I have been thinking on this one for a while. There is one thing that all the top guys have in common, dedication. The rest is a journey and it is a little different for each of them.
I promise I am not trying to be a braggart, or self promoting. But I do feel I have a good pattern and I would like to add into this discussion if that is ok with you guys. Warning, this is long. I tend to ramble on at times and this is one of those times.
My journey to gaining a top level pattern began 1994. I attended my first nats in Lubbock Tx only having just learned the beginner pattern a few weeks prior. Mike Scott and Phil Nickels were my judges during that competition. I crashed in the 1st round. I was so mad I was ready to bail. Steve calmed me down and repaired the severely damaged profile Mustang and I managed a 5th place finish which landed me a Custom Models Buccaneer 740. I was flying often in those days but no track of flights or anything just trying to learn to fly and having a blast doing so. I crashed many models during that time. It was a common theme for me. Taught me early on not to get to attached to a plane.
That fall I built a sig twister and finished the pattern with it. I also built the 740 and with an Randy Smith FP 40 installed started burning fuel by the case. It was then I became hooked. This was the 95 season. Bob G was a regular at our field and he give a me a tip or two here and there once he saw I was really interested in getting better and not just goofing around. He was still a Big Bear in those days and during his practice sessions he was not the most approachable guy. But I managed to become friends with him pretty quickly once I stated showing up night after night. I was single then.
By the way we are still great friends today.
I remember once I asked him what I should work on. I really had no idea where to start at that point. I was able to get through the pattern consistently but I had no idea what to do. He said "Fly 5' bottoms and we will go from there." He really just said it on passing. I was like "I will show him 5'!" The very next flight on the vertical 8" I hear clapping. He had moved upwind and he was clapping because I actually got 5' on the bottom. I of course thought it was going in but it didnt. Then he took to really helping me learn the winds, tune the motor, trim the plane. He was very general in his advice but enough to make changes that would let me learn along the way but not overwhelm me with info.
That year went on and I learned the pattern pretty good. I flew about 300 flights in 95 with one win in INT and several 2nds.
In 96 it was on. I loaded up with JBK fuel at the beginning of the season, March, and never looked back. I had finished a Buccaneer 746 and installed an OPS 40 running an 11.25 4.25 bolly. It was awesome. Flew rock solid at 5.60 laps. I lived at the field that year. I was there 3 nights a week and at least once on the weekends. Sometimes Steve and I would get there about 7 pm and wait all evening for the winds to die off and "get one in" at dusk. My new girlfriend thought we were nuts. She later became my wife. I moved up to advanced to start the 96 season and won every advanced contest I entered except for the nats. I placed 6th there, that was my first entry into the official nats events and the first year in Muncie. I put in around 350-400 flights that year.
A typical season here can go from March to October. With a break from March 20-May 15 for high winds. Last few years the high winds last well into June. Weird how they are changing.
From 97-2000 I flew consistently around 400-500 flights per year. I had also moved to expert locally in 1997. I got my first expert win in 1999 at a contest not heavily entered as it was right before the nats that year. Still it was a win. I didnt get another for quite some time after that. In those days Frank McMillan, Bob G, and Frank Williams could rain on your little stunt parade any ole time they pleased. I was routinely getting my rear end handed to me. I wasnt even thinking about beating those guys at that time. It was Mike Scott I was after. A local flyer who was always just a few points ahead. He was a season ahead of me getting into expert and was pretty solid in dist 8. Not only that he is a great friend and we flew together for years before he moved out of town. He helped me alot along the way as well with coaching.
All during this time I was getting coaching in all aspects of Stunt. Motor run, building, and flying. My real gains in building came in 1998-2000. During this time I really learned to build light and straight. Steve and Bob were helping all along the way. I really had no modeling background as a kid so I needed direction and they were happy to give it. From time to time I would hear the word IDIOT from Steve when I would do something really stupid like glue the wing in crooked on my Intrepid while watching a hockey game...
Brad Walker moved to town in 2000. He brought a new set of eyeballs to my pattern and helped me see a few things that needed work. He calls them tendencies. Things I do every time. He helped me solve a few big problems.
2001 Saw me really go nuts to try to win the Advanced trophy at the nats. I had made 5 attempts at it and had come up short a few times. This season I had a very reliable plane that was 2 years old and still looking good. I really figured out the PA engine as well. I put in about 175 flights from March until the nats that year and came up short. I was awarded 2nd place behind Dale Barry. I think it was less than 3 points. Total flights that year was around 400.
2002 and it cracked wide open. At this point when I would land I could tell the coach about 99% of the mistakes before he said a word. I could see them all just as the coach was seeing them. I had finished a plane in February that year and had it out early. In one flying session I knew it wouldnt work. I think Turd Beater was the word used for that model. Within a few flying sessions with the beater I got started on a new design. It was the Geo Bear I am Flying today. I had to literally BEG Bob to turn it over to me. He came over to the house and let me measure the plane and he gave me tons of little pointers. There are no plans. I got started in late Feb early March and had it out for the 1st flight on May 19th. From that day until the nats I flew it 249 times. It started life with a Jett. Then I got a PA 65 on loan from Brad Walker. It was setup to run 15% nitro much the same way BB sets up his motors. WOW! What horse that thing was and still is. I had been on the 4 blade for 2 seasons prior with good results but this was bliss. That plane was so much more capable than anything I had ever flown up to that point. It made flying and seeing proper shapes and sizes simple. Mistakes were all mine now. There was no blaming the rig anymore. I really dont think I can out fly that model. It is capable of anything I want it to do. After about 2 weeks on that rig it was very apparent to some close friends that I had a good combo and a skill level that would fair well in OPEN. Brad and Steve were really pushing for me to go to OPEN. Bob and Mike were saying stay in ADV and knock em out with this monster. If you dont get it this year then move on. I decided to move on to OPEN for two reasons. One, Open was always my goal anyway. Two, I read or heard somewhere if you place in the top 5 three times in ADV it is time to move on. I had a 6, 4, 4, and 2. I also had some other not so great finishes in there as well. It was time to move on.
I flew in 02 in OPEN to a Top 5 spot finishing 5th. It was awesome.
I went on to put in about 550 flights that year. I was really getting good in the district at that point as well. I was still traveling and entering all the contests I could get in. I feel that is a HUGE factor in getting good as well. Getting in front of judges as often as possible. Putting the routine to the test over and over.
In 03 I was right back on track. I had 175 flights prior to the nats. I was flying really well, made top 20, but had to leave early due to a death in the family. I got home from the nats on a Thursday, served at the funeral on Friday. Then the VERY next Monday I was laid off of work with my wife 3 months pregnant. Life changed radically for me all in that one week.
2 months later she also lost her job.
Since then I have had 3 kids, four jobs, 3 mortgages.
My head is spinning!
BUT before that huge change that put CLPA on the back burner on a warm setting I was living and breathing this stuff. I would wake up in the middle of the night and start thinking about Hourglasses and so on. Hours on the phone with Brad about stunt stuff and always running by Steve's to check out how his plane was coming along. Tips over to Mike's to see his plane. Trips over to Bob's house to see his plane in bare bones to learn more ways to build light. I was able to take enough time during those formative years to get a really solid understanding of the pattern, learn how to build, gain the ability to SEE my mistakes as my coach will see them, be able to take criticism for what it is and not a personal attack, setup a motor and so on all in a few very short years. Flying day after day after day helped to solidify it all. Day after day practice is a huge factor as well during the time I was learning to fly a top level pattern.
Now that I have the pattern all is needed is a few warm ups and it is off to the races. I do use a coach to make sure I am seeing what is wrong and not missing anything. This year I did not fly one pattern 2 weeks prior to the nats. I was out helping Steve quite a bit but I had my rig ready. I just had to get there, warm up, and go. Now, I can average 50-100 flights in a season if I am lucky. As the kids get older it is sometimes easier to get out and sometimes not.
But the one thing that makes a top flier is the willingness and determination along with commitment.
Oh and one other thing, it was a hell of alot of fun along the way.
I do have to say this past nats was probably on the top of the list as far as fun goes. It was relaxing and in perspective with where my life is now. I got nervous for about 2 minutes DURING my 2nd flight on Top 5 day. It really ruined the flight. The rest of the time I was comfortable and relaxed. A little anxious sure but not like in years past where I would be up tight a whole day before the thing started and not let up until it was over. This one was very fun!! Big thanks to all those who made it work and made it possible for me to go, My wife, Parents (took the kids part of the time), Steve (booked hotel, took his car, got us there every day), in-laws (helped out while I was away). Thanks again. Thanks to the nats personnel from ED all the way down the list!! You all know who you are and you are all very appreciated. Thanks to the competitors for getting there and competing hard and making it fun!
I am sorry I rambled on so.
Topic: The Top Stunt Fliers: any thoughts about what makes them the Top? (Read 4654 times)