growing pattern

Thu Mar 3 13:00:01 AKST 2005

Hi Bob,
Too long since I saw you last. You make a good point. The thing is that it's easy to say that
the present lack of growth in Pattern is because of the things we do with rules today, compared to the past.
I would insist that we are doing a bunch of things right, and hopefully that sets the stage for growth:
how would you like to try to grow an event that covers lots of ground with loud airplanes? 
It would strangle itself.

But the things you pointed out aren't being done at all, and they are critical.
That's worse than doing them poorly.

Do we try to do this through magazine exposure (another uphill battle) or do we take it to the streets
by offering to go to any club meeting within 2 hours drive and show people an entry-level Pattern ship,
and maybe talk about aerobatic trimming, or quiet technology, or even the joy of focused practice.

The web can be used as you describe, and we'd be smart to do so. I wonder if RCU and similar sites offer a break to non-commercial outfits like NSRCA?

We have to get ready to rumble!

Dean Pappas
Sr. Design Engineer
Kodeos Communications
111 Corporate Blvd.
South Plainfield, N.J. 07080
(908) 222-7817 phone
(908) 222-2392 fax
d.pappas at kodeos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
[mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Robert Mairs
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 1:20 PM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: Making Pattern Harder - was Pattern Box Rules (discussion)

I've been monitoring the list for a couple years now, haven't said a whole 
lot, but a common theme I seem to see a lot, is talking about the past.  If 
you want pattern to grow, there's only one way your gonna do it and that's 
to start promoting it.  You don't see anything about it anywhere.  Hardly 
any plane reviews in major magazines, no ads in magazines, about the only 
thing going is an occasional column in ama.  If your not specifically 
looking for it, pattern is pretty much invisible in my opinion.  A banner ad 
on rcu, rcgroups drawing people to the website could be a possibility.  If 
you don't start attempting to draw in new people, diminished size is 
inevitable.  Just look at the turnover in your local clubs.  Sequences, wt 
limits, turnaround, box sizes, etc, etc, isn't gonna get pattern anywhere.

Make it easy for somebody new, expand the beginners section on the website. 
Guys are building lower priced arfs, have them write up some reviews, show 
them they don't have to have a $3500 2m, custom painted, tricked out bird. 
Update and expand district sites makeing it easy to find a contest to come 
out to and watch with directions, starting times, saying visitors welcome. 
The only thing I think will turn around pattern is promotion outside of its 
primary membership, which doesn't really seem to take place.
rm

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Atwood, Mark" <atwoodm at paragon-inc.com>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 10:32 AM
Subject: Making Pattern Harder - was Pattern Box Rules (discussion)

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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