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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From time to time I hear folks suggesting the
reason the number of contestants is down is due to the high cost of pattern
planes and support equipment. Well I don't believe that is the
reason. This weekend I went to a relatively local IMAC contest in
Camarillo California and there were somthing like 61 preregistered and 56
actually flying. I'd guess 80% of the planes were 40% scale, meaning they
had $1500 engines and $3000 airframes and $1500 worth of servos. Then
you've got the motor homes and trucks and trailers to transport them. I
still say the highest cost of flying is the driving to and from the field and
that is probably why the park flyers are so popular. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So what is the reason for the drop in attendance
and the drop in the number of pattern contests? Or is that only in
Southern California?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jim O</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>