<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10>I don't know what the state of pattern is across the nation. I do know in my club and several neighboring ones it has been dead for years. Pattern use to be the major club event. After years of low local participation, the club decided to replace the pattern contest with an open house fly-in. As pattern has evolved, it has become increasingly difficult to interest new people in it.
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<BR>Precision Aerobatics is an expensive, specialized sport. It is common to see a Focus and the like being flown in Sportsman. How many Sig Kobras or Four Stars are entered? Not many and not for long.
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<BR>Pattern aircraft lacks the attraction IMAC aircraft has with its scale like appearance. Pattern aircraft are not expected to wow spectators with 3-D maneuvers. Entry level pattern maneuvers are boring. The schedules for the upper levels are too difficult for the casual flyer.
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<BR>After several failing attempts to re-interest the club in pattern, we were successful when we put on a one-day, modified SPA contest. It really shouldn't be called an SPA contest as the maneuvers were the only SPA-aspect we used. The participation and the number of these events have grown over the past three years.
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<BR>It was surprising how many former pattern fliers attended. One of them commented that he dropped out of pattern when it went to the turnaround schedule. The fly-by schedule is less stressful than the turnaround. This imparts confidence to try more difficult and interesting maneuvers.
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<BR>One side benefit by bring back former pattern fliers, is that new people are drawn in. These "old timers" are the club leaders. With their participation, people not familiar with pattern are attracted. Most of the planes entered have been sport aircraft. Modern pattern planes are the exception.
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<BR>Allan Worrest
<BR>NSRCA 2854
<BR>SPA 201
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<BR>In a message dated 1/26/2004 11:42:49 AM Central Standard Time, Eric.Henderson@gartner.com writes:
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<BR><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">But what are you,(or we), going to do when you run out of people to beat. Not because you (we) got better, but because no one competes any more?
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<BR>The fact that Masters is usually the fullest class means that below Masters is thin on the ground and above Masters is even thinner. (Ask yourself what was the average FAI field in D1 for FAI in 2003? Was it 2 or a decimal of that)
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<BR>The object of this discussion exercise is not to analytically tear up every idea but to recognize the issues and propose solutions. If I can get our collective minds to think about growth we might have a healthy sport to hand over to the next generation?
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<BR>What should be next? If it's a return to former specification limits then that's an idea to consider?
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<BR>Regards,
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<BR>Eric.
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