Top Gun 2017 ?
 

Any news from Top Gun 2017 ?

I heard Lance Campbell's HABU will likely. Sweep the medal stand

Boy, times have changed. Not long ago these events would be on thread page 6, now not much of anything during events. To easy to Facebook it I and twitter i guess.

All BVM F-16's. Visit the BVM F-16 jockeys page and you have TG pretty much covered.

I sincerely cannot distinguish between Florida Jets and Top Gun. Seems like one is a repeat of the other, plus a few props here and there.

David

Hummmmm

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/01...G?v=1494235589

Do these look like F-16s ?

By the way, congratulations to Lance and Jerry for their second place in Expert class.
99.125 in static scoring is great. However, being the runner-up at the first ever Top Gun participation is nothing short of an achievement!

And of course, congratulations to you, jack! Your consistency and dedication are paying again!

So who won?

Which division?

Good point, forgot there are a bunch. Is there an overall?

Hi Dave.
Quite honestly, you are completely wrong here, on both statements.

Regarding the spirit of the events:
Having been at both events, there is nothing to compare about them.
FJ is a meeting, TG is a competition.

Both events are fun and an occasion for friends to meet and chat, but TG has a certain amount of competitiveness that makes it a lot more interesting.
It is quite fascinating to see the results/ marks coming down and watching people discussing about it and adjusting their flight routine/ techniques accordingly.
Also witnessing static judging is really interesting especially from a designer point of view.

In terms of planes diversity, this is also completely different.
There are about 50% of prop driven planes at TG and 50% of jets.

For competitors using kit derived planes:
Pro Jets had 17 competitors, vs 9 in Pro Props and 15 in Sportsman. Sportsman had 10 prop planes and 5 jets ( 22 jets vs 19 props ).
I counted only 2 F-16 engaged in the competition.
The rest was 4 x T-33, 3 x L-39, 3 x Cougars, 1x MB 339, 1 x F-104, 1 x F-18, 1 x Hunter, 1 x F-15 and an amazing XB-70 Valkyrie EDF.
All extremely detailed kits and expertly flown. Just watching the levels of details added to these kits while wandering in the stands is amazing.

Then you've got Masters, Experts, unlimited and team categories with some truly unique planes like the SR-71/ M-21.
This year, Jack Diaz won in Expert followed by Lance with his SR-71.
Note that both the Fouga and the SR-71 scored above 99% in static judging, which is quite rare. For example, last year highest static scoring was achieved by Peter Goldsmith with his F-104 at 98.5.

These categories also feature about 50% prop planes.
All of these are expertly flown and easy to stare at from within the competitors tents.

I have always a great pleasure wandering in the tents and asking questions. All competitors I have met have always been friendly and available to answer my questions.

Also, a lot of people are saying that scale competition is dying.
Well consider the fact that this year, Top Gun registered 50 new entries out of 250 competitors.

RCU forumers might show little interest in Top Gun, but I think that it is more of a problem linked to RCU than one linked to Top Gun...

The number of different categories is a bit mind numbing. Out of those 50 new competitors, how many of them built their airplanes? Scale competition IMO is not about buying an ARF and flying it. I know Frank is trying very hard to evolve Top Gun with the changing hobby, but to me it feels strange.

I think that Frank is doing the right thing.
He is adapting the competition to the realities of the market.

I find it very good for us, manufacturers.
Why?
Because these competitions will highlight the accuracy, quality and aerodynamics characteristics of the models made by the companies.
You bring a crap Chinese ARF to TG, you'll get a bad static scoring, low reliability, average flying dynamics and won't have a chance to win.

Companies that invest a crap load of money to bring to the market unique models like the SR-71 that scored 99.125 at the first presentation and finished second, get rewarded. That seems fair to me and essential to promote quality products. The RC market is dying. Frank is one of the persons who acts to bring some fresh oxygen to it.

Thank you, Frank.

One. Lance.

What he and Jerry achieved is even more outstanding because it was their first presentation at a scale competition ever.
The USA has a real champion here.

You are right there was also an SR-71 (or A12) and Jack Diaz' Magister. I'm sure there were other non-F-16's here and there.

The Overall winner as Mr Top-Gun was won by Jack Diaz...

Congratulations Jack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry man, spent a lot of time yesterday looking at a bunch of pictures from TG. Again, other than a few props here and there, seems like it was the same models and same folks. I don't have anything against that, just calling it the way I see it. Lot's of ARF F-16, L-39, Cougars............Lance was probably the exception by a large margin, and the prop guys.

And definitely saw a lot of BVM trophy pictures yesterday, along Jack Diaz' Magister and a few of CARF B-2 and SR-71 shots. But definitely lots of BVM coverage on social media, which is most of what non-competitors follow, specially since no one cares to post about it on the two main R/C sites. Perhaps others saw differently. Perhaps there's just not a lot of interest anymore.

I'm afraid my opinion stands, although I can understand a competitor (or a manufacturer) may see it differently.
David

Top Gun is deliberately an "invitational". Frank states in the rulebook:
"It is aimed at the contestant who is already considered somewhat of an expert in this field."
That means that the same experts competing are likely guys we hear about often, represent Hobby companies, or are professional RC pilots. That is not a large crowd. And I'll wager at the higher categories such as "expert"
it brings out the best of the best which is the intent of Top Gun.
For the rest of the modeling public, there is the Pro Am category. There were a ton of new participants and models. Therefore, it seems there is a ton of interest in participating. I feel the only reason it isn't way bigger is the location in central FL. It is really not reasonably accessable for many folks in the lower 48.

I went to TG once and never looked back. It seems a little boring once you
go the first time. As usual you'll see the same people with the same planes.


hmarmaizmd717

After years of competing I must say TopGun was the biggest its ever been and could not have been any bigger unless you add more days. Its is jam packed with all the classes flying their rounds. Next year I am pretty sure it will be an extra day since Frank is adding a new class for juniors. I am very much looking forward to this class since my son will be flying in this class and we are already working on his scale flying routine.

The proAm classes are good also because its a good way to get people involved in scale flying. It will take you a few years learning before you do well. Some like me love to build but I only have so much time with 6 kids so taking a good solid ARF and doing the paint work and rework to make it look right is the way to go. Unfortunately allot the the Chinese ARFS have a very poor scale outline and no matter how much you mod them and make them look good they will have no chance in static judging.

This year I was fighting the FLU for the last 2 weeks so it put a damper on my pics and walking around seeing everyone. Its just good to see scale flying is GROWING and you see more and more young pilots.

+1

Oli, I'm sure there were a few more. One that comes to mind is Tony Quist with his P51 from an old FibreClassics kit. he got a massive score on his last flight too!... And thanks for your post describing top gun

I always love reading the comments here how people bash competitors... it is the same as Fl Jets, People don't build, blah blah blah...
Get your ass there, stand in front of 2 judges that will criticize even the way you breathe, in front of hundreds if not thousands of people, with 4 more planes in the air (not following a pattern like in fl jets) of different flying eras, doing the maneuvers you have to do, when you have to do them, while telling it to the judges... And then the end is decided by a few hundreds of a point...

But it is much easier to sit here and self reinforce your mediocrity instead of pushing yourself to be better at this hobby which I think we all love

End of rant :)

Thanks Jack, This was my first Top Gun and it was with a prop not a jet. It was a great experience. For me nothing topped Lance's first high speed pass on the deck. He had everyones attention after that.

A lot of people don't post on the RCU anymore because of the trolls. On Facebook you don't have to deal with that as much.

Tony I saw your last flight score well done!

I also just do everything on facebook. For me this hobby is fun and not sure why their are so many negative people and just all out haters.

I could not agree more!!!! It gave me goosebumps!!! That high speed pass was without a doubt, the most realistic RC display I've ever seen. Hard to describe