We visited Pazardjik (Matthieu and me) in the beginning of the week from 16th to 19th of July. Thanks to Ljubomir and Sotir for all they did for us during this short trip.
Pazardjik is 120 km far from Sofia (South West). By the runway, it took 1.20 hours to reach the site. The main hotels are in the center of the town (2km maximum far to the official circles). Taxis from hotels are cheap, easy to walk.

The F2A circle is an old circle on which the Bulgarian Federation organized a F2A world Cup in June. That permits to see that some improvements (reparations) were necessary. Jo Halman agreed the technology proposed by the organizers. They want to make a new circle (crown or donut) and to make flat the center circle. It is possible because before they put an asphalt lay which is too high near the pylon, there was a concrete surface under the actual asphalt lay.

The F2B concrete circle is finished. Only grass has to grow...between the flight donut and the center circle. The main effort of watering is not to put on this surface but on the second F2B circle. The second F2B circle very close to the concrete F2B is seeded and wait the grass grows.
There are some possibilities of F2B training circles in little stadium not far from the official circle, it should be appreciated by F2B pilots.

The F2C circle is finished, we flew on it. Absolutely no problem. Bill Lee asked me to have a look on the size of the central circle. You can see that the line we draw (with chalk) is far enough of the border of the concrete center surface. The step between the concrete and the earth (grass in the future) is 4cm height. There is no problem to land and takeoff, but to insure and avoid discussion I asked Ljubomir to complete the surface with compacted stones or concrete to give to the circle center a true round shape. Ljubo's crew will draw the lines this week end (we prepared the work in marking all the lines with chalk). We decided to move the preparing area under the trees instead as it was located (tangent to the circle, so difficult to enter or to go out!). We agreed the position of the tower and where will be the displays for public.

F2C training circle: Ljubomir found a parking behind an old factory, we met the boss and it seems to be available. I gave some advices to organize the circle in this place. The surface is not very good but not so bad. (I saw worse training circles in the past) When swept, it shall become an acceptable training circle. Lines will be drawn and safety ribbons placed all around the circle. Public will be not accepted on this place. Parking is to be organized to not disturb the activity of the factory.

F2D circles: The two officials F2D circles are finished, seeded and wait the grass grows. The organizers employ workers and volunteers for watering the circles all along the days. This is the main effort to do to have a wonderful Control Line site. I see they do it!

Camping:
Close to the site. Nothing to tell. Some permanent toilets and showers will be completed by individual chemical toilets in the camping and near the circles, and individual shower boxes in the camping.
There is a little restaurant near the entering of the camping. We tested... good food and fast service. Free access on internet will be organized on the camping site and near the circles. Electricity and water points already exist in the camping site.

Processing place:
I visit also the place where it should be possible to organize the processing. The place will become a restaurant on the border of the « lake », very near from the F2A circle. Big enough, it is possible to well organize the main processing. Parking is possible, very near the building. If the grass grows as we hope, all the circles will be quite in the same place (the F2A circle will be 500 m from the center of the new « Control Line Park »). The camping and the « lake »are between them. If not the F2D circles will be on a football training place located on north of the town (but only 5km far from the « Control line Park »)

During these four days, we measured the work done by the Bulgarian Federation, mainly Ljubomir and Sotir and their volunteers to prepare a very good site for the next world champs. I visited a lot of control line places in the world and I think that this one should be one of the best i never saw.

Thanks to our Bulgarian friends for the efforts they are doing to welcome the F2 community on next month.

Jean Paul PERRET