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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>Keith:<BR><BR>It's great to hear stories like
this! The guys you name obviously are great ambassadors for the
sport! </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3>GOOD JOB, GUYS!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Tony Stillman<BR>Radio South, Inc.<BR>3702 N. Pace Blvd.<BR>Pensacola, Fl
32505<BR><A
href="http://www.radiosouthrc.com">www.radiosouthrc.com</A><BR>800-962-7802</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="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=tkeithb@attbi.com href="mailto:tkeithb@attbi.com">Keith Black</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> Tuesday, October 29, 2002 1:45
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: bureaucratic organization/
beginners!</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>
<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
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: Verdana"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<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
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: Verdana"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<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>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
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
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: Verdana"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<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
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: Verdana"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<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
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: Verdana"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<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
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: Verdana"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Keith Black</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>