Hi canders, Amen to your comments. I go to contests to have fun. If I win, OK, if I don't, OK. I try to win and I have won many contests over the years including Free flight and thermal duration contests.I quit flying for a few years and raced Moto Cross and Desert racing and won many trophies there but I came back to gliders. It's just fun to fly and competing with your fellow fliers is fun and challenging at times. I'll fly as long as I'm around. Best regards,Art
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I go to contests for several reasons. They are fun, I meet the nicest > people, and, more important, I develop great memories. > > My first contest was a free flight contest in the summer of 1950. I was > still in high school and had finally convinced my father that I was a good > enough driver to be trusted with the family car for a trip to far away > Winston Salem. I came home with a first place trophy and Junior-Senior > High Point trophy. I was hooked. > > In the summer of 1953, I was able to attend the Nats in Philadelphia. I > had been accepted for pilot training as an Aviation Cadet and was waiting > for orders to report. I was able to see all the RC models and flyers I had > only been able to read about in the magazines. There was very little RC > flying and most of the contestants spent the days trying to get their > cranky radios to work. Made me feel better about not being able to get the > Berkley Airtrol radio that I had bought a few months earlier to work. But > my most pleasant memory was discussing my modifications to a Jim Walker 10 > cent glider with Jim Walker at an impromptu midnight contest in the Navy > hanger. > > I was also able to spend a total of 3 weeks on temporary duty in the summer > of 1956 while flying in the Air Force Model Airplane Championship. That > was the only time I was paid to fly models. > > I remember listening to Phil Kraft playing piano at 2 AM in the bar at the > Holiday Inn at the Glenview Nats in 1973. I met Bob Champine at the 1983 > Nats in Springfield. It was several years before I found out that he was > one of the NASA test pilots who flew the X1 and other experimental > aircraft. One of my most prized possessions is a photograph of Carl > Goldberg discussing winglet design with me at the 82 Nats in Lincoln. Then > there was the bull session with Joe Wurts, Skip Miller, and others at the > 83 Nats at Vincennes. > > It isn't necessary to be a good flyer to develop memories like these. You > just have to be there. I feel sorry for those who go to contests with the > philosophy that second place is the first loser. They have already lost a > wonderful hobby. What kind of memories can you develop with an attitude > like that? > > I don't know how much longer I will be able to fly but you can be sure I > will be going to contests as long as I am physically able. I no longer > check to see if I won. I look to see who I beat. Winning isn't necessary > but a high place sure does make contests more fun. > > Chuck Anderson > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and >"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
