[NSRCA-discussion] WC '07

J N Hiller jnhiller at earthlink.net
Wed Dec 19 08:33:38 AKST 2007


I'm not geek enough to follow all of this and don't fly FAI but years ago
when I was active in IMAC I used CAD to create a schedule diagram from base
elements. I don't know how they are currently being created but it was
relatively easy to produce the diagrams. It worked quite well but I have
blown two computers since and no longer have the library of elements. This
was all manual and only marginally associated with this discussion but food
for thought.
Jim Hiller


-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Atwood, Mark
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 3:15 PM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] WC '07

Ya know. I SERIOUSLY thought about creating base element objects and
building the maneuvers from there.but then I got the FAI catalog and
realized there's not really any point.  UNLESS.it's needed to draw the
Arest!  A fun exercise, but probably not very time efficient.

If you need a fun multiple inheritance project, build a digital stopwatch by
starting with an simple LED Bar object.inherit into an 8 bar "digit", then
into a 2 digit counter, and finally an hour/minute/second/100ths' stopwatch.
:-):-)



From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Keith Black
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:44 PM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] WC '07

LVN> "A maneuver may have more than one base class."

KB> Oooh oooh, finally a usage for multiple inheritance. Guess this won't be
written in Java.

If you don't understand this you're not geeky enough. Just ignore it.

Keith
----- Original Message -----
From: Lance Van Nostrand <mailto:patterndude at tx.rr.com>
To: NSRCA Mailing List <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 3:08 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] WC '07

Mark,
Consider how to handle manuvers with options.  I think the easiest way is to
treat all options as different manuvers in the database.

I would build the app to separate the database and rules engine from the
actual manuver description list. The cross index between the app and the
manuver descriptions is an index key.  This allows the system to expand to
produce a list of manuver descriptions, aresti diagrams, calling cards each
as a different report output from the same app.

Your approach to annotate each manuver entry in the database with attributes
is a good one.  I'd add a "type" attribute that may be thought of as a base
class.  this would identify manuvers according to their basic types: loops,
rolls, humpty, half squares, stall turns.  A manuver may have more than one
base class.  This will improve the results by letting you define a rule to
prevent too many humpty turn arounds in the same sequence, for example.

Let the target total KF be an input so you can produce sequences for all
levels

This is a fun application of real work skills.
--Lance

----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Atwood <mailto:atwoodm at paragon-inc.com>
To: NSRCA Mailing List <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] WC '07

Verne,

I often have staff that need a fake practice project to work on to learn a
new technology or the like, and I was thinking that a random Unknowns
generator would not be all that challenging and would provide the team some
value.  I figure if I plan it now...might have a shot at having something
useful for '09 and maybe even for this summer's Nats practice for Andy.

Here's the thought...All the manuevers from the catalog get loaded into a
database.  Each is assigned a number of attribute...  K-Factor,
Center/endbox, Entry Altitude, Exit Altitude, Entry orientation, Exit
Orientation, manuever class, etc etc etc.  Then it's simply a matter of
writing a rules engine...given the Entry Altitude, current K-factor, etc,
you query for a subset of maneuvers that meet the criteria, and select one
randomly.  Of course there are additional checks...no more than X # of K-5s,
etc....no more than 1 from a given class...etc.  But it's VERY VERY doable,
and I think would make a great online Web app that I can host here at work.
People go to the web site...and BHAM...they print off a new unknown...or 20.

Interested???  I would need some help writing the specs....  And I may
contact FAI to see if there's a soft copy of the manuevers so they can be
imported.  Of course the follow up add on is something that auto generates
the Aresti...

Thoughts?


On 11/21/07 6:04 PM, "Verne Koester" <verne at twmi.rr.com> wrote:
Geez, Mark, I'm all a' flutter....

Truth is, I help Andrew because I enjoy it. I used to coach him a few years
back, but now he coaches me. We did spend a fair amount of time getting
ready but I enjoyed every minute of it. Andrew's a great kid from great
parents (where the credit REALLY belongs). What's not to like?

Thanks,
Verne


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

From:  Mark  Atwood <mailto:atwoodm at paragon-inc.com>
<mailto:atwoodm at paragon-inc.com>

To: NSRCA Mailing List <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
<mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>

Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 2:06  PM

Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] WC  '07


While I want to congratulate Quique, Jason and Andrew  over and over and
over again...I feel remiss that there's been little mention  of their
callers.  I don't know who called for Quique or Jason, But I  know the Verne
Koester was Andrew's caller and he put in such an incredible  amount of time
helping him prepare that it seems negligent not to include him  in the
hoopla.

I knew Verne would be the first to defer  all of the glory for Andrew, but
for those that know how hard these two have  worked for this opportunity....
Twice daily practice routine, Verne creating  new Unknowns every day, hours
and hours of critique, all in a very selfless  effort to take a gifted set
of thumbs to the next level...well, you have to  step back and give a few
claps for Verne as well.

I'm extremely proud  of Andrew...someone that I've had the privilege of
helping through the pattern  ranks.  But I also have huge respect and
congrats to Verne for the effort  he made (along with a myriad of other
supporters) to help him get there.

I KNOW that Jason and Quique have their own "Verne" to thank and I  hope
someone jumps on here and lets us all know who they are, so that we can
show them equal appreciation for their efforts.

-Mark


On  11/19/07 1:19 PM, "Earl Haury" <ejhaury at comcast.net>  wrote:


Made it home from  Argentina this morning, a bit tired from a long drive
yesterday, a long wait  at the airport, and a long nite on the airplane. The
WC was completely worth  the effort. The posts so far do not begin to
describe the huge amount of  work, the superb flying, and awesome
accomplishment of Team  USA!

The Team spent huge amounts of time at the practice field flying  in
conditions (wind, sun, dark, cold) most wouldn't even try. Each flight  was
generally critiqued by a number of Team members & supporters as  these guys
worked together to eliminate every possible flaw. There was total  focus and
commitment within and for the Team. Team Manager Al Glenn took  care of
administrative details - including leaving the hotel around 5:00am  to
ensure transmitters were impounded on time, handling "information just in
time" logistics and essentially doing everything but sleeping. (Don't give
him too much grief when the photos of him sleeping at the banquet  publish.)

The conditions during the prelims were extremely difficult. Cross  winds in
or out each day that approached 30mph at times. It was amazing how  many
"unknown" folks flew exceptionally well and that all of the "know"  folks
flew even better. Not only were these guys flying in strong wind - but  it
was usually quite cold in the morning sessions as well. The semi's and
finals were also windy - but not as bad and it got warmer, downright hot for
the finals.

Bad luck and a  great performance by BPLR prevented Team USA from winning
the Team  Championship - BPLR flew one flight during the only calm period
(maybe half  an hour) of the prelims and did a very good job of capitalizing
upon the  opportunity. Jason was up next - but a delay to allow for an
airliner  departure was long enough for the wind to return before Jason
flew. This was  enough to swing the advantage to the French and give them a
well fought win  - Team USA can be proud of second, it was a hard fought
battle with great  flying on each side, with the Japanese team always in the
mix.

All of the flying in the finals was exceptional. Quique was  consistently
solid, Jason likewise (and winning his first WC round), and  Andrew flying
superbly. In hindsight - it may be that the "in-close" style  Andrew flew to
good advantage in the prelims / semi's that may not have  scored as well in
the finals without the strong crosswind.

There were a  lot of electrics (mostly Hacker) as well as glow (mostly YS)
and neither had  an advantage / disadvantage in the strong winds. Either
propulsion is  totally viable, Sebastiano even flew a Hacker with
contra-rotating props in  the finals - good power and excellent braking.

The highlight  of the experience occurred while standing next to Quique when
he was  announced as the winner (he didn't know he'd won). I'll remember his
emotion  forever - he really wanted this!

So - second WC  Team placing is good, every Team member making the Finals is
outstanding,  everyone in the top 8 is exceptional, and a USA Team member
winning the  World Championship is more than great! The accomplishments of
2007 Team USA  are HUGE!! Congratulations to Quique, Jason, and Andrew - we
couldn't be  more proud or appreciative of your accomplishments!!  Thanks to
the  callers who worked as hard as the pilots, the TM's that handled
logistics,  and everyone who contribute to an exceptional performance by
Team  USA.

Earl


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