mass opinions

Thu Jan 22 19:53:16 AKST 2004

A good string here. . . . .
Just a word of thanks to all the inveterate tinkerers and tuners out there who have helped me to understand and use the equipment to its potential. Like yourself Eric, Dean P. Troy A, Tony S. and all the many others who have filled out data on Ed Hartley´s 2 stroke web site and all the people who contribute here and in the K- Factor, on pattern design, building projects, flying the schedules and equipment tests.  
I have been using OS 140RXs for nearly 5 years. Changing things as I read about other peoples experiences and ideas. Now I know that a 140 RX, with a Mintor head, a Macs header and a Bolly muffler will turn a 17x12 at 7,600, nice and smooth right through the midrange, on Powermaster 15/18, it does so Sunday after Sunday. I also know that´s were I am going to stay for while, before going to pipes and carbs to find another 400 RPM. I know the ring and bearing on the first engine will need to be changed soon and, after all I have read here on the subject, that will not be a problem.

I have attended a couple of Somenzini seminars over the years and sponsored pilot or not, he did´nt  bang on too much about equipment. But he had plenty to say about the basics of Pattern flying: build light, build straight, no slop, check everything, spend a lot of time learning to trim the plane,  burn fuel and practice, watch the good pilots and practice some more, always know what you need to work on and work on it. He watched me fly a number of times, over a couple of years and each time he said the same thing. ¨Good. Keep your wings level, use less power and use the rudder more¨. Good advise. I start with that every time I fly and it gets better and better. 

Rodney
NSRCA 2906

"Henderson,Eric" <Eric.Henderson at gartner.com> wrote:My observation is that the sponsored pilots get lots of spares. What this means is that you only see the working stuff when they fly. Not that this is all bad. They are on the bleeding-edge (not a miss-type). The time and effort that they put in often gives us a better product. A good example being Chip and the YS 1.40 and 1.60 DZ's. I am sure he cooked a few. He had prototypes with blanking plates on old regulator openings etc, But we got new crankcases and production product that was viable. The OS EFI "explorers" got us better injectors so who cares if they had eight of them stripped and spread around their hotel room.

What I care most about is when the stuff gets too complex and only the "few" can get them to work. There is an unseen line between plug'n'play products that you take out of the box ready to use, and those that require most our skill and knowledge to make viable. Where that line is often depends upon the pioneers we all sponsor..

Regards,

Eric.

-----Original Message-----
From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Keith Black
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 12:43 PM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: mas opinions

The reference selling that I laugh at the most is when body builders or the skinny blonds promote the latest exercise or weight loss gimmick. I'm sure that Hulk looking guy was as skinny as me before he got the Bow Flex. Hey! I'm getting one too, next time you see me I'll look like the Terminator!

In pattern flying the sponsored products don't make the pilots great, but unlike the health infomercials at least they usually use them.

Keith Black
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Gray E Fowler 
To: discussion at nsrca.org 
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: mas opinions

Anthony 

What Jason did is not what the normal sponsored pilot does. Most sponsored pilots are flying the most expensive status quo, taking minimal chances, devloping nothing and flying that particular equipment because it is free or reduced in cost. I do not blame them...I would love for someone to give me a case of servos. Those guys fly new servos every year or less. Can you afford that? The main point is for someone NOT at their flying skill (that is the REST of us) you absolutely do not need that 1.4 or 1.6 DZ to win. 
You even stated how much power a plane you test flew had. There are several engines that can give you that at half the price of the 1.6 DZ. The qualities offerd by this 1.6DZ other than top RPM at this high  price are not utilized by the Intermediate, Advanced or even some Masters pilots. 
The 402 and 403 guys would be better off investing that excess cash in a cheaper rig and fuel-even though there may not be a sponsored pilot flying that set up. 
Sorry for beating this into the ground and I know that sponsorship sells equipment...For me I do not take such bait, but I do listen to others opinions and make decisions based on what I hear-repeatably. But even that can be a quagmire as a lot of people simply repeat what the heard as fact, and during a conversation over a beer ( D6 requirement) it is tough to separate fact from fiction. 

This thread ends for me as it started-if you are a newer guy please do not think that you need this huge budget for all this sponsored pilot gear to get into and improve at flying pattern.

Gray Fowler
Principal Chemical Engineer
Composites Engineering 

Anthony Abdullah <aabdu at sbcglobal.net> 
Sent by: discussion-request at nsrca.org 
01/22/2004 07:39 AM 
Please respond to discussion 

        To:        discussion at nsrca.org 
        cc:         
        Subject:        Re: mas opinions

Gray, 
I agree completely with your points. People often make purchasing decisions with no idea of the hard work and growing pains that the winning sponsored pilot has gone through. The fact remains that two things happen. 

1. People buy equipment based on what a winning sponsored pilot uses. 

2. The sponsored pilot proves that the equipment is valid and can be used consistantly to win at the very highest level. 

They pave the way for new thinking and help us decide how to spend out limited hobby dollar. If you go out and drop a big chunk of change on the electric rig, but can only get three minute flights out of it, you can be fairly sure that you are the problem and not the equipment. 

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