Does Pattern competition cost too much?

[Ed Alt]

Good question.  Interesting to note that the IMAC Nats had 73 flyers show up, whereas the Pattern Nats was over 100 that actually flew.  I think it's maybe a combination of the cost, total time to invest as well as WHEN.    I think in the case of IMAC, when they moved it to compete with the 4th of July, they lost alot of would-be participants.  At one time, they were boasting of around 120 registered pilots.  Then maybe reality set in and only 73 could justify the trip that would take them away from their families for the 4th.  The highest cost may really be the price you pay for being away.

Ed
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: J.Oddino 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 5:40 PM
  Subject: Does Pattern competition cost too much?


  From time to time I hear folks suggesting the reason the number of contestants is down is due to the high cost of pattern planes and support equipment.  Well I don't believe that is the reason.  This weekend I went to a relatively local IMAC contest in Camarillo California and there were somthing like 61 preregistered and 56 actually flying.  I'd guess 80% of the planes were 40% scale, meaning they had $1500 engines and $3000 airframes and $1500 worth of servos.  Then you've got the motor homes and trucks and trailers to transport them.  I still say the highest cost of flying is the driving to and from the field and that is probably why the park flyers are so popular.  
  So what is the reason for the drop in attendance and the drop in the number of pattern contests?  Or is that only in Southern California?

  Jim O
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