Conference vmszoo::rc

           <<< CSVM14::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DECRCM.NOTE;2 >>>
               -< Welcome to the High Tech Air Force conference >-
================================================================================
Note 172.1                 "Official Competition Note"                    1 of 4
SA1794::TENEROWICZT                                  35 lines  23-SEP-1991 07:16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    	OK, as a start... this weekend a large group from around the US
    migrated to Westover Airforce Base for an all day discussion on what,
    where,how anad on what frequencies the competitions were going to
    take place at the 1992 Nats.  I'll be checking with my club president
    as he attended representing our club and will get back with more
    detail.
    
    	In another direction... this weekend I ordered my latest pattern
    ship which will be built over this winter and hopefully be used as
    my main ship next year.  I opted to buy an updated design of my
    current ship called an LA-2.  It differs from the LA-1 in that the
    wing area has been enlarged to 840 sq inches with a reduced wing span
    from 66" down to 64"  This was accomplished by expanding the wings
    center cord by two inches and hence lengthening the fuse by the same
    two inches. The thickness of the wing was reduced from 15 to 12% along
    with an enlarged stab but again reduced cross-section.  It's a plug in
    wing design and I will include a plug in stab.  Power will again be a
    Ys61RE because I already have one rather than any brand loyalty.
    retracts will be a set of D & B mains set up as a tail dragger.
    
    
    	I'm also in the process of getting ready to build a scale entry for
    this years Nats.  A flybaby monoplane with a 72" span and built in the
    identical manor as the full sized aircraft.  I have a set of the
    factory drawings blown up to the exact size I want to build and will
    follow the full sized construction faithfully except for a couple of
    additions to facilitate the RC plug in wings and a different type of
    RC engine set-up requiring a beefed up firewall.  I am almost ready to
    start cutting parts.
    
    
    
    Tom

           <<< CSVM14::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DECRCM.NOTE;2 >>>
               -< Welcome to the High Tech Air Force conference >-
================================================================================
Note 172.2                 "Official Competition Note"                    2 of 4
ZENDIA::REITH "Jim Reith DTN 226-6102 - LTN2-1/F02"  10 lines  23-SEP-1991 07:26
                             -< I hope to compete >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Tom,
    
    I'd be very interested in hearing about the frequency distribution for
    next year. That info might be of a more national interest and might be
    better in a similar topic in RC...
    
    I hope to give the glider sessions a try and am interested in what
    frequencies that will require.
    
    Jim

           <<< CSVM14::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DECRCM.NOTE;2 >>>
               -< Welcome to the High Tech Air Force conference >-
================================================================================
Note 172.3                 "Official Competition Note"                    3 of 4
SNAX::SMITH "I FEEL THE NEED"                         7 lines  23-SEP-1991 08:23
          -< If you can find out, frequencies might be a big issue
 >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm also condidering taking a stab at the glider competition and would also
considering doing some pattern flying (although I wouldn't have a prayer).

All depends on the frequency issue though. All my radio's are on the same
channel.

Steve

Speaking of which, have all the power types moved over to DECRCM?
And I'm here holding the snipe bag wondering why everyone's
flying gliders.  Geez, I hate to mix it up with all the
fanny-slapping and high-fives that go on over there...

Tom Tenerowitz (sp?) is keeping a running update on his pattern ship/flying.
If anyone has a "power" question, it gets answered immediately. There are
currently active topics on boats and cars. Granted there is "alot" of discussion
regarding gliders, however this is an RC notesfile, not a POWER RC notesfile.

As to "hating to mix it up with all the fanny slapping and high fives going
       on in the OTHER conference", where you choose to read and write notes
is TOTALLY a matter of free will.

Steve

    I'm more than willing to talk power in here. Currently I'm
    concentrating on gliders and I figured my Gremlin/combat stuff was more
    a local phenomenon. I've still got the wood for my P-38 and hope to get
    it done THIS winter. My engines will be well broken in with the Gremlin
    flights.

    
    In keeping with the theme...  <last night I sat down and called about
    every supplier of composite materials I could find.  I'm interested in
    using quite a bit of composite materials in my La-2 I'll hopefully
    compain at this years coming nats (see I got in a competition plug...)
    I ended up ordering a 1/8" x 12" x 24" plank of end grain
    balsa/fiberglas lay up and a new item they call carbonfiber tape.
    The fiberglas lay up will be used for bulk heads and servo trays on the
    LA-2 while the tape will be used to make spars. The tape is like our
    fiberglas cloth we use for center sections and is woven so that it will
    not fray on the sides. It comes on a roll 3" wide. 6.00 per yard.
    I plan to laminate in a friends press to 1/8" balsa sheet stock with
    the balsa grain running 90 degrees to the long fibers. I should be
    enough material out of the three yards I ordered to make two spars
    (one for each plug in wing) and two sets of half ribs to support the
    landing gear plates.
    
    I plan to make an 1/8" slot adjancet to the plug in wing joiner tube
    from the center root out past the landing gear retract location. The
    spar will then ne glued in followed by the carbon fiber joiner tube.
    Then two slots will be cot at right angles to the spar from the leading
    edge of the wing to the spar. These are for the two half ribs that will
    support the landing gear plate. the ribs will have a tongue at the rear
    that will engauge the spar. I'm not sure if the landing gear plates
    will be carbon fiber lay up reenforced with 1/8" plywood or 1/4"
    plywood or 3/8 sq hardwood. The jury is still out on that decision.
    
    
    Tom 

    OK, an update on the AMA/Westover meeting that took place on sat.
    
    As I said it seems that all of the event CD's from around the US flew
    into Chicopee for this meeting along with a number of AMA officials.
    their primary goal was to tour the base and decide where each event
    would be located.  that is to say that all of the events are being
    planned for activity on the base.  Their hope is to have no external
    site as was the practice at previous Westover Nats. From what I heard 
    free flight will take place in the northern corner as before.
    Sailplanes may be flown from the same site or from a large field to the 
    north east of the base at what was an old antenna field.  I know this
    fleid and it is large. As to it's condition/roughness I wonder.  I
    think pattern and racing will be run at the same site that was
    previously used with helicopters flown in another field sandwiched
    between the pattern and free flight locations.  All control line will
    be flown on the paddock area as previous.  I don't have a rundown on
    frequencies but will post it here as soon as I get the information.
    
    At my club meeting this past wednesday we agreed to poll the club in
    the ares as see if they were interested in helping out at the Nats and
    possibly opening up their flying sites for practice.
    
    
    
    Tom

    Who's planning on flying at the up coming AMA Nats in chicopee?
    
    Who's into AMA Sanctioned competition.
    
    Who's building (or planning on building) a ship(s) for the
    next years contest season.
    
    
    Tom

    I intend to go and fly in the glider events and I'll be building my
    contest ship this winter. What will it be? Good question...

    Just came back from Tom's where I picked up my OS32 for the Gremlin.
    Art Ferier (sp?) was there and we got into a conversation about the
    Nats. (plan on a 2 hour lunch if Arts there). He had a list of
    frequencies that he claims are the Westover frequencies, but the
    paper said 1991 Nats so I'm not sure it's accurate unless he found
    out some how that the frequencies would be the same as this years.
    Anyway, if they are the same, I won't be participating. My frequency
    is in NEITHER the sportsman pattern or soaring list. It would cost
    me a new X347 to change everything over.
    
    He also said the registration fee was going to be $65.00 and $20.00
    per plane/event/class. You say you want to try soaring at the Nats????
    You say you want to fly in standard and open class??????? Do you have
    $105.00 dollars ??????????
    
    
    Steve

>    Nats. (plan on a 2 hour lunch if Arts there). He had a list of
>    frequencies that he claims are the Westover frequencies, but the
>    paper said 1991 Nats so I'm not sure it's accurate unless he found

Yes - Ken Baker passed out the same list at the Salisbury glider competition.
It looks like they are just using last years list.

>    out some how that the frequencies would be the same as this years.
>    Anyway, if they are the same, I won't be participating. My frequency
>    is in NEITHER the sportsman pattern or soaring list. It would cost
>    me a new X347 to change everything over.

This is what I was complaining about earlier this year.  I don't care what
frequencies they choose - but the jerks should have cast their decision in
concrete before 1991.  Now all of us have just spend many dollars on new
radios - now it's too late to give us lists.  I would rather they moved
the events far enough apart to use every frequency.  I'm not convinced
that Westover is going to be such a great place for gliders anyway.
I can hear the pilots meeting now - don't go over 400 feet because
you are at an airport.  Don't follow any thermals down wind because
the wind is blowing towards an active runway.  
    
>    He also said the registration fee was going to be $65.00 and $20.00
>    per plane/event/class. You say you want to try soaring at the Nats????
>    You say you want to fly in standard and open class??????? Do you have
>    $105.00 dollars ??????????

But Steve - according to Ajai this is so little that you should consider it 
free.  In India the registration for the IndoNats is equal to 3 years pay!
Course they only have one event - the Cobra Snake drop :-)

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
################################################################################

    FWIW., the infamous freq. list for the soaring events at the '91
    Nats, created such an uproar that they scrapped it and went with
    an open freq. system.
    
    However, all events at Westover will probably be crowded much closer
    together, so it looks like they're reviving the restricted freq.
    concept.
    
    Terry 

    Re. Cobra snake drop
    
        I'll have to remember that for the next fulfly.
    
    Well, if they are, in fact, using last years frequency allocation,
    then here is the list of frequencies for SPORTSMAN PATTERN and
    SOARING.
    
    	SPORTSMAN PATTERN		SOARING
    	-----------------		-------
    		20 (RIGHT)		11
    		24			15
    		27			18
    		30			20 (WHO WILL SHOOT WHO DOWN???)
    		35			24
    		38			27
    		41			30 (HERE WE GO AGAIN)
    		44			32
    		50			35
    		54			38
    		59			41 (THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS)
    		50.96			42
    		53.30			44
    		53.50			48
    					50 (ANOTHER DUPLICATE)
    					53
    					54 (YET ANOTHER)
    					56
    					57
    					59 (STILL ANOTHER)
    					02
    					04
    					05
    					07
    					08
    
With everything on the same airport, there's NO WAY people are going to
    be far enough appart to have duplicate frequencies in use. Yet, in
    spostsman pattern and soaring alone, there are 6 duplications.
    
    I think I'll pass on this one. Sounds like quite a few people don't
    have their act together and I LIKE my planes.
    
    
    Steve
    

    a few replies without my reference material

    1. I believe the list is on pg 69 of the Feb 91 AMA

    	Next time spill the soda on another issue

    2. I believe George Myers told me the list was four years old and
    hadn't changed.  I wasn't in the AMA then, so I cannot verify that.

    3. The pattern or pylon [I can't tell 'em apart.  :-)] and glider will
    be on different days.  My vague memory is that handlaunch is on
    Tuesday, some other glider stuff is on the next two days, a non-glider
    thing is on Friday and one of the weekend days, and then glider picks
    up the remaining days.  This may be incoherent mush, but the message is
    that they have allowed for the inter-event interference concern.

    Alton who has only channel 32 and flies gliders and is happy

    Steve,
    
    If they split events across days you could borrow my ch30 module 
    if you want to try pattern (I can lend you an Rx also). There seem to
    be other ch30 modules surfacing in the group also.

But even if there is no problem with frequency conflicts, I don't think I'm
going to be able to afford $125 in entry fees to fly standard and open glider
and sportsman pattern.

I know I don't have to fly all three, but if I was going to compete in the Nats,
I'd want to COMPETE. I wouldn't expect to have a prayer in pattern and would
fly it only for the experience and fun. I might be able to do something in the
glider section, but would want to fly both classes to increase my chances as
much as possible.

I'm not sure I'd go to the Nats and spend $85.00 just to fly in standard class
glider's.

Steve

    Steve,
    	
    	I guess it's all relative.  WHen I went to Lakehurst NJ for
    a one day meet I paid 25.00 in fuel, 6.00 in tolls, 20.00 in food
    (three meals) and 15.00 for the entry fee.  That totals up to;
    
    				66.00 US
    
        for one day's flying.  And then that was only three rounds of
    pattern flying.  Most times when you go to a contest the expence is
    around 50.00.  That is at local New England contests.  If you're
    traveling and then have to stay over night add 50.00 to that.  That
    makes for a 100.00 dollar weekend. 85.00 dollars to fly three days
    isn't in my mind to costly. Hell ya, I'd like to see it less but
    when looking at the whole picture it does come into perspective.
    	I'm planning to fly in both pattern,scale and perhaps even
    novice choppers.  That is if the schedule will allow it. Sometimes
    tthere are scheduling conflicts that cannot be avoided.  My club
    is also the hosting club so I figure it I'm not flying I'll probably
    be working.
    
    
    Start saving now.  Get a little piggy bank and drop your loose change
    in it every day.  I bet you that by the time you have to send in your
    entry fee you have enough to cover it.  Then if you continue to do
    the piggy bank thing you prpbably find that when the Nat's roll around
    you have enough to attend without ir coming out of your wallet for that
    week.  I do this all the time.  I target something I want to purchase
    and then keep droping those coins each day.  Most times when it comes
    time to buy whatever I've targeted and I break the bank I find I have
    what I need or am close to it.  It may sound stupid or silly but it
    does work and your hardly notice that that small amount of money is
    coming out of your pay each week.  
    
    Tom
    
    P.S. Go ahead laugh, but it does work.

    But Tom, that's my building supply fund method 8^)
    
    This little piggy (bank) goes to building supplies, and this little
    piggy goes to registration fees...

    
    
    .....and this lttle piggy goes to hon.

    
    
    	For anyone who has ever been interested in seeing or flying
    in a pattern contest there will be a contest Oct. 12th and 13th
    at Westover Reserve Airforce Base in Chicopee,Ma.  If you expect
    to come and watch remember to bring your AMA card to help you get
    into the base.  Sometimes in the past security has been tight.
    I shold be there.  I have to fit a control line on the LA-1 by
    replacing the uncoated kevlar I used in a pinch with the coated
    kevlar I bought from Aerospace Composites.  That's one nights
    work and hopefully will be done this sat. so that I can get some
    stick time in on Sunday to retrim.
    
    Tom

    
    	My club has begun getting the other local clubs interested in 
    working at the 1992 Westover Nats. It is our hope to utilise a number
    of local club fields that are far enough away from Westover to 
    allow continues practice for all RC activities. In addition we are
    hoping to work with the local public airport which utilizes the
    Westover runways to uitlize a section of their property for control
    line practice.  this property isn't being utilized at the present time.
    
    Tom

    I don't know if anyone missed this in the latest AMA magazine but
    there is no longer any Giant Scale category.  They've lumped
    all the aircraft in the sport scale category.
    
    
    Tom 

Jack DeVries, the author of AMA's Giant Scal column, is also the editor of our
(PPRC) newsletter. If I can remember I'll ask him what's up at the club meeting
Tuesday night.

Randy

    I just got off the phone with the AMA. I was looking for information
    about the 92 NATS. They have an information/registration package that
    will be available on January 1st. They will be sending me one. The
    package contains a complete list of events, the days they will be
    held on and the frequencies that will be used. I specifically asked
    about frequencies and the 1991 list is what will be used. I will post
    the pertinent information when I receive it.
    
    At any rate, the frequencies posted a few replies back for sportsman
    pattern and glider are accurate.
    
    Steve

    Steve,
    	If I or my club can be of assistance please call!  My club
    Pioneer Valley Radio Control Club is the "Host" club for the 92
    AMA Nat's.  I'm the 92 president elect.  Places to room,visit
    etc,
    
    IN Springfield (5 miles from Westover) there is the Indian
    Motorcycle Museum, Basket Ball hall of fame.  In Windsor locks
    Ct. (15 miles from Westover) these is the New England Air Museum.
    In Holyoke there is Mount Tom Ski,slide and Water sports area.
    
    
    Tom

Hi Tom,

	The information I'm really looking for is the dates the 1992 NATS will
be held on, and on what day's/dates the different competitions will be held.
Not to early to make vacation plans ya know. Also, although I've posted the
frequencies for Sportsman pattern and glider, I know of at least one other
person who needs to know the frequencies for sport scale. Do you have any of
this info???????


Steve

	Listed below are the frequencies allocated to each of
      the competition classes to be held at the 1992 Westover
      AMA Nat's.  Dates for each category are note yet available.



Helicopters       12,14,17,21,23,26,29,33,36,39,45,47,51,58,60,01,09
		  blue/black

FAI Pattern       11,15,18,24,27,32,35,38,42,48,53,56,59,04,05,07,Brn/black 

Master pattern    11,18,32,42,53,57,02,grey/black
		  gray.blk

Advanced Pattern  20,30,41,44,50,54,57,02,08, Ong/blk,grn/blk

Sportsman Pattern 20,24,27,30,35,38,41,44,50,54,59,08,Ong/blk,gnr/blk

Pylon & Scale,    13,16,19,22,25,28,31,34,37,40,43,46,49,52,55,00,03,06
		  Red/blk,Yel/blk Violet/blk

Soaring           11,15,18,20,24,27,30,32,35,38,41,42,44,48,50,53,54,56,57,
		  59,02 04,05,07,08,Brn/blk,Ong/blk,grn/blk,gry/blk

	Colors are on 53 Mhz, 00-09 and Ham bands


							Regards

							Tom

P.S. More details as they arrive.

Thanks Tom,

	I appreciate it.

Steve

Tom,

	Being the president of the host club, how about doing something that
will undoubtedly immortalize you and the club in the annals of the NATS.

	Where your clubs field is so convienent to Westover, how about having
an UNOFFICIAL GREMLIN NATS. Imagine contestants being able to take a COMBAT
break during or after competion. You could have Gremlin funfly events and
combat or even combine them. You could publicize it, have scheduled events
and whatever.

Sounds like a winner to me. What do you think????????


Steve

    
     	There's an issue here with the Nat's.  They want rc clubs with
    paved strips so they don't plan on using any local club sites.  However
    I'd be honored to have any DEC modeler as a guest at my club site.
    It's grass.  Fly anything you want. 
    
    
    							Tom

	From a meeting that was held a few months ago I have some
general idea about where each event is scheduled to be located 
on the base grounds.  Listed below are the events I know of and their
possible location.


Control line	Paddock area left of hanger 1 (where it was in 85)
Free flight	Far Left of paddock area (where it was in 85)
Helicopters	Adjacent to the rifle range. North East of free flight
Pattern 	Taxi way east of helicopters, (where it ws in 85)
Pylon		"
Scale		?
Sailplanes	North/North East of pattern at the sight of the
		old antenna farm/weather station. Adjacent to back gate.
Rubber Power	Inside hanger #1


	The previous sailplane site on Smith & Wesson property has
been secured as a sailplane and helicopter practice site.  They still
have yet to find a pattern and pylon practice site because they are
looking for a paved strip.  None of the clubs in the area have paved
strips.
	Dates for each event haven't been communicated but I'd venture
a guess that the first weekend will be filled with rubber power indoors.
Sunday or monday would start the rc flying with the only overlap being
the pylon and pattern events.  I see pylon flown in the morning with
pattern in the afternoon.  Scale is typically flown on friday,sat. and
sunday of the second weekend.
    
    
    							Tom

    Confirmation of the frequencies are in the latest Model Aviation. Full
    page ad.

    Another item for the 1992 competition season is the new rule within
    pattern for noise.
    
    In the past noise levels wer only measured at the FAI team selection
    contest (Masters) and when the FAI World Championships for pattern
    were held in the US.  Although all FAI style pattern events/classes
    were subject to the noise measurement it didn't happen at the local
    events.  THis may dramaticly change in 1992.
    
    Last year a rules change was proposed to implement a noise level
    maximum requirement of 96 db measured on a hard surface at 3 meters
    with the meter 18" above the surface.  This is essencially the FAI
    requirement.  A 10% flight score reduction is possible if the judges
    feel the noise level in flight is to high.  The new rule was voted on
    and accepted for all AMA classes.  Hence in 1992 all pattern classes
    within the US will be subject to a noise measurement and the penalties
    that go along with that rule.  This may be waved at any contest by
    the contest director and would show up in the advertizements for the
    contest.  I'd suspect that it will be waved at all but a few of the
    local contests.  However with it being an AMA rule I'd venture a
    guess that it will be enforced at the Nat's at Westover.  Interesting?
    
    
    Tom

    
    
    
    Heard that a US flyer won the 1992 World Championships for Pattern.
    Chip Hyde won with David von Lovesong coming in second.  Hanno
    Preitner came in fifth. Ian Kristianson came in third.  I think
    the other US team member came in ninth.
    
    Canada won the team catagory over the US coming in second.
    
    It will be interesting to read the accounts and then bounce them off
    of the stories you hear at contests.  In past events the US always
    seemed to be out of sink with what was expected.  They'd train by the 
    rules only to have the competition do something a little different.
    Case in point was a few years ago the US guys trained flying at 150
    meters out from the flight line.  Per the rules.  Then it seemed that
    the trend in Eurpoe was to fly at 130 meters out.  those that flew
    at 130 scored well, thos that didn't suffered.
    
    
    ONGRADULATION CHIP HYDE AND THE US TEAM FOR A GREAT EFFORT!!!!!
    
    
    
    
    Tom

Tom T. sent me a list of the Novice, Sportsman, and Advanced pattern 
maneuvers over the tube. I'll post them here if anyone's interested.

It seems that this year, the NATS is attempting to make Sportsman pattern
an entry level class to Advanced pattern. By this, I mean that they have
changed the format and made Sportsman pattern part Turnaround pattern. Rather
than doing the previous "one maneuver at a time" routine, they are now linking
3 or 4 maneuvers together and specifying/scoring the type of turnaround you
do. This is what prompted my question.

For Sportsman pattern, they list two types of turn around maneuvers. One is a
"reverse 1/2 cuban eight". and the other is a Split S. I looked up the
reverse cuban eight in the rule book and what they basically describe for
this maneuver is a SPLIT S. The wording goes something like this "pull the
airplane into a 45 degree climb, half roll to inverted, complete 3/4 loop
and exit out in straight flight.

Actually, they don't even list a reverse HALF cuban eight but the way it's
described above is what it would have to be in order to be a "turnaround"
maneuver.

My question is, if that's a reverse half cuban eight, WHAT'S A SPLIT S and
how is it different.

Steve

    Steve,
    		Everyone will need to buy a competition rules book 
    from AMA this year.  They's changed a few of the schedules,
    the descriptions now match those in the FAi rule book and they've
    rewritten the judges guide to correspond with the changes.
    
    A 1/2 reverse cubin eight is as you explained it. In the Sportsmans'
    schedule it is entered from a normal altitude hence the 45 degree pitch
    up,1/2 roll and the 3/4 of a loop.  thsi sets the plane up at a normal
    altitude for the next manuaver which in sportsman will be the cuban
    eight.
    
    A split "S" is  entered from a high altitude.  the manuaver before it
    is the emmelman turn so the airplane is 300-400 ft above normal
    altitude.  The split "S" is a 1/2 roll with a slight pause and then a
    1/2 loop.
    
    
    Later, back to class.
    
    
    Tom
    

    
    
    I've been looking over the frequency allocations for this years 
    nats at Westover and with some history will give my best guess
    on what will fly when.
    
    Scale is always flown on the friday, sat., and sunday on the second
    weekend.  Scale having a frequency conflict with helicopters puts
    choppers flying at the beginning of the week.  I'd guess Sunday (first
    weekend) through thursday.  I think FAI and Masters  will probably fly
    wednesday thursday and friday with the finals in FAI for Sat.  That
    puts Sportsman and advanced on for sunday (first weekend) monday and
    tuesday. Pylon also conflicts with scale so they'll fly early in the
    week. Probably monday, tuesday, wednesday and thurdays.  Soaring to
    fly the same days with the scale on wednesday.
    
    
                21     22     23        24       25      26      27      28 
              Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Scale					 (J)	 *       *       *
     Soaring    *(J)    *      *	*
     Helo	*(J)    *      *        *
     Sportsman  *       *      *
     Advanced   *       *      *
     Masters				*         *      *
     FAI				*         *      *       Finals
     Pylon      *	*	*	*
    
	(J)= Scale Judging Day    

    		That's my guess at a schedule.   We (the club) did get a
    letter mid December that said AMA would be providing us more detailed
    information after the first of the year.  When I get it I'll post it
    here.
    
    
    							Tom

    The $35 early entry fee versus $60 regular fee expires 5/22/92. There
    is a $10 "mechanics" fee for non-competitor helpers to get into the pit
    area with you. I got my packet by callint the AMA last friday (number
    in the Nats ad in the february MA) and it arrived yesterday.

    I've never heard of anyone paying a meechanics fee or having to get
    any sort of helpers badge to assist a competitor in any of the
    soaring events. 
    
    This is pretty much up to the host club at each Nats to control,
    and since most soaring clubs are anti-establishment, libertarian,
    anti-authoritarian in their philosophy (at least the competition
    oriented ones), the mechanics fee is one thing that falls through
    the cracks pretty quick.
    
    Westover may be different, and you need to check with the host club.
    
    Terry

    I guess I'll throw it Tom's way then. Am I going to need to get one of
    these for Jimmy to help me to get set up and watch my stuff when I'm
    flying? I'll probably use one of the other A.S.S. fliers to time/call
    since I need a non-relative for LSF witness. Acton fliers are also more
    familiar with the capabilities of me and my planes in terms of heading
    cross field to get to lift.
    
    So Tom, do I need to pay $10 for each pit lizard I bring?

    One other thing that might help is the insurance issue. I remember the
    $10 fee being justified as covering the insurance. With Jimmy an AMA
    member (and they ask for an AMA number on the helper application), I
    would think that he'd be covered anyway.

>       <<< Note 1362.43 by RANGER::REITH "Jim (RANGER::) Reith - LJO2" >>>
>                      -< seems like a gratuitous fee... >-
>
>    I guess I'll throw it Tom's way then. Am I going to need to get one of
>    these for Jimmy to help me to get set up and watch my stuff when I'm
>    flying? I'll probably use one of the other A.S.S. fliers to time/call
...
>    So Tom, do I need to pay $10 for each pit lizard I bring?

Come on Jim - don't be so cheap - Pay the full price and let Jimmy
fly in every class.  He might just get some gold in the Junior
category.  What is the age requirement for that?

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
################################################################################

    
    
    Well.  It struck me this morning as I was entering the schedule that
    the 20th and 21st was very close to what should be Father's Day
    weekend.  Fact is it is Father's Day weekend.  So, it looks like I 
    won't be flying pattern at this years nats.  Father's Day weekend is
    Race weekend at Loudon (Laconia NH).  This is a ritual weekend at
    flying will have to be sacrificed.  That means my focus will shift
    to the Flybaby when the kit arrives.  Seeing as this will be the only
    event I'll fly I'll put the Aurora on the back burner until I get the
    Flybaby done and flying.  I still should have the Aurora done for the
    spring but the focus will be SCALE at the Nats.  Then in early July
    the masters Qualifier at Westfield.  Not that I have a hope of
    qualifying but ya have to start somewhere.
    
    
    							Tom

    
    As for the 10.00 fee for mechanics,  that has nothing to do with the 
    "host" club.  For host club status at a nats you now supply GRUNTS.
    That's it.  The local clubs have nothing to do or say about the nats
    how they are run or ANYTHING.  It a dictatorial mess.
    
    If you want the definitive answer call the AMA and ask for Chip Smith.
    He's the Nat's manager.
    
    
    Tom

    Tom,
    
    Finish up the Pulsar and you can fly the following weekend...

    Jim,
    
    I plan to finish the Flybaby and fly that on the 27/28
    
    Tom

    This is an update to Tom's note (.40).  It corrects the dates of the
    scale portion....
    
    I was disappointed as now the 2-meter and Scale events conflict.  Oh
    well...
    
    cheers,
    jeff
    
    
    
    
		66th NATIONAL AEROMODELING CHAMPIONSHIPS
			  1992 OFFICIAL SCHEDULE
 
					     Deadline for advance entry midnight
						friday May 22, 1992
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 June 
  20          21          22          23          24          25          26 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quickee    Quickee     Quickee      Quarter      F3D       Formula     Formula 
500	   500	       500	    Midget		      1	          1

All Class  All Class   All Class    All Class
Heli.	   Heli.       Heli.	    Heli.

Pattern    Pattern     Pattern      Pattern     Pattern    Pattern
Sportsman  Sportsman   Sportsman    Advance     Advance    Advance
Masters    Masters     Masters      F3A	        F3A	   F3A

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 June 
  23          24          25          26          27          28          29 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sailplane  Sailplane   Sailplane   Sailplane   Sailplane   Sailplane   Sailplane
HL	   HL	       F3E/7cell   F3B	       2 Meter	   Standard    Unlimited

				    RC Scale	All RC	   All RC          
	   CL Scale 	CL Scale    Static	Scale	   Scale      
				    Judging
================================================================================
Flying Hours

Racing   7am-noon     Helicopters 8am-5pm    Pattern  1pm-8pm    Scale 8am-5pm

Soaring  8am-noon HL,F3E/7cell		8am-5pm F3B,2 Meter,Standard,Unlimited


MEETINGS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATE		TIME	AGENDA				LOCATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 20th	8am	Pattern Judges			Westover
		11am	Sportsman/Masters Pilots		"
		6:30am  Quickee 500			on site
		7:30am	Helicopters			on site


JUNE 22nd	7:30pm	HL Sailplanes			HQ Tent

JUNE 23rd	6:30am	Quarter Midget			on site
		8am	Pattern Judges			Westover
		11am	Advanced/F3A Pilots		Westover

JUNE 24th	6:30am	F3D				on site
		7:30am	F3E				HQ Tent

JUNE 25th	6:30am	Formula 1			on site
		7:30am	F3B				on site
		8:30pm	Pattern Awards			

JUNE 26th	7:30pm	2Meter				HQ Tent
	
JUNE 27th	7:30pm	Standard			HQ Tent

JUNE 28		7:30pm	Unlimited			HQ Tent



    

    Does anybody know which engine size is going to be used this year in
    the Quickee 500 category .40 or .46?
    
    thanx
    
    Robert

    
    Just got off the phone with Bob Underwood, and they have finalized the
    maneuvers for Sportsman Pattern:
    
    1. Takeoff (U)				k=1
    2. Double Stall Turn (U)			k=3
    3. 1/2 Reverse Cuban 8 (U)			k=1
    4. Cuban 8 (D)				k=2
    5. Immelman Turn (U)			k=2
    6. Split "S"				k=1
    7. Three (3) Inside Loops (U)		k=3
    8. Straight Inverted Flight (D)		k=1
    9. Stall Turn				k=2
    10. One (1) Reverse Outside Loop (U)	k=3
    11. Three (3) Horizontal Rolls (D)		k=3
    12. Landing (U)				k=1

I believe that tomorrow is the last day to register for the Chicopee Nats 
without paying the extra "late entry" fee. Pretty sure it stated 5/22

One month to the Nats!

My wife just told me that I got my confirmation back from the AMA today. I'm 
enrolled in 2 meter and Open on ch30. Not bad for sending it out at 8:30pm
from the Worcester post office on the last possible day 8^)

    
    While not officially part of the NATS, I wanted to let all thinking of
    attending know that there will be an R/C combat demonstration utilizing
    the Gremlin. This demonstration will be held on Wednesday, June 24th, 
    at the Hampshire Country Racers flying site in Hadley, approximately
    30 minutes north of Westover. Demo is slated to start at noon. We will
    also be raffling off a Gremlin kit provided by RA Cores, proceeds to be
    given to the host club for letting us use their site. 
    
    I am the CD for this AMA sanctioned Demonstration. If you wish
    directions, or more info, send me mail or call DTN 223-7351.
    

    This coming Sunday, June 7th, is the first CMRCM funfly of the season.
    I spoke with Ray M. and he will be there Sunday morning to CD the
    glider half of the funfly. He will have his winch there, and possibly
    a retriever system. Contest will start around 9 A.M.
    
    Next Sunday the 14th, is the AMA sanctioned open glider meet at the CMRCM
    field. This contest is open to anyone and is usually very well
    attended. I believe this contest also starts around 9 A.M.
    
    Hope to see many of you there.
    
    Steve

I'll be down for the contest on the 14th.

I was wondering who from outside the Central Mass area was heading to the Nats 
in 9 days? I'll be competing in the glider stuff on the second weekend and 
watching the F3B stuff on friday. Any other noters coming into town that 
week/weekend(s)?

Last count I heard had Dan Snow, Charlie Watt, Eric Henderson, Steve Smith, Kay
Fisher, Tom T (pattern I assume?) myself and Jim Blum (spectator for F3B?). Who
else?

    Jim,   You assumed wrong.  I won't be competing at all in any event.
    
    I'd have flown pattern but the 19-21 (father's day weekend) is a
    traditional weekend for me and about 19 other BRO's to travel north
    to the world of LACONIA Weekend!!!!!  Bikes, Bike racing, and all 
    of the other partying that takes place.  
    
    As of monday the 22nd I'll be working at the Nat's.
    
    
    Tom
    
    PS Good luck to all of the competitors!!!
    
    
    

    
    
    
    It's not quite the USA NATS but its still competition and a definite
    personal best, so I thought it worthy of entry. 
    
    I yesterday entered a thermal comp. at local club level there were 70
    entries from quite a wide area. Now considering my last comp. entry I
    came 77th out of 77 entries, the only way was up, my average flight
    time seems to be about 2 mins and anything over that a bonus. Well
    yester day I excelled myself, yes the thermals were good, but my
    "coach" says I was flying very well indeed. My biggest problem was
    judging descents as I've never really had the problem of fighting
    thermals off! i.e. descent with spoilers from a great height affecting
    penetration, elevator etc. and I came 16th overall with a 9.36 min,
    4.57min, and 8.55 min. for 2,382 points. second out of our club (7 of
    us) to my "coach" with 2,907 which got him 7th overall and into the
    flyoff where he came 5th. Just 264 more points (which should have been
    obtainable on my middle flight ) would have got me into the flyoff and
    the trophies. Not bad considering my previous performance!
    
    Richard (essex uk)

Stats first, impressions second.

I wasn't there for the HLG days so I'll leave that to Kay but Rick Roekhe (sp?)
from New Hamshire took 3rd.

F3B was neat to watch and it's always interesting to see someone do 18 second 
speed runs. Winner, Joe Wurts. Lots of Comets, Synergys and a couple of 
"normal" planes.

2 meter

Place	Competitor		Score
1	Joe Wurts		1560
2	Larry Jolly		1559
3	Tom Kiessling	(local)	1559 (2 minute flyoff with measured landing)
13	Jim Tyrie		1453
14	Steve Schommer		1452
33	Lincoln Ross		1202
39	Kay Fisher		1133
40	Jim Reith		1109
47	Art Faria		948
51	Jeff Friedrichs		869
55	Terry Sweeney		729
57	Les Gerhardt		???

Standard - 67 competitors

1	Joe Wurts		2080
2	Larry Jolly		2079
3	Daryl Perkins		2079
9	Chris Schuch		2068
19	Terry Sweeney		1957
21	Lincoln Ross		1935
29	Jim Tyrie		1777
31	Jeff Friedrichs		1768
41	Kay Fisher		1647
59	Steve Schommer		1190
60	Les Gerhardt		1085
61	Art Faria		1048
65	Jim Reith		518

Unlimited Class - 73 competitors

1	Joe Wurts		1534
11	Tom Kiesling		????
29	Kay Fisher		1226
30	Jim Reith		1223
45	Anker Bergen-Sonne	945
53	Jeff Friedrichs		851

There were several CRRC guys at the contest as well as Jim Tyrie et all but the
scores were not put on a final tally sheet so you had to dig through the cards.
I got the few scores above because we were all up there trying to get our LSF
contest forms signed off. My 30th place was good for over 3500 LSF points (I 
needed 3000 over 6 contests 8^)

All thermal tasks were 7 minute simple duration. 1 point per second, 1 point 
deducted for being over. 2 meter and standard classes (442, 443) were in or
out 25' radius landing circle 100 points. Unlimited (444) was measured 25'
landing tape. All winches were run with a battery charger attached and running
and all chargers were powered by a generator. The winches were loaded with
new 200 pound braided line each day and had retrievers attached. The winches 
ate several planes during the event and you had to fly out a non-equipment
related popoff. Larry Jolly popped off and proceeded to fly it out to a max.


Next: How I did, how I felt, what I saw.

I took friday and Monday off to go to the Nats. Friday was F3B and I wanted to 
check out the site and see what a fast glider looked like. I also expected to 
have to be there for a 7:30pm meeting but they cancelled those since they had 
to redo it all the following morning for those that didn't show. Heard about the
HLG fun and talked to Joe Wurts about his launch technique and had a nice 
relaxing day checking out the lift zones. Watched some C/L speed and Rat Racing
as well as C/L combat and got my Tx checked. Not much to getting the Tx checked.
Wandered through the RC Scale Static judging and headed home early to fix a
power window in the car that decided to die in the down position.

2 meter:

Saturday dawned a nice day and I was very pleased that Jeff had brought his
canopy for us to sit under. I got sunburned even with SF15 on all 4 days. I was 
in the second flight group and managed an early launch and got a mediocre time
but landed IN the 25' circle for 100 point bonus. A couple more flights and the 
Rude Bitch was doing ok. Made 2 of the 3 landings (missed by 1 foot too short)
and brought everything home intact. The 100 point missed landing would have 
moved me from 40th to 31st. Still, I was happy and it counted as a contest. We 
did have some heavy weather go through in the afternoon which dumped significant
hail in the town across the river (Holyoke) but we just saw rain and lightning.
I'll let Kay and Jeff describe their flights/impressions. We did see Larry Jolly
popoff the winch at about 100 feet and fly over to the popoff landing circle only
to thermal out and get a max flight. These guys from CA were impressive. They 
know their planes well enough that they can put in perfect rounds every time.

Standard Class:

I signed up late for this because I never got a standard class plane ready. The
Rude Bitch survived saturday so with the $5 late fee, I added the event. Sunday
was as nice a day as saturday and I managed a 7:07 and landing points for my 
first round. It was another floater day and everything was going up. When I got 
called for my second flight, there were 5-6 planes thermalling out. I grabbed my 
stuff, got to the winch, looked at the planes and launched. What the h3ll? My
wing came off in my face and because I had spooled up the winch, my fuselage got 
dragged 100+' down the grass. Tore the tail feathers off and cracked things 
pretty good. The wing was basically intact. NOT field repairable 8^( Scratch
day two so I waited for a friend who was coming out to watch me and we then 
headed over and watched some scale flights. Got there in time to watch the Blue 
Angel jet and then the F-15 and the F4. The F-15 was disappointingly slow but 
the F4 made up for it with some decent high speed passes. We also saw the PBM
fly and it was pretty cool to watch the guy push it over to the judges and 
remotely start both engines as his first manuever. Scale was somewhat boring
flying-wise since it was a matter of "My next manuever will be a slow pass from 
right to left followed by a slow pass from left to right"

Open/Unlimited class

This was truely the reason why I went to the Nats. I flew the RB in the other 
classes to calm me down so I could fly the Alcyone on monday. I got picked in the
first flight group and there isn't a lot of air at 8am. I managed to scratch out
a max flight with some coaching from the peanut gallery and second hand Jim Tyrie
remarks. We were doing graduated landings in this class and I missed this first 
flight by a few feet. The plane survived the round and I went back to the canopy
a happy guy. I later checked my tow hook and found it broken and me with no 
spare. Steve Schommer loaned me a bolt on hook and a stranger from Connecticut
lent me a hand drill. I was ready when I came up in round 2. Due to the untested
hook I launched conservatively and found some lift but didn't stick with it long 
enough. I came around the back of the pit area and picked up something out near 
this building that had 3 I beams sticking up off it. I was flying poorly and got 
nervous about the prongs reaching up for me and bailed out and came in to land.
I managed a 67 point landing and a 5:13 flight. They were only flying 3 rounds 
in order to get done by 3pm so I was back up for flight 3 before noon since my 
frequency was reasonably unbusy. I launched and caught something out where nobody
else was and rode it out to another Max flight. I stayed in the thermal longer 
than I should have and had to bleed off quite a bit of altitude. I used crow but
it kept dropping me off to one side so I came in "hot". Jeff was timing for me 
so he can probably give a better version of the following events but I came in 
HOT and at the last minute said something like "Oh Sh*t!" and ducked right. 
Didn't get any landing points but plenty of adrenaline! Since I came in so steep
I should have dove and done a loop on approach to bleed off the height and landed
normally when crow kept dipping the wing. The plane was intact and I could then 
sit back and watch some flying. 2 maxs and a 5+ minute with a landing was good 
enough to get me up in the top 50%. I was very pleased and got 3500+ LSF points.
I got two new tow hooks from Sal of Northeast Sailplanes and saw the new 2 meter
Alcyone ($100) which will be available mid-July (and on the way to my house).
Sal is getting a Gremlin kit!!! Jim Tyrie gave me plenty of advice as the day 
went on and ended by saying that I seemed to be flying the Alcyone pretty good 
and should be a contender once I get a little more comfortable with it.

I'll let Jeff and Kay give their standings/versions. Chris Schuch had his Vision
die on him on the winch and spiraled his Camano on the line. Seemed a chip went 
bad and he was getting garbage in the menus and no output.

Do it again??? In a heartbeat!

        Re: <<< Note 1362.62 by WMOIS::WEIER "Wings are just a place to hang Ailerons" >>>

                I was  supposed  to  have  taken  all of last week off to
        build a new 2 meter, a new set of airfoils for Legend and install
        the Micropro.  Instead  I had one full day and two halfs.  I gave
        up finishing the 2 meter Friday afternoon and then got to work on
        the Legend (I had done the  center  section earlier - thank God).
        Well, I built all Friday from early  morning  till  midnight  - I
        built  all  day  Saturday from early moning till  midnight!    At
        mindnight  Saturday  I  had the wings and stab all  done,  servos
        installed, radio installed and very basic programming done, but I
        hadn't figured  how  to  program  camber  and  launch.   Saturday
        morning I went  to  Callahan  to  confirnm that the bird could do
        anything and comply with  the  requirement that your plane has to
        have  flown before.  In  the  afternoon  I  went  to  Cicopee  to
        register, and luckily got a chance to winch launch the bird.  And
        Sunday was the day of the contest.    I flew the plane like s....
        After the NATS I went home and got  launch  and camber programmed
        in in under an hour. Amazing what lack of pressure can do.
        
                In any case, it was great fun.  It  was  fantastic to see
        the REAL guys fly and 45'th out of 78 isn't THAT bad!
        
        Anker

My apologies for misspelling your last name again. I had only written Anker 
down in my scoring notes.

You said that it was a new wing for the Legend but I didn't realize it was 
THAT new 8^)

>  <<< Note 1362.61 by HANNAH::REITH "Jim HANNAH:: Reith DSG1/2E6 235-8039" >>>
>                     -< Here's what I thought and did... >-

Glad Jim took the lead - saves me a lot of typing.

1st - I have a couple of non NATs related goodies.

I have a CRRC Soar-In form here in my office.  It is Aug 8th and 9th.
If you want to pre-register and save a few bucks send me mail and I'll put
a copy in the DEC mail.

2nd - I have a copy of the latest F-Word newsletter.  If your into scale
and/or enjoy anything Al Casey related - send me mail and '' put a copy
in the DEC mail.

Now on to the NATs.

I took vacation and went to the NATs every day.

The first few days were badly organized.  You would go wondering around
on runways (in your car) looking for events with NO signs saying where
you could and could not drive or park.  This improved slowly as the week
went on.  The worst organized (in the beginning) was the pattern competition.
During the sportsman there were spectators (kids on bikes) going thru a maze
of planes and pilots.  An absolute zoo.  Later (thanks to the HTA gang I 
understand) this was fixed.  I couldn't believe how close together the
judges were.  Two flight lines overlapped significantly.  I saw two planes
performing loops that looked like formation flying.

I really enjoyed all the indoor rubber stuff and the control line combat.

We spend two mornings in one hand launch RC contest.  Nobody could chuck
a plane as high as Joe Wurts but Larry Jolly was a close second.  They made
our local gorilla arm (Rick Roekle(sp)) look like an amateur.

But more impressive than their throwing was there ability to spot thermals.

The second morning was raining so we adjourned to first Dennies then the
indoor rubber (base) hanger to make a command decision.  It turned out we
finished the contest off site at the Pioneer Valley Flyers sod field in the
afternoon.  But while we were in the base hanger we broke out the planes
and enjoyed an informal contest of indoor hand launch RC - awsome.  The 
California guys had to hold back so that they didn't have to hit the ceiling.

There was a lot of debate over the ceiling height some said 45 feet but
one rubber guy told me a few days before that it was a measured 65 feet.
Whatever - I didn't have to hold back but my throwing started getting bad
again and I started throwing into a roll again.  

Art Farrer(sp) was taking picture of me throwing when Larry Jolly hit him
in the neck with his land launch!  During on of the early rounds while
I was timing for someone outside Darrel Perkins landed on my back.  Nice
to be so touched by famous people.

Anyway the Pioneer Valley RC field was originally a practice field for the
NATS but for some reason they pulled all the directions to it because
the farmer didn't want NATs people out there!  Unfortunately they had
mailed directions out to people with the registration packets and when
you arrived at the field there was a PVRC sign and a NATS sign and no
sign saying to keep out!  Anyway we had a nice ending to our contest but
everyone parked on the road and walked in - guess they knew something because
I arrived late and never saw any sign.  But later as we were almost done
some local (PVRC member I think) in a big blue van drove down to the RC part
of the field then back and watched us.  As we were leaving there was an irate
farmer complaining about the van.

I was really interested in seeing the F3E and F3B flying.
The F3E was two classes - 7 cell and a bigger class.  But I don't
remember seeing anything that implied the larger class.  So it only
had one entry - Larry Jolly.  He made one mandatory run to get his
first place NATs trophy but his battery wasn't up to snuff and he
ended up crashing for a landing because he pushed some wrong switch
on his transmitter during his landing approach.  Not to impressive.
The F3E/7 cell stuff was dominated by Wesson designs with the KS10 micro
servos in the V-Tail.  It looked like a fun event to be in but I wouldn't
want to run one!

F3B was fun to watch but I wouldn't wanna be in it.  Too hard on airplanes
and the landings were two dangerous - at lease at Westover.

Thermal Duration

Jeff Friedrichs and Jim Reith and I were sharing Jeff's tent
and signed up as a team.

My biggest fear was a winch line accident.

2-Meter

I did OK - flew the Sagitta and didn't break anything.
Finished in the middle of the pack.

Standard

I did OK - flew the Hobie Hawk and didn't break anything.
Finished in the middle of the pack.
Jim's Rude Bitch blew up in his hand on his second winch launch.
Got very exciting very fast!

Unlimited

I did OK - flew the Lovesong and broke everything.
Finished in the middle of the pack.

Summary - there were many many many wings folded on the winch.
And they were relatively weak winches and it was not very windy.
Almost dead still during the 2-Meter and Standard.

So how did I manage to dork up the Lovesong and finish in the middle
of the pack.  Well on the last round of the last day of the contest
I was maxed out and in a hurry to come down.  I did a few rolls and
I think I was about to do a loop but you know how you kinda forget things
when you get knocked out.  I really don't remember why I was diving
but POW!  I blew off the starboard stabilator.  A split second later
I blew off the port stabilator.  Then things started getting really 
interesting.  It went inverted and I had good roll control and the pitch
was stable but descending very fast - not fast enough to blow a wing in
the air but I didn't wanna hit the ground that fast if I could avoid it.

Someone in the crowd was yelling - USE THE FLAPS - USE THE FLAPS.  I had
a second to think about it and I pulled full flaps.  That kinds turned my
fast descent roll controlled flight into a ball of fluff and the parts met
the ground shortly afterwards.  I wish I hadn't pulled the flaps.  But
in talking to everyone afterwards what they wanted me to do was control
pitch by gently moving the flaps (ie with the flap trim lever since my flap
stick also deploys the ailerons and goes into full crow).  If I had done
this I might only have one vertical fin to fix.  As it is now the fuselage
is badly broken up in the front.  The tail section is completely severed
off the fuselage.  Both wings need repair - one structural and one cosmetic.
Both Stabilators need repair - one structural one cosmetic.  And the fin
and rudder had many rips.

But picture this - since I was in such a hurry to get down I would have
probably blown the landing or ran over so much to nullify it.  As it was
I was flying a 7 minute max round and the first part hit the ground at
6:51 - one of my better flights.  Good for 29th of 73 and 3,596 LSF points.
With there three NATS thermal duration contests I have all the contests
points I need for LSF level IV.

But I sure wish I had used my brain and just dumped the flaps in the first
place and descended the way the airplane is designed to come down.  I was
just telling my wife earlier that day, "of all the sailplanes I've got the
only one I really like is the Lovesong".

Back to pattern:

I saw the standings and watched the first round of the Sportsman Pattern
and we should all be proud of the HTA gang.  They all did great and
didn't break up any planes.

Back to scale:  

I didn't get a chance to see any scale rounds because of the thermal duration
schedules but I did a quick trip thru the static (base) hanger.  I heard
that 17 of the 50 planes crashed.

Speaking of AMA insurance - your insurance is no good if you don't do
a range check before the first flight every day, right?  I bet I didn't
see more than 6 range tests during the NATS.

Jim said:

>Do it again??? In a heartbeat!

Me too.

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
################################################################################

Now that Kay's said that, I'll comment of it too. I was timing for Kay this 
last flight. He got a great flight and waited a bit too long to head back. It 
takes quite a bit of time to bleed off that much altitude. I really like the
way the Lovesong rolls and I was commenting on that as he was flying back. I 
believe I was probably rushing Kay as he was taking so long to get down from
WAY up. I hope I didn't push you into deciding to dive steeper. The stabs
fluttered about 4 cycles and were gone. Flaps might have helped since Dodgeson
mentions it as a possible solution but you'll have to do it again to test that
theory. The flap you did use didn't pull you out but it did slow the impact,
barely. It was impressive to watch and at least it happened on your last round 
of the entire Nats.

Speaking of crashes... One of the F3B guy's winched his plane out from under 
his wing on zoom (pulled the bolt through the wing) and his fuselage went 
ballistic way downrange. Steve Schommer winched his 2 week old Legend to death
when his wing snapped and the fuselage made a huge arc. Art Faria lost his 
standard class ship in an interference situation. He found a few freeflight 
ships and one scale ship while in the woods but didn't find his. Kay almost 
went in with the Hobie Hawk with interference (so it appeared) but it pulled 
out of the spiral down low. A strong pager was noted next to his ch38 later on.
We probably saw 12-18 planes get winched to death over the 3 days.

Art Faria got a 4:30 flight without getting more than 200' over the popoff 
landing zone after popping off. He had plenty of free advice from the peanut 
gallery. I picked up something during 2 meter with 5:30 over the landing 
approach. It's always tough making that thermal turn when you know you won't 
make the landing if you were wrong about the lift. I did max the flight and 
get the landing.

    I'll start off by saying
    
    	***WOW, did I learn a lot!!!!***
    
    I arrived Friday afternoon and caught some of the F3B.  That was pretty
    impressive.  I saw some speed runs and some distance runs.  Man, do
    those guys push the winches!  They litterally never let up on the winch
    pedal.  They hold the plane until they can't anymore and boy does it
    accelerate.  I heard someone talking that during the speed run, Larry
    Jolly has put a G-meter in his plane and measured 25Gs in the turns.  
    
    I found Al and found out that he had been locked out of his (our!)
    hotel room and that we were going to bunk in with Terry Sweeney.  Long
    story on that one!
    
    On Saturday I flew my (Dan Snow built) Spirit.  The previous weekend I 
    had been out doing trim flights and it was flying really well. 
    However, I was flying off a high-start.  Well, someone at one point
    told me (or I read in here) but I forgot, that you want to add a few
    clicks of down trim when you go from high-start to winch.  Well, after
    waiting an eternity to fly (Ch 48 was the busiest freq all weekend) and
    listening to Kay and Jim gloat that they survived the first round, I 
    popped off and was down in no time!!  ARRRGGG. 
    
    With a few clicks of down, my next launch (hours later) was much better
    and I had a fun flight that I maxed out.  But then I screwed up the
    landing by landing about a foot short of the circle.  ARRRGGG.
    
    My last flight of the day was in serious sink.  Plus, since 48 was so
    far behind, I was the only pilot flying!  That was another quick
    flight, but at least I got the landing.  Oh well, at least I survived
    my first day!
    
    On Sunday, I flew my (Kevin Ladd built, owned by everyone) Oly.  I
    really like this plane and the conditions were perfect for it.  We flew
    4 rounds and I had 2 max times and 2 OK times; no pop-offs and 2 or 3
    landings (one even good for LSF level-II).  I was very happy with the
    day and got my best finish and over 3100 points for LSF!!!  (I only
    needed 3000 pts in 6 contsts!).  I felt bad for Jim.  Especially when 
    after Jim got back, Kay and I said "Yea!".  You see, anytime there was
    a pop-off, Kay secretly goes "Yea!" because he will likely finish ahead
    of that person.  Poor Jim!
    
    Monday was the Open Class.  I signed up late.  Kay and Jim talked me
    into it, especially since we were entered in a "team" event.  I flew
    the Oly again, and I started off right where I left off Sunday.  My
    first flight was a max plus 94 landing points.  I really wish they
    posted the scores after each round.  I would have liked to seen my name
    in the top of the pack at least once!!  Oh well...  On my second
    flight, I got suckered into trying to follow another group downwing.
    I missed their thermal and got stuck in their sink, and landed on the
    field but well short of the landing circle.  Arrrggg.  On my next
    flight, the wind had really picked up.  I added some ballast and got an
    OK launch.  I kept the plane into the wind, but I guess I was floating 
    backwards over the launch area.  Someone lauched and all of the sudden
    I didn't have control.  Then I thought maybe I did.  Then I didn't.  I
    managed a controlled crash into the field, popped off the wing and
    broke the ballast box.  I also needed to make a minor repair to the
    vert fin.  I found the retriever line wrapped around the tail!
    
    I asked for and received a re-flight (although looking back, I really 
    should not have been given one.)  I went up, but without ballast and
    with the wind increasing, there wasn't much I could do.  I only
    increased my time about 45 seconds and still missed the landing.  Oh
    well.
    
    But imagine my surprise when I removed the tail feathers (they are
    removeable) and found that much of the tail structure was cracked!  I
    am very happy that the plane survived the last flight and that I have
    something to take home.
    
    Like I said, I learned an awful lot...  (We'll see how much I
    remember/use!!)  Bracketing thermals, keeping the plane flying,
    quartering the search pattern, etc.  
    
    It was really impressive to watch a number of folks thermal out from
    pop offs.  I have yet to pull one out from so low.  Terry Sweeney
    seemed to be more comfortable starting that low!
    
    I was *NOT* impressed with the AMA though.  Even on Friday, it was
    difficult to find anything.  There was a small sign saying "Nats" and
    that was it.  I pity any John Q Public that tried to find us.    Also,
    the glider contests were run under the pretense of flight groups but it
    never worked out that way.  As a result, a number of flights were solo
    at the end of each day.  Also as a result, the conditions that people
    flew in varied a great deal.  On Sunday Kay took his last flight just
    before my 3rd flight!  On Monday the reverse happened!
    
    The only real bummer was not being able to get any 15 minute flights
    for my LSF..  Thanks to Kay and Jim Tyrie on Sunday, I was led into a
    huge thermal that I could have worked forever! Oh well :-)
    
    Hmmm, I didn't hear about the standard class wings for the Alcyone... 
    Maybe I will have to think more about that..  As much fun as the Oly
    is, it is for light air only!!
    
    Thanks Jim, Kay and Anker for all your help (except when Jim and Kay
    wanted me to go in different directions!!! :-).
    
    cheers,
    jeff
    

The Standard class Alcyone wings are to be put on the 2 meter Alcyone fuselage.
It has a longer tail moment than the 2 meter Chup and will not end up short 
coupled. This is a "on the drawing board" and "checking out the possibilities" 
project at Culpepper. I found out about it when I mentioned that it looked like 
you could do it to the NSP guys and they said it was in process.

Don't feel sorry for me on sunday. I needed the incentive to build a higher tech
2 meter plane. The Rude B*tch will return in the near future. It was far more 
rebuildable than some of the other breakages we saw.

Well, I had to call the AMA today so I asked about the rumors I'd been hearing 
about the soaring events not being in Texas. The R/C and C/L events will be 
held in Lawrenceville (Indiana or Illinois, she wasn't sure). That blows my 
excuse for going while my wife visits her family 100 miles away in New Mexico 
8^( They couldn't get the FAA clearance they needed to hold the event at the 
Lubbock site.

I've been getting a lot of requests for prizes recently. Seems to be the 
season for it. I can't supply them all but I am willing to send out a 
few things. One that caught my eye was from a club that holds 52 events 
per year. They award participation points to helpers at the events. At 
the end of the year they hold an auction for the helpers only and they 
can bid on prizes with the points they earned. I think this is a great 
idea and will be sending them something. Thought other clubs might be 
interested in this unique method of rewarding volunteers.