[NSRCA-discussion] Pattern is for elitist snobs?

Sat Aug 25 09:30:09 AKDT 2007

Ron

You learned the hard way something that many of us overlook - a contest is for competition, not for learning how to fly a sequence properly. Don't let the experience discourage you!

The practice field is where you get comfortable enough with your sequence to enjoy "showing it off" in competition. Then, while you comfortably present your pattern, the judges will quietly apply downgrades and it's back to the practice field to apply fixes. It's a never ending cycle! Certainly we all learn something at each contest (you always see errors that aren't recognizable in practice) - I'm not saying competition isn't a learning experience, just that competition can be overwhelming to the uninitiated and unprepared. 

I started as "self schooled" also. My interest in aerobatics probably came from CL Stunt flying I did in the '50's, sometime in the late '60's I saw someone do a roll with an RC model during a demo at a racetrack and I was hooked. I built a Kaos and tried to learn a maneuver a week with only magazine articles and the RCM Flight Training Guide for info - also got pretty good at patching a broken airplane. I eventually drove a couple of hours to a major contest and watched for 3 days - hmmm, that didn't look too tough. Back to the practice field with a new Mach 1 for about 6 months, then off to the first contest. A bit easier than now - no turnaround maneuvers - but Class A had multiple loops and rolls. I thoroughly enjoyed that contest - but most of that came from being prepared.

No one can just pull pattern performance out of a hat - it takes preparation, study, practice. Whenever you have free time - think through the pattern in your mind. After a while you'll be surprised how you can visualize every control input and even analyze the mistakes made the last time you flew. Practice in the worst weather - that's the norm for a contest. And yes - do work with Steve to get feedback on your progress. Maybe attend contests just to observe, you'll be amazed at how much you can learn by attentively watching the more experienced flyers without the pressure of flying. If you haven't already, take a judge certification course - or if not available, get the manual from NSRCA and study it, lots of diagrams on how maneuvers are supposed to look.

So -- pattern isn't easy, that's why there's enormous satisfaction derived from continuous improvement. That incremental improvement and the satisfaction is what keeps most of us hooked!

Earl

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: ron at inweldcorp.com 
  To: 'NSRCA Mailing List' 
  Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 11:56 AM
  Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Pattern is for elitist snobs?

  I am new to pattern this year.  I got into it because I liked the smooth precision flying I saw at the District 4-5 Shootout.  I had never seen pattern before.  I went to my first contest in Quincy, Ohio a couple of weeks ago and I have to say I really didn't enjoy it.  It was the pressure.  I tried to tell myself I was just going out to practice at my home field but my mind knew better and made me nervous anyway.  I think as I become comfortable with the Sportsman routine I will enjoy trying to make it precise instead of just surviving it.  Maybe then, I will try another contest.

  I used several different callers at the contest.  I learned the most when I had a caller from a higher class.  My problem was when the caller said start working your way back in, I wanted to say, How do you do that.  But there is no time to learn while you are flying at a contest.  I know everyone is very busy at a contest either judging or flying.  However, If I could have had one caller from a higher class that would act as my mentor and review each flight with me, I could have learned a lot more.

  To keep me in pattern, I need a mentor at my home field and that just isn't available.  Trying to figure out what you are doing wrong on your own is a very slow way to learn.  I am sure I practice many mistakes over and over.  I have driven 1:45 away twice to get advice from Steve Maxwell.  He has been very helpful!  I just wish he was a little closer.

  Maybe if I get more comfortable with the Sportsman pattern, I will try another contest next year.

  Ron

  -----Original Message-----
  From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ed Alt
  Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 9:53 AM
  To: 'NSRCA Mailing List'
  Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Pattern is for elitist snobs?

  Del, various efforts have been a huge success in D1, in terms of new membership each year, new and total number of contests each year and with one exception that you might like to pick on again, very good contest attendance.  We've even got all-IMAC guys running a new pattern contest in PA.  Go figure. You're entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.

  Do you still have an airplane?  If not, someone will probably lend you one.  Heck, I will. I'll call maneuvers for you too. There's a pattern primer in Staten Island tomorrow.  There's another contest in New Hampshire 9/2.  There's another contest in Jackson, NJ two weeks after that. Come on out or give it a rest please.  I don't even know what you look like and I've been to almost every pattern contest in the district since I started flying pattern in 2004. If you're that unhappy with things, pick another hobby!

  Ed

  -----Original Message-----
  From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Del K. Rykert
  Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 9:36 AM
  To: NSRCA Mailing List
  Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Pattern is for elitist snobs?

  I sure can't disagree with any of your post John. All of these things have been being done for years by some in our part of the country with varying degrees of success. I used to be able to attend 5 to 7 contest a year in my area. That has now been reduced for varying reasons to 2 possibly 3. Why?  The answers are varied in each case but the changes aren't to the good of promotion of the sport. 

  Also Unfortunately it doesn't address the casual flyer issue. Maybe the majority don't care that their mind set and past decisions have driven many from the sport. I appears that is the case, as repeated action has proven and no need to further address the causal flyers plight. 

      Del

    ----- Original Message ----- 

    From: John Pavlick 

    To: NSRCA Discussion 

    Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 12:29 AM

    Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Pattern is for elitist snobs?

    Since we're trying to figure out what we need to change so that more people will fly Pattern, I'd like to share some ideas with everyone.

    As far as I'm concerned, there is really nothing "wrong" with what we're doing. I don't think rule changes or easier schedules or anything like that will lure more people into flying Pattern. If you just admit that not everyone needs (or wants) to become a Pattern pilot, you'll be fine. The object is to find the people with good flying skills and a competitive spirit and expose them to Pattern. Here are some things that I've done that ACTUALLY WORK:

    1. Go to the club field with a sport plane or a warbird (leave your Pattern planes home!) and have fun flying with the clubbies. Chances are you'll make some new friends. You can try to get them hooked on pattern later...

    2. When you see someone struggling with a motor or having an obvious trim issue, offer to help. But not in the usual "Let me show you how it's done" manner. That creates resentment. Instead, say something like: "Wow, that's the same thing that happened to me! Wanna see how I fixed it?" Suddenly you're both on the same level. That's a better position to be in.

    3. Go to non-Pattern type club events. A Fun Fly or even a Scale Fly-In is actually a good way to relax and have fun. That's what we're supposed to be doing with toy airplanes anyway. Usually you'll meet people who ask how you learned to fly so well. Of course you know how to answer that...

    4. Become a club flight instructor. This is very rewarding and you can see who has the potential to fly Pattern before they get distracted by other interests.

    5. Help out with a club event. Don't even fly. If you have to cook burgers, then do it. In return, ask them to help YOU hold a Pattern Primer.

    OK, there are 5 things that almost anyone can do. I know, because I've done them all. Yeah it's kinda like "work" but it's not that bad. So far in the 3 years that I've been flying Pattern, I've gotten 3 more people to join us (all NSRCA members now). If I can do it, anyone can. The longest journey begins with the first step...

    John Pavlick
    http://www.idseng.com

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