Post by jackmarc on Apr 2, 2009 19:03:24 GMT -5
I read this today and i thought it was worth posting.
Re: Why do you compete in IMAC?
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its odd that you ask this - as I had just finished writing a short novel (as it seems) for the reasons why I compete. Probably sounds cheasy - but these are the reasons why. Oh, and as far as practice goes...my practice was this past weekend at a contest, hadnt flown in an easy six months, and flew a friends plane at that Hope this helps you out in your decision to compete this year - youhave some good and active pilots in your area, just check out the IMAC website.
‘Why do you fly IMAC?’, ‘Why compete?’, and ‘What do you get from all the expenses endured with traveling to and from competitions?’ These are questions that I often hear or see from ‘outsiders’, people who have been lurking on web site forums or even at the flying field who see me flying nothing but straight lines back and forth from one end of the field to the other. Well, truth be known – I guess I would have to say the ‘drive’ is comprised of several factors that make me want to compete.
The first one would have to be the competitive edge inside of me. We all have it, its human nature. A determination to be the best we can be at something we enjoy. This can apply to all facets of life, not just model airplanes. It could be a backyard football game, a video game, checkers, whatever the situation may be – its in us, its just a matter of letting it out. So when I go out to the local flying field, it’s for a purpose. The purpose is to become a better pilot than I was the week before, always striving to perfect my flying ability. It’s a never ending challenge, which is intriguing in itself.
The second reason for competing is to see how others view my progression with the practice I have been putting in. Its not that I need their approval, but it’s a matter of having another set of eyes critiquing my flying ability. They could see something that I may have been overlooking during my practice sessions. Taking their opinions and advice is just another stepping stone in becoming a better pilot. Their input and opinions are most valuable and (hopefully) the next time we meet at a competition, they will notice that I have been working on the problem areas they had pointed out before. It’s a sense of satisfaction and achievement when I have overcome those areas of concern.
The third is the friendships that are encountered. The feeling that I get when pulling into the drive way at the competition site is one I really enjoy. Its excitement, anticipation, nervousness, adrenalin all wrapped up into one. Getting out of the car after a 5 hour drive (or more) and seeing close friends and ones that you haven’t seen in a long time is a good feeling. The smiles that are shared, the laughs that are encountered, and the mild teasing from good friends before, during and after the contest is something I will never get tired of.
The fourth has to be the feeling I get seeing the sunrise and (most of the time) beautiful scenery that the flying field is surrounded by. Yeah, I know… ‘What’s beautiful about a farm, or a field of crops?’ Well, if you’re so lucky to be one of the first ones (or the only one) at the field in the morning when the sun is coming up or the last one leaving the field when the sun is going down is something I truly cherish. The peacefulness and absolute quietness is deafening. It’s an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle, no traffic noise, sirens, airports, lawn mowers, nothing! Just ‘scenery’. Nothing but for my imagination to take over. Staring at the sky and envisioning the perfect sequence being flown. A time in my life to just sit back and recollect everything that has happened in the past few hours, days, weeks, or even months or years! Having no obstacles in my viewing path (trees, houses, buildings, street lights, etc) leaves me with a sense of peace, and a feeling of no worries or stress.
And lastly, there is something about seeing a perfectly flown sequence. Watching a pilot put the plane through the sequence ‘where’ he wants it, at the ‘time’ he wants it, and executing each maneuver the way it was intended to be is something to behold. This results in the ‘perfect’ sequence and that is what I strive for – perfection. Not trying to be better than my competitors, but being better than I was at the last contest I went to. If I win a contest, that is just icing on the cake!
__________________
Joe Cutright
Re: Why do you compete in IMAC?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
its odd that you ask this - as I had just finished writing a short novel (as it seems) for the reasons why I compete. Probably sounds cheasy - but these are the reasons why. Oh, and as far as practice goes...my practice was this past weekend at a contest, hadnt flown in an easy six months, and flew a friends plane at that Hope this helps you out in your decision to compete this year - youhave some good and active pilots in your area, just check out the IMAC website.
‘Why do you fly IMAC?’, ‘Why compete?’, and ‘What do you get from all the expenses endured with traveling to and from competitions?’ These are questions that I often hear or see from ‘outsiders’, people who have been lurking on web site forums or even at the flying field who see me flying nothing but straight lines back and forth from one end of the field to the other. Well, truth be known – I guess I would have to say the ‘drive’ is comprised of several factors that make me want to compete.
The first one would have to be the competitive edge inside of me. We all have it, its human nature. A determination to be the best we can be at something we enjoy. This can apply to all facets of life, not just model airplanes. It could be a backyard football game, a video game, checkers, whatever the situation may be – its in us, its just a matter of letting it out. So when I go out to the local flying field, it’s for a purpose. The purpose is to become a better pilot than I was the week before, always striving to perfect my flying ability. It’s a never ending challenge, which is intriguing in itself.
The second reason for competing is to see how others view my progression with the practice I have been putting in. Its not that I need their approval, but it’s a matter of having another set of eyes critiquing my flying ability. They could see something that I may have been overlooking during my practice sessions. Taking their opinions and advice is just another stepping stone in becoming a better pilot. Their input and opinions are most valuable and (hopefully) the next time we meet at a competition, they will notice that I have been working on the problem areas they had pointed out before. It’s a sense of satisfaction and achievement when I have overcome those areas of concern.
The third is the friendships that are encountered. The feeling that I get when pulling into the drive way at the competition site is one I really enjoy. Its excitement, anticipation, nervousness, adrenalin all wrapped up into one. Getting out of the car after a 5 hour drive (or more) and seeing close friends and ones that you haven’t seen in a long time is a good feeling. The smiles that are shared, the laughs that are encountered, and the mild teasing from good friends before, during and after the contest is something I will never get tired of.
The fourth has to be the feeling I get seeing the sunrise and (most of the time) beautiful scenery that the flying field is surrounded by. Yeah, I know… ‘What’s beautiful about a farm, or a field of crops?’ Well, if you’re so lucky to be one of the first ones (or the only one) at the field in the morning when the sun is coming up or the last one leaving the field when the sun is going down is something I truly cherish. The peacefulness and absolute quietness is deafening. It’s an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle, no traffic noise, sirens, airports, lawn mowers, nothing! Just ‘scenery’. Nothing but for my imagination to take over. Staring at the sky and envisioning the perfect sequence being flown. A time in my life to just sit back and recollect everything that has happened in the past few hours, days, weeks, or even months or years! Having no obstacles in my viewing path (trees, houses, buildings, street lights, etc) leaves me with a sense of peace, and a feeling of no worries or stress.
And lastly, there is something about seeing a perfectly flown sequence. Watching a pilot put the plane through the sequence ‘where’ he wants it, at the ‘time’ he wants it, and executing each maneuver the way it was intended to be is something to behold. This results in the ‘perfect’ sequence and that is what I strive for – perfection. Not trying to be better than my competitors, but being better than I was at the last contest I went to. If I win a contest, that is just icing on the cake!
__________________
Joe Cutright