-wheel touch-and-gos.

Similar to many early contests on the East Coast, the late-season cold fronts provided challenging variable conditions that ranged from being almost calm one day to 15-plus mph wind the next. Oleg Golovidov flew some courageous flights downwind to eclipse everybody else on a weekend where nobody stayed clean. Many of us took multiple zeros trying to contend with light lift in windy conditions.

Flying F5J in the wind is truly the ultimate challenge for Thermal Duration pilots because our desire to take some risk with launch height carries the huge penalty of certain death when we end up too far downwind and don’t have quite enough lift to buy the ride home. Oleg’s mastery of the conditions through 12 rounds saw him take first place, with Ben Stewart in second place. Mike Gardner was consistent as always and took third place.

F5J contests that are held all over the US are scheduled and advertised on the F5J USA Tour website, and there are sure to be some contests near where you live.

Why don’t you get on the road this year and travel to some F5J contests and join in on the fun? You will make some great memories, meet some fun folks, and have a great time.

Until next time, go downwind and soar.

The winners of the F5J South East are grinners—and happy to be at Hodges Field in Andersonville, Ga. (L-R): Jason Cole, fifth place; Gavin Trussel, fourth place; Mike Gardner, fourth place; Ben Stewart, second place; and Oleg Golovidov, first place.
The winners of the F5J South East are grinners—and happy to be at Hodges Field in Andersonville, Ga. (L-R): Jason Cole, fifth place; Gavin Trussel, fourth place; Mike Gardner, fourth place; Ben Stewart, second place; and Oleg Golovidov, first place.
John Kennedy gets his Prestige 3PK off to a good start on his way to another max in the Phoenix desert.
John Kennedy gets his Prestige 3PK off to a good start on his way to another max in the Phoenix desert.
One of the stalwarts of the East Coast F5J Soaring contests is Don Richmond. At 91 years old, he shows many of the younger pilots how it’s done. Here, he times for fellow pilot Lenny Strickland.
One of the stalwarts of the East Coast F5J Soaring contests is Don Richmond. At 91 years old, he shows many of the younger pilots how it’s done. Here, he times for fellow pilot Lenny Strickland.

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