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<DIV>It is rewarding to read positive messages. This is one of them. Today, I got the K-Factor and Rusty Dose message was also positive. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Regards,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Vicente Bortone</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">-------------- Original message -------------- <BR>From: "Mike Hester" <kerlock@comcast.net> <BR><BR>> Real quickly, I don't think pattern is dying, I think it is evolving, <BR>> changing, shifting areas of activeness. While it's numbers are dwindling in <BR>> some places, the numbers are on the increase in others. <BR>> <BR>> one thing I think would be a mistake would be to change the airframe rules <BR>> in pattern. they are stabilized, and I don't think changing them would have <BR>> any positive long lasting effect. if anything, it could worsen the <BR>> situation. Stability fosters enginuety, and some people are rising to the <BR>> challenge of both leading edge technology, and old school methods. When you <BR>> learn how to seamlessly blend both, you create more options. <BR>> <BR>> Think about how wide open our airframe and power rules really are: power is <BR>> virtually unlimited, airframe is an empty 2 meter box with a maximum weight <BR>> of 5 k or 11 lbs, and the noise requirement...but if they can get a 40% <BR>> within the noise requirements, then that's no longer an issue. <BR>> <BR>> What we have to do, all of us, is foster a fun but competetive atmosphere. <BR>> We need to reach out to people on a grass roots level and get them <BR>> motivated. We need to slay the perception that you must have a $3000 <BR>> airframe and $2-3000 worth of electric power or you're wasting your time. I <BR>> hate that crap. And we need to ALL make sure that we don't even <BR>> subconsciously give the edge to a guy with the latest greatest electric set <BR>> up, because by doing so think what message we'll be sending to the guy that <BR>> really can't afford that kind of investment right now, today. in the future <BR>> who knows. <BR>> <BR>> if you haven't heard, ZDZ is coming out with a new 40cc f3A engine this <BR>> summer. this thing will
turn as large of a prop as the electrics. The weight <BR>> increase over glow isn't even half as bad as electric. This alone could do <BR>> great things for us in crossing certain invisible barriers. <BR>> <BR>> Then again, maybe not =) <BR>> <BR>> Sorry to ramble, must be the paint fumes..... <BR>> <BR>> -Mike <BR>> <BR>> ----- Original Message ----- <BR>> From: "Ryan Smith" <SMARAGDZ@BELLSOUTH.NET><BR>> To: <NSRCA-DISCUSSION@LISTS.NSRCA.ORG><BR>> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2006 12:51 PM <BR>> Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Was Mini Brio, Now Pattern Longitevity <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> I honestly don't think that you have to spend out the butt to have a <BR>> competitive setup. The keeping up with the Joneses syndrome is the prevalent <BR>> factor that makes everyone think that pattern is so ungodly expensive. There <BR>> are plenty of options out there for people to create a cost-effective, <BR>> competitive two meter rig. But alas, people out there think they HAVE to <BR>> have the biggest best and fastest everything, when in reality, there is no <BR>> way in hell most newer fliers out there can discern between a slightly <BR>> inferior and cheaper product and a top of the line product (a big example <BR>> here would be digital servos as opposed to analog servos). There are <BR>> certainly MANY viable options out there for a cheap two meter setup that <BR>> will be competitive in the long run. The best example I can see of this is <BR>> Mark Hunt, down in the Houston area. His airplane, the Insight, is all wood <BR>> and foam, and can be built with maybe $150 worth of wood (I'm throwing a <BR>> generous estimate out there), not to mention the plans are like $25. He is <BR>> actually running an OS 1.60 on a standard muffler and is still making the <BR>> noise restrictions. Mark exemplifies what people just starting out in <BR>> pattern need to look into, not only because it's cheap, but the airplanes <BR>> are simple
to maintain and I would venture to say bulletproof. I bought a <BR>> set from him a while back and haven't had the chance to build one, but I <BR>> really would like to. I would like to do what he's doing and and outfit it <BR>> with analog servos and make it otherwise plain jane and see just how it <BR>> stacks up to the rest of the field out there. There are also several other <BR>> wood airplanes out there that are a little more extravagant, such as the <BR>> Black Magic v2 by Mike Hester and the Quest and Shindin by Bryan Herbert <BR>> that are being drawn in CAD and being kitted. Look at the airplanes that the <BR>> Japanese team members fly- they're all wood. And look at where they place. <BR>> Most if not all are always in the top ten, and young Tetsuo Onda even placed <BR>> second this year. That's a heck of a feat for anyone, mu <BR>> ch less an eighteen year old who is flying against people who have been <BR>> modeling twice as long as he's been living. <BR>> <BR>> Another point, the theory of everyone flying the same thing has <BR>> never worked, not in fullscale and not in models. The One Design class never <BR>> caught on in full scale, however there are many examples of that airplane <BR>> flying. In IMAC, there are worries about everyone using consistent <BR>> batteries, motors, servos, and such, and if you have to be dictated that <BR>> much on what you can and cannot fly, it takes the fun out. Also, in IMAC, it <BR>> is commonplace to see high end airplanes in Basic and Sportsman just because <BR>> people want to get that advantage that they really get through burning fuel. <BR>> I know everyone hates to hear that, but it is the truth. Once you start to <BR>> see improvements in your own flying after having flown a lot, then you see <BR>> what everyone preaches about when they say fly a bunch. I really don't think <BR>> that pattern dying is really directly related to cost, but if you want to <BR>> make it such let's
break down Jay's idea. How cost effective is it to make <BR>> someone buy something that they can't use in upper classes and would have to <BR>> buy a new setup every year. Shouldn't we be showing people that they can go <BR>> and get a nice setup that they can actually use and enjoy? Not to mention <BR>> the fact that you can reuse the equipment should you decide (or your thumbs <BR>> decide) to get a new airframe. I think the cost factor is implemented by <BR>> people who don't really have the desire to succeed and have to use that as a <BR>> scapegoat to cover what they see as their failures. <BR>> <BR>> I honestly think pattern needs an overhaul. It's not the cost <BR>> that really drives people away, it's the ideology surrounding it that does. <BR>> People see pattern as being boring and too easy, and generally not exciting. <BR>> However, with the advent 3D flight, and people becoming attracted to model <BR>> airplanes because of it, they really want to hone their skills. I have seen <BR>> a lot of subtle hints dropped by some past pattern flyers who write for <BR>> magazines telling people to look into pattern if they really want to become <BR>> better at 3D. I also think that we need more promotion. Model Aviation has <BR>> cut down the pattern column in the magazine to every other month, yet there <BR>> are other facets in there that get full coverage that really don't need it. <BR>> If we want pattern to survive, we really need to get publicized where it <BR>> counts- where we're going to be attracting people. Advertising in the K <BR>> Factor does nothing for the growth of pattern because we're all already <BR>> interested enough in it to subscribe. But there are people out there who <BR>> don't know and maybe would like to. I can't tell you how many times on RCU <BR>> I've seen someone post in the Pattern Forum "What is Pattern Flying?". Most <BR>> are usually creative in what they think it is, but nevertheless, the same <BR>&
gt; group sets them straight. I think we should get on the AMA to get us more <BR>> coverage and other magazines as well, such as Model Airplane News, 3D Flyer, <BR>> etc. I believe THAT is what will help us, not making people buy some little <BR>> electric that they won't be competitive with. <BR>> <BR>> Thanks for taking the time to read this guys, please feel free <BR>> to respond. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Regards, <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Ryan Smith <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________ <BR>> NSRCA-discussion mailing list <BR>> NSRCA-discussion@lists.nsrca.org <BR>> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion <BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________ <BR>> NSRCA-discussion mailing list <BR>> NSRCA-discussion@lists.nsrca.org <BR>> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion </BLOCKQUOTE></body></html>