IMAC/PATTERN

[Lee Davis]

I'm lucky in that I get to talk to pattern flyers from around the country on
a regular basis.  Pattern tends to be regional.  One guy might be concerned
about the impending death of pattern in his area while another talks of more
pattern flyers than they know what to do with.  I don't doubt the same is
true for IMAC.  Having flown pattern for many years in region 2, I've seen
the numbers rise and fall.  Region 2 is in a little bit of a down cycle
right now, though the numbers picked up in the Sportsman and Intermediate
classes this season which bodes well for the future.

I'll always believe the best promotion is at the grass roots level.  If you
talk to a guy at your field who seems interested, try to sell him.  You'll
mostly strike out, but every once in a while you get a hit.  The best
promoters tend to be from the entry level classes.  They have more empathy
for, and are less intimidating to, guys who are interested.

Lee Davis
Piedmont Models
http://www.piedmontmodels.com/


-----Original Message-----
From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
[mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Dennis Cone
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 5:02 PM
To: NSRCA
Subject: IMAC/PATTERN


Ed,
You have support here. Out here on the West coast (Washington State) the
trend and the desires by most are to keep a separation between Pattern and
IMAC. We support both but do one or the other, or both. Those pattern fliers
I know who decided to try IMAC have sold their planes and have come back to
pattern. Size and cost was an issue but also the lack of discipline and
quality judging at the contests was another. We have approx. 60 members in
our club ( www.tcrcm.org ) and of those members there are 7 pattern pilots.
No others in the club IMAC that I am aware of. Why so many doing pattern?
Perhaps because the pattern pilots are the ones who represent and do the
most for the club, our level of flight skill is higher than the average and
as such others want to fly like we do. Some are retired pattern fliers but
were once very competitive in their day. They still are very active in the
club and attend most of the meetings. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing
against IMAC but the current trend from the east coast is not what is
favored on this part of the west coast. I don't purport to speak for others,
just from my own observations.

Dennis Cone





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