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

[Ken Thompson]

I sure had a lot of fun with my YS-91 powered LA-2 a couple of years ago.



> -----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 8:25 PM
> To: NSRCA Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Small Models ..(story time)
>
> 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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