Weight rules discussion ( my opinion)

[David Lockhart]

Buddy,

Some further thoughts on your post -

If the current rules are not enforced, or more practically, the spirit of
the rules are not enforced, that is a problem - the solution would be to
enforce the rules to the extent that the spirit of the rules is maintained.
As has been pointed out by many (and I agree), the overwhelming majority of
pilots (including me) and CDs are not going to seek to disqualify or
disallow a pilot at any level in any class simply because they have a
current day design that is marginally overweight - because it does not
provide a significant competitive advantage and pattern as a whole is not
better served by forcing someone out of the event who has a marginally
overweight plane that was/is designed to the spirit of the rules.

Granted, the Nationals are a different level of competition and at that
level, the rules should be enforced and anyone planning to compete at that
level should be prepared to meet not only the spirit of the rules but the
specific letter of the rules as well.

Generating a new rule to take the place of a rule that has been arguably
abused is very unlikely to be an effective solution - it will only be a
matter of time before the new rule is similarly abused and the cycle will
eventually repeat with more losses to the numbers in the pattern community
due to increased costs.

Regards,

Dave Lockhart
DaveL322 at comcast.net


> > >         ----- Original  Message -----
> > >         From:  BUDDYonRC at aol.com
> > >         To:  discussion at nsrca.org
> > >         Sent: Thursday,  February 24, 2005 1:33 PM
> > >         Subject:  Weight rules discussion ( my opinion)
> > >
> > >
> > >     Since the whole message was to large to post following is  my
opinion.
> > >
> > >         After a thorough  weighted comparison of the items listed in
my
> > previous post I have arrived at  the following conclusions.
> > >
> > >           It is most important that we strive to make pattern an
inclusive
> > sport, which  I feel is necessary to increase participation in the
future. In
> > order to do  that one of the first item that should be addressed is that
of
> > eliminating the  illegitimate double standard in the weight rule. There
are two
> > possible  solutions; the first would be to enforce all rules, which many
agree
> > in this  case would not be in patterns best interest. That leaves us
with
> > only one  solution and that is to change the rule.
> > >
> > >          In doing that we must consider the  overall impact of such a
> > change to insure that it serves to protect all the  other aspects
concerned as much
> > as possible. After careful review and  acknowledging that maintaining
the
> > two-meter rule is in fact the limiting  design criteria for pattern I
suggest
> > that a change in the rule upward to  twelve pounds or in light of
current FAI
> > considerations, to 5.5K would be an  appropriate solution.
> > >
> > >         This  change could possibly effect other aspects of pattern
design
> > in the future but  given the known requirements some of which are listed
in my
> > previous post that  are necessary and practiced extensively today I have
> > little fear that this  change will result in any major design changes
that would
> > present a problem or  afford anyone an unfair advantage in the near
future.
> > >
> > >   If you study the items in my previous post it will  also become
apparent
> > that there are many listed that offer the potential to  increase our
> > participation and make pattern more inclusive.
> > >
> > >         Should anyone have any other items  to offer that I should
include
> > which may require further evaluation concerning  my conclusions and
suggested
> > weight change please forward them to me.
> > >
> > >         Buddy Brammer
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >   Lance
> > >     In my evaluation the rules need  to apply to Pattern as a whole.
With
> > the two meter size limit builders will  utilize the rules of
aerodynamics to
> > achieve the optimum design and weight  becomes a moot issue for all
classes.
> > >     Buddy
> > >
> >
> >
> > =================================================
> > To access the  email archives for this list, go  to
> > http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/
> > To be removed from  this list, go to
http://www.nsrca.org/discussionA.htm
> > and follow the  instructions.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Jim
> > Why are most all top pilots flying airplanes that they claim weigh in
the
> > neighborhood of nine and a half pounds. This is the first time I have
heard
> > that heavy fly's better, at least in respect to pattern performance,
explain to
> > me how this can be true.
> > Buddy
> >
> >
>
>
> =================================================
> To access the email archives for this list, go to
> http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/
> To be removed from this list, go to http://www.nsrca.org/discussionA.htm
> and follow the instructions.
>

=================================================
To access the email archives for this list, go to
http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/
To be removed from this list, go to http://www.nsrca.org/discussionA.htm
and follow the instructions.