[NSRCA-discussion] ** Klipped to repost ** Equipment cost andpartiicpation --

[Grow Pattern]

I remember when turnaround came about!  I think that turnaround in its own 
right is not the issue. Why it came about was valid but is right at the root 
of many of our problems.

The FAI world needed a more challenging set of maneuvers. This is not a new 
thing and it is not uncommon to see a new maneuver cause design changes. In 
this case the whole schedule changed our design thinking. It then added a 
degree or two more of difficulty. You no longer could do your center 
maneuver and then re-group. You were in the judges eye the whole time. (I 
don't think that the judging guidelines or the schedule designs ever 
completely caught up either. For example a top-hat turnaround and all of its 
positioning issues!)

Turnaround  created a type of competition flying where a judge had more 
opportunity to find errors and thus separate the "men from the boys". 
Turnaround can therefore be said to have succeeded for the top-end group of 
flyers. It was clear that they would not be discouraged by increased 
difficulty. It also grew and created better, but perhaps fewer,  pilots in 
all of the classes.

What it did to the rest of us is what we are living with today. I believe 
that it reduced our ranks. Apart from the high performance equipment and the 
associated costs, you now need the whole sky to practice. You do not have 
option to bale out on the approach to a center maneuver if,  for example, a 
sport-plane is on your radar. This drove us out of local fields and we went 
"stealth!". Pattern is almost as invisible as pylon racing to a local club!

Just for fun, instead of theorizing a reply, just take a friend at your 
field, who is a good sport flyer, and ask him to do a three or four of our 
maneuvers with turnarounds. I doubt if you could inspire him to take up 
pattern.  Then take a pilot and just have him do center maneuvers, one at a 
time, with a "free" turnaround to set-up.  You will see a big  difference in 
the enthusiasm to try that center maneuver.

I believe that the skill needed to fly a center maneuver is in most sport 
flyers today, just as it was in the 80's. That did not change. But ask that 
same skill to additionally perform scored turnarounds with no mental break 
and you will see what I mean. I know that these are generalizations but in 
my person sample of hundreds of club pilots in 20 years of my time in 
pattern, I have seen it to be the norm.

Last but not least you can do most of the Masters and FAI center maneuvers 
with any reasonably powered sport aerobatic plane.  It was popular to let 
pilots chose a string of center maneuvers. Why did we take that away from 
our pilots?  I hear "building-block-schedule design" all of the time. Who 
said that making all of our 401-406 schedules into turnaround would make 
good building-blocks.

You could have a system where only 406 (FAI) and 404 (Masters) flew 
turnaround and have an increase in participation.

Should have stirred this pot on Monday but was building  :-)

Regards,

Eric.




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Del K. Rykert" <drykert2 at rochester.rr.com>
To: <geobet at gis.net>; "NSRCA Mailing List" 
<nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 7:33 AM
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] ** Klipped to repost ** Equipment cost 
andpartiicpation --


>I agree with many of the post I have been reading and very much so with
> George's and Terry's post.  When I look back at the earlier days of 
> pattern
> (70's) when all maneuvers were done center stage a person with fair flying
> talent could compete and have fun and good time. Some even came out and
> compete for the local pattern event only practicing a little during the 
> week
> prior to the pattern contest. The competition bar has been raised way 
> beyond
> that stage now and why we had a few leave when we went to turnaround. We
> have been in steady decline for the most part since the beginning of
> turnaround. Not looking only at NSRCA numbers but attendance of local 
> meets
> from those days. Due to the cost and poor attendance at some contests 
> clubs
> have to do a serious look at justification of holding events if low 
> turnout
> is result. Cost to compete have risen and some have to pick and choose 
> which
> event we will attend.  Not always monetary choice but time choice. I know
> there was a time when I would travel 4 hours to a local contest to have 
> fun
> and be somewhat competitive but now with the value of the airplane and 
> cost
> of getting to the events rising for me I have to look at justification if 
> I
> haven't practiced and don't know how the equipment is performing I now
> choose to stay home work on equipment issues. The sport has become more
> complex. One now needs a professional caller at their beck and call..  Not
> just some warm body from the flight line. This is for local events folks..
> Not the Worlds or Nat's. All of these changes do have a price that goes 
> with
> them. It has improved the caliber and quality of flying and only those 
> very
> strongly interested now participate. Many have used great and unique ideas
> to help recruit new blood. Each idea will not work for all people or 
> areas.
> Unfortunately the old days of just letting new blood approach us are 
> mostly
> gone. These issues sure have not helped encourage attendance and pattern
> participation IMHO.
>
>                 Del
>          nsrca - 473
>
>