K-Factor Pattern an invisible group

Sat Nov 2 02:59:51 AKST 2002

Bob Noll, Jim Quinn, and I , started a Primer last year within our club.
The first one had 7 or 8 sign up. The event went very well, and all were
looking forward the one this past spring. Due to poor weather conditions
with very high winds we had only 3 show up, but they all flew one round.
Conditions that they would never have flown in under normal
circumstances, but when it is a "contest" you do what you have to.
We scheduled another for this fall, but we were "weathered out" for 3
straight Saturdays, and today is worse than the last 3, so I don't think
we will be having one this fall, but all 6 of the pilots who have shown
up the past 3 weekends are eager to give it a try next spring and we have
already scheduled 2 more for next year. One in the spring so we may be
able to attract a new competitor or two. And one in the fall to wet their
appetite to build a "pattern" ship over the winter!

Terry T.

On Fri, 1 Nov 2002 23:06:51 -0800 "Dan Curtis" <warrior523 at mchsi.com>
writes:
> 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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