NEW concept? for pattern entry.

[Chris Larson]

Eric -
I agree, we need more youth in the pattern ranks.  I am 35 and was sport flying about 3 years before I got hooked.  I have had the privilege of getting a 17 year old ( now 18 ) young man involved in the sport.  We are both passionate about our sport, and as rank beginners, we tell everyone about the fun, challenge, and camaraderie that comes with pattern flying and contests.  We also have a " hey, if we can do it, so can you! " attitude.  I hope to have a few people from our club turn out at our local Sacramento contest this fall.
I am fortunate in that I have several really good mentors in my area that help me out with coaching, setup, etc. ( thanks Dick B, Don A, Frank C, and Mike M! ).
Moral of the story, and back to the point - Maybe a concerted effort by the lower classes to get peers involved combined with a non threatening non turnaround sequence would help. 
Once again, just my .02!
Chris Larson
NSRCA 3484
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Henderson,Eric 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 7:47 AM
  Subject: RE: NEW concept? for pattern entry.


  Chris, 
            I happen to know that pre-pattern is a process that is going on and I applaud it.  The real problem is that local guys won't enter our contests, and hence we can't get them "hooked".

  I am on, and have been on, a long quest searching for ways to remove barriers and get some youth in our game...

  Eric.


  -----Original Message-----
  From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Chris Larson
  Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 10:35 AM
  To: discussion at nsrca.org
  Subject: Re: NEW concept? for pattern entry.


  Hi Eric -
  I am a D7 sportsman competitor, since August of last year.  My feeling is that the sequence is a good building block for intermediate.  It teaches distance, centering, and the timing necessary to string consecutive maneuvers together.  Also, even though we have one box "exit", it makes some of us feel like we are at least kind of flying the same way the big boys fly.
  That being said, I hear ya about the scariness of an out of kilter loop or cobra coming towards the flight line.  One thought is a pre-sportsman class as non turnaround.  Don't quote me, but I THINK they are doing something like this in Whittier at an upcoming contest.  Check with the CD and see what he is doing there, maybe.
  Hoping to move to Intermediate next year, so this won't affect me, but just my .02!
  Chris Larson
  NSRCA 3484
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Henderson,Eric 
    To: discussion at nsrca.org 
    Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 7:22 AM
    Subject: NEW concept? for pattern entry.


    One idea that I have thought about proposing is to change the 401 class back to non turnaround. Too many pilots get dangerously out of kilter trying to handle the flight direction challenges after a center maneuver when they are under the stress load of being judged. Their next step up would be 402 turnaround but by then they would be more pattern proficient.

    We would change the schedule to do more than straight line in the center but not by much else.

    Any strong feelings or views on this train of thought?

    Regards,

    Eric.
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