Winter / Focus / Fuel

Troy Newman troy_newman at msn.com
Thu Dec 4 10:21:44 AKST 2003 

Before this year was about 1/2 the flying. Around 50-60 gallons a year. This
was with a full time 8-4:30 job too.
Get off work and go stick about 4-5 flights at night.

I had one goal and one goal only. To make the Finals at the Team Trials.
This commitment and challenge was a driving force behind my flying. There
were times that I flew like crap for a couple days in a row. There were lots
of ups and downs. The Week before the Teams, I couldn't find my rear end
with both hands. It was a struggle to keep the head above water.

In the end the one thing that drove me more than anything else is the old
saying "keep your eye on the prize" I knew if I could be flying well enough
at the Team Trials to make the finals all the hard work would have paid off.
It was going to be the hardest toughest competition I had ever seen...And it
was! Everybody was geared up and ready to go.

The Drive and Determination to reach a goal is a powerful thing. Luck helps
too and there was a bunch of luck on my side this year. I have heard said
that Preparation enables you to take advantage of luck when it smiles on
you.

Like with all things if you are better prepared than your competition then
you have nothing to fear. The best flyer usually wins, but if you are
prepared you don't give the competition anything. They earn everything they
get.  I learned a few extra little things this year and with a little luck
perhaps I will be even better prepared for next time. My competition are all
my friends. Dave and I are very close and we have been at each others
throats all year long. Dave and I have been great competition for each other
since back in 98' in Masters class when Dave won the NATS. The fun thing
about it is...my friends and competitors will go the extra mile to help me
just like I will do to help them. Look at Peter Collinson at the NATS finals
this year....Everyone in the finals flying against Peter was helping him get
his flight in.

So to answer the question do you need to fly 1000 fights year to have
success? It depends on your goals. Dave and I both made big strides this
year in the quality of our flying. I think the extra flying we put in is a
major factor in the improvement...Not just in the rankings but in the
quality and consistency of our flying. The quality goes up every single
year, for all in the class. What would have made the grade last year won't
work for this year. Everybody gets better with time and practice. So it
depends on your goals and what you want to achieve.

My primary goal is to be the best flyer I can be.

I asked one of the top flyers last year ---what is the best way to get to
the World Championships? His answer was like Kung Fu....."The question is
really not how you get there but WHY do you want to go. If you know why you
want to go then the way to get there is easy."

Why is always a tough question. For me the why:  I want to be a better pilot
than I am right now. How do I become a better pilot than I am now.....?

Coaches help and I had many many people help me out this year.

But it all boils down to one thing...I have a huge amount to learn and the
way to learn it is.......practice!

Troy


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <davel322 at comcast.net>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 11:15 AM
Subject: RE: Winter / Focus / Fuel


> As people are different, one practice regiment is not likely the best for
everyone.  For me, early in the season, more flights in a given session are
better - towards the end of a season, I definitely get more out of the first
couple flights and more flights after that don't help me much - unless it is
with a different airplane or practicing a different set of manuevers - and
even then, I still learn/progress the fastest on flights towards the
beginning of a session.  In 2001 and 2002, I burned about 60 gallons of
fuel - probably 50 of it the pattern plane from about May through early
November.  In 2003, I had a record year - burning about 80 gallons (800
flights for me)in the pattern plane and another 15 or so in sport stuff.
>
> For Troy - as you are in the somewhat unique situation of having had the
day job (limiting toy airplane time, less flexibility) and now have more
flexibility <G> -
> - how much did you fly before compared to now?
> - what aspect(s) helped the most -ie, simply more stick time, more stick
time on the pattern plane, more familiarity with the equipment, etc.
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave Lockhart
> DaveL322 at comcast.net
> >
> > Troy,
> >
> > Your practice schedule makes me tired just reading it, let alone flying
> > that much.
> >
> > -Doug
> >
> >
> > On Thu, 4 Dec 2003, Dean Pappas wrote:
> >
> > > I hear you, Ed!
> > > Dean
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Ed Miller [mailto:edbon85 at optonline.net]
> > > Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 6:16 PM
> > > To: discussion at nsrca.org
> > > Subject: Re: Winter / Focus / Fuel
> > >
> > >
> > > I guess the real question is, does anyone work ?? : )
> > > Ed M.
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Troy Newman" <troy_newman at msn.com>
> > > To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 2:39 PM
> > > Subject: Re: Winter / Focus / Fuel
> > >
> > >
> > > > Georgie,
> > > >
> > > > In California I was flying 5-6 days a week. Usually 8-10 flights a
day.
> > > And
> > > > Its a 20oz tank. I can get about 8-10 flights per gallon. There were
a few
> > > > days in there I did 8 flights per model on 2 different models....Go
in the
> > > > morning and fly 4 flights per plane then go chill out till about 4pm
and
>
> > > > then get another 4 flights per plane...for 16 a day.
> > > >
> > > > I was averaging about 40-50 flights a week for about 18 weeks for
about
> > > 685
> > > > flights in 4 months.  Then the Team Trials hit in mid June...I was
flying
> > > > the full 10-15 flights a day for a week.. NATS it was about 30-40
flights
> > > a
> > > > week for 2-3 more weeks.
> > > >
> > > > My log book shows just over 800 (826 actual)  flights before NATS
week on
> > > > two models. I stuck about 25-30 flights for practice and competition
NATS
> > > > week (9rds-about 17 practice flights). So thru NATS week its 850 or
so
> > > > flights....Getting 8 flights a gallon is 26 cases thru the NATS...
> > > >
> > > > Then since the NATS its been slow...maybe 300 flights in 4+ months.
> > > >
> > > > this hits over 1100 for the season...and counting. I'm going down to
> > > Florida
> > > > for the winter Tangerine contest Dec 13-14...
> > > >
> > > > Its P-05 time now!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Enjoy the snow....T-Bone and I are ready if you guys want to kick it
in
> > > the
>
> > > > Orlando Area for a few days. We will probably head down Thursday
night and
> > > > then spend Friday practicing.
> > > >
> > > > Troy
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "george kennie" <geobet at gis.net>
> > > >
> > > > To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 1:23 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: Winter / Focus / Fuel
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Northeast coast of Mass, fly approx. 150 to 175 flights a year on
about
> > > > > 16 gallons.
> > > > > I can't conceive of anyone burning 80 gals in four months. Lets
see,  16
> > > > > weeks @ flying 4 times a week, four flights per session, 256
flights @
> > > > > 16 oz.per, ....we're up to 32 gallons, that's 8 cases, hmmm, let's
see
> > > > > Troy says 28 cases,   c'mon guys, there's such a thing as eating
and
> > > > > sleeping. I gotta be missing something here. No wonder these guys
don't
> > > > > do any building.
> > > > > Georgie
> > > > >
> > > > > "Atwood, Mark" wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > That begs an  interesting question.
> > > > > >
>
> > > > > > How much fuel do people burn in a calendar year?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I'd be interested to hear responses and where you're from (or
maybe
> > > more
> > > > specifically, how many months that fuel is spread over.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > In a competitive year (the last three not withstanding) I was
burning
> > > > 40-50 gal over 3.5 - 4 months (late May - Mid Sept.)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -Mark
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From:   Anthony Abdullah [mailto:aabdu at sbcglobal.net]
> > > > > > Sent:   Wed 12/3/2003 9:58 AM
> > > > > > To:     discussion at nsrca.org
> > > > > > Cc:
> > > > > > Subject:        Re: Winter
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Silly question / observation.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > You would think with the advantage of an extended flying season,
> > > ceteras
> > > > perabus, the nats champion in every class would be someone from a
warm
> > > > weather state the majority of the time. Perhaps that is the case as
I am
> > > not
> > > > sure where all the top competitors are from. I do know that a couple
of my
>
> > > > neighbors to the immediate north west are always very competitive,
and the
> > > > Ohio contingent has not exactly embarrassed themselves, present
company
> > > > excluded of course. Maybe there is an advantage to a flying off
season
> > > when
> > > > it comes to being able to focus. Bob Fortino is the picture of focus
and
> > > > concentration, I wonder if he could keep up that level of intense
> > > > concentration for a 10 month flying season. Not to mention what he
would
> > > > spend on fuel.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Just a random thought as I watch the winter winds blow across
frigid
> > > > lake Erie.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Wayne Galligan <wgalligan at goodsonacura.com> wrote:
> > > > > > I know that feeling all to well as I lived in the frigid
confines of
> > > > > > northern Iowa years ago... you could get some serious building
done in
> > > > the
> > > > > > winter months. Then I got to Texas as fast as I could and not
> > > regretting
> > > > it
> > > > > > one moment. But you are right about the changes. Here I am
building
> > > and
>
> > > > > > flying at the same time seems. Two planes ready for next year
now so I
> > > > > > knock on wood all I have to do this winter,spring,summer,fall is
> > > fly...
> > > > > > heh! heh! (no bad feelings at all)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Wayne G.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > > From: "Atwood, Mark"
> > > > > > To: ;
> > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 12:57 PM
> > > > > > Subject: RE: Winter
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I feel bad for you "year round" flyers. Not sure how you stay
> > > "excited"
> > > > > > about the sport. In this neck of the woods (Cleveland) we have a
> > > pretty
> > > > > > even split...6 months of building, 6 months of flying. Without
it, I'd
> > > > have
> > > > > > been burnt out years ago.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > As it is now...come September, October...I'm tired of dragging
the
> > > plane
> > > > to
> > > > > > the field...and start to get an itch to clean the workshop, and
embark
> > > > on a
> > > > > > new project (This year is ambitious for me...2 35% IMAC planes,
> > > Painting
> > > > a
>
> > > > > > new all composite Pattern plane, some comprehensive repairs, and
a new
> > > > > > trainer for my son (building from scratch with a 7 year old is
> > > ambitious
> > > > all
> > > > > > by itself))
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Come April..and the Toledo show...The desire to get out and fly
is
> > > > almost
> > > > > > overwhelming. I get to start the season with a whole new lust
for the
> > > > > > sport.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On days like today...cold, windy, dreary...I'm jealous. But in
> > > general,
> > > > > > I'll keep changing seasons...and changing hobbies :):):)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -Mark
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: Wayne Galligan [mailto:wgalligan at goodsonacura.com]
> > > > > > Sent: Tue 12/2/2003 1:46 PM
> > > > > > To: discussion at nsrca.org
> > > > > > Cc:
> > > > > > Subject: Re: Winter
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Michael,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Sunday, 65 degrees light winds. 6 flights... two on the Entropy
and 4
> > > on
> > > > > > the Aries... plenty of fuel... ran out of daylight.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > WG
> > > > > >
>
> > > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > > From:
> > > > > > To:
> > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 12:13 PM
> > > > > > Subject: Winter
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Winter has been here for a while now. I have about 44 inches of
snow
> > > on
> > > > > > the ground and it was a balmy -17F when I left for work. In the
center
> > > > of
> > > > > > the state it was a little cold at -60F. Ahhh cant wait for
spring.
> > > Come
> > > > > > on May.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Michael Laggis
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > > > mail2web - Check your email from the web at
> > > > > > http://mail2web.com/ .
> > > > > >
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