Weight Limit - new contestant, image...

[Anne & Xavier]

I have been away from home for a few weeks and I am trying to go thru all
these emails (250+) and it will take weeks :-)
Let me just say a little comment on the weight thing. I don't think it
should be changed, for many reasons.
The new builder reason doesn't convince me. If a new pilot-builder wants to
make the plane under the limit, he just need to build a smaller one (60 or
90 size). He doesn't need to have the maximum size. When he has build one or
two, he could go a little bigger and so on until he is good at it. We don't
start flying in FAI. We start in sportsman and move up the ladder. It should
be the same for building. I haven't built much planes yet and certainly no
pattern plane. I don't think I will start with a big one except if it is in
a very advanced stage of fabrication. I plan on building a 60-90 size plane
this winter as  a practice and demo plane. It will also be a
building-practice plane for me.
I would like to use a gas engine in a pattern plane for the reliability and
low cost of running. However, until I could do it within the rules, I won't.
Some very good builder are working on that. For now, I may do it for a
practice/demo 2m pattern plane but I won't use it in contest because it will
be over 5kg. However, I will no be affray of flying it at the club anytime,
maybe in the winter and even at fun fly's.

The idea of a minimum weight would work only if everybody was using big
engine. What would happen with the 60 size plane if there was a minimum 9
lbs weight limit for example?

As many have mentioned before, most people don't like to be criticized. They
would not enter any sort of contest but they become usually very good at
finding excuses...Changing the rules will not get them in. We need to found
something else. I try to fly my plane at the field as much as I can. I had
people try my backup plane in body box a few times. I give instruction to
new members and advices the intermediate level members when I have the
chance. As Tom W said, I am also considered as one of the best pilot in my
club even if I have been flying for only 5 years. I also try to fly some 3D
stuff or low inverted pass (not with my pattern plane) to show that I am
also able to do that. My airplane last longer than most in the club. I sold
a few in the past and have a few more not used anymore.

Xavier



----- Original Message -----
From: <RUDDERCABL at aol.com>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 10:31 PM
Subject: Re: Weight Limit problem long


> In a message dated 11/12/02 7:39:01 AM Eastern Standard Time,
wb_akle at msn.com
> writes:
>
> << Robert, if we raised it to 6 Kg we would still have this email
> entertainment
>  to raise it to 7 Kg! and it is entertaining, with a new idea poping up
from
>  time to time.
>
>  Wade >>
>
> Wade,  I am convinced that if the weight limit were raised ,the next
assault
> would be to increase the size limit . The current technology that is used
to
> keep pattern planes light will not go away. The technology would only be
used
> to explore pushing
> the absolute limits of the 2 meter box and to make fuselages grotestly
large
> !
> Those who are inclined ,and have the means to , certainly won't stop
> development on new technology for even lighter materials and more powerful
> engines.
>
> Many use the argument that raising the weight limit will make pattern more
> accessable to the sport flyers . BULL !  It was tried several years ago
and
> was a complete failure .
>
> Their next argument is that the technology is driving the cost too high .
The
> answer certainly is not to change the rules where technology would have a
> larger breeding ground. Instead , how about a rule that prohibits carbon
> fibre or kevlar materials or
> fuel injection ( with or without electronic aid ) and limit radios to five
> channels with no
> mixing aids at all. We might as well sign our own warrant to the firing
squad.
>
> These issues do not keep sport flyers out of pattern . Desire and
dicipline
> do. The average sport flyers don't have either . It is far easier to go to
> the field and play than
> to practice . There are to many other distractions in todays world than to
> dedicate themselves to the rigors of competition.
>
> In my opinion , some are using the weight issue to guide pattern in the
> direction they wish pattern to go. If they spent as much effort living
within
> the rules , as they do trying to change them , there wouldn't be any issue
!
> Of course , then we would lose a source of entertainment , wouldn't we
Wade ?
>
>
>
> Robert Gainey
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