<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">

<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document>
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 9">
<meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 9">
<link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C29BE4.6F6BF4F0">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
  <o:DoNotRelyOnCSS/>
 </o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <w:WordDocument>
  <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
  <w:DocumentKind>DocumentEmail</w:DocumentKind>
  <w:EnvelopeVis/>
  <w:Compatibility>
   <w:ForgetLastTabAlignment/>
   <w:DoNotUseHTMLParagraphAutoSpacing/>
  </w:Compatibility>
 </w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
 /* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {mso-style-parent:"";
        margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman";
        mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoAutoSig, li.MsoAutoSig, div.MsoAutoSig
        {margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman";
        mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle15
        {mso-style-type:personal-reply;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        mso-ascii-font-family:Arial;
        mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;
        mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
        color:navy;}
@page Section1
        {size:8.5in 11.0in;
        margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
        mso-header-margin:.5in;
        mso-footer-margin:.5in;
        mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
        {page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>

<body lang=EN-US style='tab-interval:.5in'>

<div class=Section1>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=navy
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Tch, Tch&#8230;you&#8217;re
all such softies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It hit zero here
last night, snowing all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I&#8217;m
going flying this Saturday.</span></font><font color=navy><span
style='color:navy;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>So, on to
one of my burning questions:<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>What
happened to the luster of pattern over the last decade or so? <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>As for me &#8211;
been flying RC for close to 30 years now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;
</span>Always loved aerobatics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;
</span>Only have entered a few contests over the years, but I&#8217;m always a flight
judge for pattern, IMAC, scale (2 times this year, between 30 and 35 contests
over the years).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Them that can, do.
Them that can&#8217;t, judge. ;-) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</span>Budget
has only allowed my own .60 designs, but the price drop of the FOCUS has me
real, real close to buying a &#8220;real&#8221; pattern plane, finally.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Always have read and re-read the coverage&#8217;s
on aerobatic events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Still have many
articles clipped about building, design, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes">&nbsp; </span>Used to be that all the major mags had very consistent
output of plans, aerodynamic discussions, and big splashy contest coverage.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The latest NATS/World winners were the
superstars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Now, coverage is nil
and being reduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Magazine plans
are non-existent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Pattern flyers
in this region are scarce as hen&#8217;s teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;
</span>Contests are lucky to draw 10 or 12, all in the low classes. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Any
thoughts?<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Ted Sander<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>White Bear
Lake (St. Paul)<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Minnesota<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

</div>

</body>

</html>