[NSRCA-discussion] Equipment cost andpartiicpation --

[David Flynt]

Eric,

Fair enough.  I'll be as specific as I can, but I may not be able to truly
describe why I chose pattern, because I may not know myself why I was drawn
to it.

I saw pattern, as I described probably in the early 80's.  I cannot remember
for sure.  It was within a year of the LA-2 being introduced by Geoff Combs.
Those details do not really matter, but I mention it because the topic came
up about turnaround.   At that time turnaround was established.  Early on, I
also saw a lot of other RC areas such as helicopters, scale, and pylon
racing.  I was exposed to some very fancy heli piloting by Dennis Galloway.
Dennis also displayed his skills in flying pattern with fixed wing, but his
true interest at the time was helicopters, and he was good.  He used to fly
slow rolls and point rolls on the deck with that old Goldberg Ultimate.  I
mean two feet off the ground, stretching maybe 1000 yards in length, as slow
a roll rate as you can imagine.  Dennis could fly.  After seeing him, I
desired to increase my flying skills.  I knew I needed to take up pattern to
increase my flying skills.  Why I chose pattern, and not helis or scale or
racing, I really will never know.

Some people like pattern, most don't.  You cannot force it upon them.  But
you can show off your skills, and I am sure you already know that people
will approach you and ask how long have you been flying, and how did you
learn to do that, etc.  They are interested because of you and your skills.
Maybe not interested enough, but it has to be true that people appreciate
and are interested in precision flying.

I went to the last TOC in 2002.  Of big interest to me was the freestyle.
When watching the freestyle, I was particularly disappointed in fast and
wild aerobatics, and particularly pleased to see very precisely executed
freestyle.  Flying precise, whether you are low or high, is far more
interesting to me than wild, chaotic daredevel flying.

Exposure is the key I think.  I may be overusing the music analogy, but what
makes musicians choose a certain instrument such as the guitar, drums,
violin, piano, clarinet, harp?  Or something hideous like the accordian?
(nothing personal to those accordian fanatics)  It makes no sense
whatsoever, and I don't think you will ever discover the answer.  Why would
anybody be interested the olympic sport of curling?!!  This question of why
things are popular and what makes people choose one over the other is
probably irrevelant.  If you want to grow pattern, show up at the field,
help others, answer questions, and show up at contests.  The rest will just
take care of itself naturally.

David

-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Grow
Pattern
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 2:23 PM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Equipment cost andpartiicpation --


There's thread in this last post I would like to expand upon.  The question
was "Think back long ago to the moment you became interested in pattern.
What caused your interest?"

Take it a step further and ask "What would it take today to get a guy
interested in pattern?" The emphasis being on today.

As was well stated earlier the world has changed and there are a lot more
alternatives for our leisure time and money. Answer the "today" question and
we can grow pattern!

Regards,

Eric.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Thomas D. Simes" <simestd at netexpress.com>
To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 4:08 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Equipment cost andpartiicpation --


> On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 12:18:44 -0800
> "David Flynt" <dflynt at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> So what can be done to grow pattern?  I think each of us in the
>> pattern community has the answer.  Think back long ago, the moment you
>> became interested in pattern. ?.  There lies
>> the answer to growth.
>
> For me it was the first time I flew a pattern type airplane.  I had
> progressed as a pilot through trainers to low wings and then by chance I
> built a Kaos.  I chose it because I thought it looked nice and fit the
> only engine (OS .45FSR) I had.  Once I flew it the first time, I was
> hooked!  I liked that plane so much I built three of them over the
> years, the last two as tail draggers with retracts.  Pattern planes fly
> so well that even novice pilots can appreciate the way they groove and
> respond to control inputs.
>
> Tom
>
> ======================================================================
>   "Z-80 system stack overflow.  Shut 'er down Scotty, the system's
>         sucking mud" - Error message on TRS 80 Model-16B
>
> Thomas D. Simes                                 simestd at netexpress.com
> ======================================================================
> _______________________________________________
> NSRCA-discussion mailing list
> NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>

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