Making Pattern Harder - was Pattern Box Rules (discussion)

[Atwood, Mark]

I'd like to comment on this point specifically...contest attendance.

Pattern has always been "hard".  Hard to do well anyway.  I don't think
"hard" per say drives people away.  In fact, as Arch stated, I think
it's the challenge...and the idea of challenging someone else to show
off our skills is what attracts most long term pattern flyers.

However...

Turnaround changed the level of commitment necessary to be "Competent"
In the late 80's even early 90's, we held a pattern contest in
Cleveland.  At that time the average attendance at a contest in D4 was
around 40 people.  And consistently, 10-15 of those were NOT pattern
faithful.  But rather a combination of good club pilots, FORMER pattern
faithful (past their prime, changed to racing, scale...whatever), and
beginners looking to try in on.

These "locals" for lack of a better term, would come out to the field
with a dusted off Curare, or King Cobra and put up a few practice
flights.  Work the kinks out of their slow roll...try and find their
timing on stall turns and point rolls...  and then show up the day of
the contest, sign up for Sportsman (now intermediate) or maybe
advanced...and ask someone during the flight..."What's Next??".

For some that were previously accomplished pilots...they could come out,
and have a "respectable" showing with just a little practice.  Would
they beat the "touring" pattern guys...No.  Could they win a round if
the other guy slipped up?? Yup!  It was fun...and didn't require a ton
of commitment.

Then came turnaround.

You could no longer fly the routine without having it memorized...at
least in advanced or above.  The sequence...not the maneuvers...but the
sequence was challenging.   The same guys that had come out the year
before and had fun...thrilled to score here and there...and happy to ace
a few maneuvers...were now putting up a cadre of zero's for getting out
of sequence of missing a maneuver.  It wasn't fun for them.  They
stopped coming.  There families stopped coming too.  And
suddenly....Pattern event changed from a club sponsored, club attended
FUN event...to a pattern elite, shut down the field for 2 days so 20
guys can fly.

We lost our judges (club guys), our scribes (their families), our
concession workers (said families again) and all the other workers.

The added burden to the contestant (judging, scribing, making their own
burger..lol) cost us another few pilots who also decided it wasn't fun
anymore.

I LOVE turnaround...  But I think it cost us a lot...

-Mark




-----Original Message-----
From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]
On Behalf Of Del K. Rykert
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 10:13 AM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: Pattern Box Rules (discussion)

I know that making it more difficult does and has hurt contest
attendance. 
Was that the intent? of course not but many  changes aren't being
considered 
for the negative they will create as well as the positive the are
shooting 
for.

        Del
  nsrca - 473

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