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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'>Let me try to put this into the
perspective of a brand new pattern player who has yet to enter his first
contest:<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'>Equipment Cost - I hear a lot of chatter
about new pattern ARFs and such, but in fact most of them are out of the range
of new flyers. Let’s face it, I know I’m going to wear out or crash
a few before I’m ready for the big time and a $500 - $600 ARF doesn’t
make much sense for 401. I ended up with a Javelin II ($130) and an OS 70FS Ultimate
(which I already had). Not for 403+, but a fine starter. There isn’t much
else out there. I would like to see reviews on entry level equipment in the
K-Factor. <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'>Flying Sites – My club site is
really unsuitable for pattern practice – too many tall pines once you get
off of the runway. Pattern requires space that a lot of clubs don’t have
and I will probably have to change. Ideally the field would be next to a sod
farm! <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'>Mentors – While the people on this forum
and on the NSRCA web site are helpful, the lack of an experienced flying buddy
to critique your flights, help with the trim and equipment selection, etc.,
makes it difficult. Fortunately I managed to hook up with someone in another
club, who just moved into the area, who has been flying pattern for a number of
years.<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'>Interest – As soon as I tried to
raise interest in pattern in the area I was faced with all kinds of negatives.
Good flyers didn’t want to take the time and effort to compete. Yes, IMAC
plane are very popular, even for sport flying, as evidenced by the Joe Nall fly-in
which is for “giant scale”. <span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Look at the Tower Hobbies catalog and see
the ratio of 45-90 pattern aircraft to Extras! Let’s face it, they serve
the market demands.<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'>No Contests – The one contest within
my travel range (Myrtle Beach) was blown away (well, I heard later that there
were two rounds on Sunday). Someone made a “brilliant” decision to schedule
the district championships over 8 hours of driving away rather than in the
middle if the district. Unless one is of independent means Friday practice is
out and an early departure may be necessary. I guess I am going to have to do a
district “crossover”<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'>In spite of the aforementioned, I intend
to continue pattern flying. I enjoy competing against myself and improving my
flying if nothing else. The rules and classes provide goals and standards.
Perhaps the weight rules need to be raised so that carbon fiber isn’t
required, and the lower classes should have smaller engine and plane size
limits to encourage entry level interest. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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