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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I would say at most local contest if not
all that no one is going to say “you can’t fly.”<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I do see the idea at the NATS though that
everyone must be 100% legal.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Chris White
proved last year in Intermediate that you don’t have to fly the latest
and greatest plane to win.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>This is what
needs to happen more.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Even in Advanced
several “older” designs were at or near the top.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The problem is convincing new guys that it is
the skill not the plane.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I think the
lower classes, especially at the NATS with the crosswinds we always get the
older designs have an advantage.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>They
fly a little faster, a little less side area and this gives them an
advantage.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>As Mark I think said though if you raise
the weight limit <span class=GramE>its</span> not going to fix the
problem.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>We will be chasing our
tails.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>It doesn’t matter what SIG
it is they do cost money.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Look at the
top Pylon racer kits, composite aircraft, 400 dollar motors to what is almost a
“disposable” type of flying.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Even the best can lose multiple airplanes in a year just because of how
close they fly.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Gliders are the same
way, there are now tons of composite gliders out there and the costs are going
up.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I <span class=GramE>wont</span> even
go into IMAC.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Then there are other
“hobbies.”<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I knew a guy who
bass fished a lot.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>He was talking about
what my planes cost, so I ask him, what about your 15,000 dollar boat and
30,000 dollar truck to pull it and that’s not even including all of his
tackle. And as I’m sure a bunch of people on this list will agree<span
class=GramE>,</span> golf is another one that can be very expensive when done
on a regular basis.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I think the drive for perfection that
drives most pattern people or at least got them into it is also what drives the
costs up.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Pattern people tend to buy the
best, and in most applications, you do get what you pay for.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Pattern is never going to be
“cheap.”<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I don’t think
the key is making it cheaper, I think the key is to make it more fun and
attractive.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I don’t think we will
ever be a discipline that is going to double or triple in size in short amounts
of time because it takes a certain type of individual to even be interested in
pattern. I believe one of the greatest problems with pattern is convincing the
average sport pilot that he can do this.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>A lot of your average flyers tend to see it and think that is really
neat, but I could never do that.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>We got
to start attracting the people that want to do it to make <span class=GramE>themselves</span>
better.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Its like any other sport, such
as basketball, a lot of people watch it on TV and know they will never make the
NBA, but that doesn’t stop them from going out to the local gym and
playing with their friends, but we also have to understand we are not going to
attract everyone at the field, just like not everyone who watches basketball on
TV has any desire to go play at the local gym twice a week.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I think we would be better served by
concentrating on the sportsman membership instead of worrying so much about the
guys that are already hooked.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Have more
pattern primers and even if you have to do it with a buddy box, let these guys
fly the pattern planes, even older ones that are already set up.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Make it a fun relaxed environment to help
them get the bug.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>It can be very
frustrating for a guy to go to his first sportsman contest with is .40 sized
plane and see all the nice pattern ships sitting around and with everyone else
running around trying to get their stuff setup they might even get a feel that
no one wants to talk to them or worse yet, they come to their first contest,
don’t get a lot of help, finish last and now think they can’t do
it, but if you put them in a sportsman only contest and give these guys some
help for one or two days to help them learn the basics then they will want to
stick around.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>They will see a great deal
of improvement just in that one weekend that will give them the desire to go
back home and practice.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>If every
district made it a point to have one or two pattern primers a year and then
made a big deal out of it; I think this would help a great deal.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Let these guys get some exposure, take lots
of pictures, and put them in the K-factor.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>When someone is starting out they love seeing their pictures in the
magazines.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>We need to start catering to the lower
classes more and helping grow the sport that way, not making large rules
changes that in the end are just going to drive up the cost even more.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Arch<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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