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<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Buddy:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Scale Aerobatics doesn't even have box boundaries
anymore. It's now a 180 zoneless box and for all practical purposes,
a box doesn't exist anymore. I wouldn't look to what IMAC is doing to the
AMA Scale Aerobatics rules for any kind of reasonable guidance on setting up our
rules for the aerobatic box. Those rules have been changed by people who somehow
think that center zone figures were being unfairly scored because centering
downgrades applied to figures there and not in the end zones. Now get this,
'cause you just can't make this stuff up: The combination of eliminating
the 75 degree boundaries, eliminating the zones and centering downgrades and
adding an overall "presentation score" figure would somehow,
simultaneously solve the unfair "center zone bias" and magically reduce the
large footprint flown. I'm not kidding.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>This drove me out of Scale Aerobatics competition and
into Pattern last year. I wasn't about to dedicate time and
money resources into an event that could be decided by judges who have
varying abstract notions of what a proper presentation score for the entire
flight should be, with a K factor of 20 in Unlimited class (higher than some
actual figures). I know you're not advocating all these other things that
they did beyond the eliminating the box boundaries, but I just don't see
changing from 60 to 75 degree boundaries as solving anything.</FONT><FONT
color=#000000> I really don't think there is much to apply from IMAC other
than how to do a neat website layout and maybe market ourselves
better.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>In retrospect, I'm very glad to have gotten into
Pattern, but it wasn't my idea to get shoved out of IMAC through those
changes. My 49 yr old eyes and reflexes had to learn to adjust to a
smaller (actual?) aerobatic box, with a faster, cleaner and much smaller
airplane. Can we leave this alone please? I think it's fine as it is
and doesn't solve anything by changing to 75 degrees. It's supposed to be
hard to do well!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Thanks</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Ed</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
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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 title=BUDDYonRC@aol.com
href="mailto:BUDDYonRC@aol.com">BUDDYonRC@aol.com</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> Wednesday, March 02, 2005 12:03
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Pattern Box Rules
(discussion)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#8000ff size=2>
<DIV>
<DIV>As a member of the rules change committee I am trying to determine if
there is interest in pursuing this matter and welcome a discussion and
suggestions regarding this issue</DIV>
<DIV>I have outlined some of the issues and suggestions pertaining to
this below and welcome your opinions.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3>The pattern box was added to the AMA rules when the
turnaround method of </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3>Presentation and scoring was initiated. It defines the
limited scoring area where all maneuvers must be performed.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3>The purpose of the box is to provide a uniform but
somewhat flexible area of presentation that allows the pilot the opportunity
to tailor his presentation to the requirements of the pattern being flown, and
allow judges to score his presentation on an equitable basis when compared to
the presentations of other pilots flying the sequence.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3>The rules provide for specific score penalties for
performing any maneuver either out of the box or partially out of the box,
making it all important that all box violations are downgraded the same by all
judges to provide the correct score earned.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3>Over the years the failure of judges to provide a uniform
application of box violations has resulted in an unfair advantage to some
pilots and a disadvantage to others.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT color=#000000>In many cases box line poles are
not or cannot be provided to give the pilot or judge the visual reference
necessary which becomes the primary reason among others that this condition
continues to exist.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3>In addition to the above the present box configuration
increases the possibility of a midair collision when two flight lines are used
because many pilots strive to utilize the same optimum distance out in their
presentation.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT color=#000000>By reconfiguring the box more area
will be available for those who wish to fly in closer with out fear of box
violation downgrades, this will also allow those who experience vision
difficulties at greater distances the possibly to be more competitive<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT color=#000000><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In order to provide a method that will
more nearly insure equity to all participants and simplify the task of judges,
while possibly reducing the occurrences of midair collision, and also
encourage those with limited eyesight at the greater distances to participate,
It has been suggested that a rules change be requested to modify the
pattern box layout and redefine the box boundary infringement
penalty.</FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT
color=#000000> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3>One suggestion was to revise the box size by
changing the box line from Sixty (60) degrees to Seventy-five (75) degrees.
And adopt a uniform system of accessing penalties similar to the FAI rule
or to the method used in IMAC </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT
color=#000000> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3>Another suggestion which may offer solutions to more of
the inherent problems experienced with the present box layout and scoring
methods would be to adopt </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3>A box layout and penalty system as described in the AMA
Scale Aerobatics Rules Item 4.1 with modifications to suit pattern.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3>Buddy Brammer</FONT></P><SPAN
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color=#000000> </FONT></SPAN></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>