snap displacement

[Keith Black]

After this same discussion was held prior to last season I started watching snaps more closely and trying to see the initial break. I also experimented with my own snaps and hitting elevator first. Doing this is not easy and really makes it difficult to make the snap pretty, but hey, that's the challenge right?

Then I saw someone whose snaps looked really good to me (name will go unmentioned). So I looked closer... was there a break from elevator first? Uh, hard to tell, it happens so quickly, but definitely not axial, and definitely not a barrel roll and slight offset. Looked like a pretty good snap to me. After the snap the heading remained the same, but offset. I couldn't see much to downgrade for and it sure as HECK wasn't a zero...

Now the interesting thing. I spoke to the pilot and found out that he was using a snap switch!  But wait, all the gurus on the mailing list say you have to input elevator first... Should I now change my opinion of his snaps because I know what controls he's using?

Maybe the initial break is being over-emphasized, maybe not. At some point in time someone tried to put into words the physical action of a snap, not easy to do, and now we're dissecting their choice of words to decide the "definitive" snap. Who's to say that the author of the description described the snap well? One slight seemingly minor verb change could completely change the way we interpret a snap. What came first, the snap or the description? It's kind of funny that most people participating in this discussion would question any and everything any and everyone else may "say", but if it's written down it's the gospel. 

What's my point? Just sharing my thoughts.

Keith Black

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bob Pastorello 
  To: NSRCA 
  Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 5:11 PM
  Subject: Re: snap displacement


  Tony, I think you've just made a case for "impresion judging", using the rule-book downgrades to make the "big" differences, then the "impression" (you may use the word "presentation" [same thing]) makes the balance of the points.

  Or am I missing something about how we should apply "presentation" to this particular maneuver?

  Bob Pastorello
  NSRCA 199  AMA 46373
  rcaerobob at cox.net
  www.rcaerobats.net


    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: tony at radiosouthrc.com 
    To: discussion at nsrca.org 
    Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 4:27 PM
    Subject: Re: snap displacement


    Keith:

    Yes, you are correct about the "degree" downgrade.  I also agree that the pilot that does the "most clean looking snap" will get the better score, no matter what you use as a downgrade base.

    Tony Stillman
    Radio South
    3702 N. Pace Blvd.
    Pensacola, FL 32505
    1-800-962-7802
    www.radiosouthrc.com
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Keith Black 
      To: discussion at nsrca.org 
      Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 10:52 AM
      Subject: Re: snap displacement


      Tony, you can't measure displacement in degrees. Heading would be measured in degrees, but displacement would be measured in inches or feet.

      The list has had this conversation before and the conclusion was that there should be no downgrade for displacement as long as the heading/track remains the same. That being said, I would think that if someone does a snap that jumps way over and another pilot does one that clearly snaps but displaces less that the second pilot should be rewarded for a more clean looking snap.

      Keith
        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: tony at radiosouthrc.com 
        To: Discussion at Nsrca.Org 
        Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 8:41 AM
        Subject: snap displacement


        I have seen many full-scale pilots do snaps without any noticeable displacement.  I have also seen these same pilots do poor ones that did displace.  I think you must downgrade it some (1 point per 15 deg).

        Tony Stillman
        Radio South
        3702 N. Pace Blvd.
        Pensacola, FL 32505
        1-800-962-7802
        www.radiosouthrc.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/attachments/20041230/dc84fb43/attachment.html