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<DIV><FONT color=#000000>I have to agree with Fred here. I have always
thought that landings and takeoff's should be scored. It is only fair to
the pilot that takes the time to practice doing it correctly. Why
shouldn't he be rewarded? I have heard the arguments that non scored
takeoff's save time during a contest. Maybe this is true, and if it is, I
think the only part that speeds things up is not having to make sure the
aircraft can sit on the runway without rolling before that takeoff is
started. Well, let's just do away with that requirement. Let the
pilot's caller hold the aircraft until it's ready to takeoff. If an
aircraft can sit on the runway with the engine running and not roll then great,
but if it can't oh well. This does not mean that the pilot can not still
execute a proper takeoff. Why should a pilot that bounces down the
runway get a 10, when another pilot performs a proper takeoff? I just
don't get it. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>As for eliminating landing scores due to poor field, or
weather conditions, I think we should do away with that also. They
should always be scored. Now I am guilty of doing this myself as a
CD. In fact I did it this year at my contest. Now that I think
about it, I think I made a bad decision. I have a hard time believing that
a pilot thinks a landing score is worth more than his aircraft. If a pilot
can get his plane down properly in poor conditions, the he deserves a better
score than the pilot that can't...it's that simple. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>If you have ever missed first place by just a couple of
points since we have not been judging takeoff's and landings, then you may feel
that they should be scored also. Especially if you believe that you would
have scored better landings and takeoff's than the pilot that won the
contest.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Now, as for saving time at a contest, how much time
does not scoring takeoff's and landings really save? If it's that big of a
deal why don't we just use the three minute rule like we do at the Nat's?
I believe pilots not being ready is the biggest waste of time at a contest by
far. I find it very annoying when a pilot is not ready when he should
be. How many times have you sat in the judging chair waiting for the next
pilot to come up, then you look over at him, and he is just talking away with
his buddies because he is not paying attention to the flight orders. That
to me is a bigger waste of time that scored takeoff's. There is no excuse
for a pilot to not be ready when he should be. When the pilot before him
is on final, he should be starting his engine, and heading over to his flight
station. It is the CD's and or the line chief's job to make sure flight
orders are posted, and it's the pilot's job to pay attention to them. It's
that simple. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>I would really like to see the three minute rule
acknowledged at local contests, or at least have a way to make sure the pilot is
in the air in a reasonable amount of time.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Mike Darr</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=fhhuber@clearwire.com href="mailto:fhhuber@clearwire.com">Fred
Huber</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org
href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 02, 2006 12:45
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [NSRCA-discussion] If you don't
score by the rules.... don'tadvertise a rulebook event</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>This has been annoying me for a long time....<BR><BR>At Sportsman level
the K=1 takeoff and landing scores can significantly <BR>affect the contest
results.<BR><BR>The all too common practice of changing the rules at the last
minute, to <BR>give Sportsman 0 or 10 on take-off and landing, is
inappropriate. <BR>(Inappropriate to chane the scoring system for any maneuver
at ANY level!) <BR>Of course all the higher level pilots will agree to it...
it does not affect <BR>them. ANY ONE PILOT in Sportsman (or whatever
other class is affected) <BR>contesting the change without it having been
advertised as a rule <BR>modification in advance should prevent the
change.<BR><BR>Yes, the takeoff and landing scoring is something that I think
has affected <BR>my outcome at contests. I flew a plane that had a large
problem with stall <BR>turns... with a 6 being a good result for that
maneuver. Full opposed <BR>aileron wasn't enough to prevent the plane
from rolling when rudder was <BR>applied. But I figured my quality of
takeoff and landing would more than <BR>make up for the poor stall turns, so I
showed up for the contests. And <BR>every contest I showed up at... they
on the spot said "Sportsman gets 0 or <BR>10 takeoff and landing" When
all the marginal takeoffs of the other pilots <BR>in my class got 10's (Many
deserved 5's... or 2's... and I was consistantly <BR>getting
complimented on the smoothness of my takeoffs and landings.) it took <BR>away
the ability for me to make up for my known problem with the stall
turn.<BR><BR>Next contest I go to... if they decide to change the rules on the
spot... I <BR>want my entry fee back. (applies to some other events I have
been to <BR>also...)<BR>If they advertise in advance that the scoring won't be
by rulebook... I <BR>won't show up.<BR><BR>I kept quiet about it (except
discussing it with a couple of local flyers) <BR>when it occured. Too
many much more accompished pilots were in favor of the <BR>change. IT
HAD NO EFFECT ON THEM! They shouldn't have been part of the
<BR>discussion at all.<BR><BR>You want to change a rule that affects only one
class at the pilots' meeting <BR>before the first flight... ANY ONE PILOT in
that class opposing the change <BR>prevents it. And pilots in other
classes have no vote.<BR><BR>If the wind is too much for the pilot to think he
wants to risk getting a <BR>bad score on takeoff and landing... maybe its too
much wind for that pilot <BR>to bother making a takeoff. All of the
other pilots in the class will be <BR>dealing with the same wind. It has
just as much chance of preventing them <BR>from getting a 10.<BR><BR>Any
contest that decides to give Sportsman 0 or 10 for takeoff or landing
<BR>should list it as non-rulebook in advance. If you are going to do
the <BR>2-passes through the sequence without the full stop landing and
another <BR>takeoff... you need to advertise that too.<BR><BR>I oppose the
flying of 2 "flights" of Sportsman with one takeoff and one
<BR>landing... The takeoff and landing are scored maneuvers, suppposed
to be <BR>able to get a score other than 0 or 10, therefore cutting half of
the <BR>opportunities to do well or poorly on them is changing the scoring vs
the <BR>rulebook. (see above... I moved this paragraph due to changes in
the below <BR>from the original version)<BR><BR>Also... the Sportsman sequence
is relatively short for a reason. This is an <BR>introductory
class. The contestants are not used to competing... not used <BR>to
getting judged. They need the ability to do one competition round... go
<BR>back and talk with others about what they did right, what they did wrong
and <BR>how to improve. They also need a bit of timne to RELAX between
the scored <BR>flights.<BR><BR>Considering how nervous some people are in
thier early competition rounds... <BR>its a wonder to me that a first time
Sportsman level competitor ends up with <BR>thier airplane in the air by the
end of a second sequence within one flight.<BR><BR>The first contest someone
flys in, they typically fly too close in, and <BR>because of this ALL
maneuvers are extremely rushed. By the end of the <BR>flight some
contestants are so frazzled that they have severe problems doing <BR>the
double-immelman AT ALL. Then you want them to immedately turn around
<BR>and run the sequence again? Why not just tell them to land at the
judges <BR>feet so the judges can stomp on the model?<BR><BR>Thats not a
formula to promote more participation... its a formula to scare <BR>off
beginners. If the pilot is ready to run the sequence twice in a row FOR
<BR>THE JUDGES.. they are probably ready to start working on
Inermediate.<BR><BR>Most people I have seen move up from Sportsman, its been
due to seeking the <BR>higher challenge of Intermediate... not due to getting
the points forcing <BR>the move up. "Sandbagging" Sportsman is
rare.<BR><BR>Also... it is justifiable for someone competing at Sportsman to
set up thier <BR>plane for one round flight durration. If they average 4
minutes to do a <BR>round... and put in a tank which gives 6 minute fuel
supply, then the <BR>2-rounds in one flight is a guaranteed dead-stick before
completion of the <BR>second round. Do you force Master's level pilots
to carry enough fuel for 2 <BR>passes through the sequence? Would they
tollerate that?<BR><BR>Forcing a competitor to carry the DEAD WEIGHT of the
fuel for a second round <BR>through the first round is inappropriate. At
Sportsman level... the type <BR>models which are competitive include models
which would have severe CG <BR>change with the fuel depletion...<BR><BR>If you
think a Sportsman competitor needs to be able to run 2 times through <BR>the
sequence nonstop, you probably also think everyone needs to buy a $3000
<BR>plane, capable of flying the Masters sequence, in order to try out
<BR>Sportsman. Its totaly unnecessary, inappropriate and shuts out
beginners.<BR><BR>FHH <BR></DIV>
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