Hello, JR;
Even though we butt heads often, I appreciate your calm and reasoned approach to this topic.
Yes, there are actually two incidents that are involved here.
One he experienced himself, and he asked some straight-forward questions asking for simple answers. I answered his questions as simply and accurately as I could: words to the effect that if I were a contestant in his place, I would have done about the same as he described: go to the CD and voice my concern, perhaps leave the contest (depending on the severity), etc.
However, Jim chose to bring the thread involving the Bear flight over from the Usenet news group, and most of his accusations and ... stem from there. I DO believe he has the two mixed up in his own mind, I certainly do not.
However, in NONE of the discussion, based on EITHER incident have I ever espoused the position that Jim has tried to paint me with.
As to the issue of suspending a contest to allow a FIRST flight test is, as I think I have made adequately clear, NOT something I would condone. And while some might argue that this could be done (I would not argue that way), it is a clear violation of the Safety Code, both letter and spirit.
As to Sandy's actions regarding the Torrey Pines issue: I have not researched the timeline, but my recollection is that he simply passed on what had been e-mailed to all AMA members by AMA HQs. My recollection (it may be wrong and I'll research this) is that he did that essentially coincident with the e-mail, not a long time later. However, as you know, many folks will not see a Usenet posting for many days after it is made, and if the posting has timely information in it, the readers may react far too late. Again, I will look at the time line of this and post it for all to see.
As to his intentions: I cannot say what they are since I have not asked him that question. If I may be presumptuous, I will say that it was simply to get the word out to a larger audience than the e-mail reached, or perhaps into an audience that seems willing to act more than the average Joe Flightpack. However, that is just my presumption, knowing the man as I do.
As to my relationship with Sandy: he is the VP of District VIII. I am an AVP, the D-8 webmaster, the CL/FF Contest Coordinator, a CD a Leader Member,... and a good friend of Sandy's. Consequently, he talks to me a lot. Certainly not about everything, but many things. I have no problem with folks asking me if I know anything, but when the question smacks of "conspiracy" and is asked in a public forum such as this, I tend to react with scorn since it appears to be a bashing instead of an actual search for information. So be it. Anybody want to contact me privately, I can be reached through this forum, not to mention my e-mail address is posted in about a jillion other places on the 'net.
I will gladly be Sandy's "Representative" as far as I can, but you have to let me be the judge of where "as far as" takes us.
Regards,
Bill Lee
Originally posted by J_R
Bill
In reading the previous posts, I was under the impression that what Jim posted was not about the 'bear' incident at all. I was under the impression that it was something that happened to Jim in a real life contest he was involved in. If he was, indeed, talking about the 'bear' incident, I could see where you would take a different approach to the question. I hope Jim will clear this up. Maybe we all look for conspiracies when there are none.
I saw the issue as involving two parts. First, does the CD have the right to suspend a contest and resume it later. I think one could make a case for that based on the reasoning that it is done often, for instance, to facilitate a passing storm. I think that to do so for the first flight of a new plane is a stretch of that authority and reflects on the quality of the CD.
The second part, that of allowing the first flight of a new plane with the contestants present, is an entirely separate issue. That appears to me to be a violation of the Safety Code. That would, in my opinion, subject the CD to possible sanctions rather than just having poor judgment in suspending the contest.
As to your conspiracy argument, I must admit to subscribing to that as well. I view you as a Representative of Sandy Frank and I often engage you in debate on forums because of that. I will no longer do that.
I have a question about Sandy Frank's intention's when he openly encouraged modelers, world wide, to write to the City of San Diego, and to 'sign' the petition, after the City had already sided with the Torrey Pines Gulls. I could see no useful reason for him to do this. I will now, however, post it as an open question to him in another thread.
JR