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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I may be wrong, but I think there were no Intermediate or Advanced airplanes weighted or checked at the 2011 NATS. Consequently no complaints.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I have no problem with Arch running the NATS by the rule book, I would expect that. Like someone else said maybe too much to weigh after every flight. If I go, I’ll play by the rules too. Arch has stepped up and agreed to be the ED and run by the rules. I applaud him for it! My problem is with the rule and the frustration with NSRCA and the contest board for lack of vision to see the need for change.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I will make a personal financial decision on how much going to the NATS is worth relative to the total cost, including additional money to make my planes legal, just as everyone else does. But an additional $400-$800 will probably tip the scales as not worth it for me for what is essentially just one contest as I would have no chance of winning or placing (I just want to finish ahead of Van Putte!) .<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Dave Burton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>John Gayer<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 13, 2011 12:08 PM<br><b>To:</b> General pattern discussion<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] NATS 2012<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Keep in mind that the weight rule is not applied at any local contests, only at the Nats.<br><br>Let's consider the Nats for a moment and assume the attendance is 100 spread out equally in four classes(not exactly the case but close enough)<br><br>Intermediate- Already gets a weight allowance and I didn't hear any complaints at the Nats so 100- 25 = 75<br>Advanced- Already gets a weight allowance. Again I heard no complaints so 75 - 25 = 50<br>F3A- we have no control over the application of weight rules for FAI particularly in a team selection year so 50 -25 = 25<br>Masters- This is the only class that has to adhere to 5000 grams under AMA rules. Most Masters pilots that go to the Nats are flying top of the line aircraft that do make weight anyway. I'm sure there are a few(less than a handful) nationally that did not go to the Nats because their plane would not make weight. Perhaps there is also a handful who did go that ONLY spent the money to make weight so (25-20 = 5 )+ 5 =10<br><br>So we should change or ignore the rules at the Nats for a few Masters pilots that might not go to the Nats next year rather than spend the money to get their airplane to make weight? I don't think so. <br>Perhaps Arch is a bit overboard with wanting to check every plane after every flight but weighing every plane at least once and checking the stickers after each flight seems very reasonable to me. In any case he has established very early that weighins <i>will</i> be done and has a plan in place on how to accomplish it. Much better than this past Nats where we told to make weight and then not checked at all.<br><br>John<br><br><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>