NEW concept? for pattern entry.

[ArestiPattern at aol.com]

I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the thought that a senior class would be the 
savior of the pattern community.  Lets view a senior class as a way to keep 
our best story tellers involved in our sport.  Let them fly what they bring, 
fly the same sequences as the rest of us, and when the final scores are 
tallied.......award a trophy to best scoring senior within their respective classes.

I personally feel pattern will, once again, become a very popular event.  The 
efforts of current flyers to attract new blood through help and encouragement 
at the local club level and even possibly a little stick time on that latest 
wizbang ship of yours will lock the new guys and gals that have that little 
spark in their minds to give it a try.  

The second and very important ingredient in this recovery is the new ARF 
industry.  Now we can show how to get started in  pattern with a 'serious' plane 
like the Swallow and Quest that has been discussed so much lately.  More 
cheaper ARFs will be a boon to pattern, lets not poo poo these planes at the 
contests by unfairly judging their pilots, especially in the lower two classes.

I personally have been inactive in pattern for a few years since my switch to 
IMAC.  I must say the new ARF invasion, the deletion of flimsy ( I fly off 
grass ) retracts, and an apparent improvement in YS/OS engine reliability have 
wet my appetite to jump back in.  

If I can drag along my ole' pattern pro Dad to fly against other seniors at 
the same contest, I think this would be a blast !  He practices IMAC Sportsman 
and is my dedicated builder/caller.  It wouldn't take much of a prod to get 
him entered in a pattern meet.

So, lets look at the possibility of senior scoring within the existing 
classes along with an annual points championship for them.  I'd say it just might 
work.

Rick Hannah
St. Joseph, Michigan
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