Radio Control: Aerobatics
THE POTENTIAL rules change proposal to penalize four-stroke 1.20 users has resulted in more mail than I've ever received (except perhaps for mail concerning the downwind turn). Four-stroke users have been uniformly indignant that such a thing could be considered. Their virtually unanimous response has been that pilot ability and practice are more important than engine power in determining a winner. I don't have any argument with that; I'm sure it's correct. However, I do claim that a four-stroke 1.20 engine gives a competitive edge over two-stroke engines.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
ATTENTION, all pattern contestants: I received a very interesting letter from Steve Campbell (Baton Rouge, Louisiana). What follows are excerpts from his letter: "Several of your remarks in the October '92 column have done more to reinforce my negative feelings toward pattern fliers than almost anything I have seen or heard to date. "At one time I was a national-level competitor in police combat shooting (PPC). Among my more notable accomplishments were winning Master Class at the 1986 Nationals in Des Moines and becoming the Louisiana State Champion in 1989. I relate this not to impress you, but simply to illustrate that I am no stranger to high-level competition.
The RC Pattern Fliers Put On Their First Pan-American International Contest: N-PAC
SUCCESS! The initial National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics (NSRCA) Pan-American Championships (N-PAC) is history. To put it in perspective, N-PAC was the largest RC Pattern contest held in the world last year. Five classes drew 138 contestants: Novice-5, Sportsman-17, Advanced-28, Master-33, and FAI-55. The event was held at the Mid-American Air Center near Lawrenceville, Illinois, which also hosted the 1990 and 1991 AMA Nationals.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
I'VE BEGUN to get inputs about what readers think are the best airplanes for the beginning Pattern flier. In the lead so far has been the Great Planes Ultra Sport 40 or 60, with the Super Kaos a close second. Surprisingly, the third choice has been the Dirty Birdy. Let me make a few comments about each. I've seen Novice and Sportsman fliers do well with the Ultra Sport. Between the two, I'd have to give the edge to the 60 size, simply because a larger airplane is easier to fly and present to the judges. The 40 size seems to fly just about as well as the 60.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
IT'S BEEN another month, and I haven't received any more letters on the subject of what a beginning pattern pilot's first airplane(s) should be. Maybe your pattern juices hadn't started to flow until the warm weather thawed you out. You should be heavy into the season by now, so let me hear from you or I'll be forced to assume that you are as out of touch with what beginner pattern fliers need as I have been alleged to be.
