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

[Jerry Budd]

Hi all,

Just a comment (and I'm NOT trying to be critical), but is the 
Intermediate pilot who is already interested enough to be going to 
the Nats the market you are trying to encourage to try pattern?

[Re-read the above carefully and I think you'll see my point]

IMHO, this is a National problem that has to be solved at the local 
level.  Mike's generous offer of a BM is more along the lines of what 
needs to be done.

At a local contest a while back we gave away a partially pre-built 
(wood) pattern kit (door prize style) to one of the Sportsman pilots, 
in the hope that it'd encourage entry level participation.  It didn't.

My experience suggests that this is an exposure problem.  Those who 
are exposed to pattern and who are interested in it try it.  Those 
who aren't, aren't - due to either a lack of exposure, or a lack of 
interest.  We can solve the first problem, we shouldn't waste time on 
the second.

Thx, Jerry


>This is a fine direction and Mike should be greatly commended for the offer.
>
>I would like to go on record and recommend that we do something 
>similar for the Nationals. I can't ask Mike to offer a second model 
>for the Nats Sportsman winner as well, that would be killer.
>
>So let me suggest that we all, the Nats attendees, pitch in an extra 
>$10 each into a pot such that something similar could be done with 
>ready finished airframes available. I am NOT talking Pinnascle here. 
>There are several other excellent alernatives that don't cost 
>anywhere near the amount. If you want to participate and want to 
>offer more, great. If not, that's fine too.
>
>Or perhaps we could ask one of the manufacturers to see us halfway 
>on one of their planes.
>
>Will this result in more participation?? Who knows. But it is doing 
>something, just as Mike has done, rather than just TaLk about 
>Pattern's demise, how Pattern is dyeing yada, yada, yada.
>
>Anyone with me on that one?
>
>Matt
>
>
>
>In a message dated 2/26/2006 10:48:28 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
>kerlock at comcast.net writes:
>
>Well, we're working on it =)
>
>Don't get me wrong, I'm as bad as anybody, the thought of owning an 
>Oxai with a hacker set up really appeals to me. But I'm also 
>practical enough to realize that it's not necessary, and really not 
>within my price range. Therefore, I do something different.
>
>And I think a few of us have come up with some really viable 
>alternatives. It takes a lot of work on our part, a lot more than 
>the casual flyer may realize. To take a blank sheet of paper and 
>turn that into a good flying, attractive but most of all COMPETETIVE 
>F3A plane is a real labor of love. And we constatnly tweak and 
>refine, and the results speak for themselves I think., after some 
>stumbling, learning and perserverance.
>
>From where I sit, I see a bright future for pattern, with more 
>options than ever. Wood, composite, glow, gas, electric, ARF, or 
>built from scratch in the basement, and ALL of them able to win the 
>top prize in the hands of a well practiced pilot.
>
>Well, here it is, almost the beginning of March. What are we doing 
>to bring new guys into our ranks? I'm trying a totally new approach 
>(at least in my time). The winner of the D3 sportsman championship 
>gets a built Black Magic with quite a few extras. I can do it for a 
>relatively small amount of money, but a good bit of work. but if it 
>attracts even a couple of dedicated new pilots, it's worth it to me. 
>I can't find any reason not to do it, so I cleared it with the 
>pattern powers and now there it is...a HUGE prize to fly for in 
>sportsman.
>
>This could be "the" year, for all of us. Make something happen. Make 
>it to all the contests you can. Go to the Nats if at all possible. 
>Send a clear message that we're not dying. Take the initiative and 
>train at least one new guy and take him to a contest. And most of 
>all, make sure he has fun. Don't just get him there and then leave 
>him to fend for himself. if you're going to be really busy, make 
>sure you introduce him to the "cool" people that will take him (or 
>her) under thier wing and see that he doesn't find it to be a bad 
>experience.
>
>It starts now. Spread the word, adjust the perceptions, and let's 
>make 2006 THE year. This is a great game we play, fun, challenging, 
>rewarding, competetive, and we need to foster the good parts and 
>bury the bad as deep as we can.
>
>Ok that was the soapboxiest soapbox I've ever stood on, but I'm done =P
>
>-Mike
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:seefo at san.rr.com>Doug Cronkhite
>To: <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>'NSRCA Mailing List'
>Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 1:25 AM
>Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Was Mini Brio, Now Pattern Longitevity
>
>Truthfully.. competition will never be for the masses..
>
>
>
>One thing that would certainly help pattern is for people to believe 
>they can be competitive without having to spend $5000 on an 
>airplane. They most certainly can do it.. but the PERCEPTION needs 
>to be there for it to take hold.
>
>
>
>-Doug
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
___________
Jerry Budd
Budd Engineering
(661) 722-5669 Voice/Fax
(661) 435-0358 Cell Phone
mailto:jerry at buddengineering.com
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