preparing for the contest season

Hi Friends

I was getting my model ready for the upcoming flying season and I did my usual checklist of things to do. Change lines. fuel tubing/filter etc. I thought what do other people do to get ready for the contest season.
I just experienced a very cold winter here in Boston, I actually lost my desire to fly stunt; that is how cold and long of a winter we had.
Will not be able to attend the Nats this year, disappointing on my part.
For some reason I always resort back to the mental preperation for this event. Getting my X's and O's in some sorta line! The mental preparation seems critical.
I found out last year how important getting rest was when flying these things. I would work 16 hours on Sat and fly a contest on Sunday after traveling 250 miles to do it.
Not very smart, my scores reflected this sense of being burnt out too.
Anyway, what do other people do to prepare themselves for the upcoming contest season?

David




What do others do if anything.

David

I lost my best plane because I insisted in practicing early in the morning (not much sleep).



>Hi Friends
>
>I was getting my model ready for the upcoming flying season
>and I did my usual checklist of things to do. Change lines.
>fuel tubing/filter etc. I thought what do other people do to
>get ready for the contest season.
>I just experienced a very cold winter here in Boston, I
>actually lost my desire to fly stunt; that is how cold and
>long of a winter we had.
>Will not be able to attend the Nats this year, disappointing
>on my part.
>For some reason I always resort back to the mental preperation
>for this event. Getting my X's and O's in some sorta line! The
>mental preparation seems critical.
>I found out last year how important getting rest was when
>flying these things. I would work 16 hours on Sat and fly a
>contest on Sunday after traveling 250 miles to do it.
>Not very smart, my scores reflected this sense of being burnt
>out too.
>Anyway, what do other people do to prepare themselves for the
>upcoming contest season?
>
>David
>
>
>
>
>What do others do if anything.
>
>David
>
>
>

David,
I find a good mental attitude is essential; working on improvement is the best way to get motivated – work on setting goals for what you want to do this season.

The best preparation starts with a basic exercise program – walking for 20 to 30 minutes three to four times a week. This gets the blood flowing, puts out endorphins (the brain is the biggest user of blood) and generally gives a feeling of well being.
While you are walking, is a good time to mentally fly the pattern. Think through you problem maneuvers and conquer them mentally before you try it in the air.

Do not take your top airplane out to the field for the first couple of flying sessions. Take a profile or an old airplane (beg, borrow or steal one if you don’t have one) and have fun. Get use to 4’ altitude (both sides up), get a buddy to help find out where 45 and 90 degrees are and generally loosen up. If you are having trouble with 4’ go for 2’ just to make it harder and give you confidence. This helps takes some of the pressure of and gives more confidence when you take the big iron out. Remember it takes a few days for practice to sink in.

Regards,
Dave Cook

I actually have PLENTY of time to prepare my equipment. Here in the NW one gets ready for a nice weekend of flying, but the weather seems to conspire against us. As result, my shop is filled with C/L models due to our VERY LONG winter building season. I think if I crashed a plane every week, I could still have enough equipment to last all summer.

Floyd in OR