The B Test Thread

Now we have our first successful B test pass through your club examiners, well done to Chris Hughes I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread specifically for discussion and questions relating to the BMFA B test.

For those members who do not know, Steve Morris and myself are the WMAC BMFA examiners, we put ourselves up for it, only with the intention of assisting club members.

If anyone has any questions or comments, or wants to register their interest in taking their B, then this is the place to do it.

So who's up for it?

Herewith is a straightforward and efficient schedule for performing the 'B' in the prevailing westerly wind at Cashmoor. I suggest building up your skills by learning the individual manoeuvres and then putting them together into a single flight (approx 6 minutes). Note that a caller is permitted and recommended when practising and performing the full schedule.

I'm gonna get in the frame of mind finally and practise every opportunity!

I'll have to do A first I guess

Dave Rogers wrote: I'm gonna get in the frame of mind finally and practise every opportunity!

I'll have to do A first I guess

Dave, I think you can do both together. This is an extract from the 2016 BMFA Guidance notes:

"A candidate wishing to take the ‘B’ must already have passed the ‘A’ in that discipline.
However where a candidate presents for a B test who does not already hold an ‘A’ certificate
it is acceptable for the candidate to complete the flying portion of the ‘A’ test successfully
and then move immediately to the flying portion of the ‘B’ test before attempting the test"

Which, i think, means you can do both A and B in one flight.

IMHO, JRI's post about practice and the aresti schedule to go with it make it sound like an onerous task...one that only the best can achieve! The reality is that the manoeuvres required for a B test are fairly simple - it's not an aerobatic competition schedule and the standards are not 10/10 or you fail. Yes, you'll have to use a bit of down elevator on the inverted sections of your rolls, and if you've never tried a spin or a stall turn or a bunt you'll need to try it first. The biggest task will be reading the BMFA handbook and learning a few facts.

Below is the schedule as written in the BMFA handbook

(a) Carry out pre-flight checks as required by the BMFA Safety Codes.
(b) Take off and complete a left (or right) hand circuit and overfly the take-off area.
(c) Fly a ‘figure of eight’ course with the crossover point in front of the pilot, height to be constant. This BMFA Members’ Handbook 2012 Website Edition 62 manoeuvre must be flown more accurately than the similar manoeuvre in the ‘A’ certificate test.
(d) Fly into wind and complete one inside loop.
(e) Fly downwind and complete one outside loop downwards from the top (i.e. a bunt).
(f) Complete two consecutive rolls into wind.
(g) Complete two consecutive rolls downwind using the opposite direction of roll rotation to that used in (f) above.
(h) Complete a stall turn either left or right.
(i) Gain height and perform a three turn spin, the initial heading and the recovery heading must be into wind and the model must fall into the spin (no ‘flick’ spin entry).
(j) Fly a rectangular landing approach and overshoot from below 10 ft. Note that this manoeuvre is an aborted landing, not a low pass.
(k) Fly a rectangular circuit in the opposite direction to that in (j) at a constant height of not more than 40 feet.
(l) Fly a rectangular landing approach and land (wheels to touch within a pre-designated 30 metre boundary).

I would like to have a go at the B this year.
Judging from my attempts on Sunday getting an accurate exit from a 3 turn spin I have much work to do

First question(s):
The Schedule talks about loops and rolls being performed into wind or down wind etc. Do we establish a flight-line depending on the wind direction or can we fix a flight-line parallel to the runway and perform loops and rolls crosswind?
Can we choose?
At what point is the flight-line established?
Is the order of maneuvers fixed?

Mike you are quite correct that it is not an aerobatic competition and the moves do not have to be perfect (Just as well or i would have failed )
They do need to be flown in a controlled and safe manner, anyone interested should have a quick look at the examiners notes in the handbook as this will give them a good idea of what is expected
As for flying a sequence that is down to personal preference, I certainly found it easier to do it like this, whilst you are allowed a caller it is far easier if you know what is next
Alan
Some moves will have to be flown crosswind as it states they have to be in front of the pilot, but it also states that the examiner will discuss this with you before the flight starts

MikeSeale wrote: IMHO, JRI's post about practice and the aresti schedule to go with it make it sound like an onerous task..

I have to disagree with you there Mike, if you don't follow a fully worked out pattern schedule then you will probably run out of fuel before completing all the required manoeuveres; and will look incompetent for performing a safe and controlled public display as you scrabble to re-position the model for the next manoeuver (which IMHO is what the 'B' certificate is all about). Also there are/were requirements about where the manouvers are performed (usually around the center line) and how big and accurate they are. I think the BMFA handbook rather simplifies the task and a candidate needs to discuss the expectations with the examiners well before embarking on the examination.

A useful read if you are interested in taking the B Cert

I was attempting to encourage people to have a go by pointing out that the B certificate is not a test of your aerobatic prowess and that you do not need to learn Aresti diagrams. I think that most of our members will be put off by your posts. Perhaps Jon can set the record straight?