I just reread the Scale Masters rules and I stand by my earlier statement totally. It is true the the flight scores are an average of several flights (probably 3 of 4 or five but possibly only one flight if that is all the entrant has done). If a contestant is 2 points down from another guy after the static, he has to have a flight score average of 2 points better than the other guy to tie him, more to win.

I appreciate the fact that it is hard to get high flight scores consistantly, round after round, but that is true for everybody, including the guy who had the higher static score.

AGAIN, if the flight competition was first, some people would be whining about the unfairness of that.

I like the idea of a static done after the flying; some say what if it crashes? If it crashes, I dont care about static or flying. At the least, the CD should not release the static scores until the last round of flying is over; then everyone will keep on their toes to the end.

One thing that makes the event interesting is to monitor the scores as they come in. If you are at the event on Friday, at least you get some entertainment by seeing how the entrants are doing to that point.

I race to the tent just like everyone else to see where I am, but holding out static release could keep interest to the end. Keep the flight scores public. I have seen some play averages and stop flying if they are doing well because they see no reason to risk any more.

[8D]

Those folks may do well at a qualifier, but once you have three rounds under your belt, your scores can only get better. If you are there to win, you will fly every round possible. A good example of that. in 97 at Irving Tx, I had flow 3 out of the 4 rounds by saturday nigh. one round I had to scratch do to problem servos. I was happy with my best two rounds of 88 each and I think one in the mid 70's. Sunday was forcast to be worse weather then the previous two days which were warm and sunny but very windy with gusts etc. wind and rain forcast for Sunday morning. I was fly a Waco at the time. My buddie and I discussed the reasoning to get all put together and ready to fly and decidde it was too much effort and why take a chance on crashing in worse weather. I elected to set out the Sunday rounds, guess what, the best day of the event for flying. By 9:30 the sky was clear and there was maybe 5 mph right down the runway. When the scores were totaled, I placed 18th overall in expert, which in itself was not to bad for me, but had I flow Sunday in the great weather I probably would have moved up 5-6 places. As 13 thru 19 were only seperated by about a 1.5 points. And most competitors flew their best rounds on Sunday. You live and learn. I now fly every round I can in competition.
johnnyO

There's been lots of good conversation on the subject here and I know that this thread and the others are being read by the members of the USSMA board and advisors.

Please keep checking in on Mitch's website. It is the hub of information and contact for the USSMA. If you want to know what's happening, get involved or suggest rules changes, that's the place to make it happen, but it won't happen without more people getting invovled. There's a lot of folks who care enough about the Scale Masters to voice their concerns and I'm happy to see that. Let's keep this line of communication going over at the usscalemasters.org forums.

Go to a qualifier, bring a friend, help out, judge, CD, start a new contest, but get involved. We can keep growing this.

Jeff Lovitt
West VP
USSMA