[NSRCA-discussion] Maintaining schedule/class continuity: Was:Acceptable use policy for the list...

Thu Oct 7 15:21:27 AKDT 2010

To add my $0.02...

I concur with Atwood (ouch.that hurts) and Verne..the Sport>Int>Adv group of
sequences is very important to the entrance/development of new pattern
fliers.  There has been a Sequence Committee in one form or another for most
cycles since about 1988 (I know in that one I helped pen the Expert T/A
Class and the "1990 Masters", which was the first Masters to have a fixed
schedule), and I think I've participated in all of them.  The things that
stand out the most to me -

- how many times I've advocated against difficulty creep in Sportsman and
Intermediate.

- how many times I've advocated a building block approach and maintaining
the appropriate gap between classes.

- in particular, with the cycle chaired by Troy, Troy and I both went nuts
trying to keep snaps and spins out of Sportsman and Intermediate.  Now with
a few years on them, it is nice to see them working, and even nicer if they
truly are responsible in part to the increased activity.

Regards,

Dave 

  _____  

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Verne Koester
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 3:14 PM
To: 'General pattern discussion'
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Maintaining schedule/class continuity:
Was:Acceptable use policy for the list...

Just so there's no confusion, I'm complimenting and crediting the PREVIOUS
Sequence Committee that created the schedules we've been flying for the past
few years. I'm on the current committee and hope that the schedules that
will serve pattern in the next few years do so as well as the schedules
we've been flying. Just my opinion, but I've watched the trends for a couple
decades now and you can really harm the sport, particularly Sportsman and
Intermediate with schedules that are way out of whack with the skill set at
those levels. The increased activity level we're seeing in and around D4 in
Sportsman through Advanced are directly related to the success of those
schedules. I remember Troy Newman, Joe Lachowski, and possibly Dave Lockhart
being on that committee as well as others and they're to be commended for
getting us back on track.

Verne Koester

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Atwood, Mark
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 11:44 AM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Maintaining schedule/class continuity: Was:
Acceptable use policy for the list...

Verne, I couldn't agree more.  The schedule committee has done a fabulous
job but I think we as a group have to stay very vigilant that we maintain a
common "Gap" and progression between the classes.  That does NOT mean we
can't or shouldn't keep up with the times.   But the balance is very
important and I think we currently have that (if by luck or design I don't
know or care).   My son is going to try and jump from Sportsman to
intermediate in the spring and it will be a HUGE one for him.  BUT. we went
out to fly the maneuvers last week in stages and while he can't put together
the whole sequence yet, I don't think he scared himself making the attempt.
A few of the maneuvers had some pucker factor. the double immelman was the
first time he had ever pushed through an outside half loop, but since you
immediately  roll to an upright and comfortable orientation, he immediately
relaxed and after 2 or 3 times I could tell it won't be a problem.

That's how the transitions should be.  Exhilarating, but not frightening.   

Again to the sequence committee..well done.

-M

Mark Atwood

Paragon Consulting, Inc.  |  President

5885 Landerbrook Drive Suite 130, Cleveland Ohio, 44124 

Phone: 440.684.3101 x102  |  Fax: 440.684.3102

mark.atwood at paragon-inc.com  |  www.paragon-inc.com
<http://www.paragon-inc.com/> 

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Verne Koester
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 10:40 AM
To: 'General pattern discussion'
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Acceptable use policy for the list...

I'm confident that the schedules created by the previous Sequence Committee
has a lot to do with it. The trick now is to keep the class transitions and
difficulty levels the same as they are now. The quickest way to lose a new
Sportsman pilot is to make Intermediate too big of a jump in difficulty
level.

Verne

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Atwood, Mark
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 9:34 AM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Acceptable use policy for the list...

It has to be a cycle.   Our area (D4) use to be a hotbed for pattern in the
80's but through the 90's and aught's we saw a very steady decline in
participation.  But the last 3-4 years has seen a resurgence of pattern
activity and a host of new participants.   We still have a large masters
class of long time competitors, but our contests now have a solid contingent
of Sportsman and Intermediates showing up to many contests.  Our district
champs had 10 in Advanced.   A combination of long time old blood, some new
advancements from Intermediate, and some former participants that are coming
back to the scene.

I have NO idea what triggered this, but I like it :-)

-Mark

Mark Atwood

Paragon Consulting, Inc.  |  President

5885 Landerbrook Drive Suite 130, Cleveland Ohio, 44124 

Phone: 440.684.3101 x102  |  Fax: 440.684.3102

mark.atwood at paragon-inc.com  |  www.paragon-inc.com
<http://www.paragon-inc.com/> 

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ronald Van
Putte
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 9:18 AM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Acceptable use policy for the list...

It'll be interesting to see what happens next. The survival of our
newsletter is tied directly to the number of advertisers.  If those who sell
products related to our hobby don't think it is profitable to continue
advertising in the K-Factor, our newsletter will founder.  I'm sure the poor
economy is part of the problem.  As the owner of a small hobby shop, I can
tell you that my sales this year will be about half of what they were 5-7
years ago.

It appears that the number of competitors is down in the southeast.  I was
stunned to see only 12 competitors at the O.J. Stillman contest in
Jacksonville just over a week ago.  That contest normally has numbers in the
high 20s - low 30s.  The Huntsville contest in September used to be a major
contest, but there were so few contestants that we were either flying,
calling or judging all the time.  I know that numbers like that will cause
clubs to think twice about hosting another contest.  After a hiatus of
almost ten years, my club, the Eglin Aero Modellers, is hosting a contest in
just over a week.  I hope the number of competitors is sufficiently high,
because, if they are, I'm sure we will continue hosting the contest.  If
not, there won't be another contest.

Ron

On Oct 6, 2010, at 1:32 PM, Keith Hoard wrote:

So how many competitors do we have left?

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 6, 2010, at 13:11, mike mueller <mups1953 at yahoo.com> wrote:

 I'm sure some see it as a small deal but if you are a competitor and
attempting to abide by the rules you may have a completly different
perspective. For that reason I think the rules in place are well thought out
and I think Derek is correct in pointing it out. MIke

--- On Wed, 10/6/10, Keith Hoard <khoard at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Keith Hoard <khoard at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Acceptable use policy for the list...
To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2010, 12:49 PM

I'll second that!!!

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 6, 2010, at 12:03, "GEORGE KENNIE" <geobet4 at verizon.net> wrote:

I think this was meant as an advisory. 

I don't think you'd want to call him in January only to find out that they
were no longer an

available item when you had expected them to be.

I have always found his updates to be useful information and his use of our
site to be discreet !

As he is not the only purveyor amoungst our group to utilize the site for a
heads up and certainly 

not abusing the privelidge, it would seem to me that these types of
advisories should be allowed

without recriminations.

I think a discretionary reaction should prevail.

G.

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

From: Derek Koopowitz
<http://us.mc510.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=derekkoopowitz@gmail.com>  

To: NSRCA List
<http://us.mc510.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.o
rg>  

Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 9:51 AM

Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Acceptable use policy for the list...

I'd just like to point out a reminder for everyone about the list's
acceptable use policy. please see:

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