new concepts

[Wayne Galligan]

Your right Jim,  "Time" & Practice is something a lot of us cant buy. I can only burn so much fuel on Sunday and if that day is rained out its 2 weeks between flying sessions for me.  I love flying in contests. I get as much stick time at a contest (practice the day before and scored flights) then I do in a 3x  Sunday flying.   Now that I have some equipment I hope to stay in it for some time.  

Wayne G.



Original Message ----- 
  From: Woodward James R Civ 412 TW/DRP/ACQ 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 3:23 PM
  Subject: RE: new concepts


  Hi George,

  Good comments, however, I can't resist.  FAI class was won by a Focus,
  compliments of Don Szczur.  A Futaba 9cap or JR 8 channel is all you need in
  a radio.  There have never been more engine choices.  Digital servos are
  generally accepted and not "exotic" any more.  It has never been cheaper to
  get a world class equipped pattern plane.  

  That said, the problem is not equipment.  The problem is that (drum roll
  please) PATTERN IS HARD.  There is no way to side-step that flying straight
  and level is a tough thing for the average club pilot.  Pattern emphasizes
  the fundamental stuff that looks easy, but is very hard.  Winners in each
  class are generally separated by how well each has mastered the
  fundamentals:  straight and level flight, entering maneuvers with wings
  level, maintaining heading, matching radii, exiting maneuvers wings level on
  heading.  

  Just a for instance:  A friend from the club came by my house a couple of
  nights ago.  We where talking about the nats, and then about simulators.  I
  got him to try to fly "pattern" on the Great Planes generation 1 sim.  Here,
  in the most non-threatening environment, he had difficulty trying to perform
  a 1/2 reverse Cuban eight.  Difficulty with entering wings level, pulling to
  a 45 degree line, "waiting.........",  1/2 roll, "waiting......." , then a
  gentle radius.  As soon as someone trys (if others are watching) their
  skills are immediately exposed and will either like it or not.  We take a
  lot for granted in the jump it takes from being a "good lander" or "safe
  flyer" to being an entry level pattern flyer.  

  Equipment becomes a great excuse, then time, and these may be true.  But I
  believe the real reason is that pattern is HARD!  Only certain personality
  types are going to be driven to "practice".  
  Jim W.



  The majority of your hobbyist aren't going to be "indentured servants", 
  they'll simply fly 40 or 60 sized sport planes or call it quits.

  In the early 1990's the hot pattern plane setup (including full radio 
  setup) would cost about $2500.00 and the average family income of the 
  typical high end hobbyist was about $40,000/year.   The top fliers only had 
  to invest an average of 6.25% of their annual income in order to have the 
  top plane.

  Today the hot pattern plane setup (including full radio setup) will cost 
  about $4000.00 and the average family income for the typical high-end 
  hobbyist is about $55,000/year.  Today in order to have the top setup it 
  will mean that you would have to invest 8.00% of your annual income.   With 
  other hobbies and expenses we have today that didn't exist in the 1990's 
  (i.e.: cellphone bills, Internet bills, computers) the average hobbyist 
  doesn't have 8.00% of his income to invest in the model aircraft hobby.

  Now you're going to see some responses to the above statements say "You 
  don't need the best airplane in order to compete, you can compete with a 
  lessor airplane".   This statement might be true however that is NOT how 
  our hobby is perceived to be.   In general people don't compete strictly 
  for fun, people compete in order to have pride in themselves and to win, 
  its human nature and in order to do that its perceived that you need to 
  have equipment which is as good as the top fliers.

  Lets face it, the people within the demographics who can afford and/or 
  interested in pattern are shrinking. Here's my suggest.  However before 
  giving my suggest I already know that 90% of you will think I'm full of 
  crap but so be it.   Set a cap on the price of a plane which you can use in 
  competition.   Lets say a top value of $3500.00, or pick a number.   That 
  would allow nearly every sport fliers plane to qualify even larger planes 
  with larger engines, that takes care of the new guy not having a 
  plane.   It would also put the top guys on a more even footing with the 
  newer guy.

  After all most of you people on here say it doesn't take a high dollar 
  plane and top equipment in order to win.  Let put your money where you 
  mouth is and prove it......

  George
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