[NSRCA-discussion] What is (should be) NSRCA's real goal?(Theway I see it)

Thu Aug 16 05:36:05 AKDT 2007

Man - not even sure which thread to respond to but read this for what its worth:  

Masters is a nice place to hang out and fly.  It is a diverse group of fliers ranging from the FAI capable to those that have moved up too soon.  You are usually being judged by FAI fliers.  Each district has their particular Masters pilots that are clearly capable of flying FAI but have chosen not to deal with "full-point" deductions, slightly more difficult P0X sequences, and the threat of flying F0X at a local contest or at the Nats.  Until a rule change is made this is their decision on what class to fly.  Others fly Masters as a strategic decision or to prove a point.  

How do you ensure there are no sandbaggers in Masters - as Doug put it, is Masters a destination class or not?  There are very few people in Masters that could even be considered sandbaggers.  However think about this - some guys have jobs and lifestyle that allows them to fly any day of the week they want at their leisure - nice right?  Some folks need to drive significant mileage to practice and can only fly generally once a week.  I've been both guys - in 2002/2003 I flew a bunch off the lakebed and at the Tailwinds - sometimes twice a day :-) - it let to an Advanced Nationals win (along with good coaching).  Since 2004 living in sunny sofla I'm flying once on the weekend, and once/twice during the week of the contest.  That is all I can do for now and stay married (... however I guess marriage is an option compared to practicing :-) ).  Any accomplishment I (or any of us have) must be tempered not against what our ultimate potential is, but against what is "allowed/possible" given work and family commitments and given proximity to "convenient" practice sites.

The top several Masters pilots who are completely FAI capable (... doesn't matter if they would land in the middle of the class, lower, or the top), I'm sure all recognize that other competitors wonder why they haven't moved up.  That is up to them to detail because there is no rule in place which motivates them to move up.  I see it both ways.  Masters is a destination class by default for many simply because the complexity of maneuvers, where as it is a destination class for several because they chose it to be.  Recognizing all comments put forth on the list so far, I would not oppose a rule that said something like:  1.  Each District Champion (any class) must move up a class for 1 year (trial).  If they are successful and have fun - great!  If not, move back down - no problem or consequence.  

Just to plug FAI - you will be humbled - and you WILL LEARN to fly all the fundamental elements BETTER (no ½ points).  However, this is EXACTLY what you should be learning anyways - FAI just has a way of burning it in a little more.  I say to those highly capable Masters pilots - make the jump and try it out!  Flying two sequences is a GIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Man - it is nothing but a pure GIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!  Getting to fly two sequences will liven up the practice scenarios like maybe you have never experienced before!  Give it a shot!  Take a weekend and try to learn a rolling circle - I bet FOR SURE you'll get some nailed (... its just a bad slow roll right?) - maybe you can do them better than you thought.  The deal with learning 2 sequences is that while practicing both is good, you need to deal with individual maneuvers early on and learn your plane better overall, rather just during the particular maneuver of one sequence.  Give it shot!

For the other guys with SERIOUS heartburn, put in a rules proposal or drop it.....

Thanks,

Jim W.

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From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Fred Huber
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 7:17 AM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] What is (should be) NSRCA's real goal?(Theway I see it)

Consider yourself one of the guys that helps prepare the young "up and commers"...  

One of their first goals is to outfly you.

A place I fit in preparing the newbies: 

I teach beginners to just fly the plane. 

Within a short time they usually fly better than I do.

I've had 3 students who soloed within a week of their first time touching a transmitter.

(one the same day...)

I taught a guy to fly a heli... over 4 years ago now...  

I still can't hover my own heli.  

He's out teaching other people 3D now 

and He's still occasionally asking me for tips to improve HIS flying

I helped him set up his newest machine last week...

***************

We can either advance AMA Pattern with the rest of the world (FAI)

Or we may as well create the "SPA-II": 1980 to 2005 AMA sequences and models only.  Motto: FAI... go away.

Look up the 1959/60 Pattern rules...  

There had to be a lot of screaming when they changed from THAT to doing the centered maneuver sequences of the 70's...

----- Original Message ----- 

	From: Adrien L Terrenoire <mailto:amad2terry at juno.com>  

	To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org 

	Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 4:14 AM

	Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] What is (should be) NSRCA's real goal? (Theway I see it)

	While these 2 goals are OK, what about the guy who has NO intent of competing on a global level? I have been mired in Advance for 18 years, and at 62 I do not try to kid myself that it will get much better. I do not have the time or resources, or interest, to burn 2 or 3 gallons of fuel a week. I enjoy the "fight", but the opportunity to get together for a weekend with like minded individuals and have a good time is my primary interest. 

	AMA has established a good system for advancement, and teaching the needed skills with the current 4 tier system. It is up to the individual who reaches the top of the Masters to decide if he WANTS to make the next step. If I were at that level, I may hold out for a National Champion ship too. It would be interesting to know just how many of the current FAI pilots, at the NATS, had not won the Masters at some point. My guess would be that at least the top 20 have achieved that goal prior to moving up the FAI.

	Terry T.

	On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:30:23 -0600 John Gayer <jgghome at comcast.net> writes:

		Fred has the right idea here. Is there anyone on this list that would argue with these two goals?
		John

		Fred Huber wrote: 

			There should be 2 primary goals

			Promotion of Pattern as a competitive event

			Preparation of pilots for international competition.

			In a nutshell...

			Build the team for the F3A World championship.

			You can't have a teem without competitors... so we have to attract people to participate.

			You can't prepare the team for the international event if you don't work to teach the rules of... and skills needed for... the event.

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