[NSRCA-discussion] IMAC Vs Pattern Participation? Does the Dog Hunt on points made?

[Lisa & Larry]

Eric Henderson wrote**** If we knew why we could probably fix it. ****

 

>From my viewpoint trying to get into pattern around 1999 was a major
challenge.

 

I was first introduced to Pattern in Southern California in 1985 when I went
to watch a contest. It took another 15 years to have the time and money to
do it. For me lack of time was because of my service in the US Navy.
Difficult to fly when your out at sea and they don't fit too well in a
locker on the ship.vbg

 

It took me from 1999 to 2002 to find somebody that new what pattern was.
Everyone new IMAC and could point me to a pilot that competed, but not
Pattern.

 

What does this mean? Either I'm not a very smart cookie or Pattern is a very
well kept secret (not much has changed since 1999). So how is it that a
person that new pattern existed took the better part of 4 years to finally
talk to someone that could help get started?

 

Over the last seven years we watched IMAC ARF's take off and sell like hot
cakes, only in the last couple years have we seen Pattern ARF's on the
market.

 

I went to an RC Airshow north of Bloomington, IN around the spring of 2002.
I watched a pilot fly an Extra for an IMAC Sportsman Class Demo. I
approached him and asked him about Pattern and how to get started. His
response was clear, "Why would you want to fly a toy model plane when you
can fly a model of a real plane and do the same thing!" Aside from an
instant turn off from IMAC, it set the tone of perception between IMAC and
Pattern. I will most likely start competing in IMAC this year as well as
pattern. Mostly because there are more IMAC contests in a 5 hour drive than
there are pattern from where I'm located.

 

If you compare IMAC and Pattern I don't think the dog hunts in most of the
arguments I've seen posted in the last few years as they reappear from time
to time. 

 

1)       IMAC and Pattern planes compare in cost. (That dog won't hunt on
this point)

2)       IMAC and Pattern take the same amount of practice time to be
competitive in a given class. (That dog won't hunt on this point)

3)       IMAC and Pattern meets are relatively the same driving distance for
most. (That dog won't hunt on this point)

4)       I can find more IMAC contests than Pattern contests (Dog might be
tracking something on this one)

5)       Sport pilots know more about IMAC than they do pattern, this is
speculative but I believe it's the case. (Dog might be tracking something on
this one)

 

We need to do a better job marketing Pattern. I think that IMAC has done
great in this area. The TOC helped IMAC grow and get the word out through
coverage of a big event. I think we can see a decline in IMAC since the last
TOC. I have not seen or heard of a big contest that gets the publicity that
the TOC received. Even the FAI World Pattern contest is not covered as well
as the TOC was.

 

How do you guys view these points?

 

Larry Diamond

NSRCA 3083

 

PS.What Eric does for Pattern in his reporting to magazines is probably one
of the key factors that helps pattern stay afloat. Thanks Eric..

 

  _____  

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 11:23 AM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] ** Klipped to repost **
Equipmentcostandpartiicpation --

 

Dave, 

            No personal criticism intended but, the problem with looking at
this from the position of a successful FAI pilot, especially if you were a
good pilot from a very young age, is that you can't really feel that "leap
of faith barrier" that a regular pilot feels, then or today. 

 

I have spent most of last year with regular-club-pilots. Not a few guys that
I practice pattern with. Did not have a pattern-plane with me. They were
sort flyers that were pretty good aerobats with their own planes. based upon
what I learned, I can tell you that turnaround is massively daunting to
them. Much more daunting, in fact , than trying out a  difficult 3-D high
alpha maneuver.

 

You can't ignore the fact that pattern pilots left our sport in droves
around and after 1985, and never came back. These guys were not the top
liners. They were, however, the mainstay of the sport. They showed up, paid
their fees (said another way paid for the trophies), they had a great time,
created a fun environment and cared more about taking part than actually
winning. They flew pretty simple planes that could still do most of center
maneuvers today.  

 

This is the group that is still missing in pattern. They were the ones that
attracted new members. They were reachable and certainly not intimidating.
It may well not be the schedules. IMAC, with more difficulty schedules
attracted a large new following because you could fly your CURRENT plane in
their classes. There are now plenty of pattern ARF's but the same thing is
not happening, at least not yet.

 

If we knew why we could probably fix it.

 

Regards,

 

Eric.

 

 

 

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