Re: [RCSE] Emphasis / de-emphasis on landings / skegs

[Danny C Williams]

You know every time I hear de-emphasis on landings I think de-emphasis on practicing.            A good example of trying to de-emphasis landing scores are the SWC and Visalia.  It kind of backfired to say the least. If you just look at the scores of the top 50 or so...they have turned the contest's into a crap shoot format that makes the landing even more important (even though I have a blast there, and will still keep going for now).          To be honest I would love to see real landing tasks at these contests ie: "a tape landing"  I would love to see a real test of skill instead of gimmick landing tasks.  A few years ago the SWC used a tape landing and I think it was one of the best two day contests I have been to, except the NATS this year.         Also, every time I hear the argument that this breeds dork landings well I say Bull--- I remember in the 70's watching people dork just to get into the spot even to a runway landing.  How many of you remember cutting up a welcome mat to get a landing skid???? and how many people bitched about them not being fair and should be banned also???  Then there is the F3J euro's really have the dork landing down because of the lack of a skegs, in fact they have changed the rules so that they can land upside down and they can land so hard so as to break/shed parts off there birds and still get the landing points for there efforts.  Things that make you go Hummmmmmm.           For those of you arguing for a lighter winch or a Hi start launch, well to you I say this...It will change NOTHING.  In the long run as designers catch up they will just change the birds so that we will be launching just as hi as we do now if not even higher and the birds will also cost more!!!!!! but they are going to cost more anyway...           So I think the best way to deal with the landing scores is to include them in the flight scores THEN normalize the scores.  This works and I think the best solution Because this means you still have two things that you need to practice.   Those that do not practice are going to bitch, Those do practice will still keep on winning.  Go figure?!?!   Dr. Dan Williams Flame suite mode on  :^P   P.S.   I was thinking of CDing a fun task for a Saturday night contest at the SWC and Visalia that I was thinking of CDing.....and maybe at the NATS...   Option one: A launch as high as you can ( using a LoLo) and giving a point for each foot of high for launch.. then taking away points for time in the air and giving points for landing to a standard AMA tape... every one puts 5$ in the pot and the top three~five take home the bootie...   Option two: ( a little less devious) ether a, LMR electric or a winch launch. Three round add em up no max limit on flight time and landing points more like the F5B landing task though the only catch is that it is done after dark. (Muhahahaha)   Let me know that you think would be most fun to watch and to fly..