As one who's actively developing and flying flight assist electronics, I can honestly say it does not make me or my customers better pilots. We don't score any higher or finish with any more points. I do believe that if the device is a success (only from a technical aspect) that it can help in getting into the 'feel good' mood that all of us can fall into at one time or another. And when we feel good, we fly good. It's that confidence level thing.
I think this topic does warrant careful examination. I agree with what Jim said: "I think for our hobby to grow we have to progress, when it stagnates like it has over the years, it's no wonder we have no new blood, and guys that did participate for years drift away to other past times so they can continue to learn and grow." ...with reservation. Our hobby has progressed a fair bit with airframe design and computer radios. I wonder what kind of comments were exchanged on that contest day when the first mixing computer radios appeared? I wonder... were they embracing the new technology or were the comments more inline with what's been expressed here? In my mind, the only reason one would object to advances in performance is because "they' don't want to embrace it, for whatever reason. And when it comes from top level pilots, their opinions sound more authoritative than others; speaking for the group, if you will. But all it is, in fact, is that they don't want to risk loosing what they have fought so long and hard for. There are many reasons I've seen and heard. They don't want to spend the money, they don't want to re-learn a technique, they don't want anyone else getting an advantage if they opt out, they think it will destroy the hobby (assuming all their top standing buds will stand in defiance and drop out if the changes are allowed to progress), it's not fair to us who have made it the 'hard way' (I love that one), etc... you pick the reason; I've seen and heard them all. But one common thought I see when I read between the lines is... It's all about 'me'... and it's almost never about 'us'. In person, I have yet to get a condescending opinion about integrating flight assist electronics from the majority fliers. The only resistance comes from the top fliers. Does that say something? Though this matter will never fracture the soaring society, it's thinking like this that results in bitter division. Why do you think we have airframe limitations on the assorted classes. Can we tolerate another class division? It's all up to us. Either we welcome technological advances or we alienate X-number of fliers, who may or may not stay with us. I vote for welcome. Gary -- -- Gary Warner ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gary Warner's Profile: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=138 View this thread: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=468212 RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format
