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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I was in this hobby many years ago
and got back into it again the first of 2002. I've know about pattern since my
first entry into the hobby but never considered for a moment that I could or
would compete in pattern. For one thing, I've always assumed that one had to be
an incredible pilot with many many years of experience to compete. From the
pattern contest I've seen in the past it was obvious that the pilots were way
above my head in experience and skill. Another factor was that I'd never had any
discussion with anyone involved in pattern and quite honestly I did have the
impression that pattern guys where sort of "elitist". That impression was not
earned but just my impression probably due to how skilled I thought all
pattern fliers were. </SPAN><SPAN
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Then, early this summer I was
visiting a local club that I'd never been to before and three guys were flying
their pattern planes. One of these guys, Gray Fowler, came over and started
telling me all about pattern, how it works, invited me to stand next to him when
he was flying, and just generally being very friendly. Actually all of the guys
were very nice. Gray told me I could download the Sportsman sequence and based
on watching me fly he thought I could fly it. That night I went home and
downloaded the sequence and started trying it out at my regular field (which has
no pattern fliers). It took me several flights to finally get all the pieces
together. I was shocked at how hard it was to keep the plane where I wanted it,
but pleased that it wasn't beyond my reach. At that point my goal was simply to
build the skills enough to fly the sportsman pattern under control. I was only
doing this because I felt it would make me a better pilot, I had no plans
on ever competing.</SPAN><SPAN
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Well, a month or two later I joined
the club where I had met Gray, Lance and Bill. Gray stood with me while I flew
and was extremely complimentary and encouraging. He answered my questions and
gave me pointers. He told me that I could easily compete in Sportsman and
probably do very well, this I doubted :-), but it made me feel good to hear
him say it. Lance also worked with me and was very helpful. They answered all
the questions I had and then Gray started prodding me to go to a competition
with them. He told me stories of how he and many new Sportsman pilots are all
over the place in their first contest, strangely enough this made me feel good
to know that I wouldn't be the only one. To be honest with you I thought I would
be scared to death to fly in front of the judges, but I knew deep inside I
really wanted to give it a try.</SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">At my first contest everyone I met
was incredibly encouraging, friendly and helpful, they made me feel right at
home. And guess what, I wasn't scared to death, I didn't crash, and I had a
great time!</SPAN><SPAN
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Now I'm hooked, want to attend every
contest possible, and I couldn't wait to get a plane that was capable of flying
the intermediate pattern (that I'm practicing for next season).</SPAN><SPAN
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">And guess what, I spoke to a couple
of non-pattern fliers at the club the other day about pattern and encouraged
them to download the sportsman sequence and the very next day one had already
downloaded it and was planning to begin practicing!</SPAN><SPAN
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">For pattern to grow everyone in this
organization just needs to engage non-pattern fliers in friendly conversation
and tell them about pattern. Provide encouragement, let everyone know that
the sportsman pattern is well within their reach, and do a little prodding
to get them to go to a contest. Tell them how much fun you have at contests and
describe the camaraderie pattern fliers have (which honestly is a big part of
what makes everyone travel so far to be together). Once new guys see how
friendly everyone is and find out they can actually compete many of them will be
hooked just like we are. :-)</SPAN><SPAN
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Keith Black</SPAN><SPAN
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