Want to wish all the pilots in Muncie, good luck and good weather.

Any updates through the week are greatly appreciated.

Pilot numbers, standings, placings at end, etc etc.

Special extra flying skills to all the District 6 pilots!!!!!!!!

Ed

AMA has been doing a nice job of posting scores and pictures. Check out: Nats News

Are there any daily scores being put up anywhere else? The NATS NEWS isn't showing anything for pattern so far.

I heard that Chip zeroed both his flights on Monday, this will probably keep him from making the finals. One zero was from engine problems and the other was because he didn't have his name tag on. Jim

I understand he filed a protest and they allowed the one flight. Sorry to hear he crashed another Double Vision in practice. I understand the stab came loose.

I'm glad that they allowed the protest and allowed Chip his flight. I think that some of the rules at the Nats are ticky tack.
Isn't that the 2nd Double Vision that he's crashed so far that is related to structural failure? Mike

It's good to hear something as stupid as not having a name tag on would keep the best RC pilot in the US from having a chance at the Nats. Someone made a good decision. Jim

For what's it's worth I talked to my friends at the Nats and there are a number of contestants that are pretty upset about the ruling to allow Chips flight to count. It was stated to me that it's like the Jordan rules being enacted. Also Chip didn't fly in the 2nd round on Tues. due to high winds.

I doubt at the World Champs he will be given the same generosity if he forgets to wear his bib

I guess you could make a case for rules are rules. Even if they are petty and seemingly unimportant if they are rules for all then the penalty's should be the same for all. I think the real problem here is having a rule that disqualifies one for not having their name tag on. What's it prove? It's a contest with a hundred guys flying toy airplanes. Chill out! If you win or lose it doesn't really change your life does it? But hey that's just my opinion and I could be wrong. Mike

Its a convience thing for the judges, they dont have to ask you your pilot number, they just look up see what number you are write it on the sheet and go.

Asking every pilot (probably more than once) what his pilot number is for each flight would get very annoying for both pilots and judges. As someone who has sat in a couple of judging chairs in the Muncie heat, its nice to just see the number and get on with the flight.

A precedent has been set, anytime someone now forgets their number and protests it, they should be allowed to keep the round.

For some people, winning is EVERYTHING. The name tag rule was obviously put in place for a reason. Wether you disagree with the rule or not, you need to follow it until such time as it is changed or removed. There should be no allowance made just because someone is good or bad.

Would the same protest be upheld for the pilot in last place?

I believe it would have been upheld for last place guy or I want to believe this. Every rule does have a reason, but this is not the PGA, and there is not $millions$ at stake. I understand that for the top guys they do get sponsored, but does anyone think that Chip would not get sponsored because of this.

I would rather allow the ruling and come in last than win on a technicality as this - would be no pride in that for me.

Just a side thought, why didn't one of the judges just say, "hey Chip (or Flier if it was not Chip) you need your bib". This is a contest about flying not dress codes. Plus, this is a Sport/Hobby where helping people is the norm.

But hey, it will make for good scandelistic beer conversations for the days to come.

As everyone else - just my opinion.

At the same time.. this isn't the 1st time Chip's ever been to the Nats. He knows the drill. I don't really want to keep dragging Chip around on this because it's not really about him in the broad spectrum.. It's about rules. Rules that apply to everyone.

If a rule is in place.. you follow it until such time as the rule is removed or changed. Simple as that.

Ah, controversy at the NATS. What a surprise. I still miss it.

Bob you ought to know a thing or 2 about problems at the Nats. Last year they messed up his scoring and kept him from making the Masters finals until he caught the problem. That's why the had 11 flyers in the Masters finals last year at the Nats. Mike

Anybody have updates? Current standings?

Thanks,
Eli

I was at Muncie today and Tom Weeden told me that the AMA did not want him to post the current standings. Why I didn't ask. I also heard that Chip didn't fly a round today also.

I will see if Tom can give me any results to post for you guys, I live about 30 min from muncie.

I'll let you know tomorrow
Josh.

From Eric Henderson received through the pattern email list

Winners in 402 were.

1. Kris Kowanda
2. AC Glenn
3. Joe Dunnaway
4. Michael Radake

(There are other awards in here like Best junior etc - but it's late and you are getting the bare bones...before I crash..

Winners in 403;

1. Michael Hill
2. Robert Fortino
3. Tim Pazara
4. Brett Bowen
5. Terrence Brown
6. M.Middleton

Master finalists (Alphabetical order)
Jerry Budd
Jeff Carrish
Rusty Fried
BW Ponder
Dave Villwock
Earl Vincent
J. Walker
Jim Woodward
Donny Wright

Warm up - John Fuqua

Judges Panel
E. Henderson
Charlie Barrera
Lamar Blair
Roy Speights
Paul Nesbit
?


FAI finalists;
Todd Blose
T. Byrd
P. Collinson
M. Harrison
B. Hebert
C. Hyde
A. Jesky
D. Lockhart
Troy Newman
Don Sczcur

Warm up Potter

Judges
Ron Barr
Don Ramsey
Greg Frohreich
Bob Noll
Juan Romero
Luis Rodriguez

FINALLY! Thanks a lot.

I'm friends with Andrew Jesky and Pete Collinson so I'm glad too see both of them in the FAI finals.

A more detailed list from the prelim rounds in Masters and FAI

Masters:

1. Donny Wright
2. Earl Vincent
3. Glen Watson (I think Eric left Glen off his original list)
4. Dave Villwock
5. BW Ponder
6. Jim Woodward
7. Jeff Carrish
8. Joe Walker
9. Jerry Budd
10. Rusty Fried
11. Roy Speights
12. Steve Miller
13. Verne Koester
14. John Fuqua
15. Paul Nesbitt
16. Ron Lockhart
17. Juan Romero
18. Rob Satalino
19. Gary Harris
20. Ken Veles
21. John Neilson
22. Richard Bis
23. Joe Lachowski
24. Jim Thompson
25. Don Ramsey
26. Emory Schroeter
27. Dennis Suding
28. Mickey Losardo
29. Lamar Blair
30. James Williams
31. James Ivey
32. Lawrence Auer
33. Jim Hubbard
34. Ron Van Putte
35. Martin Mathews
36. Robert Gainey
37. Robert Satalino

FAI:

1. Don Szczur
2. Chip Hyde
3. Troy Newman
4. Pete Collinson
5. Trent Byrd
6. Andy Jesky
7. Dave Lockhart
8. Mike Harrison
9. Todd Blose
10. Bryan Hebert
11. David Snow
12. Raiko Potter
13. Tony Stillman
14. Greg Frohreich
15. Earl haury
16. Dean Wilson
17. Eric Henderson
18. Frank Kelley
19. Dan Landis
20. Michael Thomason
21. Ron Barr
22. Stephen Lelito
23. Bob Noll
24. Joe Gross
25. John Snow


The above are unofficial...

Again off the pattern list

I just heard from a little bird unnoficial results in F3A.

1st - Don Sczur
2nd - Chip Hyde
3rd - Troy Neumann

These ARE unnoficial so far.

Here's the results in FAI

1. Don Szczur 2989.28571
2. Chip Hyde 2988.51270
3. Troy Newman 2846.21669
4. Trent Byrd 2821.47687
5. Dave Lockhart 2767.75259
6. Todd Blose 2765.75490
7. Andrew Jesky 2745.54419
8. Michael Harrison 2719.19616
9. Pete Collinson 2717.81607
10. Bryan Hebert 2630.94894

Could it have been any closer between 1st and 2nd? Congrats Don!!

This was a great NATS and probably a story-book finish in F3A. A little over three quarters of one point out of 3000 separated first and second place! I've never experienced this before- literally, maneuver-to-maneuver comparisons of scores that were so close.

The first flight of the finals was close, but Chip knew he won the first round after watching me miss the snap and a quarter by 30 degrees and pitch too much after the 2 of 4 reverse vertical snap up. 2 points on each of these cost me the first round by about 15 raw points out of Chip's 560 something...

But the second round of finals was closer, I missed the one and a quarter snap again, but so did Chip, I heard. I missed the two-snap down by about 15 degrees, and pulled too tight a radius at the completion of two corner and loop segments. The scores were almost identical otherwise. My flight was good enough to keep Chip from putting a nail in it.

I overheard that Chip flew in a really, really solid third flight. I would have to match him on all his maneuver scores plus out fly him on at least 3 maneuvers, since he was already in 1st place at this point... but the door was open a crack.

The flight order had me second to last on that final flight, perfect position. It went quite well, just like practice. But my hands were shaking during the flight- not because I was nervous, but because it was happening right before my eyes. The one and one quarter was not perfect, but was good. The two snap down was so tight and precise that the plane seemed to ping. No tilting on the verticals, (straight up and down), pace was excellent, all the radius segment carved. I honestly wanted to put my transmitter down, run over hug my father (who called for me) after landing (but he was getting the plane and I kept my composure). I really flew the best competition flight of my life and it was enough to create the win.

When I was walking back from the flight line, some of the folks broke out in applause after Brian Hebert yelled something about thanks for the flying clinic. I was almost as embarrassed as when Chip and a bunch of the other pilots broke the silence and gave a roaring applause after my last flight at the team trials.

As for Chip, We talked after the competition and he indicated to me that he is sufficiently motivated for the Worlds in 3 weeks. I designate myself as cheerleeder for not only him, but also Jason and Sean.

Go Team!

Don

Way to go Don,

Outstanding performance. Everyone I've talked to said the flying was outstanding and that nobody lost anything, but that you went and took the win. That's awesome.