NATs schedule

[Matt Brown]

I’m looking for specifics on the different event for this years nats. All I’m finding is July 8-14.
I was thinking I’d try beginner stunt and intermediate if flying both event are allowed. I’m pretty sure Beginner is held entirely on the 8th but don’t know anything about the other events. I’d even consider speed limit combat if it didn’t conflict with stunt events I’m flying. I saw one post somewhere that listed Intermediate on the 8th as well but I thought Intermediate was flown through the week, like Monday/Tuesday.
For the record, I’ve never flown stunt in a contest, but many years flying combat in the mid 80’s through the early 90’s.
I probably need to get my entry in pretty soon too. I seem to recall a fairly steep late entry fee at the Nats.

Thanks, Matt

[Dave_Trible]

Matt both Intermediate and Beginner are flown on Sunday, usually on the same grass fields.  Advanced and Open are flown on the paved Lpad during the week. Usually you can only enter one of these events.  You are obviously not a ‘new’ flier.  I’d suggest if you can fly the whole pattern you’d enjoy it more and be in your element in Intermediate.  If you are still learning the pattern then maybe beginner.  I believe you can sign up on site without penalty since these are not Official AMA events and do not appear on the entry form from AMA, though a license is required.

Dave

[Matt Brown]

I can get through the entire pattern but square anything is truly ugly. I’m way over-controlling the plane in the square maneuvers. I got Mike McHenry to fly my plane Wednesday and show me that it is capable of decent squares. He helped with some additional tuning help as well. Now I just need to practice! I wanted to fly two classes just to get in more time in the contest circle. Could I fly Intermediate and also enter Advanced? I’m not concerned with placing dead last

Matt

[Dave_Trible]

Well yes I guess you could take a fast promotion.  Just remember:

1. You WILL need to get your entry in to AMA for Advanced to save some dough ( and it also greatly helps the planners for the event )

2. Once you enter Advanced you can't go back to Intermediate again.

Simply as a personal note;  I came up in this game before skill classes.  My FIRST contests were against fliers far more skilled than me.  I wouldn't go back and do it any other way.  I was always looking up at a challenge and learned the most from all the best fliers I was competing with.

Dave

[peabody]

Matt
Beginner class is the only AMA Skill Class that has a defining exit point. It is defined as a class for "flyers that cannot complete the entire pattern". A trophy shouldn't mean that much.
Fly Intermediate and have fun!
Peabody

[peabody]

I believe that Mr. Trible is wrong.
Intermediate is NOT an official class at the Nats.
Expert in NOT FLOWN
The only skill class officially flown at the Nats is Advanced, which is why it is full of Experts.
The rules state that if the skill class that you usually fly is not being flown, you may fly in another without penalty.

Have fun!

[Howard Rush]

Simply as a personal note;  I came up in this game before skill classes.  My FIRST contests were against fliers far more skilled than me.  I wouldn't go back and do it any other way.  I was always looking up at a challenge and learned the most from all the best fliers I was competing with.

That's how I feel about it.  One interesting thing about the way we do skill classes is that they don't apply to you if you don't want them to.  You can enter Expert (or Open at the Nats) from the get-go. 

[mike londke]

Intermediate is on Sunday. The 1st place winner gets his entry fee paid for to go fly in Advanced if they choose to do so. Speed Limit Combat is on Tuesday.

[Matt Brown]

Intermediate is on Sunday. The 1st place winner gets his entry fee paid for to go fly in Advanced if they choose to do so. Speed Limit Combat is on Tuesday.

Assuming I fly Intermediate on Sunday, when does Advanced start flying? If Advanced doesn’t start till Wednesday, I could fly all three. Int, speed limit and Advanced.


Matt

[Dave_Trible]

..

[Matt Brown]

Thanks Dave! Just what I needed.

Matt