Author Topic: Videos of the 2018 NATS (Read 7187 times)

RC Storick · « **on:** July 08, 2018, 02:59:11 AM »

The first videos of the NATS are starting to be uploaded. I know this is not stunt but still amazing

Gary Dowler · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2018, 03:51:33 AM »

That's some impressive stuff there. Only thing that would have made that better is if it had retracts, but it's awesome anyway! The wind was sure giving him a little grief though.
Gary

Carl Cisneros · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2018, 09:38:04 AM »

Very nice video Sparky.

I remember flying on one of those Connies when I was at my first permanent station in CA.
Must admit, the pilot in teh circle got his physical fitness exercise for the day.

all 4 motors ran flawlessly
that is a feat in itself

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2018, 09:47:53 AM »

Retracts or not, the Connie is quite a model building accomplishment. Thanks.

RC Storick · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2018, 12:40:45 PM »

Brett Buck · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2018, 12:43:40 PM »

Quote from: RC Storick on July 08, 2018, 02:59:11 AM

The first videos of the NATS are starting to be uploaded. I know this is not stunt but still amazing

That's absolutely awesome. The pictures in Dave's thread show the details, but the video tells you it's not a hangar queen.

Brett

john e. holliday · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2018, 02:51:24 PM »

Great video of the Connie. One of my favorite airliners.

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2018, 04:07:09 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on July 08, 2018, 02:51:24 PM

Great video of the Connie. One of my favorite airliners.

They were magnificent birds, Doc. My first time aloft in an airliner cockpit (along with my big brother, Gary) was as a just pre-teen on a night time ferry flight from BFI to SEA aboard a now extinct PNA (Pacific Northern Airlines, IIRC) Super Connie piloted by a friend of my Dad's, Dave Kellogg, who was a Captain for them.

Second biggest thrill to just being in the cockpit was when Dave insisted Gary and I go back and check the engines to make sure they weren't "on fire" or anything...just a routine check, he added! Gary and I strolled back to the wing and each looked out one side and quickly ran back to the cockpit to report that all four engines seemed to be on fire as they were streaming blue flame behind them. Dave..after first advising there were no parachutes on board... then calmed us down.and told us "...don't worry. That's normal!" Yeah, right, we figured...but soon learned the blue flames came from the turbo compounded PRT (power recovery turbine) superchargers with which each engine was equipped which added some 500 or so HP to each P&W 3350 and the blue flame was their exhaust and it was, indeed, "normal".

Not sure either Gary or I believed it at first but, since there were no parachutes aboard, resigned ourselves to whatever fate awaited us. Pretty much nothing but a grease job landing and taxi in at Sea Tac.

What magnificent airplanes the Connies were. More sex appeal in the Gina Lollobrigida inspired fuselage of each one than in the entire fleets of jet powered Boeing, Douglas and AirBus clones that took their place.

Ted

Larry Fernandez · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2018, 06:18:54 PM »

[quote author=Ted Fancher Dave..after first advising there were no parachutes on board... then calmed us down.and then told us "...don't worry. That's normal!"

Ted
[/quote]

“That’s normal”
You hear that a lot Ted?

Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

Double Deuce · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2018, 06:34:13 PM »

What you do not hear too often is anyone accusing Pratt and Whitney of building the R-3350.

Not too often maintenance gets a free shot at flight ops personnel . Lord knows they took enough shots at us.

I am joking. Please do not accuse me of mean and hateful comments, especially toward someone I do admire.

Double Deuce

wwwarbird · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2018, 10:08:23 PM »

Ed's models are all very well done and always seem to perform well, proving you don't need to go electric if you know what you're doing. Great job Ed!

Bob Hunt · « **Reply #11 on:** July 09, 2018, 05:34:47 AM »

Just think how much more realistic this would look without the mufflers hanging out of the cowlings... If he did go electric he could then install one of Ram's speaker/sound systems and have the exact sound of a real Connie! Just sayin'... A great achievement in any case!

I was fortunate enough to have flown on a Connie from Atlanta to Tampa back in the 1950s. I'll never forget that ride!

Bob Hunt

Jim Hoffman · « **Reply #12 on:** July 09, 2018, 01:22:20 PM »

Quote from: Ketogenic on July 09, 2018, 08:15:12 AM

+10. It takes much more skill to build and fly a model using internal combustion than electric. Adjusting the carburetors on all the engines like this guy did takes real skill.

Thank you for posting this video.

I fly both electric and IC in competition. They both take skill to build and make work properly. One is not easier or better. Simply two different approaches with different pros and cons.

Frank Imbriaco · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2018, 01:42:28 PM »

Quote from: Ketogenic on July 09, 2018, 08:15:12 AM

+10. It takes much more skill to build and fly a model using internal combustion than electric. Adjusting the carburetors on all the engines like this guy did takes real skill.

Thank you for posting this video.

Wish I could believe that.

One view of the inners of my electric twin with 3 electric retracts might change your mind as to just how challenging setting up some electric aircraft can be.

Doug Moon · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2018, 02:26:07 PM »

For some reason i dont have sound on these videos?

Brett Buck · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2018, 02:31:43 PM »

Quote from: Bob Hunt on July 09, 2018, 05:34:47 AM

Just think how much more realistic this would look without the mufflers hanging out of the cowlings... If he did go electric he could then install one of Ram's speaker/sound systems and have the exact sound of a real Connie! Just sayin'... A great achievement in any case!

Oh, come on! How much more realistic would it be if you made it twice the size and flew it on RC? If realism was the sole intent, that's the way to do it.

It's the limitations that make the event. It's good as it is, we can just admire the accomplishment.

Brett

Derek Barry · « **Reply #16 on:** July 09, 2018, 04:00:02 PM »

Quote from: Doug Moon on July 09, 2018, 02:26:07 PM

For some reason i dont have sound on these videos?

I am getting audio.

Derek

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #17 on:** July 09, 2018, 04:29:34 PM »

Thanks for doing this again this year.

RC Storick · « **Reply #18 on:** July 09, 2018, 07:43:27 PM »

2018 AMA Appearance Judging

James Holford · « **Reply #19 on:** July 09, 2018, 07:49:40 PM »

Watching Frank Mcmillans electric twin in Houston with Retracts along with the amazing stunning flight performance had my mind going 10000mph. Amazing!!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Alan Resinger · « **Reply #20 on:** July 09, 2018, 08:06:15 PM »

A giant congratulations to my flying partner and best friend Chris Cox on his 20 appearance point Hellcat and the Concours trophy. Well done.

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #21 on:** July 09, 2018, 09:09:25 PM »

Quote from: Larry Fernandez on July 08, 2018, 06:18:54 PM

[quote author=Ted Fancher Dave..after first advising there were no parachutes on board... then calmed us down.and then told us "...don't worry. That's normal!"

Ted

“That’s normal”
You hear that a lot Ted?

Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

Larry, Larry!

I tossed a line into the pond wondering if I'd catch you and...guess what?

Why don't you tell the tale this time. You've got a bigger audience than I did at that banquet! Besides, I'd like to hear your side of the story!

TED

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #22 on:** July 09, 2018, 09:39:00 PM »

Quote from: Double Deuce on July 08, 2018, 06:34:13 PM

What you do not hear too often is anyone accusing Pratt and Whitney of building the R-3350.

Not too often maintenance gets a free shot at flight ops personnel . Lord knows they took enough shots at us.

I am joking. Please do not accuse me of mean and hateful comments, especially toward someone I do admire.

Double Deuce

O.M.G! DD got me for sure!

Too many years and too many P&Ws in my life. It was, indeed, Curtiss Wright that built the 3350s; swaddled in between P&W's 2800 and the corn cob; the 4360. I, for sure, would'a flunked my flight engineer check ride aboard an old 3350 powered DC-7 if I'd come up with that answer during my oral!

Actually DD, in my little speech at United's 2003 SFO retirement banquet I thanked airframe/powerplant manufacturers and United's maintenance personnel for limiting my scary moments to a mere handful in 38 years of steering the stuff they handed us 365 days a year. Sounds like I need to extend the same to you.

Ted

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #23 on:** July 09, 2018, 09:49:27 PM »

Quote from: Alan Resinger on July 09, 2018, 08:06:15 PM

A giant congratulations to my flying partner and best friend Chris Cox on his 20 appearance point Hellcat and the Concours trophy. Well done.

I'll double down on that, Alan. Well deserved Chris! Congratulations. The new trophy looks awesome!

Ted Fancher

john e. holliday · « **Reply #24 on:** July 09, 2018, 10:03:38 PM »

Congrats to Chris for the award. Is this one of the planes featured in Stunt News? Like all the various schemes the pilots/finishers come up with.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #25 on:** July 09, 2018, 10:26:33 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on July 09, 2018, 10:03:38 PM

Congrats to Chris for the award. Is this one of the planes featured in Stunt News?

It's the one featured on the cover and with an extensive construction article in the Jan 2018 issue. David and I did appearance judging at the NWR, and it's one of those airplanes that looks great from 10 feet away, and from 10mm away.

The standards for workmanship just seems to get higher every year around here.

Brett

Mike Haverly · « **Reply #26 on:** July 10, 2018, 10:48:33 AM »

It is not only beautiful it's slippery. I launched it and had to be careful not to let go too early! Many congratulations to Chris, every model he makes is gorgeous but this one is over the top. The two front rows at the NATS are all west coast, makes it tough on us mere mortals on a regular basis.

bob whitney · « **Reply #27 on:** July 11, 2018, 10:18:50 AM »

Quote from: Ketogenic on July 09, 2018, 01:47:18 PM

The model in the video did not have retracts. But, for the sake of tranquility, I will agree you are right. Operating an electric model is harder than a internal combustion one.

after being around Ed Mason and his multi engine glo's and helping dave Platt with his twin electric ship. I will say that keeping the four glo's running for the complete flight is MUCH harder

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #28 on:** July 11, 2018, 02:16:35 PM »

I just watched his flight again. He did a masterful job of flying. His execution was very realistic. And the plane looks awesome on the ground and in the air. A great accomplishment no matter how you look at it.

RC Storick · « **Reply #29 on:** July 11, 2018, 02:55:16 PM »

RC Storick · « **Reply #30 on:** July 11, 2018, 05:39:04 PM »

I am flying and judging and helping other plus taking movies as I can. With the Wifi as bad as it is here be thankful for what I can post is you don't like what I put out don't watch it.

Jason Greer · « **Reply #31 on:** July 11, 2018, 05:43:52 PM »

Thanks for doing what you can, Robert. It is very much appreciated.

James Holford · « **Reply #32 on:** July 11, 2018, 05:45:03 PM »

Could just be people finding the Stream at random on youtube just not liking nodel aircraft

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RC Storick · « **Reply #33 on:** July 11, 2018, 05:48:23 PM »

Quote from: James Holford on July 11, 2018, 05:45:03 PM

Could just be people finding the Stream at random on youtube just not liking nodel aircraft

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

not as fast as they are being found. It is a subscriber

James Holford · « **Reply #34 on:** July 11, 2018, 05:49:56 PM »

Quote from: RC Storick on July 11, 2018, 05:48:23 PM

not as fast as they are being found. It is a subscriber

Possibly. Always the possibility.

Regardless. I thank you for the streams. Id love to able to be there.

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RC Storick · « **Reply #35 on:** July 11, 2018, 06:06:46 PM »

I got 2 Thumbs down on the last video already.

Brent Williams · « **Reply #36 on:** July 11, 2018, 06:57:41 PM »

Sparky, there will always be folks who complain about free gifts.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #37 on:** July 11, 2018, 07:51:15 PM »

Thanks Sparky for giving us a view. Some people will always find something to complain about.
Don’t sweat the small stuff and it’s all small stuff.

Andre Ming · « **Reply #38 on:** July 11, 2018, 08:26:43 PM »

Brent:

That is FUNNY... and SOOOO true!!

Sparks:

Thanks for sharing the Nats with us.

Andre

Jim Hoffman · « **Reply #39 on:** July 11, 2018, 09:10:20 PM »

Sparky,

Thanks for making your website and videos available, must be very challenging at the Nats. I am sure your fans outnumber the few detractors by a large amount

Air Ministry . · « **Reply #40 on:** July 11, 2018, 10:20:37 PM »

Any publicity is GOOD publicity ! Nothing like a bit of controversy to make something popular . We Hope .

He's holding out on us ! .

Theres a few more there . I'll put em up here so theyre here , now . THANKS . Sparky .

I think some turkeys are expecting Alistair Cooke or David Attenborouh , edited documentaries .

Theres a few pointers here :

An assistant might not go ammiss .

We'll have a word to Romanescui , http://www.marinaru.ro/ Im sure She'll be Right Over .

Charles Carter · « **Reply #41 on:** July 11, 2018, 10:53:38 PM »

Quote from: RC Storick on July 11, 2018, 05:39:04 PM

I am flying and judging and helping other plus taking movies as I can. With the Wifi as bad as it is here be thankful for what I can post is you don't like what I put out don't watch it.

Sparky, I can understand how frustrating it must be to have some knuckle head give you a thumbs down. I am not going to say don't let it bother you. The truth of the matter is they are some poor excuses of human beings here on the earth and they are negative, negative about a lot of things. There are negative about life, negative about their mom and dad. There are negative about there job, marriage, their own children, they are just simply negative about everything. The surprising thing is they have no clue that they have a PROBLEM!

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Charles Carter

Brett Buck · « **Reply #42 on:** July 12, 2018, 12:52:02 AM »

Quote from: RC Storick on July 11, 2018, 06:06:46 PM

I got 2 Thumbs down on the last video already.

I am not sure why you even care. You surely know that most people appreciate it, a couple of morons give thumbs down is irrelevant and they aren't the target audience.

You can always find a few people to boo anything. All that means is that there are always a few d*cks in any crowd. You could make a video about a cure for cancer and I guarantee there would be people on there objecting to it. It means nothing.

Brett

RC Storick · « **Reply #43 on:** July 12, 2018, 02:29:17 AM »

Thanks all for the encouragement, it just rubbed me the wrong way after a hot day on the L pad. To those who would rather watch Windy video's Please watch his 2018 coverage of the NATS. Noone of the Nays sayers has an idea of what is going on. I am live streaming when bandwidth permits Un-edited. I am taking movies and clips to be edited and uploaded from Home where I have the real bandwidth.

I am actually trying to make the top 20 the rest is just an afterthought. I must concentrate on my first goal and the rest is just a bonus. Sorry for those who don't understand

Skip Chernoff · « **Reply #44 on:** July 12, 2018, 03:25:16 AM »

We all love you Sparky,just keep doing what you're doing.Best of luck with the competition.....oh BTW I refinished the cowl on my Shark. Sorry but I had to sand off your "hot stuffed" finger print from Brodaks. You my now re-enter the witness protection program.....

GERALD WIMMER · « **Reply #45 on:** July 12, 2018, 04:34:31 AM »

Thank-you Sparky for all your efforts not just shooting Nats videos but running this site. For folks like me we cannot easily attend the US Nats the coverage is greatly appreciated. You are very hard working and probably do way more then most to support this hobby/sport and it is a great pity when efforts like yours go unappreciated by a small few that would not undertake what you do anyway.
Regards Gerald

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #46 on:** July 12, 2018, 06:21:48 AM »

Was Matt supposed to let the cat out of the bag about your new assistant? I thought you were holding that until top five day to surprise us.

Oh well, multi "thumbs up" anyway!

James Holford · « **Reply #47 on:** July 12, 2018, 06:38:47 AM »

Quote from: RC Storick on July 12, 2018, 02:29:17 AM

Thanks all for the encouragement, it just rubbed me the wrong way after a hot day on the L pad. To those who would rather watch Windy video's Please watch his 2018 coverage of the NATS. Noone of the Nays sayers has an idea of what is going on. I am live streaming when bandwidth permits Un-edited. I am taking movies and clips to be edited and uploaded from Home where I have the real bandwidth.

I am actually trying to make the top 20 the rest is just an afterthought. I must concentrate on my first goal and the rest is just a bonus. Sorry for those who don't understand

Sparky you are doing the best you can.. and none of us can ask for any more than that. Keep up the great work with the amazing effort you are putting in.. If I were there Id surely be helping as best as I could.

Tight lines buddy

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

jfv · « **Reply #48 on:** July 12, 2018, 08:40:09 AM »

Sparky, I'm not there and any effort on your part to provide a glimpse of what is happening is greatly appreciated! Thanks for your efforts.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #49 on:** July 12, 2018, 09:11:24 AM »

Bob - this may be too late to help, but while I like seeing what it going on, don't lose track of the real goal - qualifying. You have a golden opportunity here, a good clean flight seems to be all you need, and then you are a NATs Qualifier. Lots of people have lost the bubble and had that slip away. Videos are swell, but you are there to compete, not play Steven Spielberg.

Brett

john e. holliday · « **Reply #50 on:** July 12, 2018, 09:52:37 AM »

Sparky, the old DOC really appreciates what you and a few others are doing for those of us that can't or don't attend the NATS. Not having sound on main computer I just watch the videos and later go to the lap top which has sound. Remember your goal is to make the top twenty if not the top five. Be great if you and Dave Trible could make top 5. By the nay sayers probably don't even know what they are looking at. So you all keep having fun.

Derek Barry · « **Reply #51 on:** July 12, 2018, 10:33:24 AM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on July 12, 2018, 09:11:24 AM

Bob - this may be too late to help, but while I like seeing what it going on, don't lose track of the real goal - qualifying. You have a golden opportunity here, a good clean flight seems to be all you need, and then you are a NATs Qualifier. Lots of people have lost the bubble and had that slip away. Videos are swell, but you are there to compete, not play Steven Spielberg.

Brett

He made it. Qualified 4th on his circle.

Derek

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #52 on:** July 12, 2018, 10:42:04 AM »

That’s great news!

Brett Buck · « **Reply #53 on:** July 12, 2018, 10:48:31 AM »

Quote from: Derek Barry on July 12, 2018, 10:33:24 AM

He made it. Qualified 4th on his circle.

Beat Dixon, huh? That's nothing to sneeze at, Tom was flying great last I saw him in Classic.

Brett

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #54 on:** July 12, 2018, 11:24:57 AM »

I'm going with two thumbs up to you, and anyone taking the time and trouble to record contests for those unable to attend.

Derek Barry · « **Reply #55 on:** July 12, 2018, 11:33:11 AM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on July 12, 2018, 10:48:31 AM

Beat Dixon, huh? That's nothing to sneeze at, Tom was flying great last I saw him in Classic.

Brett

That's pretty much what I told him.

Derek

Jason Greer · « **Reply #56 on:** July 12, 2018, 12:28:23 PM »

Congrats Robert!

RC Storick · « **Reply #57 on:** July 12, 2018, 02:18:59 PM »

john e. holliday · « **Reply #58 on:** July 12, 2018, 08:58:20 PM »

Is the heat getting to the recorder? Thanks for the video.

Jim Mynes · « **Reply #59 on:** July 13, 2018, 07:24:21 AM »

Wow. A pay phone? You don’t see those every day.

RC Storick · « **Reply #60 on:** July 13, 2018, 03:41:13 PM »

Will Hinton · « **Reply #61 on:** July 13, 2018, 05:12:08 PM »

If I had them, Sparky, I'd give you THREE thumbs up. Ignore the negatives.

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #62 on:** July 15, 2018, 07:49:44 AM »

What happened to the finals video? I only had time to watch a small part yesterday. Had my popcorn ready and went to see the whole show - not there!

Just curious, I am sure there is a good reason.

Ken

RC Storick · « **Reply #63 on:** July 15, 2018, 09:18:02 AM »

Quote from: Ken Culbertson on July 15, 2018, 07:49:44 AM

What happened to the finals video? I only had time to watch a small part yesterday. Had my popcorn ready and went to see the whole show - not there!

Just curious, I am sure there is a good reason.

Ken

So much whining about my crappy reporting I took is down to use in the edited version. I will have it done soon.

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #64 on:** July 15, 2018, 09:24:16 AM »

Quote from: RC Storick on July 15, 2018, 09:18:02 AM

So much whining about my crappy reporting I took is down to use in the edited version. I will have it done soon.

The only thing crappy about your reporting was the idiots complaining about it. As for the inverted - Somebody forgot to tell one of the judges that you only judge the 3rd & 4th laps!

Ken

Ted Fancher · « **Reply #65 on:** July 15, 2018, 11:02:56 AM »

One of the things, other than the flights, that caught my attention was the modest handful of spectators and hangers on following the action. Their presence and enthusiastic response for the final flights used to be a big part of the flyoff's magic. The lack of crowds milling around the score boards in the Pagoda was especially surprising.

I'm curious to know whether there was a banquet such as there used to be, after the finals, which tended to keep folks around and, thus, watching the Top V, Junior/Senior finals and Walker Flyoff. Thus, that evening's banquet and awards ceremony was the standard CLPA Nats wind-up for most participants. Seemed a little bit of an energy sapping let down. Hope I'm wrong.

Ted

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #66 on:** July 15, 2018, 11:28:50 AM »

I, like many, wish I could have been there. But. The Nats are a full week long and that is a lot of time and money to be spent in Muncie Indiana. Years ago when I attended the Nats, they moved around the country and when you went you actually got to see ALL of the model airplane (even Indoor at Chicopee) activities. There is no hope of consolidating all events into one Nats. But, I really wish we could do 2 things: 1) shorten the Nats for PA to 4 days; 2) move it around the country.

I suppose there are a number of reasons why we can't, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be a good idea.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #67 on:** July 15, 2018, 11:38:33 AM »

Quote from: Ted Fancher on July 15, 2018, 11:02:56 AM

Seemed a little bit of an energy sapping let down. Hope I'm wrong.

I obviously wasn't there the last few years, but the energy has been sapping out of it, obviously, for about 10 years now. Since it has been held in Muncie, the attendance from remote areas (like, more than a days drive or so) has fallen off dramatically, and almost no one goes who isn't directly involved. So few spectators. The experiment with Expert also had a negative effect - instead of drawing more entrants, it split the existing advanced field. Then, when it was dropped, those people didn't show back up or enter open, they just didn't go.

As you know as well as anyone, with it permanently 2500 miles from the biggest area of participation, any no practical way to get there aside from driving, it's a grind. Now, you get mostly midwest/east coast local competitors, and the guys going for the top places, and not a lot of the guys in the middle going for experience.

This is just my opinion, of course, but going to Muncie every year for 20+ years, it has lost a lot of the appeal as a special event. You still get the best fliers showing up, for the most part, it's still a the best contest, but it's not a "happening" the way it used to be. You get more turnout and spectators, and "hangers on" at the NWR or the Golden State meet, than the NATs

I know you were trying to make a point, but of late, as far as I can tell, no one considered the banquet a draw, and just like the event itself, it was getting very ordinary and there's not a lot you can do about it. How many times can you go to the Muncie convention center and have it be special? What you saw on Saturday was not a lot different from what it was on Thursday (at least at the recent NATs I have attended). It has the feel of a Team Trials much more than the old NATs.

Brett

RC Storick · « **Reply #68 on:** July 15, 2018, 12:02:22 PM »

Quote from: Ken Culbertson on July 15, 2018, 07:49:44 AM

What happened to the finals video? I only had time to watch a small part yesterday. Had my popcorn ready and went to see the whole show - not there!

Just curious, I am sure there is a good reason.

Ken

Watch the unedited version here.

Word of warning this is an unlisted video and can only be accessed from Stunt Hangar.

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #69 on:** July 15, 2018, 12:28:18 PM »

Quote from: RC Storick on July 15, 2018, 12:02:22 PM

Watch the unedited version here.

Word of warning this is an unlisted video and can only be accessed from Stunt Hangar.

THANKS!

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #70 on:** July 15, 2018, 04:45:52 PM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on July 15, 2018, 11:38:33 AM

I obviously wasn't there the last few years, but the energy has been sapping out of it, obviously, for about 10 years now. Since it has been held in Muncie, the attendance from remote areas (like, more than a days drive or so) has fallen off dramatically, and almost no one goes who isn't directly involved. So few spectators. The experiment with Expert also had a negative effect - instead of drawing more entrants, it split the existing advanced field. Then, when it was dropped, those people didn't show back up or enter open, they just didn't go.

As you know as well as anyone, with it permanently 2500 miles from the biggest area of participation, any no practical way to get there aside from driving, it's a grind. Now, you get mostly midwest/east coast local competitors, and the guys going for the top places, and not a lot of the guys in the middle going for experience.

This is just my opinion, of course, but going to Muncie every year for 20+ years, it has lost a lot of the appeal as a special event. You still get the best fliers showing up, for the most part, it's still a the best contest, but it's not a "happening" the way it used to be. You get more turnout and spectators, and "hangers on" at the NWR or the Golden State meet, than the NATs

I know you were trying to make a point, but of late, as far as I can tell, no one considered the banquet a draw, and just like the event itself, it was getting very ordinary and there's not a lot you can do about it. How many times can you go to the Muncie convention center and have it be special? What you saw on Saturday was not a lot different from what it was on Thursday (at least at the recent NATs I have attended). It has the feel of a Team Trials much more than the old NATs.

Brett

Brett:

I think I agree with you about 110%. The extra 10% is the week long format. Unless this is all you do then getting away for a week is difficult and if you don't have a family that wants to go along it is really difficult. Then you have may have just come back from a week at Brodak and almost that at VSC. If I can only do one which it looks like will be the case in the upcoming 2-3 years, I cannot make a case for the NATS over the others.

One other change that may be causing lower turn out is other events. We have had this format for a while so the initial affect was probably years ago but many of us fly something other than stunt. If you are going to compete it means a summer in Muncie. That is really cool if you live in Muncie but if you don't it means you have to pick your event.

I do not have the long recent history that you do. I have only been back at it since January and flying since March
and remotely competitive since June. When I look at the planes in the finals and ask myself if I have the time to build one I have to say that I don't think I do if the only place it really matters will be the NATS. If there was one plane in the finals that had under 500 hours in it I would be shocked, especially if you count trimming and the travel necessary to do it. Maybe the NATS has become a gathering of the elites and we should treat it as such. Other sports use regionals to qualify. Perhaps that may be an answer, maybe not. Maybe there just isn't an answer.

Ken