Does Pattern competition cost too much?

[vicenterc at comcast.net]

300 miles around Kansas City we have 8 pattern contests.  IMAC used to have one in Kansas City but has been canceled this year.

Vicente

-------------- Original message -------------- 

Does anyone know how many IMAC contests there are relative to the same geo-area where pattern contests are run?

Eric.
----- 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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