I heard only 19 flyers for this event, no compition for Q.

Actually there were 35. Quique won by 4 points over Szczur.

Whats that mean?

Congratz to Andy and Kurt....(and all the other NC guys!). You guys rock!

Looks like it was a great contest and show. Andy should be winning these things pretty soon....

Pugs

How many of flyers at the Master are professional pilots? Or ones that making a living flying? I think Quique Somenzini, Jasen, Chip, are the best there is. Don Szczur might be considered professional as well.
In other sports we have professional, they do not compete with the Amateur
With the Top 4 places how many have a full time jobs that has nothing to do with RC.
I love to watch them fly against each other, but they are in a league of there own.

I can tell you that the guy who came in 5th place has a full time job that has nothing to do with RC. Its called high school!
Andrew Jesky.

NIce Job Andrew and to everyone that competed.

I have been following Andrew he is a great flyers. After the first round he had 814
Q 995.
My point kids like Andrew should not have to fly against the PRO,s. If they were not there he would of won.

Hmm.

My point was that Andrew is a pro even though he is a full time student.
I know Andrew wouldnt have wanted to win against a bunch of no namers.

He competes with the best because he is one of them.

Quique, Jason, and Chip the best??

There are a lot of great pilots out there besides these guys. A few that come to mind are Frazer Briggs ( I love this guys flying style), Garrett Morrison (I mean if you are the demo pilot at TOC how much better do you want to get?), I also love the 1999 TOC freestyle routine by Sebastion Silvesto (I cant spell that one very good).

One of the smoothest pilots I have ever seen is John Glezelis. He won the XFC this year and was a demo pilot at last years TOC. Get the video of the XFC and check him out. I belive he is one of the up and comming pilots of the future. I believe anyone who can fly at that level of expertise be it Chip, Jason, John, Garret , or Qui QUi. will be sponsored and have the oportunity to make a living in this Sport/Hobby. But, I do not think they should be seperated out from the rest of us.

I totally agree.
Dont forget Jon Leyland. He is on the same track

Yeah I know how it is to have school and try to fly alot. it has ben like a month since i have practiced.

Andrew Jesky is good.

Out of the top 5, only 1 flies models for a living. Don Szczur is an electrical engineer for AT&T I think, Mark Leesburg is a student and also flies full size aircraft as a part time job, Ivan is retired I think, and Andrew Jesky is in high school. Quique is the only person out of those who I think makes his living from R/C (but I'm not 100% sure on that either).

Trying to take anything away from these guys simply because they might have more chance to practice than others is just flat wrong.

You said it Doug. I dont think there are enough paying contests or generous sponsors to support many true "professionals". The closest I have seen so far are the designer engineers like Mike McConville and Dave Patrick, but really they make thier money selling airplanes not flying them.

The average person flying, has no sponsors, if he puts one in its going to cost him $6000 or $7000 to get back in the air of which all comes out of his pocket. For alot of people that puts them out for the year with building time and such.
They have alot of advantage over someone who has no backing.
There is alot more to it than just flying time.

So you are saying 'they' are better pilots because they have backing??

I thought it was the other way around. They have backing because 'they' are the better pilots!

Anyway, I think you are confusing the word 'sponsored' with 'profesional'. I don't think there are guys that make a living by just flying RC. They may get free or highly discounted stuff but putting food on the table is a completly different matter. I might be wrong though.

Stratos.-

I think what Lucas is trying to say is that if there is a pretty good pilot out there whom is not sponsored by 50 different companies that has potential to one day be in the rankings with the big dogs, he takes a great finacial loss when he plows a plane under. Crashing the plane can set him back for a few months at the least and he may never get to be as good as the big shots b/c of that.

As far as the sponsored pilots being better??
A top dog sponsored pilot once told me that the companies are not looking for the winner. They are looking for a guy with pretty good talent who places in the top 3 or so everytime. The key is the pilots attitude. They would rather have someone who is #3 whom is approachable, hangs out with the right crowd, and plays the social game than #1 who kicks @$$ picks up his awards and goes home without the small talk.

To go one further.. MOST sponsors would rather you come in last place and be the guy everyone turns to when they need help and support, than the guy who wins everything and is unapproachable. I was told long ago by Horizon, to go out there, and do my best, but that my personality and helpfulness is why I was on the team. People need to remember that sponsorship puts you in the marketing business. What you do reflects upon your sponsors.

While people who have no sponsors have it harder financially, we were all there at one time or another. We've all paid our dues. You can count on one hand how many people make their living here in the USA from flying r/c airplanes.

I think that is why Quiqui is a crowd favorite.....he is very good at the sticks, and is a nice guy to talk to. I think, even though I have never met him, that Don is the same. He does wonderful write ups about the events he attends, and offers lot's of help on the mailing list. Great guys.....

Andy is also a nice guy. He helped me at a local contest (pattern) and was a big part of my 2nd place finish.

Kurt is NC IMAC Vice Pres and a great guy also. He has helped me a lot over the last year with IMAC questions, and judging training.

I think it is great to see guys that I know and talk to (and fly with) competing with the likes of Quiqui and Jason. I hope that one day I can get the chance to qualify for the Masters and fly with the "PROS" as well....I think it would be a hoot....

Keep in mind, Don was winning this event until the Freestyle......

I think the Masters is the only TOC like event that we have for the time being.

I am not counting the XFC at this time because it is an invitational event, and not one that you need to qualify for.

Pugs

I used to fly in Millis Ma with John Glezelis and his dad. Trust me he has put his share of models in that he built and paid for on his own before being sponsored. I would say most sponsored modelers have put in more planes that they have paid for than most of us have ever flown.

so what are final standings,i cannot find them anywhere,as well as the points

Well, I'm flattered to be called professional...

But if its what it takes to be competitive, I think that I'm further on the end of the scale that defines a sport flyer.

Load the plane in my 1994 Ford Taurus in the morning on the way to work, drive an hour (Washington DC traffic). Work all day(EE/manufacturing engineer for AT&T), race out to the flying field after work (1 1/2 hour drive) pull the plane out, quickly assemble and get between 1 and 3 flights in before sunset. Normally help a flyer or two set up their plane, test fly or socialize. Go home, stop off and get a gallon or two of 100:1 mix, unload the car, put the plane on charge (thank goodness the FC Extra is maintenance free) and eat, play with the kids, study an unknown and crash to bed to start the cycle all over again. Have not watched TV for entertainment in about 5 years.

But...I love the competition, pilots and friends met throught the hobby.

Don

Here's the results of the finals. Best 4 of 6 rounds of Known carried into the final score (35%), as did the best unknown (50%). The freestyle also counted (15 % of score).

Hi Don - I've been following your write ups on the imac list and here - thanks for sharing. One questions - You fit your 40% extra in your wagon? I have a honda wagon that I'd like to try that with soon. - Do you have to take the rudder off?
thanks,
jon

Just to give credit where it is due...........did anyone notice that there was ONLY a 4 point spread between Quique and Don.........!!!!!!!!!

Great flying Don, it was a pleasure to watch you and all the others fly.