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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bill,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I think you make an interesting point regarding
differentiation. I would point out that by competitive definition the
majority in any competitive event will not be "top notch". I think I see
some other differentiations as well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I see a group of flyers (let's collectively call
them George for purposes of this discussion) that have been in the event for a
substantial length of time. George is/was a top pilot, or maybe
never was and never will be - but common to George is the long duration spent in
pattern. George has seen a number of rules changes and observed the
motive/basis/desire that drove the rule change (almost always with best
intentions), and George has seen the unintended consequences that
resulted. George is maybe trying to keep the mistakes in the
past from repeating. Maybe George is tired of throwing away perfectly
good equipment that has been made obsolete by yet another misguided
rules change. Maybe George misses those that left the event to never
return because of the specific rule changes, or the resulting added expense to
compete in the event that was the unintended result of changing the
rules.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I see a second group of flyers (let's call them
Fred) who appear to be unaware of the history of rules changes, unaware of
unintended consequences (in the past), or have not considered what effects
changes to the current rules might have beyond what is intended. I see a
ton of enthusiasm from Fred, and believe Fred is truly interested in making
pattern more accessible to the masses. I see Fred on the average as new to
pattern, or having less experience in pattern than George, and Fred may be the
future of pattern (no new additions, the event will die). But I see Fred
covering a pretty big range of demographics - experienced pilot (or not),
flying lower or higher classes in pattern, have a history in pattern, or being
relatively new to pattern - and it is not uncommon for Fred to achieve
better than average results in contests.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>George is correct about history - and George has
posed several questions that have gone unanswered (to the best of my knowlegde)
such as -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>- When has a rules change resulted in pattern being
less costly?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>- Why are the readily available planes that are
easy to complete under 11 lbs by any builder not being used in pattern by
"Fred". Not only are these planes easy to build under 11 lbs, in many
instances they are also less costly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>George is very passionate about the event and the
rules that shape the event. So is Fred. George has watched the last
few rules changes and has unhappily been in the position to say "I told you
so" when unintended consequences came to fruition. Fred is primed to
say "I told you so" when the weight limit is increased (lets assume
2007). Fast forward to 2007 - it is the ONE year when heavier sport
engines and the slightly overweight (11.25 - 11.5 lbs) current designs will be
legal and reasonably competitive with the stuff the top guys are flying (the
same current designs, but at 10 lbs). In 2007, Fred is the happiest
guy in pattern. Late in 2007, after seeing a couple 2008 protypes
that take full adavantage of the increased weight limit, George is comtemplating
changes - leave behind the current designs and equipment that will be obsolete
in 2008 (at any weight), or pack up and leave the event. George is unhappy
about being able to say "I told you so yet again" in 2008 - assuming George
stays in the event. In 2008, George may not be around to talk to Fred
about why Fred's plane is no longer competitive. And maybe Fred, like
George, will leave the event, recognizing their equipment is obsolete and not
wanting to remain in the event uncompetitively, or at the expense of upgrading
all new equipment that is at a more costly level.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"I am George".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><BR>Dave Lockhart</DIV>
<DIV>DaveL322@comcast.net</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
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<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=billglaze@triad.rr.com href="mailto:billglaze@triad.rr.com">Bill
Glaze</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> Saturday, February 26, 2005 2:18
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Weight limit
discussion</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>I am still failing to see how widening the pool of available
designs, the use of which are optional, is going to add to the expense, when
these airplanes are of less expense. Nobody of any knowledge is going to
opt for a heavier airplane if they can afford to buy a lighter airplane,
true. If availability of the better airplane alone is the only
consideration, then I can certainly see how it could become a money
race. (sound familiar?) But, the state of the art equipment
belongs, and is a must-have, as I see it, only in the upper classes.
And, even with some top of the line stuff in the hands of a lesser flyer, I
believe we'll find the more practiced person will always have the
advantage. We've all seen that again and again.<BR>Does anyone notice
the differentiation here between the handful of extremely top-notch flyers,
and the (by far) majority of us?<BR><BR>John Ferrell wrote:<BR>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This one gets an "Amen"!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John Ferrell <BR><A
href="http://DixieNC.US">http://DixieNC.US</A><BR></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV
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face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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></DIV>
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