[NSRCA-discussion] The Pilot

[Gray E Fowler]

Jim

I have an solution for you and all those IMAC expenses you have incurred. 
It appears to me that if you made the switch to electric IMAC then you 
could save alot of money( mufflers, extra servos and dat other stuff). 
This is the same color of money your wife saves you when she buys that 
pair of much needed shoes "ON SALE" -you know...the ones to die 
for..........Due to all the costs you have encountered I will not charge 
you for this advice, I am just a nice guy.



Bob,
Thanks for sharing your story.  The other angle on it this and I’ll use 
myself as an example:  Any discount I’ve received bar none, has been 
GREATLY spent back into the sport by attending high number of contests, 
all the travel gas money associated with it, and a nearly uncountable # of 
“extra” miles I’ve driven to remote flying sites just to get some practice 
in  - many times having to just turn around and go home because of bad 
weather or whatever. The equipment is a one time purchase (discounted or 
full price), where as the total cumulative effort to practice and attend 
contests is repetitive and in my case far out weighs anything else.
 
However, given that I’m sort of studying the differences between IMAC and 
Pattern this year from a perspective of practicing, contests, & equipment, 
the main point of my email response is that your note below ABSOLUTELY 
applies in IMAC.  Competitive IMAC flying could cost you 3 to 4 times more 
than any pattern investment (including electric power).  This weekend 
turned out to be very expensive for me:  1.  The 3W that was running on 
one cylinder so much has literally destroyed the canisters.  I’m thinking 
to go with the standard mufflers at $150/pair, instead of moving to the 
steel MTW canister/headers at roughly $450/pair.  2.  Had to purchase a 
well used backup 3W 150 TOC with old ignition style and old carburetor 
($1000).  3.  Once I had a good running engine making some balls-out 
power, determined that I need to add one more aileron servo per wing.  4. 
Decided to “ensure” all the servos were getting their proper voltage and 
upgraded the power system to the Smart-Fly Power Expander and Turbo 
Regulator.  My little lion-chargers were not up to snuff and needed to get 
a Fromcoe 3 port charger so the entire plane can charge at 2 amps at one 
time.  As for number of flights, I am right about 50 total flights – low 
flying time and huge extra costs driven by the poor running 3W with new 
style ignition and destructive vibration. 
 
If you ever want to appreciate what pattern has, and what in my opinion 
the current rules have ultimately had on cost, go and out fit an unlimited 
style setup for IMAC.  Then, go to the contests and break something. Sure, 
some people have walked into it without problems, while other have 
trailers with:  Extra motors, extra motor parts, extra exhaust systems, 
extra ignitions, extra Power Boxes, Spare Plane or two, spare 
servos/receivers.  Thus, getting back your statements below, I see them as 
incredibly accurate (honestly), of what can happen in scale aerobatics, 
and not so applicable on the pattern seen (given the difference in scale 
of economy –no pun intended). I would almost go so far as to draw the line 
and say you cannot be competitive without sponsorships in IMAC, where as 
with pattern, you can get into it with an OS 140, Dave L 3 blade, ARF, and 
it will typically out-fly your abilities. 
 
Thanks,
Jim W.


Gray Fowler
Principal Chemical Engineer
Composites Engineering
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.nsrca.org/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/attachments/20060403/2b2ce94a/attachment-0001.html