[NSRCA-discussion] Was Mini Brio, Now Pattern Longitevity

[Jay Marshall]

Ryan, there are people out there interested in pattern flying, if we just
connect. We recently had a pattern primer in SC and over 30 people showed -
on a bad flying day! And yes, K-Factor is an insider's mag and does nothing
to attract new people.

I agree with your comments on the availability of woodies, however, not
everyone has the talent and the time to build, or even want to build. This
is especially true of some of the younger flyers that we need to attract to
keep the sport going. "I bought a set from him a while back and haven't had
the chance to build one, but I really would like to" is a good example. Even
some of us who don't have full time jobs and families still don't have the
time (or patience) required. I don't suggest that we replace the 2M formula,
just supplement it with an easier entry fun format.

-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Smith
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2006 12:52 PM
To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Was Mini Brio, Now Pattern Longitevity

I honestly don't think that you have to spend out the butt to have a
competitive setup. The keeping up with the Joneses syndrome is the prevalent
factor that makes everyone think that pattern is so ungodly expensive. There
are plenty of options out there for people to create a cost-effective,
competitive two meter rig. But alas, people out there think they HAVE to
have the biggest best and fastest everything, when in reality, there is no
way in hell most newer fliers out there can discern between a slightly
inferior and cheaper product and a top of the line product (a big example
here would be digital servos as opposed to analog servos). There are
certainly MANY viable options out there for a cheap two meter setup that
will be competitive in the long run. The best example I can see of this is
Mark Hunt, down in the Houston area. His airplane, the Insight, is all wood
and foam, and can be built with maybe $150 worth of wood (I'm throwing a
generous estimate out there), not to mention the plans are like $25. He is
actually running an OS 1.60 on a standard muffler and is still making the
noise restrictions. Mark exemplifies what people just starting out in
pattern need to look into, not only because it's cheap, but the airplanes
are simple to maintain and I would venture to say bulletproof.  I bought a
set from him a while back and haven't had the chance to build one, but I
really would like to. I would like to do what he's doing and and outfit it
with analog servos and make it otherwise plain jane and see just how it
stacks up to the rest of the field out there. There are also several other
wood airplanes out there that are a little more extravagant, such as the
Black Magic v2 by Mike Hester and the Quest and Shindin by Bryan Herbert
that are being drawn in CAD and being kitted. Look at the airplanes that the
Japanese team members fly- they're all wood. And look at where they place.
Most if not all are always in the top ten, and young Tetsuo Onda even placed
second this year. That's a heck of a feat for anyone, mu

ch less an eighteen year old who is flying against people who have been
modeling twice as long as he's been living.

            Another point, the theory of everyone flying the same thing has
never worked, not in fullscale and not in models. The One Design class never
caught on in full scale, however there are many examples of that airplane
flying. In IMAC, there are worries about everyone using consistent
batteries, motors, servos, and such, and if you have to be dictated that
much on what you can and cannot fly, it takes the fun out. Also, in IMAC, it
is commonplace to see high end airplanes in Basic and Sportsman just because
people want to get that advantage that they really get through burning fuel.
I know everyone hates to hear that, but it is the truth. Once you start to
see improvements in your own flying after having flown a lot, then you see
what everyone preaches about when they say fly a bunch. I really don't think
that pattern dying is really directly related to cost, but if you want to
make it such let's break down Jay's idea. How cost effective is it to make
someone buy something that they can't use in upper classes and would have to
buy a new setup every year. Shouldn't we be showing people that they can go
and get a nice setup that they can actually use and enjoy? Not to mention
the fact that you can reuse the equipment should you decide (or your thumbs
decide) to get a new airframe. I think the cost factor is implemented by
people who don't really have the desire to succeed and have to use that as a
scapegoat to cover what they see as their failures. 

            I honestly think pattern needs an overhaul. It's not the cost
that really drives people away, it's the ideology surrounding it that does.
People see pattern as being boring and too easy, and generally not exciting.
However, with the advent 3D flight, and people becoming attracted to model
airplanes because of it, they really want to hone their skills. I have seen
a lot of subtle hints dropped by some past pattern flyers who write for
magazines telling people to look into pattern if they really want to become
better at 3D. I also think that we need more promotion. Model Aviation has
cut down the pattern column in the magazine to every other month, yet there
are other facets in there that get full coverage that really don't need it.
If we want pattern to survive, we really need to get publicized where it
counts- where we're going to be attracting people. Advertising in the K
Factor does nothing for the growth of pattern because we're all already
interested enough in it to subscribe. But there are people out there who
don't know and maybe would like to. I can't tell you how many times on RCU
I've seen someone post in the Pattern Forum "What is Pattern Flying?". Most
are usually creative in what they think it is, but nevertheless, the same
group sets them straight. I think we should get on the AMA to get us more
coverage and other magazines as well, such as Model Airplane News, 3D Flyer,
etc. I believe THAT is what will help us, not making people buy some little
electric that they won't be competitive with.

            Thanks for taking the time to read this guys, please feel free
to respond. 

 

Regards,

 

Ryan Smith

 


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