ideas for scottish 3d days help

[Greig_W]

Firstly its great to see the keen interest on the Scottish 3d days and a big thanks to Brian and Paul and everyone else who is helping organise.

Personally I'm quite happy with the current relaxed format, for me I have no real interest in competing (mainly because I'm not good enough) and if the days turned out to be competition only although I would still come along to support and watch I would be put off flying due to the added pressure. With that said I think it's a great idea to add some sort of competition format or judged flights etc so the guys that are looking to compete can get used to the format and the added pressure, I would be more that happy helping with the calling judgeing etc if required.

As for FAI, I agree that it is a 3d event afterall so I wouldn't really want to sit and watch people going throught the FAI schedule, especially at the clubs where only one can fly at a time, I watched the FAI at the Scottish heli nats this year and once you've seen a couple of flights it gets kinda boring, no dis-respect to the FAI guys I know there is alot of skill involved it's just not my cup of tea! At the Aberdeen and Falkirk clubs because of the size and layouts of the sites it was very easy to run both 3d and FAI at the same time, so why not. We may also find it easier to get the use of these sites when catering for both?

[barney]

Hi Stuart, I can understand what your saying. We are a small community in Scotland.

A wee bit of background to how the 3D Get Togethers have come about and of the difficulties we are trying to overcome.

Up till last year there were only 2 or 3 heli fly-ins plus the Scottish Heli Nats. As soon as someone says the dreaded word fly-in or competition Joe Average seems to go all reserved and will go to any length to avoid taking there model out of there car.

Currently the Heli Nats is our premier Heli event in Scotland...and 08 saw the most Scottish pilots take part for many a year..err was it 9 inc scale. The Heli Nats up till now have not catered for 3D flying being almost solely F.A.I and preferring to run Schluter cup and Autospot. Freestyle only happens if time allows

I can understand the oranisers not wishing to change a successfull format that has worked for 21yrs. TBH, if it were not for the fantastic support shown by the A.H.A (Dave Fisher/Dave Wiltshire and friends etc etc ) the Nats may well have died many years ago. FAI is certainly not a spectator sport and the majority who do actually turn up are hoping to see some low level flying.

Having attended just about every heli event in Scotland for 3 years it became obvious that there was a small group of dedicated 3D flyers and many more who were interested in this style of flying. After a little discussion the seed was sown and the 3D Get Together came about.

3D days remain to encourage/support fliers exactly like yourself Greig...there is no reason to think this will change. The practice as we talked about will not interfere with general flying on the day

GTG (getting late)..but please feel free to ask questions, suggest/ideas both good and bad..

thanks Brian