Team Trials

[JOddino]

Hi Ron,
It seems to me that IMAC/SCAT pilots have the same objectives as Pattern pilots.  They like nice looking planes that fly aerobatics well.
I feel the rules, namely weight and noise limit the choices in pattern.  There are many kits and ARFs with gas engines that meet the 2 meter rule but can't meet the weight and noise requirements.  
Without a doubt someone would build a scratch built plane that would outperform the best plane on the market now but at least people could go out and have fun at a pattern contest with a reasonable investment of time and money and still have fun with a commercially available plane that didn't require a master builder with deep pockets.  I paid $2000 for a bare airframe a few years ago when I needed a pattern plane real bad.  Not many are willing to do that.  My ARF cost me $400 and I'm having just as much fun flying it.  It is just an idea that might bring more people out to pattern contests.
I should probably point out that only two of the 40 that flew this weekend were small airplanes so I don't know if any of those guys would want to go back to 2 meter planes. But there is a niche it would seem for people who don't want to fly the big stuff.  Dick Hansen has suggested classes by size and I like that idea.  What do you think?
Jim



----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ron Van Putte 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 12:03 PM
  Subject: Re: Team Trials




  JOddino wrote:

John,  Your obsevations should make everyone stop and think about their own situation.  Building and flying model airplanes is a great hobby but like everything else in life there must be a balance with other aspects of your life as you mentioned.
We had a very successful SCAT contest in Camarillo this weekend with about 40 entries.  I'd say half the planes were ARFs and I believe ARFs won in every class.  I'd sure like to see pattern as healthy but I think it will take some rule changes.
  
  I'd like to see Pattern be  healthy and grow too, but I don't know what is meant by, "it will take some rule changes".  

  Ron Van Putte



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Ferrell" <johnferrell at earthlink.net>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 7:41 AM
Subject: Re: Team Trials


  Some personal observations:
If we all flew like the guys at the team trials, we would have to hire people to put on contests.  If we did not have ARF's we would lose a lot of flyers.  If we did not have guys in business to produce pattern planes, we would lose a lot of flyers.  If we all agreed on what airplane/engine was best it would be a one-design program.
The only real constant is change...I believe things are coming along nicely!

There are elements of IMAC/SCAT/SPF & ARF's that have made positive contributions to pattern.

Some of us come to grips with the fact that we fly pattern for fun and are never really going to become really successful competitors regardless of the rules. At that point we choose to pick the contests that are the most fun, fly in weather that threatens neither health or equipment, with equipment that provides the least frustration.

There are lifestyle factors that come into play as well. A new baby, a grandchild who is willing to share your time, a health problem (yours or your family), an employment situation, an opportunity to fulfill some special dream (think full scale flying). Environment changes: Your local
field is no longer available and travel time to the field becomes excessive.
    We each come to the Pattern World with our own agenda and either adapt to reality or leave. While there are a lot of us who have a strong drive to compete and win, I believe there are more of us who pursue it as the venue for self improvement. Those who must compete and win simply go away when the trophies stop.

Like I said at the top, just some observations....
I am still having fun!

John Ferrell
6241 Phillippi Rd
Julian NC 27283
Phone: (336)685-9606
johnferrell at earthlink.net
Dixie Competition Products
NSRCA 479 AMA 4190  W8CCW
"My Competition is Not My Enemy"


        
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