I have been following the other thread about the issue of adding an Expert class to the NATS.
I am a past NATS competitor. My first NATS as a contestant was in 1973. I qualified in OPEN and made it to the finals. I placed 18th, last, but at least I made the finals. I was 18th in the nation! WOW. Realistically, I placed 18th out of 18 in the finals from that group of qualifiers who made the trip to Oshkosh. I seem to recall that the entry count was near 100. Nationwide, there were probably countless modelers who could have beaten the wings off of me and some others in the finals. However, they weren’t there.
I had achieved a certain level of success on the area contest route. It took several years and many airplanes before I was able to place in the top three. Often I garnered 1st or 2nd place. I became obsessed with competition and would travel hundreds of miles to attend a meet. I was fortunate to have one of my designs published in FM and another photographed in action by another publication.
So, my desire to enter the most coveted contest in the US came at a time when I was on a local roll. It was a bit scary at first, flying on the same circles with the top-guns in stunt. I was fortunate to meet Bob Hunt and we made a challenge to each other to qualify. It was my first NATS and Bob’s first time there flying PA instead of combat.
When they drew numbers for qualifying flying order, I got #1 on my circle. I almost puked. I had a brand new airplane I was still putting trim on in the motel and I was going to fly first. Well, the luck of the draw prevailed and my score held well enough to allow me to fly in the finals, where I obviously tanked and ended up in last place. Still, I made the finals. The next 2 years at Lake Charles would prove to be feeble attempts at qualifying, but that’s the way it goes. The following year, I had to give up modeling due to a job transfer.
So, here I am 36 years later at 68 years of age, trying to rekindle my modeling self. I have spent a few thou on new kits, engines, accessories and hardware in the last 3 years. So far, I have flown a P40 ARF a couple of times, both ending in damage to the plane. It has been repaired but I am struggling with dizziness at the handle and a flying speed I’m not comfortable with. It seems I make excuses every day to not get out and fly.
So, at this point, I can only speculate what category I would have chosen if, back in ’73, there were more choices than Open, a category which is mechanically linked to your birthday. I may have done better in a lesser class, but it just wouldn’t be the same as flying with the big dogs. That is an experience I will never, ever forget.
Back then, I probably would have scorned the thought of another class. Today, I would embrace it.
Topic: Open Stunt, Back Then (Read 1917 times)