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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" color=#0000ff>Adding my
thought..</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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What got me involved was a one time prod from a pattern
flier. But He flew a Dirty Birdy and I already had a Super Kaos which was in my
eyes coming from the same family. I felt I had equipment already in my hanger
that would allow me to enter and not be looked down to by the top dawgs.
HEH! perceptions do count in getting the first time pilots to try pattern.
With more top fliers using ARF's that are readily attainable and perceived to be
viable other fliers have an easier time to make the choice to try it. As has
often been mentioned on this list it isn't everyone's cup of tea to be chasing
perfection. What is lost that you don't have to fly perfect to have a lot of fun
and bring home some hardware from local contests. NATS... a different
story. When a local club member actually witnesses that experience it can
be infectious and a few more jump in. Restrictive flying fields and longer drive
to contests all hurt attendance. The move to turnaround hurt attendance but has
garnered a better crop of pilots. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" color=#0000ff> I don't
see a large influx of general AMA members getting involved unless some drastic
watering down of this sport are made and I don't feel that is the right thing to
do. Case in point. I have offered my pattern ship to local club members to fly
and am turned down by the majority all the time. I tell them it is easier to fly
than a trainer. One guy did take the sticks and said he was really impressed
with how easy it flew. In his next breath said I work weekends and that is when
they have contests don't they? It don't help when some in the peanut gallery say
things like how can you see that and tell what it is doing when I am at the
edges of the box. They can see the center stage maneuvers which they always like
to see and that was one thing that helped capture my interest is watching that
fellow pattern flier do a long low slow roll right on a rail. Course it lasted
over 8 secs and was impressive as all get out. That is what hooked
me.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" color=#0000ff>
Del K. Rykert<BR> AMA - 8928
<BR> NSRCA - 473<BR> Kb2joi -
General </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 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=ArestiPattern@aol.com
href="mailto:ArestiPattern@aol.com">ArestiPattern@aol.com</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, July 29, 2003 6:37
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: NEW concept? for pattern
entry.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#800040 size=3 FAMILY="SCRIPT">I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the
thought that a senior class would be the savior of the pattern
community. Lets view a senior class as a way to keep our best story
tellers involved in our sport. Let them fly what they bring, fly the
same sequences as the rest of us, and when the final scores are
tallied.......award a trophy to best scoring senior within their respective
classes.<BR><BR>I personally feel pattern will, once again, become a very
popular event. The efforts of current flyers to attract new blood
through help and encouragement at the local club level and even possibly a
little stick time on that latest wizbang ship of yours will lock the new guys
and gals that have that little spark in their minds to give it a try.
<BR><BR>The second and very important ingredient in this recovery is the new
ARF industry. Now we can show how to get started in pattern with a
'serious' plane like the Swallow and Quest that has been discussed so much
lately. More cheaper ARFs will be a boon to pattern, lets not poo poo
these planes at the contests by unfairly judging their pilots, especially in
the lower two classes.<BR><BR>I personally have been inactive in pattern for a
few years since my switch to IMAC. I must say the new ARF invasion, the
deletion of flimsy ( I fly off grass ) retracts, and an apparent improvement
in YS/OS engine reliability have wet my appetite to jump back in.
<BR><BR>If I can drag along my ole' pattern pro Dad to fly against other
seniors at the same contest, I think this would be a blast ! He
practices IMAC Sportsman and is my dedicated builder/caller. It wouldn't
take much of a prod to get him entered in a pattern meet.<BR><BR>So, lets look
at the possibility of senior scoring within the existing classes along with an
annual points championship for them. I'd say it just might
work.<BR><BR>Rick Hannah<BR>St. Joseph, Michigan</FONT>
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