K-Factor Pattern an invisible group

[Dan Curtis]

Greg, I fully agree with your thoughts on Pattern Primers.  I had one at my
club.  I was hoping to get 2 or 3 to show up and try it.  It was placed on
the club calendar at the beginning of the year and mentioned at every
meeting.  I had 8 sign up for the half day primer/contest.  I used computer
scoring and had the luxury of some experienced pattern judges to help.  It
was a "fly what ya got" affair with emphasis placed on fun and learning what
pattern is all about.  The best part of the whole deal was 4 more people
have decided to fly some pattern.  Two, possibly 3, are getting 2 meter
planes ready for next year and another has a new Swallow and is practicing
hard.  Then to put a little icing on the cake...the club wants to have
another one next year...and I am going to promote it out a little more
aggressively to some of the surrounding clubs.

Pattern primers work..they may start out pretty small but stay with them and
they can grow.

Dan Curtis
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gregory Morris" <greg_morris at email.msn.com>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 8:48 PM
Subject: Re: K-Factor Pattern an invisible group


> Gee Mike, thanks for the kind words. BTW the Patriot flys tomorrow with
> Tigre power, and Everette is coaching me and Chuck. Maybe we'll see ya in
> Intermediate next season...... Yes I did jump in with both feet plus some.
> I'm laughing about everyone conjecturing about this costs too much and
> pattern fliers are stuck up , IMAC this change rules that are stuck up
blah,
> blah, blaah.
>
> The fact of the matter is, pattern is something you have to want to do, I
> mean it's a desire. I've wanted to fly pattern since I was a kid (I'm 35
> now), and I did it this year (should have started last year, but chickened
> out). I had some help along the way, but I would have done it regardless.
>
> The thing that really pushed me over the edge was a local club had a
pattern
> primer for sport fliers where some pattern guys explained the rules,
helped
> us fly the pattern, and gave us some advice. I have not looked back since.
>
> I think if you want to flush out potential pattern fliers, give a pattern
> flying class at your local field, explain the rules, show what the pattern
> looks like being flown, and call for the guys. I guarantee you will pick
up
> one or two pattern wanna bees like me. Maybe this is something the NSRCA
> could sponsor/encourage. Maybe have a big push on something like this a
> month or so before contest season.
>
> BTW, for those of you who have not met Mike Hester, he is an ambassador to
> this sport.
>
> The Newbie
> Greg Morris
> NSRCA 3458
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Hester" <kerlock at attbi.com>
> To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 1:54 PM
> Subject: Re: K-Factor Pattern an invisible group
>
>
> > My question is this:
> >
> > What's the best way to make that happen? With a rule change, or by
getting
> > the word out?
> >
> > For the record, I don't think a rule change of any kind is the best
> > soilution, barring getting rid of that ridiculous retract rule. I don't
> > believe that handicapping a class is a better method. Most of the
> sportsman
> > I saw last season were there to do battle, with arfs, 2 meter planes,
.40
> > sized planes, whatever. If we had a .60 sized limit rule for instance,
> half
> > of the sportsman in D3 would have been forced to quit or move to
> > intermediate. Some of you may say "That's where they belong with them
thar
> > danged 2 meter planes!" but just because you can afford and/or build a 2
> > meter plane doesn't mean you can fly it.
> >
> > I never have understood the mentality that says "let's keep sportsman to
> > cheap small planes". Why handicap those with the drive just because the
> next
> > guy doesn't have the time or money?
> >
> > I watched a guy in Florida whip butt with a .40 sized Arresti at 2
> contests
> > this year. He beat 2 meter planes in the process, in 25 mph crosswinds.
> > Problem is most people want to say "oh he's just a fluke" instead of
> > recognizing the fact that he took stock of his means and burned the fuel
> and
> > practiced. Was he intimidated by the 2 meter planes? Nope. He said he
> wanted
> > one and knew it would help, but he didn't sit at home making excuses. he
> > came out and did battle and had the time of his life, and showed a few
> > people that the answer is in the practice. He'll be back next year. I'd
> put
> > money on it.
> >
> > I also watched Chuck Czarnik and Greg Morris just to name a couple, jump
> in
> > with both feet and go from struggling to pretty darned smooth pattern
> > pilots. Entering that first contest is the biggest step. After that, if
> you
> > have fun, you're hooked. But that first step can sometimes be
> intimidating.
> >
> > A lot of you are right on the money. C Smith said it best, we are going
to
> > get our "market share" of pilots and that's all we can expect. What we
can
> > do is on a personal level, make sure those few guys don't get missed or
> > turned off. That means it's up to US, not the rule book. The rules are
> fine.
> >
> > And pattern is growing in some parts of the country, like here. We need
to
> > make sure it keeps going, because the best way to grow pattern is
through
> > exposure. maybe 99% of the people at your field won't care, but that one
> guy
> > or gal will. Don't miss them. Cuz then there's 2  and it grows from
there
> =)
> >
> > -Mike Hester
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Linda Carnes" <flyinglady at mypccrashed.com>
> > To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> > Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 8:22 AM
> > Subject: RE: K-Factor Pattern an invisible group
> >
> >
> > > In the Oct 2000 issue was an article on inexpensive Pattern Planes.
> > >
> > > While many of us tend to spend a lot, we need to emphasize to new
comers
> > > that there are many planes out there well below 600 dollars setup,
such
> as
> > > the World Model Intruder, Tai-Ji 40 and Zen 50.
> > >
> > > This is where I started with the Intruder and a Futaba T6, later I
moved
> > to
> > > the Tai-Ji 60 and the Futaba 8U, Now I will be flying the 2 meter
Tai-Ji
> > and
> > > a Futaba 9Z.
> > >
> > > Money in a plane and equipment will not make me a better pilot,
burning
> > fuel
> > > will regardless of what I fly.
> > >
> > > Get new comers started with reasonable equipment and they usually will
> > > become hooked.
> > >
> > > Sincerely
> > >
> > > Linda Carnes
> > >
> > > NSRCA 3197
> > > AMA 599260
> > >
> > > Combined PC Support Services Inc.
> > > Phone: (706) 253-7677
> > > Toll Free: (866) 286-2379
> > > Fax: (706) 253-7679
> > > Cell Phone:(770) 401-7634
> > > Pager: (770)735-5691
> > > E-Mail: lac at mypccrashed.com
> > > Corp. Web Page: <http://www.mypccrashed.com>
> > >
> > >
> > >
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