Weight Limit problem long

[Bill Glaze]

I'd say probably about 2/3 what it cost for the competition setup.  Save a few
bucks on a smaller engine, fewer channels on the radio, servo cost remained the
same, if you built from a kit, about the same cost as a plans-built airplane.
To get really dirt-cheap, you built a rudder-only Mambo, (or something similar)
with a single channel radio with a Bonner escapement; deluxe in rudder-only
meant a Bonner compound escapement with a Bramco throttle control.  It gave you
either full throttle or a somewhat reliable idle; nothing in between.  BTW: a
Bramco throttle cost $5 at that time.  Worked pretty good, actually.
Cost for the setup above: about $65-70, and, within that class, (class I, or as
it was more commonly called, "rudder only" ) you were competitive.
BTW: for the record, I'm talking about a time frame ca. 1954.

Bill Glaze

Anthony Romano wrote:

> Hi Bill,
> What was the cost of the setup of the casual sport pilot?
>
> Anthony
>
> >From: Bill Glaze <billglaze at triad.rr.com>
> >Reply-To: discussion at nsrca.org
> >To: discussion at nsrca.org
> >Subject: Re: Weight Limit problem long
> >Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 13:58:58 -0600
> >
> >Cost? Interesting to contemplate.  When I started in competition, (not
> >called
> >pattern at that time) the best radio you could buy was $150, the materials
> >to
> >build a competitive airplane were $15 or less, servos were ~ $15 each, (4
> >req.)
> >and the engine that everyone used was $14.95 NIB from your friendly dealer.
> >However, I was making less than $10,000 per year.  (and living very well,
> >thanks.)
> >It's my belief that folks are either interested in competing in a hobby
> >activity,
> >or they aren't interested.  Many feel that their work is competitive enough
> >to
> >match their overall lifestyle; they feel they don't need it in their hobby.
> >  I
> >also feel that you need to know someone as more than just a casual
> >acquaintance
> >before you find out the real reason they aren't competing.  If you can get
> >past
> >their own personal fence, then maybe--just maybe--you can get them
> >interested.
> >And then again, maybe not.
> >After all, it's a huge hobby.
> >
> >Bill Glaze
> >
> >John Gausby wrote:
> >
> > > I have to agree with Anthony on this one. I don't think cost is the
> >major
> > > stopping point for the newcomer.
> > >
> > > >From what i see...It's the fear of competition thing. The fear of
> >experts
> > > judging your flying. That FIRST contest often softens that fear , but
> >getting
> > > a newbie to try that first contest is a big hurdle.
> > >
> > > I don't ever remember pattern being inexpensive. Even back in the 60's
> >and
> > > 70's a new radio was 300 to 500 bucks. A good .60 was 100 to 200. Rhom
> > > retracts were $125.....It was not uncommon to have a $1000 or more tied
> >up in
> > > one plane.....JG
> > >
> > > On Mon, 11 Nov 2002 10:17:35 -0500 Anthony Romano
> ><anthonyr105 at hotmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi Buddy,
> > > > Here is my view. Just finished a new plane
> > > > around $2000. Now, being a
> > > > competitor, I build a new more complicated,
> > > > larger, more expensive plane to
> > > > take advantage of the rule change and replace
> > > > my now obsolete plane.
> > > > Ignoring issue of gas such as smell, which now
> > > > means I can't store planes in
> > > > the house and the wife won't come to the field,
> > > > struggle with the sound
> > > > rule, can't fly at local field, etc.
> > > > Now I am just a mediocre competitor and if I
> > > > get a lot of time I fly my
> > > > pattern plane 200 times a year. Using your
> > > > figures, maybe luck but I never
> > > > pay that much for fuel, I save $350 dollars. My
> > > > new plane will be paid for
> > > > in around FIVE years on the savings. Add in the
> > > > cost of new field supplies,
> > > > fire extinguisher, radio upgrade to run two
> > > > elevator servos, farther drive
> > > > to field without noise limit, etc. Where is the
> > > > savings?
> > > > If this is the direction of pattern I am not
> > > > interested and don't see how
> > > > bigger more expensive planes will help
> > > > anything. You guys are all killing me
> > > > with the cost issue. The average guy at my
> > > > local club has three or four 1.20
> > > > size arfs with $1000 to $1200 dollars in each
> > > > one. Look around on some of
> > > > the message boards and see the number of people
> > > > that are flying and entering
> > > > giant scale. The number of people looking to
> > > > spend $3000 and up on a bigger
> > > > planes is astounding.
> > > >
> > > > Anthony
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >From: "Buddy Brammer"
> > > > >Reply-To: discussion at nsrca.org
> > > > >To: discussion at nsrca.org
> > > > >Subject: Re: Weight Limit
> > > > >Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 10:53:03 -0600
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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