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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: PJ Rowland on July 11, 2011, 01:47:57 AM
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I was shocked and honoured to be awarded the Rookie of the Year for the 2011 US Nats.
It was my 1st time making it into the Top 20 and my 2nd trip to USA to compete. I met so many great people, and made stronger bonds with old friends.
To be honest as some of you may have followed, my Nats prep didnt go to plan, no model, no connecting flights... havoc at every turn.
Well it didnt start off great even before I left for USA.
4 days out from leaving I had a bellcrank failure.
I spent 3 days fixing, repainting the tiger and managed just one flight before I left.
Once the model did arrive in America I started to develop a trim issue that wouldnt go away... So it turned out the inboard wingtip had twisted upward by almost 1/4" rendering all attempts to trim it out impossible. I would guess that there was an irregularity with dope and with the airline flight over / change in atmospheric pressures, cabin ect.. combined with the heat and humidity of muncie, compounded my problem.
My Tiger was never flown in the contest - despite spending 4 days and several hours trying to get the trim issue solved, we tried to get the warp out. Sparky offered to get it out which he was confident of doing, but I left his number in my pocket and when I got back to the hotel, went for a swim !! So I couldnt get a hold of him, and gave up on the idea of flying it.
I also gave up on the idea of really competiting hard for a TOP 20 birth.
Alan Brickhouse summed it up the best when he presented the trophy.
"..... he tried to smuggle a Tiger into the country and got into trouble - but he was saved by a Bear. "
The only model I had to compete with was my 1968 Gieseke Nobler - which featured here several months ago. Bob Gieseke himself was also one of the judges for one of the flights and was pleased, and proud to see it fly. I personally felt incredible to be able to fly infront of such a legend and someone I have admired for so many years. I had several close conversations with him, and can comfortably call him a close friend.
Interesting as part of my conversations with him - he told me - Not since 1979 has a Gieseke Nobler been in the Top 20 in Open, that was done obviously by Bob himself - He then proceeded to add to that with " But you know it also Won it that year...!! "
What was my Highlight ?
Flying a classic model and competing against modern equipment and making Top 20 ?
Rookie of the Year ?
2nd in Classic ?
Watching my friends do so well ?
Having my father fly 4 solid flights in advanced ?
Funny enough, all of those are great, but my highlight was having Bob Gieseke tell me he wants to build/replicated EXACTLY what I have flown. identical setup, engine ,plane Box and Dice.
It was a honour to come over and fly with Yall. I look forward to coming back in 2 years time, Thankyou everyone who helped me out with bits and Bobs.
I just hope they dont change their respective Nats minds on Internationals competiting.. we had WAY TOO MUCH FUN for a Nats. ! y1
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Great story with a great ending. Gieseke is something else!
Congrats PJ.
Mike
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Thanks to sites like this(Stunt Hanger)and the Barton site I have followed your exploits. Glad you and your father had a good time. Have a safe trip home and maybe one of these days we might meet. H^^
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PJ,
Sorry to hear that after all that bother, you didn't get to fly the Raptor. Man, you moved heaven and earth, a couple of times, to get it here then to have it not work is sad. But I'm glad you got the fly the Nobler and hey, you made the top 20! That's awesome.
Congratulations!!
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PJ: It was great getting to meet you and was a pleasure to watch that G Nobler
rip it up in Classic and Open. I flew my G Nobler to a victory in Classic last year
and Bob was delighted. When you get a chance send me some pics of the plane
to: ultrahobby@cs.com. I think you sent me some before, but they were too large
and came out all pixalated (is that a word?). Anyway, looking forward to seeing
you again.
Later, Steve
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PJ - Great meeting you and pop, your dad's a real charecter. Something about apples and tree's comes to mind here.
Sorry you had a rough start, but glad things worked out for you in the end, I know it was a long road.
EricV
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No drama's steve, as soon as I touch down I will get them over to you, and I have some great ones of bob and myself holding the plane.
I tried to Win classic.......... I desperately wanted to win it - for myself.. for UHP, for Bob, for all the Naysayers back home...
Keith is a fantastic flier and a really tough combination to beat with that Old Bearcat. He was in my section of the draw for open so I got a chance to compete against him not only in Classic but in open as well.. I Top scored Round 2 of Classic, and Beat him in all 4 Rounds of Open.. So in effect I beat him in 5 out of 6 rounds we competed - however it was Round 1 in classic where I was 4 points behind that Cost me the Trophy........ He missed out on Top 20 also. Even now it still annoys / frustrates me that I came so close.
Next time I come over I will try again.
Thanks to everyone - Randy - I know mate, no matter what I did It wasnt to be the year.
It did give me a chance to answer a question : How competitive is a Classic model with modern engine in Open ?
I ( and many others agree ) any combination of Classic / modern engine is capable of making Top 20.. However under good judging you would max out at 540 mark. I THINK) I had a 545.. but it was on an easy circle for scoring. To go higher than 540 - into the 550 - 560 + Mark which is required for Top 10 and beyond, older designs just do not have the ability to handel the aerodynamic courner and stability required.
I got 100% out of that little Bear but knew where I was lacking points. - So can you make Top 20 ? Sure.. Top 15.... possibly yes... Top 10 ? I dont think so.
Thanks Eric, it was great to see you also mate :)
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Great stuff, CONGRATS PJ! H^^
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Go on , be a sport . Bob'd like the Aeroplane ;D. :-X.
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Bob was consistently tough no matter who you were. In fact.. in one of my rounds he was the lowest, and told me that he finds it difficult to judge models / people he likes.
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Hey PJ,
After winning in beginner on Monday I spent the next 5 days watching as many flights as I could to see how I am supposed to fly these things and many of the flights were yours.Thanx for the lessons!!!!!You flew your britches off and deserve being the Rookie of the Year.Congrats and ENJOY!!!!!Jeff
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PJ: In order to see where you REALLY stack-up in Classic, bring the Gieseke Nobler to VSC-24 in Tucson next March, 13-17.
No worries, mate. Competition will likely consist only of Hunt, Trostle, Hiki, McDonald, Klapinski, Minato, et al.
We would love to see you here, and we know you'd enjoy it.
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Thank Mike - Flying in that contest is on my Bucket list for sure..
But i dont need to fly in the VSC to see how she REALLY stacks up.. 16th in Open told me how it stacks up :)
I just looked over the results for the last VSC....... I think Top 3 is quite acheiveable.
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PJ, I hope I read your post right, as judges are not supposed to talk to contestants about their flights until well after the competition is over. Can talk about your family, the car and/or your home but not about the planes or contestants that are flying. VD~
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John, thats correct.. All my conversations with Bob G were at the end of Top 20 Final Round.
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PJ, You're flying very well lately and congrats on your Nat's placing. However you may want
to rethink your aspirations for VSC. You may want to shoot for the top ten which
could possibly be in your reach. Top three? At the present time highly doubtful.
Remember there were some of us that were not at the Nat's this year and
would certainly have affected the outcome. That being said we would very much
like to have you here for our annual VSC contest. You might find it enlightening and
for sure entertaining. Regards, RJ
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PJ. Really enjoyed your company and also competing with you in both "Classic" and "open Stunt". Rookie of the year award was well deservered, congratulations. Looking forward to the next time you with be here.
Blessings
Allen
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Congratulations P.J.
Allen Brickhaus