OZ designs

[Koenig, Tom]

One of the reasons I find this list interesting is gaining an insight into
what other people in other countries do.

Once I thought about it, I was surprised at how many designs/designers we
have down here. The general mentality here is that you 'fly your own design,
if you are in FAI.
The reason I say that is because nearly all FAI pilots here steer their OD
planes!
Current wide body designs in use Down Under: Big Shot, Cyclone,Silouhette,
Arresti 3, Merlin 3, Matrix ( NZ design- Frazer Briggs), Symphony, Ecstacy,
Magician etc etc.

There's more ..but I just cant think of them right now.

I guess for a small pattern country, we do alright in that department, and
all these planes are as good as anything else out there.
Me, I started drawing years ago when I was in advanced. The idea behind that
was that I wanted 'the package' to be all sorted by the time I got to FAI.
Well, I learnt one big lesson, it is a continuos improvement process...it
never stops.

Now if  Australia could just produce a world champ!

Tom

PS: most of these are all low-tech, all built from plans the conventional
way. wood , foam etc. In my opinion... the best way



> ----------
> From: 	Mike Hester[SMTP:kerlock at attbi.com]
> Reply To: 	discussion at nsrca.org
> Sent: 	Friday, 15 November 2002 9:17
> To: 	discussion at nsrca.org
> Subject: 	Re: similar design
> 
> Amen to that!!!!
> 
> I'm working on my own thing right now for just that reason. What I want
> really doesn't exist. So instead of just taking something I don't really
> want, I decided to do it myself.
> 
> I have a lot to learn and a lot of steps between here and there, but if I
> don't try I'll never know. I could be a jewel and it could be flying crud,
> but until one flies, who knows?
> 
> As far as that comment by the judge about "you'd score better flying a
> european design", well guess what. I suppose I will never score high in
> FAI,
> because I just won't play that game. If it means I'll never get above 30th
> place, then so be it. Part of the fun of pattern to me is building and
> doing
> my own thing.
> 
> That doesn't mean I'm slamming someone for flying a ZN job. Those planes
> are
> remarkable works of art. It's just not what I want to fly. Too bad if some
> people will hold that against me later on, I'll just deal with it.
> 
> -Mike Hester
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tony Stillman" <tony at radiosouthrc.com>
> To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 10:58 AM
> Subject: Re: similar design
> 
> 
> > One thing you'll find is that they DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEES!  They do it
> > themselves.  There is just not enough market for these types of models
> to
> > really have a thriving kit business.  These people do it because the
> LOVE
> IT
> > and enjoy it!  Even at that, there are complaints, problems, kits
> destroyed
> > and damaged in shipment, people who don't pay their bills, etc.,
> etc......
> >
> > The reason kit prices are drive so high is due to the low volume of kits
> > that will be sold over the life of a design.  If a company sells more
> than
> > 100, it would be a big success!
> >
> > The other problem is the lack of designers left.  If you look at the top
> 10
> > finishers at our NATS, you will be hard pressed to find ANY that even
> build
> > their own models, much less design them!
> >
> > The days of the designers like Dave Von Linsowe, Chris Lakin, Ron
> Chidgey,
> > Geoff Combs, George Asteris, and Ivan Kristensen and the like are
> passing.
> > These guys are not as active as they once were, and so gone is the drive
> for
> > new designs by them.  We have to look to the new leaders for designs,
> and
> > they just don't do that!  Most take an existing design, or an obscure
> > airplane (Angel's Shadow, for instance) and it is quickly associated
> with
> > someone as "their" airplane.
> >
> > We need new people to step up and bring the new wave of designs to the
> > forefront.  These are also the ones that power kit manufacturers.  If no
> new
> > designs are out there, kit companies will start making other kits
> besides
> > pattern to survive.
> >
> > By no means am I a designer, but I am making my own airplane this year
> in
> > order to get what I want.  I really don't like sending all of my money
> > overseas for everything related to R/C!  The new design may end up being
> a
> > "piece of junk" that gets thrown aside for another model, but at least
> I'm
> > gonna try it once!
> >
> > Tony Stillman
> > Radio South, Inc.
> > 3702 N. Pace Blvd.
> > Pensacola, Fl 32505
> > www.radiosouthrc.com
> > 800-962-7802
> 
> 
> =====================================
> # To be removed from this list, send a message to 
> # discussion-request at nsrca.org
> # and put leave discussion on the first line of the body.
> #
> 
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