Wynn Paul

WHILE I was fortunate to be a member of the United States' FAI Precision Aerobatics team, and attempted to not open my big mouth too much, there were a number of items occuring which I feel need some comments. In addition, Mr. Zdenek Liska, the chief judge of Precision Aerobatics, asked that I supply him with some ideas on administration of the contest-along the lines that the Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association have used for the FAI tryouts and the Nationals since 1974. Taking the items in chronological order from the FAI Sporting Code, the first problem is from section 2.5.6(d) and (k) regarding the responsibility of the organizer to "provide at least one practice day prior to the competition," and "Provision of adequate practice areas shall be made before and during World Championships."

BACKING up a couple of steps from last month's ideas on modifying two kits, let's start from the beginning and recommend four steps for the beginner to start in learning how to fly precision aerobatics. The beginner should start with a profile airplane and learn level flights, inside round loops, outside round loops, inverted flight, takeoffs and landings. This writer suggests beginning with a .35-size engine for these reasons: it will usually start easier, will last through the crashes, and will be used later in succeeding planes. Step One is profile plane without flaps; the writer suggests one of the following: (1) Flite Streak (Top Flite), 42 in. wing span, a good old flier that will perform well; (2) Cosmic Wind (Goldberg), 43 in. wing span, another veteran that will fly (actually the Buster and the Shoestring are about the same plane); (3) Mongoose (M & P); 36 1/2 in. wing span, a slow Combat plane but suited for learning; (4) Ringmaster (Sterling) 42 in. span, a plane used by thousands to learn to fly, recently modernized in construction methods.