Ryan, your 3rd round flight was perhaps the best flying I've ever witnessed! Everything was silky smooth and you certainly had that little Killer K singin a song dude! Awesome flying, it was a pleasure to talk with you, and an honor to judge with you during the 4th round on Sunday. Makes us "average joe" types feel very humble indeed!

Ryan,

I am never impressed, only if someone does not like my picture I do delete that.

The story is nice to reaad, does me think about the early days.

Cees

Ryan, the score says it all. You placed forth in expert flying a plane you had very little time on and flying a pattern you never flew!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I only dream of doing that!! great job Ryan, enough said. Pete

I prefer the term... friend

Gents,

I will explain you the joke, the way I did see it.

I do see a”top pilot” and I read a long story, cutting away as most as possible of his plane to win the game, and it was fun.
Later I do see a member removing color of the pictures with that plane, to be better.
I am the inventor and remove a complete person.

What was bad on that? Winning the game in cutting away?

Because we do have another way of humor I did remove the complete pictures (even that!) , nearly nobody did see it, and so what is still the problem? But how can we bring a joke, to write “Warning, this is a joke?” even that isn’t understood.

We are not as bad as you think do not forget that, impressed also not. I design anything I want to win and do not need an example to make a duck.

Cees, always starts to be a friend but there are limits.

Cees,

I don't think any limits have been exceeded here in commentary. I also think it is understood your intentions were with the intent of humor although perhaps inappropriately directed.

It would be nice to leave this thread uncontaminated and with the good spirits and tales of all those who attended this fun SPA event.

My thoughts, David.

Let me just echo your thoughts, David.
Please do just that.
Ed

I agree with you Ed. This is all getting too complicated. Engine, spinner, prop in front, tank next, receiver and battery, servos, pushrods, control surface's, switches, take off, do the stuff, then land. What's wrong with that?

Crank.

Jason,

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience preparing and flying the Kaos. Most interesting is how successful you were with the Kaos and a very cost effective little two stroke. Your setup is certainly a perfect example of the vision Mickey had for SPA. As most RCers follow the example set by the winner, maybe your example will make people realize they don’t have to hack the heck out of their aircraft to cram an ill fitting $370 boat anchor in the nose.

Ryan certainly doesnt have to take a backseat to anyone in this hobby. He won Masters at the US Nats a few years ago which is a very impressive accomplishment. Not only is he a great pilot, but he is an even better person. I think Jason would easily second those statements.

Great job Ryan,

Arch

No worries...it actually was a kind of dark humor that I relate tokind of like the blimp picture in another thread I saw recently.

To echo 8178this plane could be completely built and outfitted for the same cost as a good trainer. This is not the norm in any other pattern discipline and provides a lot of potential SPA participation. This is not to say that one couldn't spend as much as one wanted to have a tricked out plane, but it isn't necessary. I think that the judges can put aside that consideration as well as who the person flying the plane is and score what they see in the air.

Good times.

Ryan

Thanks Mike. Since this was Ryan's idea, I'm not taking credit for going with a Kaos/55 combo. I had my heart set on an Ugly Stick 40 with the 55...lol. The Kaos did have a 61, but we knew that the 55 could fly it if it was light enough and drink less fuel (less than a gallon the whole weekend total). Ryan believes (as do I) that a light plane (at 5lbs) can perform just as well with the 55 as the 7-8lb planes with a 91. We didn't have the speed of the 91's, but we were able to get through the Expert pattern just fine. One thing we never did do was mess with props so we're not sure if the 12x6 was the best choice, but that was what was on it. Neither of us wanted to drop much money on this attempt as we weren't sure if we'd enjoy it enough to go all out. For me, it was worth everything we did, but with my busy other pattern life, I don't see much SPA flying anytime soon... heck, I can't even get to a BPA contest. But we talked a bunch on the way home and we don't see why this can't be a standard set-up for the Novice and Sportsman pilots... and a few brave Expert pilots...

Seconded...lol. Good thing Ryan doesn't sweat the small stuff.

Jeff Owens OS .55AX powered Compensator has been proving that point all year in Expert class. Lots of strong 2S .60's are alive and doing well in SPA competition. The OS .91 4S is quite popular, quite powerful, quite heavy, and quite expensive. You really don't have to have one to be competitive .... it's 80% (or more) pilot and 20% (or less) airplane that gets you the good scores.
Ed

JAS....truthfully, which was more fun, the SPA contest or your normal F3A stuff? I just do not see the F3A pattern as much fun to fly anymore.
When you talk to Chip, tell him Jeff said Hey. I flew UAVs with in Israel back in 2007

See what Jason and the Kaos can do > [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWx9UBY22PY[/link]

Jeff... there are 2 answers to this.

The patterns: FAI. I just like the challenge of the sequences in FAI better.
The social aspect: SPA. I went there to have fun, there was no pressure or worries about what I did flying wise. And seeing old friends (all you young guys) and making new ones was great.

I had forgotten that Jeff had a 55 in his Compensator. If a plane is built light the 55 is a perfect choice to fly SPA. Even AMA for that matter.

Very good video but not pattern flying, maybe a transition from pattern to 3D yes.

I do. even a third[sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif][sm=punching.gif]

gary

Rafa,
Please don't misunderstand. This was not intended to be pattern flying. It was intended to show what a '70's plane ..... not intended for 3D ..... could do in the hands of a highly skilled pilot like Jason.
Most of us would not have believed that a Kaos could accomplish this 3D type flying. Jason was basically showing off for us after the pattern contest was over.
Oh, the Kaos (in Jason's hands) can fly the SPA pattern too ...... he won the Expert class with it.
Ed

Ed you could win with a Kaos too It's not a bad airplane and the .55AX ought to be the "official" engine of SPA! It sure seems to be "about right" compared to the original set ups. Watch out...I might just give the Kaos a go myself next season!

One more thing I did want to add is a special thank you to Duane Wilson for introducing us to SPA. He has done a lot to promote the grouphe even went as far as to loan Joe Walker and myself his plane last year in Indiana. He has helped me in particular understand how it all works and I think you guys are lucky to have him as a champion for the sport.

Thanks again and see you all next year!

Ryan

I think Jason could win with a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood if it had a big enough motor!

I would hope I would be disqualified

No you wouldn'tplywood was designed before 1976 and you could always cut it out to look like a duck!!

lol... but it's not on the list