moderator....

[Bill Glaze]

Jim & All:
I've been considering what the gentleman said about pattern living
forever.
I can assure you that, if a competitor from 1955, (my first contest
year) could see pattern today, he'd make the statement that R/C
Aerobatics (As He Knew It) was truly dead.   Of course it isn't; it's
just evolved.  And, from one who's been there, it's evolved for the
better in directions that those of  my contemporaries and me couldn't
have dreamed of.  But, (and as they say in dieting salons, there's
always a big butt) just because it's survived in it's present form
doesn't mean it must not continue to evolve.
My experience says just the opposite.  It must and will change.  Slowly,
possibly, and incrementally, but change it will.

Bill Glaze

Woodward James R Civ 412 TW/DRP wrote:

> Good points Glen and Bill.  I think one of the best descriptors of our
> overall state-of-pattern, is that we are still talking about it.
> Bill's vivid memory of 1959/1960, and obviously through today, spans
> 44 years.  Throughout the 44 years, pattern has survived or led every
> equipment improvement, the economy, & "turnaround."  We have also
> survived as Glen pointed out, the emergence or all other form of RC
> hobby.  Pattern must offer something the others don't.  Anyone
> remember how fast the "New Coke" turned into (or back) to "Coke
> Classic."  I would not like to change too far from where we are now.
> At risk of starting a different fire, I don't want the weight limit
> raised either.
>
> Jim W.
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: Glen.Watson at aspentech.com [mailto:Glen.Watson at aspentech.com]
> Sent:Tuesday, October 14, 20037:23 AM
> To: discussion at nsrca.org
> Subject: RE: moderator....
>
> I feel a major contributor to the perceived declined in pattern is due
> to the wide variety of available technologies in the RC community
> today when compared to 1959.  Pattern now competes with Jets,
> Helicopters, Scales Aerobatics, Big Birds, 3D flying, electrics the
> list goes on most of which were non existent or viewed as fledgling
> technologies 30+ years ago.  There is a finite pool of money spent
> within the RC industry and variety has divided this pool into smaller
> sections.  Viewing the thread activity on RCUniverse.com provides a
> good sampling of the varied interest within the RC community.
>
> Regards,
>
> Glen Watson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Glaze [mailto:billglaze at triad.rr.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 9:19 AM
> To: discussion at nsrca.org
> Subject: Re: Fw: moderator....
>
> It's possible that the decline has been so steady, and relatively
> small, that it hasn't been until recently that long-time competitors
> have looked around and asked "where has everybody gone?"
> When I got back into pattern ~1991, I was surprised at the small size
> of contests, relative to what I had been used to around 1960.  I
> recall being the contest director in a contest held Summer of 1959.
> It was about average for that time and place, (LARKS Club, Los Angeles
> Radio Kontrol Society) and had 144 contestants.  And, it was held at a
> place called Turlock, in central California. Look it up on a map; it's
> pretty obscure.
> We used to have more folks show up for club contests than now show up
> for open contests.  And, at that time, the closest thing to an ARF was
> a kit that had die-cut parts that you didn't have to cut out with a
> razor blade or X-Acto knife.  You actually had
> to.......gasp........build it.  And, still they came.
> As far as pattern not dying out, well, maybe.  But, I can remember
> when U-Control Speed was very big in my (then) area.
> Now..........U-Control What?
> Folks on this list will come up with a lot of reasons for the above.
> They each will, in all probability, be correct to some degree.
> The fact that the trend has yet to be reversed is not an excuse for
> accepting the status quo.
> The opinions above are mine alone.  The numbers and incidents quoted
> are facts, not imagination.
>
> Bill Glaze
>
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