bureaucratic organization/ beginners!

[Keith Black]

I was in this hobby many years ago and got back into it again the first of 2002. I've know about pattern since my first entry into the hobby but never considered for a moment that I could or would compete in pattern. For one thing, I've always assumed that one had to be an incredible pilot with many many years of experience to compete. From the pattern contest I've seen in the past it was obvious that the pilots were way above my head in experience and skill. Another factor was that I'd never had any discussion with anyone involved in pattern and quite honestly I did have the impression that pattern guys where sort of "elitist". That impression was not earned but just my impression probably due to how skilled I thought all pattern fliers were. 

 

Then, early this summer I was visiting a local club that I'd never been to before and three guys were flying their pattern planes. One of these guys, Gray Fowler, came over and started telling me all about pattern, how it works, invited me to stand next to him when he was flying, and just generally being very friendly. Actually all of the guys were very nice. Gray told me I could download the Sportsman sequence and based on watching me fly he thought I could fly it. That night I went home and downloaded the sequence and started trying it out at my regular field (which has no pattern fliers). It took me several flights to finally get all the pieces together. I was shocked at how hard it was to keep the plane where I wanted it, but pleased that it wasn't beyond my reach. At that point my goal was simply to build the skills enough to fly the sportsman pattern under control. I was only doing this because I felt it would make me a better pilot, I had no plans on ever competing.

 

Well, a month or two later I joined the club where I had met Gray, Lance and Bill. Gray stood with me while I flew and was extremely complimentary and encouraging. He answered my questions and gave me pointers. He told me that I could easily compete in Sportsman and probably do very well, this I doubted :-), but it made me feel good to hear him say it. Lance also worked with me and was very helpful. They answered all the questions I had and then Gray started prodding me to go to a competition with them. He told me stories of how he and many new Sportsman pilots are all over the place in their first contest, strangely enough this made me feel good to know that I wouldn't be the only one. To be honest with you I thought I would be scared to death to fly in front of the judges, but I knew deep inside I really wanted to give it a try.

 

At my first contest everyone I met was incredibly encouraging, friendly and helpful, they made me feel right at home. And guess what, I wasn't scared to death, I didn't crash, and I had a great time!

 

Now I'm hooked, want to attend every contest possible, and I couldn't wait to get a plane that was capable of flying the intermediate pattern (that I'm practicing for next season).

 

And guess what, I spoke to a couple of non-pattern fliers at the club the other day about pattern and encouraged them to download the sportsman sequence and the very next day one had already downloaded it and was planning to begin practicing!

 

For pattern to grow everyone in this organization just needs to engage non-pattern fliers in friendly conversation and tell them about pattern. Provide encouragement, let everyone know that the sportsman pattern is well within their reach, and do a little prodding to get them to go to a contest. Tell them how much fun you have at contests and describe the camaraderie pattern fliers have (which honestly is a big part of what makes everyone travel so far to be together). Once new guys see how friendly everyone is and find out they can actually compete many of them will be hooked just like we are. :-)

 

Keith Black

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