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

[Del K. Rykert]

Size matters allot.  I will quit before playing that game again. When I went 
to the nats with a 60 sized Super Nova and winds were calm I earned a 7th in 
one round. When it blew I was in 26th place. Many told me I could still 
compete and be competitive with a 60 sized plane. Wish I had kept a record 
of all the people who claimed that. More than the people selling their old 
60 size stuff for sure. Unless the playing field is kept even their will 
always be a dis-advantage.
     Del

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Hester" <kerlock at comcast.net>
To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 5:21 PM
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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