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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nik,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From your time in the US, I remember calling a
flight or two for you, and I also recall your 4C ran very nicely and that
you were knowledgeable, comfortable, and confident with your
equipment/setup. I suspect a 2C would also perform well for you (allowing
for a learning curve as with any new engine). For now, if a 4C
idles better for you, it may the best engine for you. If the only engines
I'd ever seen quit at idle were 2Cs, I might share your opinion on this
topic.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Over the past 5 years of running pattern 2Cs
(approx 4,000 flights), depending on the weather conditions, prop, plane, etc -
I've been running the idle on my pattern 2Cs at launch at somewhere between
1,500 and 1,800 RPM - most will idle slower if I care, but the lower idle just
beats up the airframe (still nothing near as bad as the 4C idle tho), so I don't
bother. Outside of deliberate testing (to learn, understand, define
operating parameters), I rarely have deadsticks (save when I run out of fuel,
which is often enough <G>). If my engine quits at idle, 90% of the
time it is the plug - and I've been known to get complacement with changing the
plug as it generally lasts for 200-300 flights. A couple times the problem
was that I had the idle "kill" switch active. A couple times it was
throttle servo showing wear on the pot (after many, many flights, think
500+). Plugs, kill switches, and servo pots are all easy preventive
maintenance and equally affect 2C or 4Cs (tho they affect those with "old
timers" disease and CRS with a vengeance).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Without having been at the EC or WC or knowing any
of the particulars of the dead sticks or the pilots that had the deadsticks, it
is quite difficult for me to comment. I doubt any of the pilots that had
the deadsticks anticipated or expected any deadsticks - or routinely experienced
deadsticks prior to the Worlds - I would think that the majority of the pilots
at the Worlds would have reliable equipment - especially the "peak"
competitors.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I reguarly attend the US Nats and have seen plenty
of 4Cs die in the air (2Cs as well). The year the DZ was introduced,
several did not make it into the air at all (bit of a learning curve initially
with that engine, as with many engines, and it seemed pretty indiscriminate of
"peak" or novice flyer). This year at the US Nats F3A Finals and US Team
Trials, a couple 4Cs were having problems (some 2Cs as well, one was mine and
completely my own fault - a rather untimely brain "fade" <G>). Your
statement that "a deadstick after say, a long downline, is ALWAYs a 2C" is
not at all consistent with what I have seen at local and national contests in
the US (from "peak" flyers through novice flyers).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The first 3 US Nationals I attended I had no plan
or hope of placing near the top of my class - but I did participate in those
contests equally with those in attendance who were "peak" flyers and did have
aspirations of winning the class. Point being, just because I flew at the
US Nationals did not mean I was a "peak" flyer - but I was equal to the "peak"
flyers in many respects and competed at the Nationals just as the "peak" flyers
(in a sense, by definition, not all the competitors at a competion can be "peak"
competitors).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Again, if I'd only ever seen 2Cs die at idle in the
air, I might share your opinion. As it is, enjoy the consistent idle of
your (4C) engine, and I'll enjoy the consistent idle of my (2C)
engine.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dave Lockhart</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="mailto:DaveL322@comcast.net">DaveL322@comcast.net</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=middlen4@btinternet.com href="mailto:middlen4@btinternet.com">Nik
Middleton</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=discussion@nsrca.org
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, January 09, 2004 2:41
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: My Head is Spinning!
(Long)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=637392119-09012004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Dave
valid comments.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=637392119-09012004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=637392119-09012004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>But....</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=637392119-09012004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=637392119-09012004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Setting aside, initial costs, total cost of ownership etc, the ONE
thing that keeps me firmly in the 4C camp is consistent idle. What I
have witnessed with my own eyes at US/European Nats, and World championships,
is that if there is a dead stick after say, a long downline, it is ALWAYS and
I really do mean always, a 2C. You might say that it's an incorrect
setup, but if the people at the peak are having this problem, what hope for us
mere mortals?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=637392119-09012004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=637392119-09012004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>rgds</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=637392119-09012004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=637392119-09012004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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