AMA MASTER'S unknown?

[Archie Stafford]

In some ways I think even normal sequences can be considered a team event.
I know there are some pilots out there that they have flown a sequence 400
times and if you asked them the next maneuver they might have trouble
telling you because they ALWAYS fly with a caller.  I don't have that
luxury.  I don't think there have really been issues in FAI where there have
been problems with callers.  There probably have been, but it is not
something that you hear of regularly.  I don't think you'd have that many
problems in that environment, because for the most part I'm sure the pilots
could handle it, and I don't think there would be many problems with the
callers.  Now if you took someone off the street for the first time and had
them call, then sure it would be tough.  But I would bet at some point most
Masters pilots have called FAI for someone that they normally do not fly
with and may not even have read the sequence til the person asked them to,
and they still made it through the sequence without any problems, just from
an understand of how to call.  
 
In my previous answers I didn't mean to say that there was anything wrong
with the current setup.  I think it works well.  Eric asked a question and I
responded.  I personally enjoy trying new things and experimenting with
different patterns and maneuvers.  I think the unknowns even for one flight
in the masters finals might be fun and challenging.  Even doing it like they
do in FAI.  2 knowns and 2 unknowns, or even just 1 unknown would add to the
challenge and make things more fun in my opinion.  I will be at the NATS
either way next year and following years  and still have a great time.  
 
A possible idea would be to try it one year with this setup.  Fly 3 knowns
and 1 unknown.  Keep the best 3 of those rounds, plus your carry over score.
That way if you totally hated the unknown it wouldnt hurt your score since
you could drop that round, but for someone that scored well on the unknown
it could help their placing.
 
Just an idea,
 
Arch
 
 
  _____  

From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org] On
Behalf Of Dean Pappas
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 10:06 PM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: RE: AMA MASTER'S unknown?
 
Archie,
I disagree, the unknowns make it a team event. 
Regards,
Deanm Pappas
-----Original Message----- 
From: discussion-request at nsrca.org on behalf of Archie Stafford 
Sent: Thu 1/6/2005 6:47 PM 
To: discussion at nsrca.org 
Cc: 
Subject: RE: AMA MASTER'S unknown?
I think you can fly unknowns and also make them very precise and smooth.
Look at the FAI finals.  Other than the roller I think the sequence flowed
very well and the top pilots made it look like they had been flying it for a
long time.  Even if you used past sequences or rearranged the current
sequence.  
 
I do not think this makes it a "team" event with the caller.  Most pilots
have the callers they generally use and that person usually knows when the
person they are calling for likes to hear the next maneuver.  Also if you
use maneuvers that have been previously used or maneuvers that are
reasonably well known then you shouldn't have a judging problem.  If this is
going to be used at the NATS finals, then the judging is usually reasonably
good anyway.  I'm sure there will be varying opinions on that, but for the
most part judging in the finals is overall very good.  
 
The better pilots are going to make an unknown sequence look smooth and
precise no matter how many times they have flown it.  I think unknowns
definitely help you determine who the best pilot is.  
 

  _____  

From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org] On
Behalf Of Bob Pastorello
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 6:40 PM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: AMA MASTER'S unknown?
 
I guess since I never take a position on anything, I should probably do so
on this -- so -- here 'tis.
 
1.  This is a genuine yes/no POLL question of the MASTERS pilots only....and
needs to be carefully administered, IF the Board is interested in opening
this one.
2.  If the POLL has at least 2/3 majority, then the next question should be
designed to find out how crazy we (Masters) pilots are about having our
scores judged by JUDGES WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN THE SEQUENCE  and 
3.  How crazy we are about the totally-impossible-to-fairly-administer
influence of the "team".  At this level of competitions (you guys are
talking about the NATS FINALS, for G---s sake!!!) I would be hard pressed to
say it will be "fair" to have the outcome determined by who had the best
caller (or the most effective team).  Not everyone can do that...  and
finally ....
4.  MASTERS is supposed to be the Top AMA class....as such, philosophically,
I think it should be the best - the VERY best - of precision, smoothness,
and gracefulness....
 
AND implementing an Unknown turns all that back into "IMPRESSION"
judging....
 
I'm not in favor of it;  won't be; won't try to persuade others to be; and
believe wholeheartedly that if a pilot is strongly committed to flying
Unknowns that he go play IMAC.  Then fly "Pattern" for precision, practiced,
smooth and skillfully-executed "routines".

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