new concepts

[Woodward James R Civ 412 TW/DRP/ACQ]

Hi George,

Good comments, however, I can't resist.  FAI class was won by a Focus,
compliments of Don Szczur.  A Futaba 9cap or JR 8 channel is all you need in
a radio.  There have never been more engine choices.  Digital servos are
generally accepted and not "exotic" any more.  It has never been cheaper to
get a world class equipped pattern plane.  

That said, the problem is not equipment.  The problem is that (drum roll
please) PATTERN IS HARD.  There is no way to side-step that flying straight
and level is a tough thing for the average club pilot.  Pattern emphasizes
the fundamental stuff that looks easy, but is very hard.  Winners in each
class are generally separated by how well each has mastered the
fundamentals:  straight and level flight, entering maneuvers with wings
level, maintaining heading, matching radii, exiting maneuvers wings level on
heading.  

Just a for instance:  A friend from the club came by my house a couple of
nights ago.  We where talking about the nats, and then about simulators.  I
got him to try to fly "pattern" on the Great Planes generation 1 sim.  Here,
in the most non-threatening environment, he had difficulty trying to perform
a 1/2 reverse Cuban eight.  Difficulty with entering wings level, pulling to
a 45 degree line, "waiting.........",  1/2 roll, "waiting......." , then a
gentle radius.  As soon as someone trys (if others are watching) their
skills are immediately exposed and will either like it or not.  We take a
lot for granted in the jump it takes from being a "good lander" or "safe
flyer" to being an entry level pattern flyer.  

Equipment becomes a great excuse, then time, and these may be true.  But I
believe the real reason is that pattern is HARD!  Only certain personality
types are going to be driven to "practice".  
Jim W.



The majority of your hobbyist aren't going to be "indentured servants", 
they'll simply fly 40 or 60 sized sport planes or call it quits.

In the early 1990's the hot pattern plane setup (including full radio 
setup) would cost about $2500.00 and the average family income of the 
typical high end hobbyist was about $40,000/year.   The top fliers only had 
to invest an average of 6.25% of their annual income in order to have the 
top plane.

Today the hot pattern plane setup (including full radio setup) will cost 
about $4000.00 and the average family income for the typical high-end 
hobbyist is about $55,000/year.  Today in order to have the top setup it 
will mean that you would have to invest 8.00% of your annual income.   With 
other hobbies and expenses we have today that didn't exist in the 1990's 
(i.e.: cellphone bills, Internet bills, computers) the average hobbyist 
doesn't have 8.00% of his income to invest in the model aircraft hobby.

Now you're going to see some responses to the above statements say "You 
don't need the best airplane in order to compete, you can compete with a 
lessor airplane".   This statement might be true however that is NOT how 
our hobby is perceived to be.   In general people don't compete strictly 
for fun, people compete in order to have pride in themselves and to win, 
its human nature and in order to do that its perceived that you need to 
have equipment which is as good as the top fliers.

Lets face it, the people within the demographics who can afford and/or 
interested in pattern are shrinking. Here's my suggest.  However before 
giving my suggest I already know that 90% of you will think I'm full of 
crap but so be it.   Set a cap on the price of a plane which you can use in 
competition.   Lets say a top value of $3500.00, or pick a number.   That 
would allow nearly every sport fliers plane to qualify even larger planes 
with larger engines, that takes care of the new guy not having a 
plane.   It would also put the top guys on a more even footing with the 
newer guy.

After all most of you people on here say it doesn't take a high dollar 
plane and top equipment in order to win.  Let put your money where you 
mouth is and prove it......

George

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