Sequence Poll Results

[Bob Pastorello]

Thanks, Mark and Verne.  Two sides of the core issue.  Since I raised the initial question, and Ed/Tony put out the poll....I thought perhaps I'd summarize my rationale.
    Masters is THE top class in AMA Pattern.  That is what our National Competition is about.  In my thinking, it SHOULD stand as separate, and unique/different in it's skill requirements than FAI.
    Mark, you wrote that FAI is "the" Top Class.  No, it is the class chosen for the World Championship aerobatic competitions.  Because of that, every country that wants to participate in the WC must have flyers who prepare using the same standards, same sequences, as the other countries.  I think the US provides that, and even CD's include FAI-F3A events in the typical pattern contest.

Is there ANYONE out here who honestly believes that the FAI class is not a "professional" class of competition??  Please....look at where the money is spent, the sponsorships "pay", etc.  I am perfectly comfortable being thought of as "Amateur" if I fly AMA pattern....doesn't ruffle my feathers at all.
    At the "Professional" level of sports, there are rules that the Amateurs don't have.  Football is a good example.

I happen to believe that our Masters' class, as the top of the AMA heap, must represent the best we have in US competition.  IF folks want to compete at the International WORLD level, professional competitions, then I'd bet they will come FROM our Masters class.  And to me, that means that they learn the "new" Professional Sequences/rules that are needed when they make that choice.

It's not our job in the AMA Pattern classes to make a person competent at FAI.  It is our responsibility to provide interesting challenge, growth, and INVOLVEMENT opportunities for the majority of the 2% of all modelers who choose pattern in the first place.  Let's build maneuvers in sequences that provide the skill base...then let those who are "advanced" enough, learn the rest.  There's plenty of mentors out there for them to feed each other....

Before ya'll go crazy and start typing like mad.....
    I am *NOT* saying that we exclude FAI, or discontinue or support of the World team, or any of that stuff.  That's good for the global community.
    I am saying that we should look a little closer at why we have the game in the US, and design everything we do around THAT purpose.  Whatever it is deemed to be.

Bob Pastorello
NSRCA 199  AMA 46373
rcaerobob at cox.net
www.rcaerobats.net


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Atwood, Mark 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2005 10:47 AM
  Subject: RE: Sequence Poll Results


  Verne,
   
  Just to be clear...I would not be advocating that particular detail.  My point is the more overriding philosophy that the lower levels exist to prepare for the next level.  And in my mind, FAI is clearly one of those levels...happens to be the top.  To argue that Masters is the top...and that FAI is a different "track" makes no sense to me.  If we were to truly do that...then we'll end up creating lower "FAI" classes...that would compete with the AMA classes.  
   
  Do we currently crown the Masters champ at the Nats as our National Champion??  Are they considered the best flyer at the event? 
   
  Ok...done preaching...lol...sorry.  It just doesn't make sense to me.  
   
  I do agree with you that I like having control of those sequences...and that's an advantage in my mind.  The OLD FAI pattern may not be the best way to train for the next FAI pattern...   The masters pattern of today should be preparing flyers for the P-07 or P-09 of tomorrow...

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