Marc and others: 150 registered, my error, but I did put a question mark after my number... it was a question. How many showed up? Counting multiple entries is like having dead people vote in a Chicago election, 150 is 150. :-)
Anyway regardless of semantics, the numbers for NAT soaring attendance in no way reflects the potential pool of soaring pilots, my point. Also not to be misinterpreted, I love the fact that there is a NATs, that people do in fact work hard to produce it, and contest flying is a good thing if you enjoy it. What I see is the potential for a paradigm shift in the way we look at the NATS. As I guessed, many will object to any notion of change, it's human nature, it makes us uncomfortable, but looking at ways to boost all R/C soaring, not just the 80 pilots who fly TD at the NATs, is what I am talking about. I personally feel, and it is just my opinion, that there is room for several kinds of "events" at the NATS drawing more to the venue all at once. Letting them see first hand the competition, who knows some fun flyer guys or spectators might want to play TD or F3b. It's all about numbers, exposure and having an inclusive outlook, not an exclusive one. How to balance the so called fun flying or semi competitive events with the competition. Good question I guess. What is the goal or mission statement for the NATS? Is there one? I placed second in scale soaring at the NATS in 1999. Does it have any real significance? It is a nifty pc of wood, but since I was one of 5 pilots competing, it hardly has relevance to my flying skill. Granted an extreme example, but the point is the NATS has no real bearing on National standing just who won a single event in Muncie in July, no elimination series, no qualifying, just one other contest. I am just loving the discussion, and my comments have prompted some to speak out. it is only a forum, not a meeting of the AMA executive council. I don't have answers, just ideas and opinions like everyone else. The annual "what events we should drop from the NATS" talk got me going. The fact is attendance for any event will affect its likely hood of surviving, so my thought was if you are going to drop two meter, or hand launch, plus the way to controversial NOS discussion, what is in the wings waiting, how can the site be optimized and still have a NATs, one that draws 300 instead of 100. Does the NATS have to be The National Championship that some say it is because we say it is? Not a reason in my mind. Can it evolve to be a soaring showcase and National exposition of soaring as a community, not only a competition? Some made a big deal about one JoJo coming from Europe this year, why not make it jojo and company, an international invitational contest? Can we have a foreign national as US champion? Hey if you invite one... And so on... JD PS: For those saying put my money where my mouth is, I paid my dues, gave my efforts to organizing major events, submitting and passing rules change proposals for NATS events, for over 15 years, I feel somewhat qualified to talk on the subject. Not bragging, just been there done that, and know the realities of it. Endless Mountain Models http://www.scalesoaring.com email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -----Original Message----- > From: Marc Gellart [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 5:35 PM > To: John Derstine; 'Steve Meyer'; 'TJB'; [email protected] > Subject: Re: RE: [RCSE] National Fun Fly > > John, > Just a short note to straighten up some numbers you used. Soaring had > 153 regisitered pilots and 408 total entries for the Nats(2.3 > entries/pilot). Electric looks more like what you are talking about than > soaring and the AMA takes notice that we have the second or third largest > group at the IAC for the Nats(pattern has the largest number I believe). > You made the comment about Woodcrafters and the Dayton Aerotow, half > of WC is competition and the Dayton event does good to have a few fliers 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. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format
