ROFL! My "no BS approach"? Okie dokie then, here's my thoughts. BS free
If you want to get better, the Finesse will be great. it will fly much better than the planes you have currently, and it's primary design is of the wind tracking variety. It's a "tracker" like the Prophecy, just a little smaller. That's why the wings are so thin, it's made to fly like a bat out of hell and penetrate. If you fly it, prop it with a steep pitch and fly it that way. if you try and slow it down like some of the fatter current designs, it'll mush on you. Don't screw around with fixed gear, hook up those retracts and pull em in! (they are legal in sportsman starting next month BTW).
The TT pro 120 is a decent engine, I had one myself. I only found it lacked the super low idle that I liked, but it won't matter much on that plane. You may have to play with the pump and mixture to get it right though, it's not quite plug-and-play like the OS engines, but it's MUCH less of a headache than a YS. Of course if you have RVP close by, you may be just fine with a YS, he knows a few things about them.
Allrighty with that being said, this plane will make you better and you can even get your feet wet in competition. With enough fuel and a windy contest, you even have a better than average shot at winning in sportsman. Burn fuel and ask questions, don't be afraid to hit those guys up for input. If you don't, I will for you [>:]
Now with that being said, COMPETE!!!!! By ALL means go and compete as much as you can, and I mean 2005. You will be suprised how much everybody sucks under pressure, sometimes it's humorous. Heck I fly advanced and still feel like I suck. Every pilot worth his salt feels like he sucks and isn't ready sometimes...it means he's driven and paying attention. These are the guys that will be a handful one day. The only difference between you and the top guys at the Nats? Time and fuel, and some good coaching....and the willingness to listen and know when you're getting good advise, then having the cajones to do something about it. Even if you think it doesn't feel right...usually the fix to a problem feels VERY awkward at first. But believe me: you will learn more at one contest than you will flying 6 months at your local field, even with a good coach. Competition pushes you to fly better than you ever have before, and you learn SO much. You may think your loops rock, but you keep getting 5s and 6s....why? You'll find out, along with how to fix it.
And of course, if recent history holds true, you WILL need a 2 meter plane to compete "seriously" in D3, but maybe not in sportsman...no way to tell until teh season starts, you can't see sportsman guys coming...just BANG there they are. Don't let these other guys BS you, especially the upper guys who haven't actually had to fly these current schedules in this district. The competition down here can be downright bloodthirsty, but ya know what? It's bloodthirsty in a GOOD way. Everybody is friendly and talks a little smack with a laugh sometimes, when it gets intense and tight going into the last round, your opponent will be ever so happy to give you encouraging words like "ya know, I don't wanna put any pressure on you, but....if you choke, you lose. Just one dropped wing and you're beat. Don't blink. Oh yeah, and everybody's watching". Hehe. I'm sure that aggrivates some of the "nicest guys in pattern" (you know who I mean) but the truth is, when you're standing there going through it, you get it...you understand, and if you don't absolutely live for it, well there's always sport flying and last place
The truth is only the people that can truly appreciate that sort of thing ever get dragged into it, be them 14 or 70, I have seen them ALL talk that smack, laugh, tease, choke under fire, or rise up and take the moment...and believe me, they get WARMLY congratulated by the other guys in thier class. And then everybody takes forever to leave after the contest, and can't WAIT till the next one. And you hear about us psychopaths flying in 12 degree weather with 1 inch of ice on the ground, 40 MPH wind, between rain showers, because we love it so much. None of us were this dedicated before competition, now we're all hardcore and loving it...and some of the best pilots you'll find, getting better all the time.
by the time you get to intermediate, you WILL need a full tilt 2 meter plane if you want the gold in these parts. The Arresti is good (but pay attention to Bob's mods), the Focus 2 is awesome, and the Icepoint....hang on the jury hasn't come in yet on that one. It looks very Japanese in nature, like the Tai Ji series. Of course down the road if you're a builder, I may have something special up my sleeve
But if you have the Finesse, build it and fly it, then drop some cash in fuel for practice...then as SOON as you can, step up and get a 2 meter, because when you do you'll know what you've been missing all this time. But most importantly, get in the air and practice, and get you some time in front of judges...if you go to one of the contests I'll be attending, I'll coach and call for you myself. I'll be at Ocala and Pensacola for sure, and Jacksonville later in the year. A lot of the others too, but those are the Florida ones I know I'll be attending.
Good luck, get out there and fly!!
-Mike