Page 19 - MFW March 2024

previous Nats, I decided not to go. At the time it seemed Leading up to this years Nats, I chose 7 events to compete
the right decision. But it did leave a bit of a whole in my in and my wife Jo, chose 4 events that she already had
modeling world. I got a bit lost, I had nothing to strive for models for and had flown during the year. We left booking
and nothing to aim for and no reason to push myself to do our accommodation a bit late and ended up in an
better. apartment on Hood Aerodrome that turned out to be
excellent for several reasons including: location, planes to
I did a bit of thinking.....I needed to tame down my mental watch, comfort and having the washing machine in a
approach to competing at the Nats. Hanger with a couple of full sized planes in it !

Its not always the very best people in any particular class Life then threw a bit of a curve ball at us. In late November,
that attend the Nats. Some people have work or family Jo had a fall and broke her left wrist, a painful thing to
commitments that mean they cant come to the Nats. suffer. We were not sure if she was going to be physically
Some people cant afford to come or are just not commited able to fly at all, at the Nats, just 6 weeks after the accident
enough to spend a week of their life and a good lump of ?
money chasing models and getting sunburnt or wet, cold I decided that no new models would be built for this years
and drowned or blown away by ridiculously strong winds Nats, as I would be busy with household duties, cooking,
for a week in January. washing dishes, hanging out washing, making beds - all
stuff that takes two hands.
So, what about me ? Where does that leave me ? How
was I going to forge an enjoyable future, at the next Nats ? I rather liked the lowered expectations aspect leading up
to the Nats. When we arrived at the Nats, we would see
Well, I had a line in the sand now. I had been to a Nats and how physically capable Jo was for flying her events,
recorded times and placings for each of my chosen Catapult Glider, Vintage Catapult, Tip Launch Glider and
events. So, the next time I went to the Nats, I was going to Hanger Rat. And I was just going to have fun and not beat
see if I could better my times of improve my placings for myself up if things didn't go right.
those events, - rather than always wanting to be the
winner of everything I touched. I needed to chill out more It worked, I did have fun at these Nats. I had some good
and treat the Nats as just another competition rather than luck and some bad luck and also suffered a bit of poor
the big, massive, most important thing in my life. organisation.

I also realised that, having your wife with you, to share With the new Rally Style for Vintage Events we decided to
your victories or commiserate about your losses or missed fly Vintage Catapult on Tuesday morning but had a lazy
opportunities, makes life far more rewarding. I discovered start to the day and arrived at the freeflight field at 11am.
that, I also get a big kick out of encouraging my wife to Jo wasn't capable of holding the handle of the rubber
compete and fly a few classes herself. She has a delightful launcher in her hand as she could barely make her index
competitive streak in her but also a playful kind of finger touch her thumb. Not to be beaten, she came up
approach where she anthropomorphisises all her with a clever plan. She rammed the Launcher handle in
models, gives them all names and verbally encourages between her splint and her hand and wedged it into
them while they are flying round. Such a different position. She found she could do full power, full stretch
approach and yet - kind of endearing. And who is to say, launches with no pain. Sorted. By noon, when the event
that it doesn’t help somehow ? closed for that day, we each only had 3 official flights of the
six flights allowed and to top it all off, on the 3rd flight, my
There definitely are classes that your wife can be good at, only Vintage Catapult Glider had flown away in a big
with just small amounts of encouragement. If you find that thermal. Oh well. Such is life.
your advice is not being taken, then maybe get a clubmate
to help and encourage your wife to develop the skills The weather was sunny and warm but a bit windy for some
needed and avoid the conflict. Once she has the events. The rest of the Nats went really well for me, I was
knowledge and skills, she will make her own decisions having fun and feeling positive and spending time with Jo,
and only need the occasional word of advice or when needed. Lady luck was helping as well. My efforts
encouragement from you. resulted in the following:

I am going off topic a bit here but classes to consider 1st Slow Goodyear Team Race, 2.5cc speed limited class
encouraging your wife to indulge in might be Catapult 2nd Classic A, 2.5cc 1970s style Team Racing
Launch Glider and Vintage Catapult Glider and Hanger 1st Classic B, big 5cc glow, 1970s style Team Racing
Rat. There are no expensive models involved and they 5th P-30, Freeflight Rubber 30 inch models
are both fun events where success is a definite possibility. 2nd Ordinary Catapult Glider, rubber launched
7th Vintage Catapult Glider, pre- 1950 design freeflight
So, getting back to the psychology of competing at the glider (only 3 official flights recorded)
Nats. If your wife comes, then it has to be a holiday for her 1st Hanger Rat, one design indoor rubber
as well, so, time will have to be allocated to spend with her,
doing what she enjoys, shopping, dining out, going for The last event on Friday afternoon for me was Control
walks, exploring and encouraging her in the events she Line Classic B, big noisy, slightly frightening 5cc glow
flies in. engine, Team Racing. I won the 1st heat but had starting
issues in the second heat and managed to get my right

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