<html><body>
<DIV>Agree, we need this sort of thing to promote pattern.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>While we promote pattern, lets also keep an eye on not building obstacles to getting involved in pattern.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This discussion list is a real treasure - But I think it needs a periodic caveat for readers not yet bitten by the pattern bug. Lets remind them that while us career pattern people may enjoy debates how level a building table needs to be, the relative accuracy of laser alignment tools, the need for digital servos, etc, that a plane without those benefits REALLY IS OK and we want them to participate. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>What else can we do to NOT overwhelm would be entry level pattern pilots?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Later, Ron Lockhart</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV>-------------- Original message -------------- <BR><BR>> Hi Bob, <BR>> Too long since I saw you last. You make a good point. The thing is that it's <BR>> easy to say that <BR>> the present lack of growth in Pattern is because of the things we do with rules <BR>> today, compared to the past. <BR>> I would insist that we are doing a bunch of things right, and hopefully that <BR>> sets the stage for growth: <BR>> how would you like to try to grow an event that covers lots of ground with loud <BR>> airplanes? <BR>> It would strangle itself. <BR>> <BR>> But the things you pointed out aren't being done at all, and they are critical. <BR>> That's worse than doing them poorly. <BR>> <BR>> Do we try to do this through magazine exposure (another uphill battle) or do we <BR>> take it to the streets <BR>> by offering to go to any club meeting within 2 hours drive and show people an <BR>> entry-level Pattern ship, <BR>> and maybe talk about aerobatic trimming, or quiet technology, or even the joy of<BR>> focused practice. <BR>> <BR>> The web can be used as you describe, and we'd be smart to do so. I wonder if RCU and similar sites offer a break to non-commercial outfits like NSRCA? <BR>> <BR>> We have to get ready to rumble! <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Dean Pappas <BR>> Sr. Design Engineer <BR>> Kodeos Communications <BR>> 111 Corporate Blvd. <BR>> South Plainfield, N.J. 07080 <BR>> (908) 222-7817 phone <BR>> (908) 222-2392 fax <BR>> d.pappas@kodeos.com <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -----Original Message----- <BR>> From: discussion-request@nsrca.org <BR>> [mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Robert Mairs <BR>> Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 1:20 PM <BR>> To: discussion@nsrca.org <BR>> Subject: Re: Making Pattern Harder - was Pattern Box Rules (discussion) <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> I've been monitoring the list for a couple years now, haven't said a whole <BR>> lot, but a common theme I seem to s
ee a lot, is talking about the past. If <BR>> you want pattern to grow, there's only one way your gonna do it and that's <BR>> to start promoting it. You don't see anything about it anywhere. Hardly <BR>> any plane reviews in major magazines, no ads in magazines, about the only <BR>> thing going is an occasional column in ama. If your not specifically <BR>> looking for it, pattern is pretty much invisible in my opinion. A banner ad <BR>> on rcu, rcgroups drawing people to the website could be a possibility. If <BR>> you don't start attempting to draw in new people, diminished size is <BR>> inevitable. Just look at the turnover in your local clubs. Sequences, wt <BR>> limits, turnaround, box sizes, etc, etc, isn't gonna get pattern anywhere. <BR>> <BR>> Make it easy for somebody new, expand the beginners section on the website. <BR>> Guys are building lower priced arfs, have them write up some reviews, show <BR>> them they don't have to have a $3500 2m, custom painted, tricked out bird. <BR>> Update and expand district sites makeing it easy to find a contest to come <BR>> out to and watch with directions, starting times, saying visitors welcome. <BR>> The only thing I think will turn around pattern is promotion outside of its <BR>> primary membership, which doesn't really seem to take place. <BR>> rm <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> ----- Original Message ----- <BR>> From: "Atwood, Mark" <ATWOODM@PARAGON-INC.COM><BR>> To: <DISCUSSION@NSRCA.ORG><BR>> Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 10:32 AM <BR>> Subject: Making Pattern Harder - was Pattern Box Rules (discussion) <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> I'd like to comment on this point specifically...contest attendance. <BR>> <BR>> Pattern has always been "hard". Hard to do well anyway. I don't think <BR>> "hard" per say drives people away. In fact, as Arch stated, I think <BR>> it's the challenge...and the idea of challenging someone else to show <BR>> off our skills is what attracts m
ost long term pattern flyers. <BR>> <BR>> However... <BR>> <BR>> Turnaround changed the level of commitment necessary to be "Competent" <BR>> In the late 80's even early 90's, we held a pattern contest in <BR>> Cleveland. At that time the average attendance at a contest in D4 was <BR>> around 40 people. And consistently, 10-15 of those were NOT pattern <BR>> faithful. But rather a combination of good club pilots, FORMER pattern <BR>> faithful (past their prime, changed to racing, scale...whatever), and <BR>> beginners looking to try in on. <BR>> <BR>> These "locals" for lack of a better term, would come out to the field <BR>> with a dusted off Curare, or King Cobra and put up a few practice <BR>> flights. Work the kinks out of their slow roll...try and find their <BR>> timing on stall turns and point rolls... and then show up the day of <BR>> the contest, sign up for Sportsman (now intermediate) or maybe <BR>> advanced...and ask someone during the flight..."What's Next??". <BR>> <BR>> For some that were previously accomplished pilots...they could come out, <BR>> and have a "respectable" showing with just a little practice. Would <BR>> they beat the "touring" pattern guys...No. Could they win a round if <BR>> the other guy slipped up?? Yup! It was fun...and didn't require a ton <BR>> of commitment. <BR>> <BR>> Then came turnaround. <BR>> <BR>> You could no longer fly the routine without having it memorized...at <BR>> least in advanced or above. The sequence...not the maneuvers...but the <BR>> sequence was challenging. The same guys that had come out the year <BR>> before and had fun...thrilled to score here and there...and happy to ace <BR>> a few maneuvers...were now putting up a cadre of zero's for getting out <BR>> of sequence of missing a maneuver. It wasn't fun for them. They <BR>> stopped coming. There families stopped coming too. And <BR>> suddenly....Pattern event changed from a club sponsored, club atten
ded <BR>> FUN event...to a pattern elite, shut down the field for 2 days so 20 <BR>> guys can fly. <BR>> <BR>> We lost our judges (club guys), our scribes (their families), our <BR>> concession workers (said families again) and all the other workers. <BR>> <BR>> The added burden to the contestant (judging, scribing, making their own <BR>> burger..lol) cost us another few pilots who also decided it wasn't fun <BR>> anymore. <BR>> <BR>> I LOVE turnaround... But I think it cost us a lot... <BR>> <BR>> -Mark <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -----Original Message----- <BR>> From: discussion-request@nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org] <BR>> On Behalf Of Del K. Rykert <BR>> Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 10:13 AM <BR>> To: discussion@nsrca.org <BR>> Subject: Re: Pattern Box Rules (discussion) <BR>> <BR>> I know that making it more difficult does and has hurt contest <BR>> attendance. <BR>> Was that the intent? of course not but many changes aren't being <BR>> considered <BR>> for the negative they will create as well as the positive the are <BR>> shooting <BR>> for. <BR>> <BR>> Del <BR>> nsrca - 473 <BR>> <BR>> ================To access the email archives for this list, go to <BR>> http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/ <BR>> To be removed from this list, go to http://www.nsrca.org/discussionA.htm <BR>> and follow the instructions. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> ================================================= <BR>> To access the email archives for this list, go to <BR>> http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/ <BR>> To be removed from this list, go to http://www.nsrca.org/discussionA.htm <BR>> and follow the instructions. <BR>> <BR>> To access the email archives for this list, go to <BR>> http://lists.f3a.us/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/ <BR>> To be removed from this list, go to http://www.nsrca.org/discussionA.htm <BR>> and follow the ins
tructions. <BR>> </DIV></body></html>