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

Mon Dec 31 13:10:17 AKST 2018

Hank,
You make some good points, but I have to jump in on this one.
In the past 10 years, I've flown "competitively" at over 40 fields in 12
states and 4 countries. In the previous 20 years to that, maybe half as
many venues.
Over that 30-year period, contrary to being laughed off the field, I've
observed many people show up with everything from a 40-sized sport plane to
a 3D gasser, and some showing some significant wear and tear, requiring
some Saturday morning surgery (with donated time and materials) from more
experienced flyers to allow the new person to put in their rounds. I've
even seem one senior competitor, unable to fix the newcomer's plane, offer
one of his spare planes for the newcomer to fly.

Yes, we have all seen one or two crassly snobby individuals who looked down
their noses...not only at lesser planes, but at the entire Sportsman and
Intermediate classes...but I've never personally come across a
generally-present "Elitist" group that dampens the enjoyment of the sport
for others, regardless of experience level or plane choice. In fact, the
folks who tend to be financially-fortunate and who show up with the latest
and greatest planes tend to be the most generous with their time and help
for newcomers, or for anyone else. There are always a few exceptions, but
it not the general rule...that I have personally seen.

There is always someone on email lists such as this one (and others) that
will play armchair expert and start describing what plane is required for
this class and that class. It's not good information, to be polite about
it. It's ALWAYS been about the pilot and how much effort is devoted to
practice...it's NEVER been about the plane. If you examine the NSRCA
contest results and look for those same armchair experts, you'll usually
find that they haven't flown a contest in decades. Again, exceptions exist,
but anyone can win any class with a battle-worn 10-year old plane
regardless of glow or electric, or with a smaller plane. I've seen it done
in front of me several times. So has everyone else who goes to contests.

As long as your plane can climb to the top of the box, it's good
enough...just practice! You are in the hunt!

John
NSRCA 1673

On Mon, Dec 31, 2018 at 3:25 PM Henry Pajari via NSRCA-discussion <
nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:

> Hi Guys
>
> Thanks for addressing this issue.  If we are truly down to 400 members,
> and want to stick around, I believe bringing in new blood is pivotal.
>
> I'm at work so I can't write all I want but I would like to dial
> expectations down a little more.
>
> I wanted to get started in pattern a few years back.  I bought an ARF
> pattern plane for a 72 4 stroke (about 48 inch WS).  I also bought a
> Swallow? for a 120 to 140.  Life got in the way so I never finished them.
> I gave the smaller one to my son and he did some work then got a job in San
> Diego so the airplane sits in my shop.
>
> If I am lucky I will convert both to electric and get started.  (I've been
> flying models since 1958 and RC since 1970 but mainly just for sport and
> socializing).
>
> Today you can get a good electric motor, ESC, and batteries for way cheap
> so getting these air-frames in the air is very feasible for anyone that
> thinks they may be interested in pattern.
>
> Why can't a flyer get one of these ARF's to get their feet wet and enter a
> couple of contests?  If they like it they will invariably move up to what
> the Elitists call competitive equipment.  My concern is that if someone
> showed up at a contest with one of these airplanes they would be laughed
> off the field.
>
> When I started playing golf 25 years ago or so I had a used set of clubs.
> I played terribly, like when I learned to fly pre-buddy box.  When I got
> better I built my own clubs via Golfsmith.  Now I have a nice set of
> Pings.  Still play badly but look good getting out of the car😉
>
> Do any of you think I am on a useful track?
>
> Hank
> ------------------------------
> *From:* NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org> on
> behalf of Tjpritchett via NSRCA-discussion <
> nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> *Sent:* Monday, December 31, 2018 12:04 PM
> *To:* Curt Oberg; General pattern discussion
> *Subject:* Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Price for a pattern plane...
>
> Good perspective, an even better goal, and an excellent wife!!  You’ve got
> it made Curt!!
> (See you in Andersonville!)
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Dec 31, 2018, at 2:13 PM, Curt Oberg via NSRCA-discussion <
> nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:
> >
> > When I started flying pattern back in the mid 70's, starting from
> scratch you could get into pattern flying with a very competitive rig for
> about $750. One hundred for a plane kit, $100 for a piped .61 Rossi, $400
> for a ProLine Competition 6 radio including battery and servos, and about
> $150 for retracts, wheels, fuel tank, retract servos, finishing materials,
> etc.  Of course you then had to build the plane first (which is probably
> becoming a lost art).  Relatively speaking, considering inflation and the
> differential between salaries then and now, the cost of a present day, ARF
> pattern plane, set up ready to fly is probably very close in a percentage
> of your disposable income.  It helps immensely when you have a wife like
> mine who encourages me buy the best equipment out there for my planes.
> Every time I hesitate to spend money on the hobby, she always tells me that
> if I don't spend the money, my son will when I'm gone.  My cost for
> enjoying pattern flying would go down somewhat if I would quit landing in
> the top of the trees.
> >
> > Curt Oberg
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
> <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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-- 
John Ford
Cell 1-816-365-0386
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