Has anyone considered "one design"
contests? Use a moderately priced, readily available,decent flyer as
the one design.It wouldn't matter how it got launched.With everyone flying
equal planes with equal setups, would this not put the outcome truly in the
hands of the pilot? You could even have devisions, such as,
beginner,intermediate and expert.Maybe each division would have it's own
plane,each one a little more sophisticated then the next.You could add a
fourth class.Call it the open class, no holds barred, money is no object kind
of thing.Would this not bring in the masses, giving everyone a chance to bring
home the bacon,from the poor beginner to the dedicated expert?
This type of system has been
used in the sailing world with great success.Look at the thousands of Hobie
Cats, Sun Fish and Lasers that have been sold.I believe it's because it makes
everyone just as competitive as the next guy.And this is a great selling
point.Everyone wants to think they're a winner or at least have a fighting
chance.Now if you showed up with a Hobie Cat and you had to compete with an
America's Cup boat what would be the point?
Please don't get me
wrong, I believe the mega-dollar ships and their excellent pilots are very
important to the hobby too.I'm in no way putting them down.We need their
cutting edge technologies to filter down.We need role models and wish
lists.
Enough of this rambling,
maybe this approach would be attractive to more newbies.Whata ya
think?....Sid
