NEW CLASS for experienced pilots.

[AWorrest at aol.com]

Five years ago, pattern was dead in Nebraska outside of Omaha.  One time 
before we switched to the SPA schedule, we had only three entrees in a club AMA 
pattern contest.  ( I must add that the day started out with rain.)  Yesterday 
we had sixteen contestants in the Lincoln Pattern contest and it was raining 
when the contest started.  Two other communities held similar pattern events 
earlier in the year.  There is talk that a fourth will be held in October.  
Pattern is making a comeback in this part of the country even if it is not AMA 
pattern.

The fly-by format of the SPA schedule makes it much easier to perform a 
difficult maneuver than the AMA turn-around style.  The SPA maneuvers for the 
Expert class are not individually easy.  They were taken from the 70's AMA 
Master/Expert schedules.  Maybe it is due to my age, I find flying the SPA Expert 
class to be more enjoyable than the AMA Advanced.  It is not a vision thing; the 
SPA format is just more relaxed.  I get a chance to take a deep breath after 
each flubbed maneuver.

We have no restrictions on the aircraft entered in our contest other than the 
plane can be maneuvered safely.  I am beginning to think that the new, 
2-meter, wide body designs have an advantage.  This is not a trend I would 
encourage.  The SPA maneuvers can be flown successfully with a less expensive aircraft. 
 Possibly, just not as well.  If there is a new class, I would recommend that 
the SPA schedule be flown and the only restrictions on the aircraft be the 
SPA restrictions on the engine.  That is for a 2-cycle, the maximum displacement 
is .60 and a muffler is used.  For a 4-cycle the engine, it is restricted to 
a .90 or below and no super charging.

Allan Worrest

In a message dated 7/28/2003 9:36:43 AM Central Daylight Time, 
Eric.Henderson at gartner.com writes:


> After several long "fireside chats" a similar non-turnaround thought 
> pattern came up about over 55's having a non-turnaround class.
>  
> Complex center maneuvers (e.g. easier to see) for the old guys but 
> non-scored turnarounds. Keep it to say, 10 maneuvers. Would make judging a lot easier. 
> Could retain more pattern pilots as they age!? (Even CD's :-))
>  
> Lest we not forget our biggest challenge is numbers of participants. As a % 
> of RC pilots we are a decimal point! That scares me. Not enough youth and 
> then we have the "silverbacks" giving up because the routines stretch their 
> vision on turnaround maneuvers.
>  
> If it was not for the noise problem of the older designs I'd also run SPA at 
> a 401-406 pattern event.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Eric
> 


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