[NSRCA-discussion] More flexibility in class selection?

Ken Thompson mrandmrst at comcast.net
Wed Aug 15 13:24:41 AKDT 2007


Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!!!

You will only get better if you do one of two things,

1.  Fly against people that are better than you, obviously paying attention 
to their flights.

2.  Have a pilot that is better than you willing to coach you.

I've been blessed with having both...any contest I go to in D6 will have 
pilots that are better
than I am, and I have Archie as a coach to help me through the little 
things.

BTW:  I fully expect to be flying Masters in 6 or 7 years.  That will put me 
at 54 or 55 years old when I make the move.

Personally I have no desire to go to contests and come in 1st or 2nd on a 
regular basis, AND stay in that
class...it simply won't make me a better pilot.  My goal is to get better 
every year, with hard work and patience,
it will happen.

Ken


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <rcpattern at stx.rr.com>
To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:55 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] More flexibility in class selection?


>I take exception to this.  FAI and Masters are not related.  I have
> been flying masters several years, finishing as high as second this
> year at the NATS.  Yes, I'm coming back next year in Masters.  I have
> a goal of winning the nats before I move up.  I can be realistic...at
> some point with enough practice I might be able to crack the finals in
> FAI at the NATS, but I'm smart enough to know that realistically
> winning FAI isnt going to happen.  I would also argue that the guys
> that have been flying masters for years, just raise the bar.  I know
> in different areas I've flown around the country, these are the guys
> that make guys fly better.  Show up in District 6 sometime, and fly
> Masters...you'll definitely get better.  6 of the top 10 at the NATS
> were D6.  The means, guy that finished in the top 10 at the NATS in
> what is probably top to bottom the most competitive class have trouble
> getting wood at a local contest.  I can promise you though, the guys
> that fly here have greatly
> improved their flying than they would have in other parts of the
> country.  Glen has set the bar here for a while, and I know the other
> guys are pushing to catch him, and if you look now at local contest
> scores, it is getting closer.  At any given time down here in D6, I'd
> say 6 or 7 guys can take a round in masters.  Now that makes it fun. I
> know when I was flying in D4 last year.  Every contest I went to, was
> Verne K, and Steve Miller....I knew I'd better put up great flights
> every flight and this makes you a better pilot.  I think you should
> try moving up...take a year of the low 900's, and then see where you
> are the following year.  I bet you start moving up and before you know
> it you would be right there in the mix.  This is a competitive
> activity and the only way you improve is flying against people who are
> better than you.
>
> Arch
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: John Gayer <jgghome at comcast.net>
> Date: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:41 pm
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] More flexibility in class selection?
> To: NSRCA Mailing List <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>
>> Ron,
>> I take exception to those rules. There should be only one
>> destination
>> class. Why shouldn't there be a mandatory move from Masters to
>> F3A? They
>> are just two patterns with a natural progression as there is
>> between
>> Advanced and Masters.
>> Parking and sandbagging is a mental state, not a rules violation.
>> john
>>
>> Ron Van Putte wrote:
>>
>> > The Master class is the top AMA class and there is no mandatory
>> move
>> > from the Master class to F3A, so how can there be "parkers" or
>> > "sandbaggers"?
>> >
>> > Ron Van Putte
>> >
>> > On Aug 15, 2007, at 2:10 PM, John Gayer wrote:
>> >
>> >> how about changing the AMA advancemant rule and keep it very
>> simple?>> Your first contest of the year will determine your class
>> for the
>> >> year. You may go up one class at any time during the year but
>> may not
>> >> go back down during the year. At the start of the next year you
>> may
>> >> drop back one class at your option, stay where you are or go up
>> a class.
>> >> This is simple enough that your fellow competitiors will know
>> if you
>> >> are following the rules. It will also be up to your fellow
>> >> competitiors to insure that you are not sandbagging.
>> >> I also feel strongly that sandbagging in Masters should not be
>> >> allowed. If you disregard Sportsman, then half of the classes
>> allow
>> >> parking. Obviously, F3A has to be a parking lot but I see no
>> reason
>> >> to allow this behavior in Masters. As a competant advanced
>> pilot of
>> >> somewhat advanced years, I have very little interest in moving
>> to
>> >> Masters in order to spend the rest of my pattern years trying
>> to
>> >> break 900 against the parkers.
>> >> I fail to see the logic in having two destination classes.
>> Shouldn't
>> >> we all aspire to progress to FAI? The current Masters schedule
>> is
>> >> designed as a stepping stone to Masters. Let's use it that way.
>> >>
>> >> John Gayer
>> >> NSRCA 632
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> BUDDYonRC at aol.com wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> There was a proposal on the last rules cycle that would allow
>> a
>> >>> person to move up and test his ability then move back if he
>> had not
>> >>> attained the skills required for the higher class.  I
>> personally
>> >>> think it is a good idea and I also see no need for the point
>> system
>> >>> like someone said if someone abuses the privilege we can
>> solicit
>> >>> Earl and four other guys his size to take him behind the barn
>> and
>> >>> splain to him why he will be moving up. I believe peer
>> pressure is
>> >>> all the control we need.
>> >>> I think this is worth a try.
>> >>> For those who have the ability and desire to achieve a spot at
>> the
>> >>> top I don't see that we have a problem.
>> >>> Buddy
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
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