Thoughts of flying in competition

[Jim Thomerson]

I have always enjoyed flying competitively.  I have flown indoor and outdoor handlaunch glider, power free flight, control line racing and stunt.

To enjoy competition, one has to have equipment that works well and is relable.  If your equipment is that way, you can have fun flying.  Flying a particular event, there is a set of rules and specific goals to attain. This gives structure to flying.  Flying for me has been practice. With practice one gets better at it.  I'm convinced the better you can do something, the more fun it can be.

The goal of competition is winning.  The purpose of competition is exhibiting competence.  I figure if my stuff works like it is supposed to, and I fly the best I can, I win.  I have exhibited competence regardless of where I stand on the score postings. Of course, it is more fun if I win or place occasionally.

When I go to a contest I am with friends who agree that what we are doing is intersting, and worthwhile to do.  We meet like minded people, and make friends from all over.  We learn from each other, and help each other to enjoy our activities more. We find out what new developments are occurring in our event, and can catch the wave if we wish.

I've seen things in this light for a long time, but may well not ever fly competitively again (still judging, however.)  I'd be interested in the thoughts of all who fly, competitively or not.

 

[Bill Little]

Hi Jim,

I feel pretty much the same way you do now.  When I started 50 years ago, it was simply Fun/Sport flying.  Didn't know of any contests around, and the NATS were out of the question.

A little over 20 or so years ago, I decided to try and get good at this event.  I worked pretty hard, practiced a lot and improved a lot.  I enjoyed flying with my oldest son and he, too, was competing.  We traveled to New York, a couple of NATS and flew in any contest with in driving distance.

Then my job changed, I went to another school with more responsibility and longer work hours.  Flying slowed way down as did contest participation.  My flying was affected in a negative way of course.

So now, present day, I am not sure I can even fly!  Practice is virtually impossible.  How much emphasis I place on flying now is for the pure enjoyment.  I enjoy seeing old friends I have met over the years, and that is my main intent on going to a meet these days.  Maybe that will change if things change in my present condition.  For now it is simply the enjoyment of being able to enjoy the event!

Bill

[Will Hinton]

It's definitely the people for me!  Sure, I love improving my scores, and I fly against myself more than against the others, but when I see the scoreboard and how guys and gals are stacking up during the day it gives me a great rush no matter where I end up.
The last three years my fire has gone down because I hate flying alone so don't practice, or even fly at all for that matter, but the desire still cooks in there somewhere and I plan to get back at it next summer because I miss the people!!!
You're spot on about the equipment being the key to success!!  It ain't no fun if ya got troubles.

[Jim Kraft]

The 2 things that keep me flying are the people and the challenge of flying ignition. I have loved ignition planes since I saw my first one fly in the 40's and I never get tired of flying them. There are only a handful of us left it seems outside of the SAM guys that still fly them. If you have never felt the pull of a 60 sparker on the end of the lines you are missing a great thrill. But then, maybe it is just me.

[Randy Ryan]

Its odd for me. I'm really not sure where I am right now. In 1999 at the FF Nats I forgot a most of my rubber fuselages so I watched allot. I thought about it and realized I'd burned out. I volunteered to help with the next Nats and ended up CDing the year after that, 2001. in that year and a half I started building CL again because I was so limited for travel and I could fly stunt locally. I was originally interested in Classic, but soon had it bad again. I flew quite a few contests for 6 or 7 years and found myself not out of interest, just out of motivation. I've always been a competitor and flying alone other then to trim is like playing pool or bowling by yourself, what's the point. Then I had some turmoil in my personal life. Now I am interested again and have a winter project in the works, flew my first contest in 4 years in August and really hope next year to be an active one. However now I have my 92 year old Dad living with me while we renovate his house. Not a complaint, just the way it is right now. I know that seems a little rambling but there's a reason for that. Interest, waxes and wanes, mine certainly does and I've seen it in many even top level flyers, FF in particular. I love to fly, I love the anticipation of going to a meet and August I felt that anticipation again, first time in a long time. Not like when I was a kid waiting at the main gate of Great Lakes Naval Air Station for them to open the gate for the Nats, but it was there, real anticipation. I don't know if its the same for others, but I do have these surges and voids. I love the surges and hate the voids but have no control over them at all. I hope for another years long surge, I'm not ready to be too old to do this anymore. So for what its worth that's the cycle I seem to go through. One thing for sure though, I love the people, so many friends, lifelong friends I have made around balsawood model airplanes, how do you place value on that?

[afml]

"One thing for sure though, I love the people, so many friends, lifelong friends I have made around balsawood model airplanes, how do you place value on that? "

PRICELESS!

"Tight Lines!"

Wes

[Crist Rigotti]

I've always said "a contest is a social event interrupted by 14 minutes of flying". 

[Randy Ryan]

Its odd for me. I'm really not sure where I am right now. In 19999 at the FF Nats I forgot a most of my rubber fuselages so I watched allot. I thought about it and realized I'd burned out."

Randy:

Please send me a set of plans for the time machine you have developed...  

Bob Hunt

HAHAHAHAHAA, I will Bob, but only via Private Message, I only share this stuff with a select few!!!

[James C. Johnson]

I never flew competition until I wanted a "goal" for my modeling endeavors... this past weekend I attended my first contest in 8 yrs... crashed my "little toy airplane" by over thinking myself but not so bad that it won't fly again.. I did make it through all the maneuvers in order but the four leaf clover.. flying that first loop too small can make your heart skip a beat after not doing one for 8 yrs... commitment to your own modeling skills is about other people and not so much about yourself... I do want to say I got to watch 60 or so patterns this weekend..

Howard's square 8s were something I can dream about...

Watching Floyd Cater @ 81 yrs old gut it out when his engine began to sputter in the overhead eights and then go on to complete the pattern in the wind like it was and have the engine cut off in one lap after pulling out of the clover... man, that was worth going to see...

And then there was Kieth Varley @ 80 flying a pattern anyone could be proud of... and hearing him call me "Jimmie".. I love Kieth..

And seeing Joan and Chris Cox... and Mike Hazel... meeting Mark for the first time with his marvelous Avenger...

And shooting the breeze with Steve Helmick.... "who was set up for defeat with a borrowed plane in profile"

All I can say...  I didn't know much I missed my "stunt friends" until I saw their faces again... I have new goals for my modeling. Competition blows fresh air on your ember just when you get bored, get tired, get burned out or slip into that funk of no return...

Thank You WOLF for the Fall Follies.. the weather was almost perfect... the friends were !!

“You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”

A.A. Milne

[john e. holliday]

I guess after my first contest way back when and I had my Guillows Rat Racer.   What did I know.  Someone was pitting for me and I lost a wheel during qualifying.   Remember that guys?   Then it was later when Mother told me to be a pit man as I knew my engine.  Yes it has been off and on again thru the years.  Racing, combat and carrier were my events.   Met a lot of people thru the years, but never really made close contact with them.   I remember Jim from St Louis when he son was competing with us.  Since my son has found other interests besides getting married I have backed off a little.  I love watching the competition and have really just been flying for fun.   I enter local contest to give the clubs the support and it hurt not going to Tulsa or St Louis like I wanted.   This past weekend doing the marathon was fun.   Sunday was better than Saturday even though it was probably windier on Sunday.  But, like most have said already, it has gotten to be the friends I have met and known, not the competition.   

[Randy Ryan]

"...looks like something that Elton John would drive through the Everglades..."



Hahahahah, now that you mention it, she's right and I don't care for Elton John so it wouldn't matter if it capsized!

[FLOYD CARTER]

Hello Jim Johnson.  My 2nd official at the "Fall Follies" in Salem got me shook-up also.  First flight with perfect needle setting.  An hour later, 2nd flight, and engine ran richer with same needle setting. So, same fuel load and richer engine run, I ran out of glo juice during o'head 8s.  Two choices: bail out, or try for a finish and bust up a plane.  The old Stalker kept going, just barely.  I was also ready to whip the plane for 2 laps after the clover!  Luck was with me, for sure.

Correction:  I am (almost) 80, not 81...birthday in 2 weeks.

Floyd

[Mark Scarborough]

Hello Jim Johnson.  My 2nd official at the "Fall Follies" in Salem got me shook-up also.  First flight with perfect needle setting.  An hour later, 2nd flight, and engine ran richer with same needle setting. So, same fuel load and richer engine run, I ran out of glo juice during o'head 8s.  Two choices: bail out, or try for a finish and bust up a plane.  The old Stalker kept going, just barely.  I was also ready to whip the plane for 2 laps after the clover!  Luck was with me, for sure.

Correction:  I am (almost) 80, not 81...birthday in 2 weeks.

Floyd

Yes FLoyd, and it was enough to edge me out of first by 2 points,, congrats,,

[Tim Wescott]

Yes FLoyd, and it was enough to edge me out of first by 2 points,, congrats,,

After that first round I thought that Mark and I had 1st and 2nd locked, that Floyd would take 3rd, and that, with effort, I might be able to edge by Mark.  Boy, was I wrong!

(but I like my 3rd place finish).

[James C. Johnson]

You earned it Tim... your going to be the guy I have to beat...

Still Floyd ... you were remarkable.. we should all have your luck... sorry about getting your age wrong..

[FLOYD CARTER]

We should realize that a certain amount of dumb luck is part of every contest.  Sometimes, when all the planets are aligned just right, the lesser-skilled pilot might win.  That was the case.

Floyd