I've continued to fly the "short" wing set for the last couple weeks and I really think this is the way to go. I managed to get out Sunday for a bit of practice with my wife (caller) and did not feel the need to make any changes to the radio, nor the plane. I still have a bit of a problem with the presentation of the plane inverted, but am working through that. It's not a consistent issue, so I'm hoping that during the meet this weekend, my concentration will help. I seem to fly a bit better with the "pressure" of a contest than during regular practice.
It's been a long 6 weeks since the last contest, and the first contest for me and the Galactika. Robbin and I both have Friday off and will be able to get to the flying site with plenty of time to fly my two "throw away" rounds! We both are really looking forward to seeing the familiar guys and gals again!

I joined a new club!
While the field I was flying at was "convenient", it was not very practical. There is a flight restriction to the east that makes the "box" virtually un flyable. It was good to sort out new planes, but practice is really difficult. The people I met were for the most part amiable, but it became obvious, I was not the type of pilot they were looking for. All that said, the new field will take an additional 1/2 hour to get to from work, but, no restrictions will make up for it.

Very cool and Congratulations!! I'm hoping it's the club I'm thinking it is.

The "convenient" field has changed drastically over the last few years. 5yrs ago they'd have put out the red carpet for a pilot like you.

No doubt some of the experienced pilots have already, or will soon be making changes too. Me included, per our conversations and such.

At your level I'm sure you don't need, nor want any type of restrictions like has been put upon us. I hope to fly with you at the "new club".

Six days until my second ever pattern contest. I finally got my 140 DZ sorted by swapping it out for another engine I have yet to fly the new to me Eclipse. The weather and work have been interfering with play time. In fact I have only three flights to my credit this year IF, I can get two or three flights on the Eclipse this week I'll fly it on Saturday. Otherwise I have an old Bridi auction plane I'll fly. It has about a dozen flights on it but no real trimming except to make sure it flies strait and level.

Ken

Originally Posted by kenh3497

Six days until my second ever pattern contest. I finally got my 140 DZ sorted by swapping it out for another engine I have yet to fly the new to me Eclipse. The weather and work have been interfering with play time. In fact I have only three flights to my credit this year IF, I can get two or three flights on the Eclipse this week I'll fly it on Saturday. Otherwise I have an old Bridi auction plane I'll fly. It has about a dozen flights on it but no real trimming except to make sure it flies strait and level.

Ken

Glad to see your getting out Ken. I too struggle with finding enough time to practice. I've done 4 contests this year with 3 different airframes. The first contest was with a plane I had only about 5 flights on. The plane I had planned on flying had about 30 flights, but I smashed the wings and could not get a replacement set in time. The second and third contests were with the "replacement" plane I bought to substitute because I couldn't get wings for the original. I bought a full 2 meter plane after the third contest and have been flying it ever since. It now has about 30 flights and I am quite happy with the set up. Now it's a matter of "quality" practice time. I changed flying fields due to restrictions at the club I originally started flying at back in February. It's been an interesting 6 months to say the least. The learning curve has been steep! I've been fortunate with support from a number of unexpected places. For sure, fellow contestants, but I have received a lot of encouragement from a couple individuals at the FRM club, a number of folks on this forum and RCU, and of course my caller (wife) is very involved.
It's all doable, just where is the time? Right?

Originally Posted by Mooney78865

Glad to see your getting out Ken.
It's all doable, just where is the time? Right?

Thanks. I'm kind of on my own in pattern where I live. I'm fairly certain the nearest competitor to me is about 100 miles away. 99% of my info comes from places like RCG and some of the groups on FB. Actually seeing something in person and putting you "grubby little hands" on it is the biggest help I can get. Time.... Last week I had my 40 hours in at 3pm on Thursday. Tomorrow morning I have to be at work at 5:45am and be on the job site at 6:15am. I drive a concrete mixer truck. Can't get any practice in tomorrow so Wednesday will be it, as the rest of the week is looking like 15 to 20 MPH winds. Not my idea of practice with a new airframe with questionable trimming. Not to mention not being familiar with the flight characteristics. My previous pattern plane (a Smaragd) had two flights on it with a total flying time of less than 15 seconds and two crashes. Needless to say I'm a bit gun shy...

So, I move forward. One flight on a new airframe. Next time I'll have two flights and so on. One step at a time!

Ken

I totally feel ya! The only pattern fliers I see are at the contests. Nobody flies pattern where I fly. Fortunately, my wife has a good eye. I too struggle with time. My work week is typically 50 hrs+. (I'm the Director of physical operations at a casino resort) I try to ride my bicycle a couple times a week after work, and will bring the plane a couple times a week as well. That said, it's Wednesday, and I haven't done either this week! I did get 6 flights in this past Sunday, and hope to get in at least twice that before Monday. Time will tell. Hang in there!

Minnesota Pattern meet this coming Saturday. I'll be flying my Bridi "something or other" but will take my Eclipse along as an emergency back up. I have only one short flight on it and don't feel it is a responsible thing to fly it in competition. I will only be competing for one day as an over night stay eats too much of the RC budget. Driving back and forth is not really an option as it's almost 3 hours one way. In spite of that It will be fun and I'll add one more competition to my belt. I hope to get the setup on the Eclipse evaluated by somebody to see if I've done things more or less correctly. AND most importantly, hope to make some new acquaintances that will become friends in the future. Heck, swapping lies is 75% of the hobby!

Ken

Originally Posted by kenh3497

Minnesota Pattern meet this coming Saturday. I'll be flying my Bridi "something or other" but will take my Eclipse along as an emergency back up. I have only one short flight on it and don't feel it is a responsible thing to fly it in competition. I will only be competing for one day as an over night stay eats too much of the RC budget. Driving back and forth is not really an option as it's almost 3 hours one way. In spite of that It will be fun and I'll add one more competition to my belt. I hope to get the setup on the Eclipse evaluated by somebody to see if I've done things more or less correctly. AND most importantly, hope to make some new acquaintances that will become friends in the future. Heck, swapping lies is 75% of the hobby!

Ken

On a two day contest, (if the weather looks good) I will bring a tent and a cot. I usually bring enough food in a cooler, so this allows me to do a two day contest. I most often show up on the Friday before to get a few practice flights in. If not that, I share hotel with another pilot..no more than $100 my share for the weekend. Something to think about.

Originally Posted by kenh3497

Minnesota Pattern meet this coming Saturday. I'll be flying my Bridi "something or other" but will take my Eclipse along as an emergency back up. I have only one short flight on it and don't feel it is a responsible thing to fly it in competition. I will only be competing for one day as an over night stay eats too much of the RC budget. Driving back and forth is not really an option as it's almost 3 hours one way. In spite of that It will be fun and I'll add one more competition to my belt. I hope to get the setup on the Eclipse evaluated by somebody to see if I've done things more or less correctly. AND most importantly, hope to make some new acquaintances that will become friends in the future. Heck, swapping lies is 75% of the hobby!

Ken

I haven't been to any contests (4) this year that are less than 3 hour drives. One being nearly 6 hours. I'm fortunate in that the wife and I bought a motorhome a year ago, before I returned to RC, so that's nice.
What is this "budget" thou speaks of?? LOL!

Originally Posted by Da Big_G

On a two day contest, (if the weather looks good) I will bring a tent and a cot. I usually bring enough food in a cooler, so this allows me to do a two day contest. I most often show up on the Friday before to get a few practice flights in. If not that, I share hotel with another pilot..no more than $100 my share for the weekend. Something to think about.

For sure flying a "new" field the day before is a huge help for me. I like to have a feel for the Pilot's station in relationship to the runway, what the sight picture looks like if there are hills in the background and what ever else that may make it unusual to me.

Originally Posted by Da Big_G

On a two day contest, (if the weather looks good) I will bring a tent and a cot. I usually bring enough food in a cooler, so this allows me to do a two day contest. I most often show up on the Friday before to get a few practice flights in. If not that, I share hotel with another pilot..no more than $100 my share for the weekend. Something to think about.

Yes something to think about. This weekend will be a hot one though and humid. A tent while less expensive would get beat by an air conditioned room any day. hahaha


Ken

With this weekends contest coming up I will actually compete in a contest with an airplane that I have put more than 25 flights on. Tonight I counted up the flights and the total was 56. Flying again tomorrow as well as Wednesday.
This weekend I had the opportunity to confirm all of the flying surface throws, incidence, stab to wing, to Tcan and the like. Absolutely no movement since the last check where I had a couple things "settle" into place that needed a little tweak here and there.
My comfort level is vastly improved in this set up. There was quite a jump from the MythoS 125 to the Galactika. 8S to 10S, Contra Drive, flying with power rather than momentum. Not to mention that the first 6 flights with the Galactika were a disaster, which threw my confidence in the whole setup in the toilet!
I now know what to expect with it during the sequence. Couldn't say that 10 or 15 flights ago. Weather forecast is for 107 on Saturday, just right, probably won't be windy though... LOL!

Mooney78865,
Hope the contest will be great and You seems to be well prepared.
Good luck!
/Bo

Thanks Bo!
Dan