Reverse av/RCU poll

[DaveL322 at comcast.net]

Bob,

Point taken.  And now that it is 2005, that evil avalanche is a reality.  However - I would submit all the sequences have been capable of breaking planes for more than a few years now.

A simple Stall turn for example - plane is on the verge of flopping - pilot goes to half power, flops anyway, pilots gets disoriented, plane is heading for mother earth like a meteor, a moment of indecision, then a half roll, plane is accelerating faster still and the engine is howling like mad,  and as the shadow on the ground is getting bigger by the instant the pilot panics.....YANK on the elevator and POP goes the wing.

Or the simple square loop - pilot gets disoriented with wings level and rudder corrections on top of loop, pulls corner 3 without reducing throttle, plane is still crooked, and throttle is never reduced resulting in a very exciting final corner.

I've seen both of the above scenarios - more than once.

I don't think we'd really be happy if the rules legislated planes that couldn't hurt themselves.  Pattern with combat Zagis anyone??  And don't forget the pattern community is not immune to individuals that can break an anvil.

Regards,

Dave Lockhart
DaveL322 at comcast.net


-------------- Original message -------------- 

Nat,

I respectfully disagree. 

Forget about the reverse avalanche for a moment. I find it unacceptable that it is possible for a schedule to be put in place with a maneuver that breaks current airplanes. And everyone says "suck it up", "get over it", and we have to build new planes. Which, by the way, are now worth less since anyone planning to move up to Masters is not going to want to buy them.

Having to design/build new planes because the old design does not fly the new schedule very well is one thing, but to have to do it because the current designs simply won't survive is something else altogether. Sure, I could fly a Tipo in the Advanced class if I want. It may not fly the greatest, but it will fly. And it will certainly challenge me. At least I won't have to carry a shovel in my flightbox.

Sure, in a couple of years, everyone flying Masters will all have planes that will survive. Natural selection will take care of that. BUT, will the sport be better off? I don't think so. Some flyers may be put off by it. But, we only want the best flying Masters, right!

I'm not saying we should not make the maneuvers less challenging. Heck, we could make the schedule more challenging -- for the pilots, not the planes -- without having to put maneuvers in the schedule that breaks planes.

I really wanted to get back into pattern this year. Had planned on flying my old Finesse. Looks like I might be better off with my old Cap 21. Then again, maybe not.

Bob Richards (climbing off my soapbox).


Nat Penton <natpenton at centurytel.net> wrote:
Ok all you masters fliers, quit complaining and take your medicine. Your 
problems with the reverse avalanche are imaginary. Manuever schedules have 
always been designed to bring about enhancement of the pilots and the 
airframes capabilities.

It is not difficult to build an airframe that you cannot tear up. The 
wingtube, for its weight, provides the most strength and rigidity of any 
structural component. Why would you cut it off ??
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