Posts: 114
Joined: 7/29/2002 From: st. charles,
IL, USA Status: offline
Hello all,
I thought we should start the !QUOT!Ballistic Pattern Association!QUOT!. For the people who want retracts, and pipes on their vintage pattern planes. So I made us a logo, and that makes it a start. Ok so here it goes, this may just wind up being a cyberspace association, but hopefully we can become a recognized segment that currently has no real home. There has been a lot of controversy about the SPA allowing retracts, or pipes, or both. There is no need to force them to allow or change the rules they came up with just to include something others want. With that said, the term Ballistic Pattern came up with reference to the older planes, Curares' the Jekyll's'. etc. Most of what RC City produced, and some planes now carried by PAC. So I thought if I came up with a logo, we could all sign in and say what we are flying, and or building. This has been a chicken and egg scenario. Some people say if you have a club, then people will build, others say build then make a club. So here it is a club dedicated to the Ballistic Pattern planes, retracts, and pipes.
What do I hope to accomplish?
1) Give people who enjoy those planes a group to belong to. 2) Possibly some group discounts from Mfr's. on some kits? $400 for a fuse, and wing kit seems steep. Maybe if we have 10 people order they can lower the price, and hence more club members. 3) If we get enough people we can get some decals made, and put them on your plane. People will ask "What is the BPA"? Spread the word. 4) Tell your club Presidents about us, maybe we start out with 2 guys flying against each other in 1 club. Then 2 clubs, etc. and we grow some more. 5) If we grow large enough then who knows ~ maybe another group will invite us to become a part of them, or even fly at their events.
If none of that happens so be it. At least we can say we tried to get people together, and if it fails then the controversy about allowing retracts/pipes into the SPA should end.
Hey, This is a hobby, and supposed to be fun, so I am doing this in a fun atmosphere, and hoping to see what we can accomplish. So here is my membership.
1) Jeff Quid -Founder. Building a Great Planes "Illusion"- have Rossi .60 W/Pipe and Spring Air retracts (3) gear. Glass fuse, foam cores. Membership # 00001
Posts: 176
Joined: 7/15/2006 From: Dallas,
TX, USA Status: offline
That's good... are we going to fly a pattern? I think the best way to start is to simply advertise and run a contest sometime in the future that's non-turnaround. No need to emphasize the use of pipes or retracts, they will be used by the competitors that like them.
stiletto660 currently also building an Illusion 60 as well as a 2-meter Tiporare project.
< Message edited by Nathan -- 4/17/2008 3:40:01 PM >
Posts: 494
Joined: 4/3/2005 From: huntsville,
AL, USA Status: online
I have discussed having a contest with several people in the NSRCA DIST 3 I.E. Jon Lowe , Joe W. Ryan M. Lamar B. Jason S. MIke H. and several others and I believe we have enough people to have a contest here in Huntsville Alabama some time in Aug 07. I am currently working on a proposal to present to my club to hold this event.
Rules
1. PLanes are to be pre 2m basically before the engine ban was lifted, under or around 70 in. wing span this dictates engine size 120 4c or smaller( .61 2c)
2. Patterns will be pre turn around ( no box ) patterns Will be determined long before the event.
3. Classes 3.> novice, sportsman, masters.
4. muffled pipes, retracts,super chargers, electric, NO2, what ever cranks your tractor.
5. AMA rules will be the guide line. any snaffu will be handled by pilot or cd consensus.
6. Basically show up with a plane, hopefully something resembling an older style plane or under or around 70 in. and fly
The purpose of the event is to fly the older style planes and have some fun> If you are the type of Pilot that pops a vein if you don't win or get the perfect scores then this event is probably not for you. Fun and flying skills with the older planes will be the order of the event.
There will be more info as I get it or make it up.
So there is less than a year to build, buy or borrow a plane for this event.
All those that are wanting an event of this type here it is leave the SPA guys to there niche and help create your own, I personally like what the SPA does and think there is no reason they should change it.
To take a look at our field go to Rocket City Radio Controllers
Posts: 176
Joined: 7/15/2006 From: Dallas,
TX, USA Status: offline
I think I might drop the 120 engines though, as they were pricing pattern out of reach back in the 90's... and of course they would be 100% of the engines used by competitors under these guidelines as well. We might want to do max 10cc both two and four stroke.
Posts: 224
Joined: 10/1/2004 From: Gainesville,
FL, USA Status: offline
Oh I am so all over this! And I too love the LOGO - Gear up for speed was a delightful touch!
I don't particularly care whether or not you allow wiz bang 120's. The elimination of turnaround takes away some of that advantage IMHO. Prop it and go! "Eight point roll, beginning now...............................................................................................................................Complete!"
Sweeeeeeet.
So, how do you guys want to set guidelines for plane designs? 70" seems like a pretty good start. Should it be limited to year of design? I'd hate to eliminate planes that are really cool, but just got designed a year too late.
PAC and Carolina Custom Aircraft are going to love this.
Posts: 146
Joined: 9/5/2006 From: Ottawa,
ON, CANADA Status: online
I like the 10cc cap myself. I also agree with Joe W's comments about not nescessarily limiting designs based on year designed/introduced. Many of the early turnaround pattern designs are also classics....Aurora, Eclipse, LA 1, etc. One important advantage afforded by this would be a potentially larger membership base....something for everybody? As mentioned previously, the classic style pattern schedules themselves will gravitate folks towards fast and sleek.
How about a max wingspan and/or wing area rule? 800 squares perhaps?
Posts: 5176
Joined: 7/21/2005 From: Greensboro,
NC, USA Status: online
A max wing area is interesting since it could prevent history from repeating itself all over again, i.e., bigger planes lead to more expensive engines which leads to bigger planes and even more expensive engines. Might as well just spend $800 on 1.40 engine/pipe setup and fly current pattern.
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Starting the BPA - 
