We did that years ago and it was a lot of fun.  Sort of an FAI Final's type thing.   We flew the unknown on Sunday and it was as much fun to watch (and see who didn't zero) as it was for the guys to fly.  Back then we were not using the catalog to create the sequence so some of the maneuvers were a little creative and a little crazy.  We might prefer to do a catalog sequence this time if people are interested.  We could also avoid integrated rollers... or not.  Feedback??   The other idea would be to have the FAI pilots that show up pick the pattern ala a finals group on Saturday for us to fly Sunday.

sorry i will not make it, shattered my shoulder blade along with other broken parts after a car hit me while riding my scooter home from work tuesday.

That's awful, Dennis. And a lousy way to get off work, too.
Get well as soon as a guy your age can.
Scott

i'll try it sucks, not even sure if the guy that hit me stopped. haven't got a police report yet. the helmet did it's job, it got cracked and scraped but no head injuries.

I know one pilot that is really looking forward to the combat after hours activities. Are we flying the Bats?


RC

Absolutely! 

Glow sticks last year were fun, but I'm looking forward to the real fireworks this year! dunno if I'll get my foamy ready in time for war (probably not) but looking forward to seeing some improvement to my pattern flying. Hopefully I can control the shakes enough to avoid any zeros.

You were looking much improved today!

Ray

Hi Joe, I to have a problem with nerves and it is getting much better. I have found that if I fly every flight even in practice as if it were a contest flight I'm gaining confidence and my nerves are settling down. Also as my caller is carrying the plane out I take three slow deep breaths to relax and it seems to help me.
We will be coming down Friday afternoon to get the party started early.
See you then Jim

P.S. If anyone is interested I have my Aquila for-sale. It's ready to fly with a a AirTronics receiver and two Zippy 5000 packs for $800

I discovered years ago, avoiding caffeine in the AM helped me.

I agree with Jim about getting into a routine to get yourself ready for a flight. It's probably not real important exactly what it is, just do the same thing so it all feels familliar.
When my helper puts the airplane down I give her a nod, arm the ESC, take a deep breath and get squared up to the center line. I try to do the same turnarounds as in practice and try to recognize that it's just like practice. I try to make the judges vanish until I've landed.

The other thing that Jim hasn't mentioned is that he's been working hard the last few years. Nothing calms the nerves like being prepared.

Scott

Anyone from the Detroit area going that has room for a 2m plane to help get it back to a guy who is interested in buying one of my Winds? I can get it to Cincy, but I can't get it any further easily and I'd really prefer not to ship it.

Thanks,

Arch

Arch, if you're coming you should try to convince Lockhart to make the trip - I know he wasn't thrilled about being only guy from D1, maybe he'll make it...

Joe,

I wont be making it. Dave and I had a long talk, and it is a LONG trip for a weekend. Even though it is a blast, it is a long ride.

Arch

Wow, poll is tied! I won't be judging I've decided, I do not yet have the eye for doing so. That being said, I did call once or twice for the F schedule during practice, and judged a few weeks ago the P schedule. Definitely looks harder to judge the F, especially for those of us in lower classes.

If there is a decent showing of masters pilots to judge, I'd say go for the P and F - the F I understand is quite challenging, but it's really cool (different, unique) to watch.

Has a final decision been made yet on the sequences? Should I practice F this weekend? It would be interesting to watch (and judge) and will spread out the FAI group, but it may exclude some pilots too. I have only flown the proposed F-13 sequence twice, so for me it is still very much a work in progress.

Thanks,

Ray

Holy crap, is that your new plane in your Avatar???

Joe,

No, the new one is larger.

Ray

Not to sound confused but I thought we already stated both in this forum and on the List that we would be flying all P, and possibly a contestant created unknown (per the catalog of maneuvers) if the FAI participants wanted to.   We can change, but I thought the concern was a lack of a stable F pattern.  I have 3...all from the CIAM site.  No clue which one will be voted in.

Mark,

Thank you, did not know about the List (what is it?). It looks like 6 rounds of P-13 with a chance of an interesting unknown.

Thanks,

Ray

The "List" refers to the NSRCA discussion list-serve which is where most of the pattern conversations take place. 

If we toy with an unknown, we need to make sure someone has the current FAI catalog of maneuvers.  Verne??

Sounds like fun!

Mark,

When you talk about the current FAI catalog, is that the FAI Sporting Code for 2011 (easily available) or the proposed one for January 2013? If we were to fly an unknown, my vote would be an impartial IMAC pilot (because of their experience with unknown sequences) use some Aresti software like OLAN to create a nice sequence with similar k-factors to P-13 using maneuvers from the 2011 Sporting Code. That would not only allow everyone (pilots and judges) to have the same printed Aresti sequence and scoresheets, but would help with computer scoring as the maneuvers and k-factors could be preset in a spreadsheet.

Ray

There is a formal process for creating an unknown for FAI that's pretty easy to follow and depending on who shows for FAI, several will be familiar with that and I think expect to fly from that book of maneuvers since that's what they practice for unknowns. 

Regardless, we can do whatever the group wants to do. 

LMAO...we have 14 "Votes" on the P and F debate.  I expect to see 14 FAI pilots this weekend!!!