[NSRCA-discussion] Airplane Weight Limits

[Pete Cosky]

Dave,

I'm with you on this. 

I used to drag race and as the adage goes; "Speed costs money". The rules allowed guys to have all sorts of things I couldn't afford including tube chassis. I ran a mini-pickup because it was light and strong and I could afford it. I did rather well on my low budget but there were guys who had the know how and the money that beat me.

I fly glow and am not using a new DZ because I can't justify the expense nor I am I flying electric for the same reason. I think electrics are great and I think if someone chooses to fly electric it is good for them, but it still a choice they are making and need to play using the same rules as everyone else. 

One other thing to consider when you are running electric is that airframes don't take the beating from the power pulses an IC engine puts out so you can get away with trimming some weight at by losing some structure. 

My $.02
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dave Lockhart 
  To: 'NSRCA Mailing List' 
  Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 10:54
  Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Airplane Weight Limits


  Ron / John,

   

  Point taken.  And no offense, but so what?  As a kid, I was never the biggest guy on the playing fields..but I loved to play anyway and never asked for a head start, an extra kick, or an extra swing.  I'm still not the "biggest kid", and some of the most fun I've had was whooping up on the "superior" equipment back when I couldn't afford the latest greatest Skippy Propnut TurboZoot 9000 XL MkVII Touring edition limited SE with the add-ons.

   

   

  The average guy can't afford many things...like the Naruke edition Astral flown by McMurtry at the 2006 NATs?  Or even the Oxai version...or even the Xtreme version.

   

  Your argument could be extended to many things...2C vs 4C (as if you could get a consensus on which is "better").....analog vs digital servos.....guys flying electrics w/ NIcd or Nimh because they can't afford lipos...and on an on.

   

  Pattern competition is a competitive event with some broad limits (weight, size, noise).  You have your choices, you pick what is most competitive for your available budget, you practice, you compete.  You win, or you lose.

   

  If you / John don't think electric is competitive under the current rules, fly glow.

   

  Others think electric is competitive and are flying electric.

   

  Again, electric is in its infancy..make a rule now that favors electrics and you will ensure unquestionable electric dominance in the very near future.  Just remember the 120 4C..it was to allow parity between a piped 60 2C and allow a quieter powerplant.  Very shortsighted rule as the 120 4C became dominant rapidly.  Clearly the gap (if there is one) between electric and glow today is nothing like the 2C / 4C gap was in ~1988 (when 2C 60s dominated 120 4Cs) or now (when a 120 4C dominates 60 2Cs).

   

  By definition, the average guy will never be able to afford the highest level setup.  And that has never prevented something like a humble wooden Focus from winning the NATs...at any level.

   

  Regards,

   

  Dave

   
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