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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Overall - pattern is alive and well. Jeremy makes
numerous good points, but I believe technology is more the life of pattern than
the demise. </FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Don Dewey published an article in the old RCM
magazine in the early '70's predicting that with "modern" radios soon a pattern
flier would press a couple of buttons and the model would execute a perfect
pattern - all from the comfort of one's easy chair - a "skyport" would open in
the roof to allow viewing (no more flying fields required). Of course this was
nonsense then and still is. There are way to many variable forces acting on an
airplane to automate any given maneuver for repeatable execution. There are
closed loop systems that might be able to handle the task - but they're already
outside the rules for obvious reasons.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>OTOH - I suspect a lot of us are attracted to
pattern for the technological challenge as much as for aerobatics. Our equipment
is tons better than it was years ago and the sequences have advanced to take
advantage. Electronic "gadgets" as mixes, conditions, rates, expo, etc. are
tools that us technophobes (and mere mortals) try to use to gain a little on the
talented. Take away the technology and the elite become more separated from us
mortals!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>I would say that anyone who yearns for the days of
yore should consider CL Stunt - but good grief - some of those guys are flying
E! At least the sequence hasn't changed in 50+ years - egads, I'd find that
boring!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Earl</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
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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=lagrue@hotmail.com href="mailto:lagrue@hotmail.com">JEREMY CHINN</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org
href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">General pattern discussion</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 06, 2008 9:18
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Have we
lost our way? (Sorry, George, but your question inspired this)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=Helv size=2>I won't pretend like I have enough
experience to comment on the effects of what you mentioned in Pattern, however
I've been part of competition for a long time and within many different
realms, model aviation and other..... <BR> <BR>The same thing happens in
almost every sport. The sport is created, technological innovation happens, at
some point, someone screams uncle because the amount of innovation has gone
past their comfort level. Everyone has their own comfort level, so usually
rules creation takes place when enough of the collective group is beyond their
comfort level with the particular issue at hand to force them to make up a
rule to combat that issue... <BR> <BR>Formula One auto racing had
traction control and ABS to deal with. <BR>Mountain biking went from
unsuspended bikes to fully suspended bikes.<BR>Olympic track cycling had
aerodynamic bikes (go read about Graham Obree to see how the rules making can
be detrimental to the sport)<BR>Bass fishing had to deal with electronic fish
finders. <BR> <BR>Freeflight has computerized timers and actuation of the
surfaces..... (is that still freeflight?)<BR>Its pretty easy to say that any
or all of those above are cheating. The flip side of that says that someone
had to take the time to figure those 'tools' out and set them appropriately to
get the job done. <BR> <BR>IMHO, what tends to differentiate the things
above from the pilot actually flying his bird is the idea that it's entirely
possible for someone other than the pilot can set up the tool or switch to do
something that the pilot may not be able to do. IE, Shulman moves the stick X%
to do X maneuver, so my friend programs that much deflection on the switch for
me and Bang, I have a Shulman X maneuver in my sequence. Yeah, I know that is
an oversimplification, but I think it makes the point. <BR> <BR>Have we
lost our way? Nope.... Has our use of technology gone to far? Maybe, Probably,
Yes.<BR> <BR>BTW, at the next NATS, I'll be sitting off to the side and
will use a sophisticated recording device to snatch radio signals from the
air. Following the NATS, I will then be selling pre-formatted mixes for each
of the maneuvers in each sequence. This will come in CAMPAC and SD Card
formats for Futaba radios. To ensure the high zoot pattern nature of the
product, I will only record on carbonfiber molded memory which I will source
at great cost directly from Australia. Somenzini, Shulman, Jesky and Wickizer
mixes will retail for about $400 ea. The Chinn mixes will retail for $1.95
LOL! <BR></FONT><BR><BR>
<HR>
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 21:06:35 -0700<BR>From:
homeremodeling2003@yahoo.com<BR>To:
nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org<BR>Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Have we
lost our way? (Sorry, George, but your question inspired this)<BR><BR>
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<DIV>Sillyness.. <IMG
src="http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/03.gif"></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I use a dual rate switch for more throw for stall, spins and snaps. I
don't use a snap switch or a spin switch. I do use mixing. </DIV>
<DIV>You are saying I shouldn't be allowed to use a dual rate switch or a mix
to help my poorly designed plane to fly a little more like a better designed
plane that alot of us can't afford that takes less mix or could maybe get away
with none? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sillyness Matt. <IMG
src="http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/30.gif"></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Although, I'm not sure why people use a snap switch. In my opinion it's
so much easier to fly them with the sticks. They present better IMO. Take for
instance the 45 down, 1 1/2 snap. Using a switch I see people way steeper than
45 as they let off the switch. Why? Because the up ele is still held until the
last second. </DIV>
<DIV>Switches don't make you a top pilot. Practice and skill does.. If people
need em, I say use em. That's why they are there. For me, I'll stick with just
a single dual rate switch.. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sorry. Just my thoughts... </DIV>
<DIV><EM>Disclamer: These words are not to be used against me in any way
shape or form or a cloud will instantly form over you while you are
flying and you will get dumped on before you can put away your gear. (Ruining
your cell phone because it falls into a puddle)</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV>Oh wait, that's what happened to us (D7) several times while practicing
at the nats.. lol</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><IMG
src="http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/18.gif"></DIV>
<DIV><BR> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT face="comic sans ms" color=#0000bf size=3>Chris
</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"><BR>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">-----
Original Message ----<BR>From: Matthew Frederick
<mjfrederick@cox.net><BR>To: General pattern discussion
<nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org><BR>Sent: Tuesday, August 5, 2008
8:19:10 PM<BR>Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Have we lost our way? (Sorry,
George, but your question inspired this)<BR><BR>Call me crazy if you want, but
I'm getting sick of all these "conditions" <BR>being allowed in pattern. The
whole point of what we do puts emphasis on the <BR>pilot being in control of
the model at all times. It's one thing to flip a <BR>switch to enable higher
rates for a snap, stall, slow roll, whatever. I <BR>think we're going too far
with just pulling the stick past 90 degrees to <BR>instill a snap "condition"
that will automatically perform a snap roll with <BR>the programmed inputs. In
the rules it states that you can't have a "timed" <BR>switch, witch basically
was put in to avoid people from programming a snap <BR>switch that gave the
elevator a slight lead on all the other inputs. <BR>Allowing the elevator (or
any other) stick to provide this same advantage is <BR>tantamount to cheating,
it just happens to pass the current rules test. The <BR>more I hear about
people putting these types of conditions that are merely <BR>contingent on
stick position, the more I think it's coming time for a rules <BR>change to
stop it. We're supposed to be better than this. I'm probably <BR>waaaay out on
a limb by myself here, but from where I sit having started in <BR>pattern back
in the late 80's, I think we're losing our way by allowing <BR>computers to
perform operations that should be required by the pilots. I <BR>don't even
believe in programmed mixes and avoid them like the
plague.<BR><BR>Matt<BR><BR>P.S. Before anyone who knows me asks, yes, I did
fly a Genesis, and yes I <BR>did have elevator to rudder mix on that...
hopefully my next plane won't <BR>suck like that...
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