I have to agree with you on that. If you want to see FAI events grow in the USA then we need to hold more club level contests. I agree that the AMA TD contests that we all go to in the last 20+ years are very much the same, no it's not easy to win, it's fun and social but it is also less challenging than FAI events.
We ran some F3J contests 2 years ago and the response from hard-core AMA TD pilots that tried it REALLY liked the challenge, you have to think more and it makes you better. F3B will teach you plane control like no other flat land soaring. It's interesting how many good TD pilots can't do a straight distance course. It's all for lack of practice I know; it's not our game. We need to start off slow. With just the 3 F3B contests a year it's too intimidating for new guys to enter and there are so few F3B contests that the more serious guys don't want there limited F3B weekends diluted with a F3B school. Where does that leave us? You need the new guys and you need the good contests to succeed. As someone said earlier the current AMA TD ships would make great entry F3J/F3B models so lets do this: On 1 weekend set up the F3B course and use club winches and whatever TD models you have to fly some simple F3B just to get the feel for it. Remember the sportsman F3B years ago? (The one that died) I wouldn't make it a contest but more like a F3B clinic at your local field. Have fun with it. Repeat. For F3J fly winched launch man on man, the hand tow is fun but a big pain in the ### especially for us fat guys. F3X started F3F in the USA 2 years ago from nothing. Now we have a good west coast circuit with events every month. N vs. S competitions and big 2 day contests, It can be done with F3J or F3B but don't expect it to out grow TD for years and years. Start at home and work on the Nats later. As for the Nats I never attended one. I would like to. Especially for F3J or F3B if the contest was longer. So that's why I never went. I am talking through my hat because I do not know the schedule or lay out but if the Nats could host 3 days of either F3B or F3J at the same time as 2 meter, scale, res. and Nos I am sure that the FAI entries would grow, yes the FAI guys would have to give up RES, 2 meter and scale to compete and bring there equipment and some manpower but if that's the price you need to pay. In F3F you are REQUIRED to work or the contest doesn't go. Give the FAI guys the odd freq if the field is in radio conflict with the other events. The price of crystals isn't that bad considering the overall expense of the trip. It's just a thought. Anyway someone with Nats experience should do the scheduling. Some people want to move forward (fai) some move back (res, nos) to simpler times. I see the same faces at Visalia year after year. Where are the new guys? Where are the juniors? Is this addiction of ours a habit or do you still enjoy it? Do you want a challenge? Is it the money or the time? In So California we are loosing our fields to Golf courses & Soccer fields. We can show a history of use but not a growth. The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Have fun, see you in AZ! Tom Copp COMPOSITE SPECIALTIES www.F3X.com ph/fax 949-645 7032 -----Original Message----- From: Jason Werner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 7:37 AM To: RCSE Subject: Re: [RCSE] Nats..reply..Numbers Mike, You (ok we) are fightning a losing battle. Everyone has every number that supports their position. The simple thing is that the LSF is going to support the masses, not the competitive and international arena. While all other RC competitions view the FAI tasks as the pinnacle of their competition, soaring views it as a fringe activity. To most soaring participants, F3b or F3j are "stupid" events that have no basis or impact on their soaring persuits. Of course that rules out molded planes, airfoil design, Joe and Darryl, launching increases, etc... But to them they simply don't care. Jack is right, 2M is more popular than F3b. More people showed up, so that must mean it is more popular. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
