Excellence, Masters-F3A

[Jason]

Great, on the spot again...LOL.

- As you remember, most of the contests we (yes my brother too) were there
competing. Of course, we were kids and life hadn't caught up to us at that
time. When we moved to FL, I continued to go to local (8 hour drives) events
(though my brother found a new hobby- check the December issue of Sport
Trucks and you'll see) with a group of kids (ahh the days). Now that I'm in
AZ, the vast west, not much is with-in 7-8 hours of driving (or wasn't when
I was in Tucson) so the contests that I made were just local (Phx) or some
NATS. Plus I was working in the industry and traveling around for work which
wasn't pattern related. But now that I'm in Phx, I've already been to the
Fall Phx contest, made plans for the Feb contest and would like to go to LV
this weekend, but I'm down to 1 Worlds plane. Plus, I want to concentrate on
P/F-05 now. I do have a Revolution Pro coming that will be converted to
electric and hopefully my own design in the works (maybe before the NATS). I
don't have anyone to travel with here, and have lost most of my desire to
drive the long distances now (I must be getting old). But I've already
requested time off for the NATS!!!!

- I did start in Novice, then Sportsman, Advanced and skipped Masters (I
believe that I'm still "legal" to fly Advanced...LOL) to fly F3A. It
happened at a local event in SC when there was only 1 other F3A pilot and
Kirk wasn't the King of SC yet, so my friends dared me to fly F3A. So I did
and found it to be much more challenging than Advanced. Since I had an
interest in Pattern (81) I could remember reading all those great Worlds
articles and dreaming of the day...little did I know. So after the year was
over, I "officially" made the jump to F3A. Was it a mistake, maybe. I got
slaughtered my first year. I was 26th I think in my first NATS and only
thing I could do was place in the top 3 at local events (excluding the
Pensacola contest when all the Big Gums showed up). And if I remember
correctly, Sean went through all the classes, winning Sportsman, Advanced
and 2nd in Masters. And of course Chip, if I can remember back that far,
might have also gone through all the classes, but don't hold me to that. All
in all, I'm glad I went through the classes. I learned a lot, and it gave me
a chance to watch the top dogs without worrying about how I could fly well
enough to stay in the 900's.

- I do believe that Masters should be a less difficult class than F3A. There
is even talk here of making the current F3A schedule an "Expert Class" as an
unofficial class to bridge the gap at local contests here. I'm not sure if
that's the way to do it though. And being an F3A pilot and not a Masters
pilot, I don't think it matters what I think on this topic.

And if anyone is in it for the trophy's (I was when I was a kid), I have 5
boxes of them for you.

Troy, just read the comments again below. So much of what you said is true.
One thing for me at least is I've never claimed to have a learning
disability, my parents always reminded me I was just being lazy.  As for me,
my goal each round of a contest is to make a "Perfect" flight. One without
any errors (visible to the eye at least) and with the "Perfect"
presentation. I've never achieved that goal, but I'm going to keep trying
(and much harder this year). Of the past 3 Teams I've been on, I'm the only
one who has never won a NATS, and I DON'T LIKE IT ANYMORE. I'm kicking
"Lazy" to the curb!

Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
[mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of davel322 at comcast.net
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 6:32 PM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: Excellence, Masters-F3A


This email string has touched on a number of points/ideas - so forgive the
somewhat random thoughts below -

- In the US, a review of local/regional contest results for the past few
years would show that the "top" US F3A pilots often do not attend very many
F3A contests.  BUT - they often do participate in demos, tradeshows, and
other modeling functions.  I suspect they might fly in more F3A contests IF
they had the time and resources to do so (sorry to put you on the spot,
but...Jason, since you are the only US F3A Team Member that I know monitors
the list, this would be an opportunity for you to comment).  Personally, I
flew in 8 F3A contests in 2003 and numerous funflys and demos - which is a
pretty typical year for me.  If I have more time/resources/funding - I would
fly in more events.

- In the US, I think the AMA class structure does feed the F3A ranks and
eventually the World Champs - but only for a limited number of pilots who
have the talent, drive, and resources to compete at the World Champs level.
I know for a fact that 2 of the 3 US pilots on the 2003 Team progressed
through the AMA pattern classes (maybe not all of them) before competing in
F3A in the US.  Whether the AMA class structure was designed to push pilots
to F3A or not, it does that in practice - but only for those with the talent
and drive to compete in F3A - which is the minority, not the majority.

- I've known Troy for a number of years, and we've practiced and critiqued
with each other at the NATs since at least 98 (? maybe sooner, a little help
Troy).  I agree absolutely with Troy regarding his philosophy about
how/why/when to be a better pilot.  I don't agree that AMA Masters should be
equal to F3A.  The FAI recognized that a system of prelims, finals, and
unknowns were needed to challenge the best pilots in the world, and make it
easier for the judges to select the best pilot in the world - and I concur.
However, it is a very small percentage of pattern pilots in the US (and the
world) that could even consider competing at the World Championship level.
Ergo the need to make Masters = F3A would only the serve the interests of a
very few number of pilots who will ultimately be competing in F3A anyway.

- If the US AMA Masters pilots have the drive to fly F3A, they can CHOOSE to
fly F3A.  If the same pilots do not have the drive to fly F3A, and are happy
flying Masters, what is wrong with that?  If those happy pilots are forced
to fly F3A (even if by another name), are we going to lose some of them?  If
the Masters pilots want to fly the F3A schedule without competing against
the "true" F3A pilots, they can always choose to have the Masters schedule
mirror the F3A schedule - there is no need to mandate this - doing so would
only limit the options available.

As has recently become popular on this list - "I could be wrong".

Regards,

Dave Lockhart
DaveL322 at comcast.net
> No wonder I love ya Troy! You're hittin' me right where I live!!!!! I'm
with you
> on this one 500%!!!
> Georgie
>
> Troy Newman wrote:
>
> > I think its a great idea the Masters pilots won't stand for it!
> >
> > But I think AMA pattern should feed the F3A ranks and Eventually feed
the
> > World Champs.
> >
> > There is always going to be a pilot better than you are!....I'm not in
this
> > for the trophy. I'm in it to be the best pilot I can be. I'm in it to do
> > something  and be a part of a very selective group in the world....I'm
in to
> > represent my country and myself at the Worlds. I'm in it to make my mark
on
> > the pattern world. I love the planes, I love the competition, I love the
> > drive it takes to reach the goals. As I was told as a kid. Its not the
> > results that matter its the journey to reach them. I can tell you this,
so
> > far its been a journey beyond compare and the next few years will be
another
> > part of the life journey. The pursuit of Excellence. Whether I ever
reach

> > these goals or ambitions are up to my skills and my desire. Can I hone
my
> > skills to be at the level needed? Can I raise the bar yet again and
reach
> > the new heights ahead?
> >
> > I don't believe in setting my sights lower just to be able to achieve
them.
> > I think the way to aspire to Excellence is to raise the bar and set you
> > sights on the ultimate in achievement. Our country has fallen into a
trap
> > that its bad to achieve. A rich man is evil because he has more than the
> > poor man. The lazy kid in school has a learning disability. And the
pattern
> > flyer that is content with his position and the next win is never going
to
> > achieve the things a Chip or Quique have done. One thing I have learned
from
> > spending more time with Chip and others at that level...These guys are
> > driven, they are driven by the next challenge, the next high, the next
> > ultimate in achievement. An AMA pattern class that is designed as a
> > destination class is just that....a destination...and once you reach
your

> > destination the Journey is no longer endured! Some will play for a while
but
> > they reached their destination and fall off the map...We loose these
pilots
> > because we expect less from them!
> >
> > Others are happy as stationary pilots. The problem is now we have to
change
> > the rules every 2-3 years to keep your interest. I say move up and play
in
> > the big sand box!
> >
> > Nascar didn't sit on its hands happy with its place in the Racing world.
> > Indy was king and NASCAR was a bunch of red necks crashing into each
other.
> > Well not anymore NASCAR is still the fastest growing spectator sport in
the
> > world...And its been that way for years and years....In fact next year
they
> > are even going to a new sponsor that can take them even higher....
> >
> > Set your goals low and you output is just enough to get by....Set your
goals
> > high and you might surprise yourself!
> >
> > Don't look towards the destination look toward the journey....Can you do
a

> > rolling loop? If not, why not go out and learn how! Its just a really
bad
> > slow roll and I have seen all of us including myself do some pretty bad
slow
> > rolls.
> >
> > The Journey will reward you!
> >
> > Troy



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