Sequence Poll Results

[Wayne Galligan]

Should be a well rounded class of advanced fliers here this year. We love the competition here in Texas...... so when yah comin down Jason?

Wayne G.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jason 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 9:25 PM
  Subject: RE: Sequence Poll Results


  I did make the jump...but I got my tail handed to me for a few years before settling down and moving up....Maybe after this year I'll fly Advanced again after the Nats and get my Nats trophy from Advanced I just missed; providing some of these Advanced pilots don't beat me up first (flying).

  Jason
    -----Original Message-----
    From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Rcmaster199 at aol.com
    Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 8:11 PM
    To: discussion at nsrca.org
    Subject: Fwd: Sequence Poll Results


    In a message dated 1/3/2005 10:10:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, Rcmaster199 writes:
      It seems to me that Earl is right. It's a moot point

      In the US (and many other countries) we are lucky to have pattern competition in ever increasing levels of difficulty. When a competitor has reached some level of profficiency and feels compelled to compete for the World stage, he or she only needs to do it. We have no other requiremnts imposed. The question in my mind is, are prep levels really necessary? If one is driven enough and focused enough, No!

      There are countries out there that do not have such progression in skill requirements. Often it's only a handful of pilots available and it's either F3A or nothing. Well, just fun flying I suppose. Point is they don't need anything special to compete in F3A--just desire. They  do it to the best of their ability. And they have a bunch of fun doing it.

      It occasionally is that way here also and I would bet that those that want to compete at the F3A level will, regardless of earlier prep. It helps, obviously. But what really helps is the exposure to competition. And in that regard, AMA classes 401-404 serve the function of prep for F3A just fine. But each class stands on its own. 

      Those that want to go to F3A after any of these classes, are free to do so. If memory serves, Jason Shulman moved to F3A comp after kicking everybody's butt in ADVANCED. No Expert, Expert TA or Masters.

      Is F3A the TOP class, or "Destination" class or whatever you want to call it? Does it really matter?

      MattK
        Earl Haury wrote: 

             I think this "top class" issue is of little value and, at best, semantics. One could argue that, as AMA pattern class 404 is Masters and AMA pattern 406 is F3A, F3A is at the top of AMA progression. Mark's point that we have as much influence in F3A as any other country is not only valid - many of the F3A "innovations" have come from USA reps to the FAI CIAM F3A Subcommittee. I also assure you that a sequence provided by "us" will not only receive as much consideration as any other, but be quite welcome. Our pattern community worldwide is small, why on earth would we want to be only a subset? BTW - does anyone have a feel for the total number of pattern competitors worldwide, I suspect that the US may be in the minority. Sure, we should and do have preparatory classes. These may become resident classes for folks prevented from moving forward by any number of  limiting factors, but that's a fact of life - not reason to tailor these classes to that end. One of the strongest attractions for model aviation is diversity. Likewise, excess diversity is a weakness of model aviation. We too quickly "invent" new disciplines to accommodate each and every interest with the effect of diluting our core groups. If one considers most sports, many folks participate at playground, high school, college, and pro levels with fewer at each level as the requirements take a toll. But the "top" level is clearly recognized and emulated, there may be concessions to detail, difficulty, equipment at the early levels - but the top level clearly is the goal. I find it sad that some consider that the NSRCA should ignore F3A, rather the NSRCA should drive the US interests in F3A. The NSRCA was founded by the top F3A competitors of the time and there was no expectation that it was exclusive of F3A, unfortunately they didn't recognize the need to spell that out in the charter. Pattern is our game, anything that interests folks in pattern competition is very good,  discussion of pattern details is good, F3A is the epitome of our game, but I find it hard to criticize anything related to the enjoyment of pattern. Earl ----- Original Message ----- 
            From: Bob Pastorello
            To: discussion at nsrca.org
            Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2005 11:00 AM
            Subject: Re: Sequence Poll Results
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