Moving up - slowly

[Bill Heher]

Well another NMCCLA High Deset Controline Fiesta is a wrap. Great contest again- the weather was great, the food delicious, and the competition stiff but friendly. All in all a memorable time. 

I finally acheived my 1st goal that I set for myself back Portland - and finished 1st in Beginner Stunt, winning a close one against Lance Snelson- who beat me last year.  Oh yeah- and no crashes to spoil things.

I'm done with Beginner and starting over in Intermediate, so for now I wait for it to cool down outside, things to slow down at work, and start thrashing the Twister around through the whole pattern.

Thnks to everyone who made the contest a success again, now I'll have to my SSR ready to go and practice.

[afml]

Congratulations Bill on the big win!
Now on to the Clover!

"Tight Lines!"

Wes

[Paul Taylor]

Congratz Bill !!!

The clover is not too hard. Now the hour glass gives me fits. Hitting that second corner is a nut buster if you lose a lot of speed. The lines go slack. Or miss judge the wind. Then if you turn the third corner and head down it's full speed!

If I had a hunk of coal in my shorts I could have made diamonds a few times.  

[Brett Buck]

Congratz Bill !!!

The clover is not too hard. Now the hour glass gives me fits. Hitting that second corner is a nut buster if you lose a lot of speed. The lines go slack. Or miss judge the wind. Then if you turn the third corner and head down it's full speed!

If I had a hunk of coal in my shorts I could have made diamonds a few times.  

  One thing I see time and time again, that tends to make this a lot harder for beginners and intermediate fliers, is that they don't let the airplane fly up *nearly* far enough before the second corner. They will absolutely *jam* the entry corner, killing all the speed, then let the airplane fly up to maybe 60 degrees, then do a slight "kink" to make the "second corner" and wind up flying almost vertically for the "top" of the maneuver. To get it back where it belongs, on the way down, they have to do a 180 degree u-turn, which usually stalls the airplane and then it's the old "s-turn" descent and near-death experience trying to get the last corner in.

    If anyone is having problems, make sure that you don't hammer the entry. If you have to, whip the airplane for a half-lap before the entry and then swoop into it. Make sure that you fly all the way to the plane of your shoulders, or beyond, then make sure you do a full 120 degree corner, not just a quick stab at it. That will make the third corner a lot easier, and you will be able to get the descending leg established much higher, and make that last corner a lot less of a problem.

      Brett

[Russell Shaffer]

Brett has great advice.  I was told to go higher on my verticals, I was not going anywhere near the top of the circle.  When you go all the way to the top you suddenly find time to do the tricks.  I was trying to cram the verticals into too small of an area.  I'm not very good but I'm improving with this advice.

[Jeff Traxler]

Hi Bill,Way to go!!!!! I won the beginner event at the Nats this year and I flew my first full pattern the next day.I have since flown in 2 local contests in intermediate and will be at the FCM contest in Muncie in just a few short days.My first clover looked a bit like it was sprayed with some herbacide and was a bit shrivelled up and the hourglass was kinda like the "Days of our lives" version that looked like a verticle 8 with a flat top and bottom.I have been practicing more than ever and at Detroit last Saturday I got my first 400+ point score.I think you will move up quicker than you anticipate and have a ball doing it.I'll look for you at the Nats next year but please note that I am on a mission.I hate ladders BUT the only way to the L-pad is getting to the top of the Intermediate ladder and I am climbing.Hope to see ya there.Jeff

[Steve Helmick]

Yup! Softening the 1st corner helps establish the correct climb angle, which makes a much better looking hourglass. The hourglass is not that bad IF your model is light, well powered, and well trimmed. It takes a lot of power and the best prop! The Clover is easy to do, but difficult to do well. The Square 8...well, it's a gurl dog. You need to be wide awake, for sure. Make everything bigger and it gets easier. I saw a flier do an hourglass last Friday. I was 90 deg. to the wind, and had a great view of the size of his hourglass. It was an "hour and a quarter glass". I'll have to watch for that next contest. Some say that the judges cannot see if the hourglass is too big, or the OH8 is too big, but it's very possible...if the wing is not vertical at the top of the circle, it's obviously big or small. Big is easier to do well.

Congratulations on your win, Bill. As for moving up, I think it's good to move to Intermediate when you can do inverted safely, whether you can do the rest or not. I don't care about wins, but I am assuming that everybody wants to get better and move up. A good Fancherized Twister should get you into Advanced.  Steve 

[Paul Taylor]

Good info... I still have a lot to learn.
Thanks guys!

[Clayton Berry]

Good news.  Am happy for you.

Get a blank scoring sheet, and make a few hundred copies.  Get a coach.  Who will critique your flights.  And yell at you.  Repeatedly.

The hour glass is a tall maneuver, and the clover is a big one.  With straight lines and four big loops. 

Get a coach.  A flying partner.  Who writes things down and talks to you after each flight.  An asks you to critique him, as well.  You will learn.

[Bill Heher]

Well it looks like I will be hanging out in Phoenix for the next 3 -18 months. Once it cools off to the high 90's I will get back on the practice routine. I have a Fancherized Twister/ O.S. FP .40 and a Tutor ARF / LA .46 here in Phoenix, along with a Ringmaster / O.S. FP .25 for my friend / pit man to get some handle time on, and his boy.

I have another set of Twister / Tutor ARF at home in Orlando, and a 3rd Twister kit ( Won from SH!) in reserve if the going gets really rough. At least with the same planes my practice should be repeatable and improve.

Thanks for all the tips /advice - and stay tuned for pics of the inevitable carnage!

[David M Johnson]

Bill why wait for it to cool down On Sundays we fly at Estaban Park as early as 7 am or so and are done by 11 or 12.  Most of the Sunday flyers are Combat guys but they can help you do stunt as well. To get to Estaban use the 40th st exit off the I 10 go south to Roesser and turn right look for the cars parked under the trees on the south side of the street.  If you are looking to fly Sat either the same park which is hit or miss or on the West side the fly at a park on the Lower Buckeye rd south of Avondale if the football kids aren't there.  That group is dedicated Stunt guys Leroy Black, Nick W among others.  They fly early as well to beat the heat.  Welcome to Phoenix.!
David Johnson   

[Balsa Butcher]

What I want to know is how do you manage to get HP to send you only to places that have active control line clubs? Pretty cool and Congrats! on your promotion. FWIW: It took me two Fancherized Twisters to make advanced. That leap should come pretty quick for you what with flying with the Phoenix crew and all.

[john e. holliday]

Go back and reread Brett's way of the hour glass.   You do not fly to the top of the circle.  You fly to your right shoulder,  turn and cross over the top to your left shoulder and turn.   Also don't make that first turn to sharp. Just go past 90 degrees just a shade and straight line to right shoulder.  I think Allen B. and James Lee tell me the same thing.   Now if I could only put into flying what I have learned about flying.

[Bill Heher]

Pete - missed you at the contest last weekend- and I have 2 Twisters, maybe that and the TutorII will get me through to advanced!.

Dave- Yes- I have flown at Esteban before-and will get back out there soon.