[NSRCA-discussion] Pattern Classes & Growth

[J N Hiller]

Dennis your dedication is admirable and describes rather well the problem I
see with the mandatory advancement system.
It is based on performance of others, or lack of, rather than individual
capability. In short flying against more capable competitors reduces
premature mandatory advancement.
Flying a sequence for 4 years can get old especially if improvement stalls.
I pay close attention to raw score averages, both individual maneuvers and
total flight, and use it as a guide to understanding problem areas and gauge
improvement. It is also a very good indicator of flight-to-flight
consistency and the ability to control the flight in adverse conditions.
Even more rewarding than winning the round, contest or district championship
was maintaining my average flight score in very windy conditions.
Pattern flying can be very rewarding.
Jim Hiller


-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Dennis Bodary
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 7:52 AM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Pattern Classes & Growth

Ron I don't have any statistics about how long people stay in one class. But
i can tell you my story.
First contest flying an Advance 40 with a K&B 48. I got the automatic move
up at the end of the year. First year in intermediate. Finished Dead last
with a Kaos every single contest i went to. Put together a Swallow with a
YS91 Second to last contest finished 2nd to last and the next contest
finished 9th out of 11. who ho. the second year in intermediate actually won
two contests. When Ken Alexander or Scott Pavlock were'nt there. Usually
finished third when they were'nt there. the third year I finally had a
2-Meter plane a Focus II. Scott had moved on. And i think i won most of the
contests and the District Championship. The Next year i decided to move up
to advanced. Why? Because i could not stomach practicing the same
indermediate pattern for four years. Not because i had pointed out.
And now for the killer part.
Just because everything added up when i moved to Advanced they were on the
last year of their cycle. the next year was a new sequence. Then i pointed
out had to move to Masters last year and learn a new schedule. So that's
three years in a row learning a new sequence, And yes you guessed it this
year will be four straight years learning a new sequence.
Still don't think i am ready to be in Masters and last years performance
showed that. Wishing now i had spent that fourth year in intermediate.
Dennis







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