[NSRCA-discussion] Price for a pattern plane...

[Jas S]

Hi Curt,

I would hope that’s not the case, but I’m sure it is at times. I believe it depends on the judge in the chair and how they judge. At our Districts, Blake Hilson couldn’t get a 2m plane to borrow so he used his little 3s planes from Japan and flew in Masters. He hadn’t practiced before that Friday, and some poked fun (good fun) for his plane choice. Having seen him fly them before I knew he would be competitive even with the small planes. Were they as solid as the 2m’s in the wind we had, no, but he was able to fly them to 2nd place out of 4 pilots. He kept control of them better than most of the guys flying 2m planes. I judged him twice and didn’t judge based on how the plane jumped around, but rather his ability to fly the pattern based on the criteria. I guess having started pattern myself not using a true ‘pattern plane’ and helping others with sport planes, I might see things a little differently as some others. I still dabble with using sport planes in Advanced for the fun of it. My last plane choice was an E-Twinstar, but I gave it to a kid in Ocala one weekend cause I was bored with it. My hopes are that kid might fly in the Ocala contest in April in Club Class. 

One thing my dad taught me when I decided to get serious about pattern was that a judge might start judging you from the moment you walk in from of them, the moment you take-off, the moment you start your first airborne maneuver, up to the moment you walk away. So from the moment I walk up to the flight line, take-off, do my trim pass and turnaround, fly my pattern, land and walk away, I pretend that I am being judged. Those are the only things I have control of.

Jas iP

> On Dec 30, 2018, at 8:40 PM, Curt Oberg <obergc at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> Question for  you Jason.  Do you believe that the price of your equipment has an effect on the scores that you receive from the judges?  I have a feeling that if you have a $2000 contra setup in your plane instead of a HiMax motor, and the judge is thinking a maneuver is worth a 9 or a 9.5, you might get the 9.5 with the contra drive  and not the HiMax motor.  I believe that that the average pattern flyer, (that would not be you) is perhaps not considered to be a serious pattern flyer if all his gear is in the lower price range.  I believe it's just human nature, sort of.  I hope not but you have to wonder.  I've seen you fly the Acuity and it was poetry in motion.
> Curt Oberg
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Jas S via NSRCA-discussion
> Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2018 7:15 PM
> To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Price for a pattern plane...
> 
> There’s always been talk about how expensive pattern is. All disciplines and hobbies are expensive, it’s just a choice one makes as to how much they want to spend. I’ve not had a ‘top of the line $$$$’ model since I was a teen when I wasn’t paying for my planes. Back then I was lucky enough to get the best planes on the market. Ten Plus planes back then were as good as the Yang/Oxai planes of today, and relative cost was about the same. Since being on my own, I’ve had more average planes, price point at least. Sponsorship allows me to outfit my planes with what I consider some of the best equipment, but even then I don’t bling out my planes at every turn.
> 
> Example, Acuity set-up from the 2017 Nats in Blytheville, AR:
> Plane: AJ Acuity $949
> Motor: AJ 5230-20P $260
> OS/Futaba ESC: $300 I think
> Battery: ThunderPower 6000’s $220
> Servos: Futaba SBUS, 173’s, 171’s & 175 $950 now 🤭
> Receiver: Futaba 7006 $100 now
> Falcon Spinner and Prop: $160 
> Total works out to about: $2939
> 
> Most hardware is stock from the kit. Linkages, tail wheel assembly, sticky velcro hook side, axles, wheels. I changed the cowl screws, motor mounting screws (shorter) and velcro strap for the battery.
> 
> I could have used, and not hurt my performance any, this equipment:
> Futaba 9650’s, 9151’s & 9155 ($430) and saved -$520
> Futaba 617 receiver ($94) and saved -$6
> Castle 80a ESC ($145) and saved -$155
> Gator spinner ($18) and saved -$42
> APC prop ($44) and saved -$56
> Power Unlimited 5800’s ($186) and saved $34
> Shulman Aviation 6v regulator ($20) +$20
> Total saved: $658
> 
> So my Acuity set-up could be done for just about $2144. This is assuming you have NONE of the stuff to put in a 2m sized plane.
> 
> Now my Epic set-up from the 2018 Muncie, IN Nats is a different price point:
> CA Model Epic $2780 (Evo price, I think Epic + was less)
> Brenner Contra: $1000 last year
> Kontronic Motor: $500
> Add $100 for a 2nd Falcon prop
> Subtract $60 for the Falcon spinner
> Futaba servos/receiver, ThunderPower batteries and OS/Futaba ESC are the same prices as Acuity. 
> 
> I usually use 2mm carbon rod for pushrods, Du-Bro/Central Hobbies/F3AU links, MPI 2.25 wheels.
> 
> Total around $6000
> 
> Again, using equipment that’s not ‘top of the line’, I can save about $2400. Most of the difference from the Acuity savings is swapping the contra for a Himax set-up.
> 
> And the Yang/Oxai you can add another $~2500 to the total for a top-shelf set-up.
> 
> All this being said, the BEST deals for a newbie to pattern are:
> Any sport/pattern capable plane they are comfortable flying.
> Any second hand pattern plane they can afford.
> A good friend with a spare plane they will loan you 😁
> 
> Have a safe Happy New Year to everyone and always land wheels down 😉
> 
> Jason
> Jas iP
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