There are a total of three pilots on the Junior Team and after three days of competition, all three of the USA Junior team pilots are from the greater Seattle area.  These three local junior pilots will be representing the USA in 2010.  The three pilots are;

Brendon Beardsley.  Brendon made the junior team that flew in Turkey in 2008 where he flew to a second place finish in the individual competition, with Team USA finishing in second place overall.  Brendon is a high school junior and attends classes at Jackson High in Mill Creek. 

Connor Laurel is a high school junior also at Redmond High and lives in Redmond. 

All three boys are good friends and have practiced several times a week for the last several years. 

The team selection trials were held in the thin air of Denver Colorado.  The trials, consisting of 19 rounds of flying, occurring over a three day period of time.  The selection of the team came down to the last round.  It is extremely rare to have a three person team, selected from pilots from around the United States, all come from the same general vicinity.  The Senior Team has a more typical makeup of pilots coming from Chicago, Denver and Lake Havasu Arizona.   

At the world championships in 2008, there were 26 junior teams representing countries from around the world.  This worldwide competition is held in a different host country every other year.  The event organizers are planning on a larger turnout in 2010. 

The majority of the aircraft used by the Junior Team was the “Supra” supplied by Kennedy Composite in Texas.  The Supra is a fully molded aircraft made of Carbon Fiber and Kevlar and is extremely light for its 3.6 meter wing span.  The aircraft are towed aloft using a two man tow and monofilament tow-line. 

The task is it to fly as close as possible to the amount of working time in a round.  All rounds are either 10 or 15 minutes.  Even with a good launch, if you do not find at least one thermal, your flight will be short, losing valuable points.  In addition, a landing bonus is scored on a graduated tape, with the circle for a100 point landing only 14 inches across. 

These aircraft are remotely piloted from the ground using computer based transmitters from JR distributed by Horizon Hobbies.  By placing a computer in the transmitter, you can manipulate all six control surfaces on the aircraft by moving sticks or switches.  A good pilot can land an aircraft with a 12 foot wingspan in his hand. 

The boys are all members of the Seattle Area Soaring Society and fly from 60 Acres South in Redmond and from the Old Carnation Farm just west of Carnation.  The Junior Team consists of the three pilots, two tow-men, a team manager and one spotter.  The event in France includes 3 days of practice (to acclimate to local weather conditions), the two day Invitational Euro-Cup followed by the five day FAI World Championship.  In the next 8 months, the Junior Team will raise $35,000.00 to travel to and compete in the event.  If you are interested in making a donation, please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  at 425-576-8777. 

If you want to see more information on the sport of thermal flying visit the Seattle Area Soaring Society website at seattleareasoaringsociety.com .  During the flying season, SASS sponsors a training night at 60 Acres South where it invites the public, curious about flying remote control aircraft, to come out and experience the hobby.  The flying site is open to the public. 

 All three of the boys are available for an interview at any time. 

Showing their air force of Supra’s from left to right is Michael Knight, Brendon Beardsley and Connor Laurel. 

Michael Knight with his private air force. 

Michael Knight piloting with Brendon and Connor helping by calling and reading the air and by watching other planes in a team effort to maximize the flight time. 

Connor Laurel flying with Brendon and Brendon’s father, Dave Beardsley helping Connor read the air.