[NSRCA-discussion] Small Models ..(story time)

[Mike Hester]

Yeah, but that's a little different from an Excelleron with a YS 110 =)

Have no fear, a rocket is in my future, but not for AMA....Hmm I wonder how 
a 2 meter Aurora would work? Heh...

-Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Walker" <vellum2 at bellsouth.net>
To: "'NSRCA Mailing List'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 8:10 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Small Models ..(story time)


> Phooey!
>
> Mike, go pick up a Desire or Aurora, fly the Advanced pattern in the
> nastiest wind you can muster and tell me they aren't every bit as good 
> (or..
> *GASP* Better?) as the bigger ships.  The only thing that hurts these 
> older
> designs are the more complicated masters and FAI maneuvers...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Mike Hester
> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 5:21 PM
> To: NSRCA Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Small Models ..(story time)
>
> Good stuff guys!
>
> Well here's a little story for ya.
>
> I was in such a hurry when I went to the Huntsville contest last year, I
> forgot my wings. How the heck does that happen? I guess I have to chalk it
> up to brain overload. Anyway, there I stood, hundreds of miles from home
> with a fuselage and no wings. Some of those manuevers can be a little
> difficult without wings....
>
> Well you know how it goes, everyone and thier brother offered to let me 
> fly
> thier planes (2 meter planes). I learned the hard way not to fly other
> people's planes, but when Don Peck offered to let me fly his Excelleron, 
> it
> was an interesting proposition that peaked my interest. I wasn't going to
> win, so why not? It would be fun, and if anything hapened to that plane, I
> knew I could replace it on the spot. I told Don if anything happened I'd 
> buy
>
> and build him one fast. But the thought of competing in a strong advanced
> class with the Excelleron really sounded like fun to me.
>
> I put in one practice flight, and said "good enough". It had a ton of expo
> in it, and that was fine with me. Bryan Kennedy set it up and he did an
> excellent job. Nothing felt wierd or strange until I got way over on the
> sticks, then it jumped. No problem though.
>
> It was relatively calm, so off we went.....I did about like I figured the
> first round. But then to my suprise, I won the second round! And this was
> against Erik "Dragonslayer" Newsolme, the D3 champ! That was so cool. I 
> was
> having a lot of fun, and it was challenging, but then I managed to win
> another round! I admit I was well practiced at that time of year, and 
> there
> really wasn't much wind, but to my own credit I was making it look like a 
> 2
> meter. Smooth, clean and precise. It's some of the most fun I've had 
> flying
> pattern!
>
> Well, the wind came and that was the end of that. Trying to keep the plane
> on heading was taking too much throw, and then it got over into the 
> "banzai"
>
> expo curve. So, I couldn't make a contest of it. But the cool thing was,
> Erik was flying better than anyone had ever seen him fly, and I was able 
> to
> keep up with him in the calm air. I did get second though =) But make no
> mistake, SIZE MATTERS!!!!!
>
> So just to restate the obvious, you CAN do ok with a smaller plane, but 
> you
> have to work at it harder and when the wind comes, the laws of physics and
> aerdynamics are against you. Who knows, maybe if I had a plane of that 
> size
> that was set up by me and for me, and knew what it would do, I could have
> done even better. But honestly, I just don't think you can win in a game 
> of
> 1/2 points at that level of competition against 2 meter planes.
>
> Sportsman guys who are serious are going to get the best they can, that's
> human nature. You can't change that, and probably shouldn't. You know as
> well as I do that in sportsman it's possible....you just have to work at 
> it
> harder. It might make you a better pilot though!
>
> -Mike
>
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