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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks, Mark and Verne. Two sides of the core
issue. Since I raised the initial question, and Ed/Tony put out the
poll....I thought perhaps I'd summarize my rationale.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Masters is THE top class in AMA
Pattern. That is what our National Competition is about. In my
thinking, it SHOULD stand as separate, and unique/different in it's skill
requirements than FAI.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Mark, you wrote that FAI is
"the" Top Class. No, it is the class chosen for the World Championship
aerobatic competitions. Because of that, every country that wants to
participate in the WC must have flyers who prepare using the same standards,
same sequences, as the other countries. I think the US provides that, and
even CD's include FAI-F3A events in the typical pattern contest.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Is there ANYONE out here who honestly believes that
the FAI class is not a "professional" class of competition??
Please....look at where the money is spent, the sponsorships "pay", etc. I
am perfectly comfortable being thought of as "Amateur" if I fly AMA
pattern....doesn't ruffle my feathers at all.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> At the "Professional" level of
sports, there are rules that the Amateurs don't have. Football is a good
example.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I happen to believe that our Masters' class, as the
top of the AMA heap, must represent the best we have in US competition. IF
folks want to compete at the International WORLD level, professional
competitions, then I'd bet they will come FROM our Masters class. And to
me, that means that they learn the "new" Professional Sequences/rules that are
needed when they make that choice.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It's not our job in the AMA Pattern classes to make
a person competent at FAI. It is our responsibility to provide interesting
challenge, growth, and INVOLVEMENT opportunities for the majority of the 2% of
all modelers who choose pattern in the first place. Let's build maneuvers
in sequences that provide the skill base...then let those who are "advanced"
enough, learn the rest. There's plenty of mentors out there for them to
feed each other....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Before ya'll go crazy and start typing like
mad.....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I am *NOT* saying that we
exclude FAI, or discontinue or support of the World team, or any of that
stuff. That's good for the global community.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I am saying that we should look
a little closer at why we have the game in the US, and design everything we
do around THAT purpose. Whatever it is deemed to be.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR>Bob Pastorello<BR>NSRCA 199 AMA 46373<BR><A
href="mailto:rcaerobob@cox.net">rcaerobob@cox.net</A><BR><A
href="http://www.rcaerobats.net">www.rcaerobats.net</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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=atwoodm@paragon-inc.com href="mailto:atwoodm@paragon-inc.com">Atwood,
Mark</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> Sunday, January 02, 2005 10:47
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Sequence Poll Results</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Verne,<BR> <BR>Just to be clear...I would not be
advocating that particular detail. My point is the more overriding
philosophy that the lower levels exist to prepare for the next level.
And in my mind, FAI is clearly one of those levels...happens to be the
top. To argue that Masters is the top...and that FAI is a different
"track" makes no sense to me. If we were to truly do that...then we'll
end up creating lower "FAI" classes...that would compete with the AMA
classes. <BR> <BR>Do we currently crown the Masters champ at the
Nats as our National Champion?? Are they considered the best flyer at
the event? <BR> <BR>Ok...done preaching...lol...sorry. It just
doesn't make sense to me. <BR> <BR>I do agree with you that I like
having control of those sequences...and that's an advantage in my mind.
The OLD FAI pattern may not be the best way to train for the next FAI
pattern... The masters pattern of today should be preparing flyers
for the P-07 or P-09 of
tomorrow...<BR><BR>________________________________<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>