[NSRCA-discussion] ENJOY PATTERN. IT WAS "Rules proposal 11-6 question"
GEORGE KENNIE
geobet4 at verizon.net
Sun Oct 25 19:01:00 AKDT 2009
Matthew,
I've stayed out of this discussion because of quite a few years of experience being subjected to the whims of the powers that be.
As you state, well intentioned, but misguided none-the-less.
I agree with your logic, but it's success is unattainable. I gave up some time ago trying to keep up with the rules change proposals
submitted and railroaded through by well meaning, but deluded analysts bent on improving execution problems that were inappropriately
interpreted.
Twelve years ago we had a fantastic rulebook that if correctly interpreted answered all of the associated questions currently being
wrestled with and at that time I had a good understanding on it's proposed methodology and idiosyncracies.
With the passage of time, people come into the program, and when they first arrive they are just happy to be participants, but with
the passage of time they win their first contest and all of a sudden they become serious. With their new serious attitude they begin
to feel that they have a responsibility to better understand the rules process and so they, for the first time, immerse themselves in
a scrutiny of the book. The unfortunate thing about all of this is that many seem to misconstrue the true meaning of the maneuver
descriptions or decide that what they're reading departs from the way they have been doing it right along and in their zeal to correct
what they perceive as a problem they develop a strong sense of responsibility to the group and in an effort to fulfill this responsibility
they realize that they will have to work themselves into positions of leadership. This is usually not too difficult to achieve as leadership
positions are pretty readily available as nobody from the membership at large wants to do a heck of a lot. Once firmly ensconced,
their lobbying power with the contest board becomes magnified and more effective. Next thing you know, you discover that there
has been a stupid change to a long established rule that you had been performing according to the book for years without any problems
along with everybody else, but because one of these now influential forward thinkers has proposed it the masses are soon caught up
in the current.
So, you see, this is a self perpetuating dilemma that will never go away. Come back to this forum in another 12 years and the snap/spin
controversy will be the topic of the day and the rule book will be 300 pages.
Maybe the best you can do is go with the flow, but I won't expect you to like it.
G.
----- Original Message -----
From: Matthew Frederick
To: General pattern discussion
Cc: Wincons at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:25 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] ENJOY PATTERN. IT WAS "Rules proposal 11-6 question"
OK, Vince, at your suggestion I re-read the proposal. I can honestly say that I am even more convinced it's a bad idea. The main reason being that for the proposal to work it requires the sequences to be removed from the rule book giving the NSRCA free reign over the schedules. This is a suggestion that I'm dead-set against. The more I think about it and the more I hear, the less I want the NSRCA to have sole control over the sequences. My latest argument against it that I recently thought of is probably the strongest. That being: the NSRCA does not represent all pattern pilots. Not everyone that competes is an NSRCA member, and not every member of the NSRCA competes (So they don't have a dog in the hunt anyway). Let's say a very non-scientific poll is taken by the NSRCA (as they all are) showing that 55% of their members are in favor of a proposal. OK, sounds like a majority, let's let it pass, right? Wrong. What about the non-NSRCA members? What if they're ALL against it and let's say that puts 60% against amongst actual pattern pilots? Not that it really matters to the NSRCA, because they'll just say "Well, they should have joined." From my point of view the NSRCA should be there to serve pattern regardless of how many members it has. Lately to me it seems more about serving the agenda of a select few people. As well-intentioned as their actions may be, they may be going against the majority. I don't trust any one organization having the sole authority to do anything. There has to be a check to the NSRCA's actions for non-members, and that is the contest board. Yeah, they may not enjoy having to deal with all the rules changes associated with the maneuver sequences, but there MUST be a way for non-NSRCA members to have their voices heard, and the contest board is that recourse. Taking actions like some of the ones proposed this year is like opening Pandora's Box. Once this is done, it can never be put back if it doesn't work because the contest board would never accept the responsibility again. I'd just like to say thanks to Keith Black for helping me solidify my view on these matters this weekend, our conversation really got me thinking.
Matt
----- Original Message -----
From: Vicente "Vince" Bortone
To: General pattern discussion
Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 2:35 AM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] ENJOY PATTERN. IT WAS "Rules proposal 11-6 question"
Matt,
I have been trying to follow all the e-mails in regard the proposal 11-6. Just too much work in the last few weeks and I never had chance to respond or didn't see any feedback after I responded to Lance. Also the subject changed too many times. I am taking this opportunity to explain you with more detail the reasons we introduced the proposal. I suggest that you review one more time the proposal that can be found in the following link:
http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/RCA11-6.pdf
We tried to explain in the proposal the reasons why suggested the change. I understand that we could have done a better job justifying the proposal. This motivated Lance to ask some questions and I tried to explain when I responded to Lance. I would like to take this opportunity to add the following:
1. I have been flying Masters for 5-6 years. It is evident that in the last few years at the local contest we had 8-10 Masters Pilots with no FAI pilots in some cases. In order to balance the contest, we have been dividing the group in two and 1/2 of the Masters Pilots fly FAI to help to balance the contest. We have been doing this for fun and to help the CD to run the contest. However, I believe that it will be a lot easier and fare if we fly approximately similar schedule. Please notice that the proposal suggest that NSRCA committee is free to change the maneuvers that are not proper for Masters level like integrated rolling maneuvers and landing and takeoff should be judged. We missed to add that the NSRCA committee could change turn around maneuvers that don't flow well. Probably this could be added in the revision.
2. Clearly next year I will have the pressure to fly both Masters and FAI-P11 in order to get ready for the season. This represents a lot more work for me. If we adopt FAI-P11, I will guess that the maneuver #1 is probably the only one that needs to be changed. I read some e-mails that suggest that the turn around after #1 does not flow well. If we change these two maneuvers it will be a lot easier for Masters Pilots to switch around Masters and FAI-P in local contest. Probably some will suggest that the loop with the integrated 8 point roll should not be in Masters. However, I think this maneuver should be left as is. I believe that this maneuver is a very good one to learn integrated rolling maneuvers. I tried and it is fun.
3. If we adopt FAI-P schedule with modifications, it will be easier for Master pilots to make the decision to switch to fly FAI because we will need to learn the F schedule only. Yes, I know that some of us will never consider flying the FAI F. If you ask me, I will really like to try. Are the integrated rolling maneuvers difficult for me? Yes. Again, I really will like to try. I believe that this change will facilitate this process.
4. Finally, please don't forget that we have to judge. It will be a lot easier and the level of judging will improve a lot if we fly approximately the same schedule.
5. It will be interesting to guess how this change could benefit the high level pilots in Masters to try FAI at the Nats. I am sure that some can help me. I know that if I fly Masters at the Nats I will be better prepare to judge FAI P schedule. The only pressure is to get ready to judge F schedule so the work load at the Nats is somehow reduced for the Masters and FAI competitors.
Best regards,
Vicente "Vince" Bortone
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matthew Frederick" <mjfrederick at cox.net>
To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 9:42:16 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] YOU DON'T HAVE TO COMPETE TO ENJOY PATTERN
Umm, I don't think anyone threated to quit after seeing the Advanced pattern. I said I would quit after Advanced if we adopt the F3A P sequence for Masters. I haven't even looked at the new Advanced pattern yet mainly because if I continue at this rate without throwing a contest here and there I will point out of Advanced before I ever get to fly the new one in competition... and I've only flown Advanced in 3 contests!
Matt
----- Original Message -----
From: frank
To: 'General pattern discussion'
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:03 AM
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] YOU DON'T HAVE TO COMPETE TO ENJOY PATTERN
Having read the response of one fellow who threatened to quit after seeing the new proposed Advanced sequence ( all sequences look great, IMO), may I respectfully suggest that you continue to practice and enjoy this great hobby sport even if you feel that you can’t be competitive. I compete very little by choice( was once a very active UKIE competitor- for two decades) ,but still practice( in most weather conditions) and enjoy pattern as much as anyone I know ( I fly with some very active, die hard flyers who can attest). I’d probably be bored out of my skull if I flew sport again and don’t wish to fly anything but pattern aircraft. Try taking a year off and practice the hell out of the new sequence- you might surprise yourself and will definitely become a better pilot to boot. Please take no offense, just my .02.
Frank
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