I normally wouldn't make a post like this, but looking around on the board this morning, I'm amazed by the number of people who continue to insist that L39 racing sucks. I wonder if those people have really taken a good look at the action.
Have you ever watched a Jet class race from the fence? Furthermore, what kind of world do we live in where 440mph, just INCHES apart, often in severe turbulence... is considered BORING??? I'm not sure what kind of world you critics are living in but in my world, the absence of piston/propeller sounds (albethey the greatest airplane sounds in the world) does not mean the Jet class is devoid of raw, kinetic racing energy. While the L39 races of 2005 were less closely-clumped (thus less competitive and less interesting), I think of the really good Jet races (like in 2004) as being like T-6 racing with an extra 200mph stacked on top (and no prop tip noise). In other words- very close, tight, and sometimes nail-biting.
Aside from missing the pure, timeless magic (and sounds, and maydays) of an Unlimited race, and missing the technological SHOVE that is occurring in Sport class, what is the Jet class really missing that makes people hate it? Would it help if occasionally a racing L39 suffered a catastrophic engine failure and had to deadstick in for a downwind landing from the back of the course? Am I the only one who realizes what a privilege it is to be able to watch this type of racing up close?
Have you ever watched a Jet class race from the fence? Furthermore, what kind of world do we live in where 440mph, just INCHES apart, often in severe turbulence... is considered BORING??? I'm not sure what kind of world you critics are living in but in my world, the absence of piston/propeller sounds (albethey the greatest airplane sounds in the world) does not mean the Jet class is devoid of raw, kinetic racing energy. While the L39 races of 2005 were less closely-clumped (thus less competitive and less interesting), I think of the really good Jet races (like in 2004) as being like T-6 racing with an extra 200mph stacked on top (and no prop tip noise). In other words- very close, tight, and sometimes nail-biting.
Aside from missing the pure, timeless magic (and sounds, and maydays) of an Unlimited race, and missing the technological SHOVE that is occurring in Sport class, what is the Jet class really missing that makes people hate it? Would it help if occasionally a racing L39 suffered a catastrophic engine failure and had to deadstick in for a downwind landing from the back of the course? Am I the only one who realizes what a privilege it is to be able to watch this type of racing up close?
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