Well tonight was the night, that the club approved, our proposal to hold what we hope, will be one of the best events of the year. The idea came about at the Phoenix contest and is primarily to introduce some new and old blood back into pattern. The only weekend left that was not on top of another event is the 28th and 29th of April. (Derek we know its close to your contest but we decided if you guys down we will return the favor the next week)

Some of you may of heard a couple complaints about the runway well that is no longer an issue. This problem has been taken care as the club just voted to give it a couple grand worth of TLC in order to have it looking like new for the events coming up. We are also going to open the first two classes up to 50cc planes so hopefully we can draw in a few guys that would like to give it a try. I really encourage everyone to talk it up and lets see what happens. Our goal is to have 40 contestants this year and then build on that.

Fri. is going to be a practice day for some, but more importantly a day that anyone can show up and get some help from some of the best. Guys like, Tony F., Matt Kimbro, Mike Caglia, (hopefully Andrew Jesky) Chris F. myself and many otherswill be available for individual or group coaching. This is going to be a first I believe, and is 100% free. It doesn't matter what brand airplane, radio, engine, motor or batteries you use, one of us will be able to help out and if we cannot I am sure we can make some phone calls. Due to the activity on fri. we are probably going to have two lines going with spotters.

Then as the day is winding down everyone is invited to hang around for a dinner/barbeque at the field. Mike C. said he would be in charge of the drinks so I really encourage you guys to take full advantage of a rare situation. Not to mentiion we will have the pylon course set up and open for practice for the figure 8 Gee Bee racing. A couple Planes will be available to buy at the field but you better not wait until the last minute. (Jacob I am counting on you to get one this is right up your alley)

Sat. will start bright and early and we will need to hustle to get all the flying in before it gets to late. Saturday evening will be a first first for us pattern guys as Kirt Campbell has been nice enough to invite the contest to his place for dinner and swimming. He does this for the IMAC contest and all I heard was how much fun everyone had.

Sunday will be a continuation for most except FAI has the option to fly F13 or stay with the P sequence. Hopefully this will work with the scoring program or we will just have to do it the old fasion way. K factors will not be adjusted since F is higher K but far more difficult so it should average out. I also think we will count the best 2 flights from sat. plus the best from sun.

We will have lunch at the field both days as well as water, soda's and clean restrooms. The Gee Bee, Gold, Silver, and Bronze races will conclude the weekends activities along with the trophy presentation. Believe me when I tell you there has been a lot of thought and effort put into these in order to come up with prizes that are some what unique. Also there will more then just the usual 3 trophies per class given out. Attendance is required to win this so plan on hanging out until the end. Nothing more will be said other then every person, in each class has an equal chance to win his or her class.

More as we get it.

Chip, sounds like a 'bunch-o-fun'!!! Looking forward to the details.

Woodie

I have a concern, last year the powers that be decided to have classic pattern fly with regular pattern and the result was two totalled planes.
If there will be 50-100 cc planes flying at the same time as regular pattern I would like to see the "safety break" used like at IMAC competitions. Food for thought.

No problem, Chip! I hope to be there that weekend... so the question is where? LOL Is this at Bear Mountain?

And there are never mid-airs between current AMA pattern models? I don't see why classic models flying caused the mid-air. Can you explain to me why you think that was the cause of the mid-air?

I think it was because of the big difference in speeds, if you look at car racing, they don't race indy cars with F/production bug eye sprites. My point is about being able to call a safety break if there is a mid-air danger with another plane while we are trying this new format.

In Grand-Am, I believe, they run way different speed cars on the same track at the same time.

I think any time there is more then one model flying no matter the type there is a chance of a mid-air. They happen all the time with "regular" pattern models flying. I had a mid-air in the last round of qualifying at the Nats in 2010 and never saw it coming. Hit the only other Onas flying in the contest.

Sounds like a lot of fun.....lots of contests
Looking forward to attending

Hey guys,

I am glad everyone seems to be responding to the contest and looking forward to it. I want to clarify we are opening it up to 50cc planes only and the thought being they are almost exactly the same size and speed as what were flying now. The main difference will be the weight and sound so I wouldn't think it will cause much of a problem. Careful attention will be taken when assigning the flight orders and classes that fly together. I am going to discuss this with a few people and get back to you with a definite response on the "Break" question.

I can say this much and its just my opinoun. First, I have flown a fair amount of IMAC and I have yet to see someone use the "Break option" however I know it is used. Second, I personally, would not allow classic planes to fly with todays pattern planes, for some reason it just seems like it would be a problem. I know it probably shouldn't be but I think it is. Besides our contests are no where near large enough to need to do it. We were concidering adding classic but with all the commitments that we have recieved already having another event would just be to much.

I do have a couple of things to add.

1. The runway is going to be spectacular. We walked it off today and decided to replace the outer half so the whole runway will be like new.

2. Lunch will be cooked at the field Sat. (Mexican Food) and Sun. Pizzas will be delivered. A new restaurant opened near by so I tried it out and really liked it. Started talking to the owner and it turns out he has a side business that does events like ours, so it worked out perfect for the pattern and IMAC contest.

3. Gee Bee Race - still working out the details but heres what we have so far. It will be a 2 pylon course to be flown in a figure 8 pattern. You will not get a zero for calling "Break" however you will be disqualified and asked to get off the course. Also there will be no flying above the pylons. We will have a flying start from a countdown clock and a colored strip will be added to the planes in order to ID them.

More Later

C

Chip - This sounds like "tons 'O' Fun" and I, and I think many of the Nor-Cal crowd, will be attending! Thanks for setting this up!

Just want to say this about the Gee Bee race, since bringing mine down to Bear Mountain probably got the ball rolling. I think racing is a great idea. I think racing a Figure 8 is not such a great idea. The Gee Bee is not fragile, but when it breaks it is very hard to replace parts like the stabs or the wing. Replacing the wing is a major job and you'll never get it looking right again. So let's race but let's try to keep the carnage down just a bit.

Please, more details on the Gee Bees, website link ??

Here's a pic of one. They are the E-Flite UMX Gee Bee with the AS3X gyro system. They fly great! Here's a link to them,

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...ology-EFLU4580

How the heck do you see those in the air? I have a hard enough time with a 2m.. I'll be watching, or trying to watch that race I guess. Maybe I can get Lasik before then. haha

C

Very short course flown over the runway. Should be a blast! I'll have my Gee Bee at Victorville for anybody to fly to try it. At least if you fly the right mode!

Sounds like a lot of fun guys. I don't know if I'll have airplanes by then, but I hope the idea really takes off!

Come up for the Gee Bee race, at the least and we could always use you as a judge for Masters and F3A. Also the Sat. night party at Kirt's house is a must. BTW as of last weekend he is officially off the market. Kirt proposed to Andrea (I hope that I spelled that right) and she said yes. Not sure on the date yet but from what they told me its going to be one heck of a party.

As for the figure 8 course, I guess we can use that in the Gold Race only. I am sure we will do some testing between now and then to get a better handle the number of laps and how big of course to run. I am sure we will get it figured out. BTW Chris F., I have already ordered your plane so get Lasik your flying. Derek and Jon don't laugh they come in lots of 3 so you guys are in as well LOL Remember its all in fun.

We are also going to have the noon demos put on by one of the best 3D Heli Pilots in the world. I spoke with Dave Dahl, Kyles Dahl's father today and he told me their calender was open on our date so he should be able to attend. The coolest part is he has been flying airplanes lately and has a 50cc Slick so he can enter the contest as well.

I am going to go checkout a few hotels in the next couple days and will get that info posted. And last but certainly not least Mike and Jean if your out there can you PM me your number, I have asked several people for it and no luck.

C

What mode is the "right" mode? Guess I'm out on that one..

C

In looking at the Gee Bee plane - does it come in a provide your own RX and fly mode or is it only bind-n-fly?

Chris F, don't you fly Mode 5, you know the one with the on-off switch in the middle?

Woodie

Hope this is not too far off subject, does anyone know when the 2012 contest results will be posted on the D7 website ?

Chip I wish I lived closer. Sounds like a lot of fun!

The Gee Bee only comes in a bind and fly. The micro receiver is a unit that has the rudder and elevator servos, the ESC, the 3-axis gyro and the RX all on one micro board. No way to hook up a separate RX. You Futaba guys would have to get a DSM2 module or a Spektrum or JR DSM2 capable TX. Here's a link to a really low cost one that will fly the Gee Bee and other bind-n-fly models well.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...ode-2-SPMR5510

Desertrider - The contest results will be posted on the website very soon! I am working on them.

Thanks,

Thanks Tony... I was looking on the Horizon site for the TX modules but they are out of stock on them. I may have to get the DX5E instead...