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February 27, 2007

The last couple of days have provided me a kind of visceral confirmation that we humans are an easily confused species.
For the record:

1. Some folks have taken the "elitist" idea too far regarding all things JART. The point is to build and fly cool stuff, not to have something other people don't have. Personally, I don't give two hoots about the rarity of JART planes. It happens to be true that they are rare, but what is much more important is that they look good and fly great. If I could get one into the hands of every modeler who wanted one I would – in a heartbeat.

2. Having said that, it is my sincere wish that more people learn to scratch build. It is extremely rewarding and it deepens one's experience and understanding of flight. That is why I give the plans away.

3. The truth is the JART isn't for everyone. Not everyone gets it. If you're the kind of person who likes heart-stopping precision, ass-shakin' deep-funk speed, and looks that could kill a bull elephant at 300 yards, the JART might be for you. Not everyone likes that sort of thing.

4. I'm certainly not the first or last to give away the design plans of a cool plane. There is a long-standing tradition in modelling wherein one person helps others by passing on tips, tricks, design ideas, etc. It is my privilege to be a part of that tradition.

5. The JART is U.S. copyrighted as blueprint and sculpture. If you would like to know more about that, please go to the U.S. Copyright office and read up.

6. Question: Is the copyright enforceable all over the world? Answer: Yes. Question: Will it be? Answer: To the best of my ability. This plane was introduced to a worldwide audience in the RCGroups forum and elsewhere, beginning in August 2004. The response has been overwhelming and I doubt I'd have much trouble rounding up a few witnesses to my ownership of the JART slope sailplane. My brother-in-law really is a badass lawyer who often testifies before the United States Congress. I'm a nice guy, but I will reach across continents and tear someone a fresh orifice if they start distributing unlicensed JART kits. Why anyone would bother stealing JART when the slope market is so small is a mystery to me anyway.

7. The copyright exists to maintain my interest in JART as a business. If I could make a living out of JART, I would, but for now it's a labor of love and I make a little bit here and there to defray the cost of JARTWORLD and all the hours I've put in building and maintaining this site. I make a bit more as a $100 an hour freelance graphic designer (if that sounds like bragging, try living on that in San Francisco!) so I don't see JARTWORLD ever being my ticket to the gardens of King Midas.

8. Question: Can I build and sell new JART planes?
Answer: No
Question: Can I sell JART parts
(e.g.: fuses, wing cores, tail cores, etc.)
Answer: No
Question: If I receive your FREE digital plan file and build a JART for myself, then after flying it for *awhile* decide I want to sell it, will you try to sue me?
Answer: No - I'm a modeler, dudes, nothing more. We've been buying, selling and trading used planes from the beginning. As long as it was built for your personal use first, it's all good.

9. Question: What is personal use? How long do I have to fly it? What if I fly it once and hate it? Answer: For goodness sake, just use your common sense. If you're a sincere person you have nothing to worry about. If you're not, it will become clear to others very quickly, including me.

10. Question: What about the Chinese? You'll never be able to enforce your copyright over there and then they'll distribute them all over the world and everyone will buy them and you'll be left a desperate pauper, crawling the streets, begging for spare change and a half-eaten sandwich. Answer: Go on about your own business and let me worry about that.

11. Question: I saw that you put a JART kit up on eBay the other day. What does that have to do with the JART philosophy? Aren't you being a big, fat hypocrite? Answer: For the love of all that is holy! How does ONE JART kit on auction ruin the treasured rarity of this plane? I'm still giving away plans, I'm still developing a reference website for builders, I'm still encouraging people to scratch build their own planes - JARTiness must certainly be sturdy enough to survive the philosophical paradox of a single kit auction! (In case you missed it, the kit got to $306.75 USD within hours of start and more than one person contacted me to say they'd have gone over $500. Still, I pulled it. I may be a fool, but I'm certainly not in this for the money.)

12. Comment: As soon as LEG started selling EPP JART planes the whole idea of JART changed for me. Rejoinder: Perhaps you and I have different ideas about what JART means. To me, allowing more people access to a cool plane is a good thing. It still takes a lot of work to put together and just because a kit exists doesn't mean anyone who wants to pick up a coping saw can't carve out their own. I said, from the beginning, that I won't build them for you. But I believe in the design and I would LOVE to see more of these babies in the sky.

It strikes me that if JART had started as a kit-making *business* there would be no room for most of the questions above. By providing free plans and encouraging individuals to build a JART in whatever way they wish we've somehow skewed the view and set people to seeking cracks in the walls. The simplicity of the gesture seems lost. Like an engine suddenly thrown from high gear into neutral, the mind spins wildly when confronted with the idea that a thing could be free, scarce, and in demand all at once.

And I must say, folks, putting this kit up on eBay has really stirred up the bottom of the pond. I've even had one person claim that they were somehow responsible for the license agreement I have with Leading Edge Gliders. I've never met this person and I have no idea who they are, but there you have it: my gut check with human nature.

I realize that it only takes a few to create discomfort in any situation. Most of you have been very supportive and very respectful of my wishes and of JART in general. For that I am very, very grateful. There is much more coming in JARTWORLD: more interviews, more videos (including some how-to stuff), more t-shirt designs, and many more pictures of everyone's JARTY handiwork. I doubt you'll ever see another JART kit on eBay, but you'll see plenty more about JART planes and about the whole adventure of building and flying RC slope sailplanes.

My sincere thanks to all the true JARTists out there! You know who you are.


February 26, 2007

Cancelled the JART kit on eBay. Too damn irritating.



February 24, 2007

	The actual kit

JART composite kit on eBay
Took me awhile to get around to it, but I've put a composite short kit up on eBay for auction. Go to this eBay page to view the auction.

February 21, 2007

	Masura and Laird in the salad days

New interview!
Brian Laird and Paul Masura chat with JARTWORLD about the early days of PSS in Southern California. If you don't know how there came to be outrageous wingloadings at Point Fermin, now is your chance to get the inside history.

Read the entire interview HERE.


February 15, 2007

	Masura, Charlot, and some bald guy

Met up with Jeff Charlot over at Paul Masura's shop last weekend. Good times! I've been chatting with Paul and his old slope buddy Brian Laird (aka TFLG) for a new JARTWORLD interview and it was good to get over to his shop and check out all the cool stuff. Paul (aka dutchydawg1) is building a mold for a P-51D and let me tell ya, that man does some cleeeeean work!

Mr. Charlot also brought me a nice prize - the SoCal boys have embarked on a group project and the result is a new JART! Of the three you see at the left, the SoCal version sits front and center. The other two are dutchydawg1 fuses - well, one is a plug and one is a fuse headed to an unnamed JART-lover.

When we weren't chowing down at the local Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet, we were BSing about all things slope: slope planes, slope sites, slope building, slope pilots... Somehow, despite all that we managed to get a little work done. With Charlot's help, we cut some fuselage templates for my Chubby (more on my Chubby later). Then I started on some templates for my PSS Festival project but eager inexperience led to a snapped blade on the bandsaw. Fortunately, Paul had already been plied with beer by his wife so he was in too good a mood to beat my ass.

It was good to hang out with a couple of other mad, addicted slopers for a day and chatter on like Starbucks employees in mid-shift. Let's do it again soon, bros, I promise this time I won't break the equipment.

February 6, 2007

I got this note in my email box the other day and just had to share. Some of you might be able to relate to Monte's experience...

"Reed,
 
I was surfing on my laptop the other nite in bed. I asked my wife if she wanted to see something really sexy an

d when I showed her a picture of the JART, she just gave me one of those looks....If you are married, you must know "the look" - "What the???....oh, it's a plane thing". As if that explains any odd behavior on my part.
 
But really, WOW!  Immediate lust. I am an engineer by background and a sculptor by passion so the ultimate is when form follows function. A sensuous shape that enhances performance always gets my full attention. The Northrop F-5 is my favorite jet - the early versions, before they cluttered up the airframe. The JART has a similar profile, even better because there is nothing to interrupt the flow of those gorgeous curves!
 
I fly high-performance electrics but have been interested in getting into slope flying for some time. I'm sure the JART isn't the plane to learn on but I would certainly like to build one soon as inspiration to move quickly through the learning curve. I am a fairly experienced builder/designer... 
Any suggestions?
 
Monte Howard,
AKA 'Wingman'"

You can contact Monte with "suggestions" on the JARTWORLD forum - he really is "Wingman."