I should have clarified my numbers. I only had the top 15 places. My statement
suggesting that there were no statistical biases in the outcome is based on the
fact that if you calculate the percentage of each type placing (the only way to normalize success to the number of attempts) in the top 15, you see no difference between
jets, WWI and WWII planes.
> Actually, there was plenty of wind, directly cross on the runway, and
> rotoring from a hanger. The flying conditions were terrible, but most of the
> WWI types did a fantastic job of flying, regardless.
I guess the question is, did the judges think so? The gist of the conversation here
suggests that WWI planes are being unfairly judged. An interesting tidbit to throw
on the pile is that Sepp Uberlacher returned from Top Gun saying he needed to
add a larger engine to his Tempest because he'd set it up to fly scale like they
fly in FAI and it wasn't a powerful enough flight as far as the judges were concerned.
Seems some of these 'biases' aren't directed only at WWI flyers :-)
> The bottom line seems to be that to win this contest, one must 1. Fly a
> jet 2. Be well known. Be from the local club. 4. All of the above.
I'm not sure how to ask this question without sounding argumentative but I'm curious.
How do you separate the stuff above from the fact that a couple of the best flyers in
North America are heavily sponsored by a jet company. Do we really know what Terry
is capable of with anything but a F86? As for the local club idea, I can't buy that
at all as Terry is winning everything from coast to coast these days.
> Personally, I feel that handicap points should be awarded for certain
> features of the model, such as type. But I'm biased towards WWI and I'm sure
Well, me too, in spite of what I've been arguing here. I firmly believe it's the
only way to generate variety as it's the only thing that addresses the 'best flying
model type' problem.
> the jet and WWII flyers would not go for this. Actually, It doesn't matter
> as this is only a hobby and, in my opinion, should not be taken TOO seriously.
This is the part that most of us wanna-bes overlook. Guy Fawcett has hit me over the
head with this concept enough that I've come to believe it. GOOD scale competitions
are still about having fun, competing with oneself, and the rest is far less important.
Cheers --- Larry