Jack I agree without innovative minds expanding the envelope, desires for improvement and advancement in any endeavor will be held back or even stopped. But that being said does advancement always mean that people must be left behind? Doesn't the strong reemergence of Bent Wing and Nostalgia class indicate that some where? Why not adopt the statement that brings pride to every ones heart "None left behind" for our hobby. A plan that leaves no one behind opens the door to the beginner, keep the interest of the intermediate, challenge the expert to keep reaching for the stars. A group of people spurred by enthusiasm has never stifled innovation but instead it will foster it.
Just my opinion. What do you think. Maurice --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], Jack Womack <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > You wrote: But are we now considering changing > formats, developing new tasks or even coming up with > equipment changes because a few have become board with > the status quo. > > This is the very root of improvements to our hobby / > sport. Someone became bored with floaters and the thin > winged, fast flying, super ships we have today were > developed. Little by little, when someone decides they > can improve on things, they start thinking...usually > for me it's out of boredom...and they come up with > something. The best ones are the ones that think > outside the box. Who came up with vacuum bagging, > fiberglass fuselages, carbon fiber wing spars, > winches, etc., etc. Trying something new is the root > of our development to where we are today. The soaring > society is such an independent bunch of thinkers, that > it has a life of it's own. Think of how many good kits > were available in the '70's. Most everyone today > builds their own vac bag stuff, or buys it ready made. > The only kits available don't stay around long. There > are enough old farts like myself that like the old > stuff that it keeps going, through Ray Hayes and > others. Our hobby / sport is waning in popularity, > partly because it's the same old thing, with brighter, > shinier toys, but still the same old thing. Those that > love it, love it. Those that kind of think it's fun, > they'll be here a while, and leave. I tried for years > to entice my 2 sons into soaring in R/C and even full > scale...to no avail. It isn't instantly gratifying, > and that's what they want. > > That's too much thinking for 2 cents...that'll be 9.99 > plus tax. > > Jack Womack > > --- Maurice Podder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Is it possible as we look at the contest scene, > > especially as a source of > > encouraging interest and growth in our hobby, that > > we have lost sight of our > > purpose. > > Yes we need motivation to improve our skills and > > contests do that. But are > > we now considering changing formats, developing new > > tasks or even coming up > > with equipment changes because a few have become > > board with the status quo. > > There will always be those in any occupation, sport > > or hobby that because of > > natural ability, education or a tenacious spirit > > will be at the top. That's > > good not bad. They are the ones we emulate. They > > are the stars. And yes > > sometimes those at the top feel they have achieved > > all that can be achieved > > in a particular venue. Because they are the stars > > their voice is heard by > > all. When they say there's no challenge in a > > contest because it's just this > > kind or a that kind and seek to increase the > > difficulty of the tasks to > > regain the sense of accomplishment they felt when > > their skills were less, > > the door is shut to the beginner and intermediate > > pilots. In turn the > > beginner and intermediate pilots, with the goals set > > so far beyond their > > abilities, loose interest and because they loose > > interest and especially > > enthusiasm they don't draw their friends into the > > hobby. If this direction > > is continued I fear as the stars fade and few are > > there to replace them that > > the sky could go dark. > > Is there a solution? And most of all is there a > > simple one? I believe > > there is. In car racing there is Sportsman and > > Expert. To move into the > > Expert class you must have had a specific number of > > wins in the lower class. > > In LSF you must achieve the goals for each level > > before you moving on to the > > next level. In each of these case the sense of > > accomplishment is there at > > every level. Golf and tennis have the same system. > > At each higher level > > the task are more difficult, the competition is > > stiffer and the tasks are > > geared to the ability of the contestants. > > I believe that the institution of three competition > > classes (Beginner, > > Intermediate and Expert), with the requirement of > > achieved goals in each > > class to move to the next, will help to bring back > > the enthusiasm, of the > > beginner, keep the interest of the intermediate, > > challenge the expert and > > help to bring growth back to our hobby. > > > > Just my opinion. What do you think? > > Maurice > > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane > > News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests > > to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that > > subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in > > text only format with MIME turned off. > > > __________________________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. > http://mailplus.yahoo.com > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off.
