[NSRCA-discussion] The real rason Pattern flyers are seen asElitists...

Mon Jan 8 13:18:56 AKST 2007

Whoa there hoss =)

Ok, quick and fast history lesson. This is one you probably should read.

Where you are now: been there, done that, got the freakin nasty T shirt....and I DO mean with this list, AS a sportsman, not all that long ago. My opinion is that you might be making a mistake: you're taking it all personally, especially with those that are in disagreement. 

A lot of people here know that I'm the most vocal guy against the "because I'm in masters and I say so" answer. I hate that, but in this case, I don't see it. I do see a lot of people disagreeing with your conclusions, listing why, and a lot of them happen to be masters pilots (me included, but I was advanced a few months ago).

What I see is that when people propose a drastic rule change, we have the very strong opinion that it will do more damage than good. You're talking about instantly making hunderds of planes and thousands of dollars worth of existing equipment obsolete. As in, illegal. To my thinking this just doesn't work out. I am utterly convinced that it will drive many more away than it attracts.

I understand where you're coming from, I simply disagree. I just climbed through the ranks myself, with the same rule system we currently have and only one sportsman pattern ago. I've flown against guys with $300 rigs and guys with $6000 rigs and everything in between. And I'm telling you, it's not the plane in the lower classes. It helps, but it's not THE answer. It's about 10-15% of the equation, the proper amount of practice and good coaching is the rest. 

I can't change the perception of pattern flyers. But I have to agree with quite a few people on this one; it's just not around here in great numbers (the elitist attitude). If you see it different, that's your opinion, but you can't draw those kind of conclusions from an email list. That is a massive mistake.

I am dead serious, I really think the most damaging thing to our "image" and whatnot is the negativity about stuff like this, NOT the rules. The airframe rules are stable, and have been for many years. It's your choice to do whatever you like within those really vague requirements: max 2 meters, max 5kg, max noise, display your ama # on the plane (on the right hand wing or fuse/tail), and pretty much anything goes. That equates to a lot of freedom, and I like it. In every class.

I like the idea that if a guy decides to compete, he can buy/build a good plane from day one (if he so chooses) and if he keeps it well intact, can take that plane from his first contest right through the top levels. Not having to build/buy a new plane when he advances. The way it is now, it's your OPTION to do it that way, or fly exactly what you're flying....you just have to realize one thing: at the very heart of everything we discuss, this IS competition! So what you choose as your competetive plane and power plant is YOUR choice. if you want to fly it against a guy with a DZ160 in a Brio, have at it....and if you do things correctly, you CAN beat him! You just have to realize that you are going to have to work for it harder. 

And in my opinion, that's 100% FAIR. Yes, even in sportsman. 

The price and resale on a pattern plane is extremely low. Even a very modern plane with only one season on it is a VERY affordable option if you shop around. 

As for the sportsman sequence specifically, yep you need some vertical. But you also have the option to get a running start, make a nice radius, nail the upline on the pole, draw your radius over the top and you're done. That does not require a 9 lb plane and a DZ 160. it doesn't have to be a slow entry, throttled up on the way and a zillion feet tall. It's just an upline......like every other upline in pattern. If it had a 4 point roll in it, maybe I'd agree =)

I know there are a few elitist people in pattern, I don't get along with them very well either (in general). But in this case, I think you have them misidentified. Even if you think I'm one of them. =)

And with that being said, I hope you can ease up a little and realize that we're not picking on you, in any way, but we disagree.

-Mike
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Fred Huber 
  To: NSRCA Mailing List 
  Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 4:29 PM
  Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] The real rason Pattern flyers are seen asElitists...

  When someone who actually does start trying to fly Sportsman tries to give input on how to attract more people to Sportsman... the Elitist snobs who are flying Maters would rather nitpick on technicalities than listen to the real issue the relative beginner to the sport is trying to address.

  You ARE Elitists... 

  "Your plane must not be good enough... get a better one" IS NOT the correct response to a beginner to Sportsman saying the new sequence requires more performance than the old sequence.

  You want to attract people... you are certainly doing the EXACT wrong thing.  And when its pointed out... you attack the messenger for telling you about it.

  I'm about ready to scrape the NSRCA logos off my model... 

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