Does Pattern competition cost too much?

[Earl Haury]

I agree with Jim. We have IMAA fly-ins locally where nearly all participants have more invested than pattern requires and the attendance number is huge, motor homes galore! The issue with pattern (unless you're very talented) is the amount of (time consuming) practice. Almost any other venue permits recognition, status, etc. without the continuous, arduous, practice (work, work, and more work) required by most to be successful in pattern competition. Also ,the majority of folks despise competition, making pattern types weird (in a wonderful sort of way).

Earl 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: J.Oddino 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 4:40 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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