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

Sun Dec 30 17:23:15 AKST 2018

I really love the way that you think Jay. I think that we might be kindred
spirits.

On Sun, Dec 30, 2018 at 9:06 PM Jas S via NSRCA-discussion <
nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:

> 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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> >
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