ORIGINAL: lindyq

Blake,
The good news is, you have some hellagood thumbs and you are going to be very competitive in the expert class, and would be with your Kaos. I got to watch up close and personal this weekend (Blake and I called for each other), and you've got the goods as a pilot first and foremost.

I do believe that the best pilots are the best, and would agree with the comment that it is possible that both Hanno and Wolfgang would have been great if the planes were swapped. I also believe that these pilots and designers didn't do stuff by accident. Kirkland, Prettner, Lowe, Matt, Bridi, were very much trying to design planes not to fly good, but to fly great, world championship great. That's why I as I have thought in terms of planes I wanted to compete in SPA with I have looked at the Champions, both National and World.

I have flown a Compensator, a Curare, and an Atlas on the list you have. I know I told you that for me, I have never had my hands on anything like the Curare. It should be noted here that my love affair with that plane dates back some 30 years or more, and it got my vote on your poll. I was super impressed with my dad's Atlas, I just didn't get a chance to fly it much before it's untimely demise. I would say your top two vote getters would be my two choices. I really liked the Compensator with the two stroke, but wasn't as sure with the four stroke. Just my opinion, but it seemed to like the 2 stroke better to me, which means it should remain a real option for you.

A friend of mine from the Gluedobbers, Bill Cunningham, had a great deal of success with a Deception, I remember watching him practice, it was so captivating. So, your back to what a lot of folks have said here, you have a great list of airplanes to choose from. And I will say again, you are a very talented pilot that will likely make any of these planes work extremely well. I look forward to flying with you and against you, all of us will have to step up our game!

So, to wrap up this eternal post, lol, go with your gut, bro. If you've picked up anything your list is full of top notch airplanes, so trust that thing inside you that points you to a plane., build it straight, as light as you can, and burn a ton of fuel practicing. My dad has been extremely successful in building really light airplanes, his Atlas was right at 6 1/2 pounds, as was my Curare. Any thoughts you might want on building light, he would have some great input. Hope to see you in a couple of weeks.

Lindy<br type=''_moz'' />