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Boy, Earl..........You are sooooo ..RIGHT ON !!!!! I'll listen to
you anytime! (well almost anytime).VBG.
<BR>I would have great difficulty understanding anyone contesting this
veign of logic.After all 2 plus 2 have always been......... oh well,.........
<BR>Georgie
<P>Earl Haury wrote:
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<FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>I
think this "top class" issue is of little value and, at best, semantics.
One could argue that, as AMA pattern class 404 is Masters and AMA pattern
406 is F3A, F3A is at the top of AMA progression.</FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Mark's
point that we have as much influence in F3A as any other country is not
only valid - many of the F3A "innovations" have come from USA reps to the
FAI CIAM F3A Subcommittee. I also assure you that a sequence provided by
"us" will not only receive as much consideration as any other, but be quite
welcome.</FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Our pattern
community worldwide is small, why on earth would we want to be only a subset?
BTW - does anyone have a feel for the total number of pattern competitors
worldwide, I suspect that the US may be in the minority. Sure, we should
and do have preparatory classes. These may become resident classes for
folks prevented from moving forward by any number of limiting factors,
but that's a fact of life - not reason to tailor these classes to that
end.</FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>One of the strongest
attractions for model aviation is diversity. Likewise, excess diversity
is a weakness of model aviation. We too quickly "invent" new disciplines
to accommodate each and every interest with the effect of diluting our
core groups. If one considers most sports, many folks participate at playground,
high school, college, and pro levels with fewer at each level as the requirements
take a toll. But the "top" level is clearly recognized and emulated, there
may be concessions to detail, difficulty, equipment at the early levels
- but the top level clearly is the goal.</FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>I
find it sad that some consider that the NSRCA</FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>should
ignore F3A, rather the NSRCA should drive the US interests in F3A. The
NSRCA was founded by the top F3A competitors of the time and there was
no expectation that it was exclusive of F3A, unfortunately they didn't
recognize the need to spell that out in the charter. Pattern is our game,
anything that interests folks in pattern competition is very good,
discussion of pattern details is good, F3A is the epitome of our game,
but I find it hard to criticize anything related to the enjoyment of pattern.</FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Earl</FONT></FONT> -----
Original Message -----
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<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A HREF="mailto:rcaerobob@cox.net" title="rcaerobob@cox.net">Bob Pastorello</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A HREF="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org" title="discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, January 02, 2005 11:00
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Sequence Poll Results</DIV>
<FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>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></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>
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></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>
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></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>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></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>
At the "Professional" level of sports, there are rules that the Amateurs
don't have. Football is a good example.</FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>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></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>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></FONT> <FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>Before
ya'll go crazy and start typing like mad.....</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>
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></FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><FONT SIZE=-1>
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></FONT>
<P>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>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----</DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A HREF="mailto:atwoodm@paragon-inc.com" title="atwoodm@paragon-inc.com">Atwood,
Mark</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A HREF="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org" title="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>
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...
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