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Makes sense to me Chris. Good report!
<BR>GK
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<P>Chris Larson wrote:
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<FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Here's
another beginners story -</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>I
soloed in the fall of 99, after 10 years of looking at the Goldberg
Eagle II I built with my wife in 1989. I farted around, boaring holes
in the sky, building a couple kits and a few arfs, and did some instructing
at the field. A friend by the name of Dick Beldon flys masters
in our district, and was always out practicing in his Typhoon 2 + 2. Fascinated
by how he flew, I looked into pattern and even IMAC basic and sportsman
sequences to see how difficult they were. They looked pretty easy!
<NOT> I settled on Pattern because of Dicks involvement, and it
just seemed more precise.</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>After
much frustration with trying to perfect straight flight out with my World
Models T-34, I realized flying with a purpose is more difficult than it
looks. Here-in lies the clincher - I was challenged and fascinated
from that point on! Don't laugh, but I thought I was "really" getting
into it by buying Hangar 9 Aresti! Anyway, I got it together and
flying 4 days before the Bud Garric Classic in Sacramento, CA this summer.
I practiced the Sportsmans sequence 3 nights after work trying to "perfect"
it. Haa haa! I had a friends son Matthew Ylst, calling for
me. I had soloed him just this spring.</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>The
time came for the event. Dick Gave me some words of wisdom before
I went up and Matt got my plane ready for starting. I flew a absolutely
HORRIBLE sequence, but was hooked! I placed fourth in that
event out of 5 in our class.</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Well
Matt was pretty fascinated by the whole weekend too, so he went out and
got a Tiger 2, and I helped him get it together. We flew together
in the recent competition in Napa, CA, and are having a ball. He
placed fourth out of 5, and I took second place. We are kind of co-coaching
each other, and look forward to next season. Dick has been a tremendous
help and source of encouragement as well.</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Matt
and I will both be flying our clunkers this next season in Sportsman, but
at the same time are gearing up for the 2004 season. He is working
on getting a Zen 90, and I will be building a Typhoon 2 + 2, with some
help and advice from Dick.</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Moral
of the story?</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>-
I got the bug from watching a guy practice at the field, and he took the
time to answer a LOT of questions give advice.</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>-
At each event, contrary to common rumor, even the most advanced flyers
were extremely friendly and genuinely wanted to help.</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>-
By bringing a friend, he inadvertently got hooked. Maybe we should
start a "Bring a Friend To Pattern" Campaign? Kinda like the AMA's
Sign a Friend?</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>-
I have just joined the NSRCA, and feel now what you guys must feel, like
I am an ambassador to the sport.</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Hope
this all made sense,</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Chris
Larson</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Plymouth, CA</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>NSRCA
3484</FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
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