[NSRCA-discussion] Future of Pattern

[John Gayer]

Apparently we can discuss the pros and cons of a new weight rule til 
hell freezes over without anyone changing their mind. I would like to 
share with you how I converted from from a no weight change advocate to 
someone pushing for an increase. I have always felt that most of the 
past increases in cost were due to rule changes on noise, on turnaround, 
on engine sizes, for some examples. While this is a factor, there are 
others at work. Inflation and improved quality of the equipment are also 
major factors. I'm also not convinced that it really costs that much 
more in terms of percentage of your takehome income to compete than it 
did in the old days. However there is a large increase in other 
activities, both in the hobby and without, competing for your dollars. 
Another point is that all those potentially expensive rule changes were 
initiated by the FAI and incorporated by the AMA. So I came to the 
conclusion that we could make adjustments to AMA rules without upsetting 
the apple cart.


The main reason for change is that the status quo is not working. 
Pattern has changed from the central focus of many clubs and many flyers 
to being a small niche in both clubs and the marketplace. It used to be 
that club sport flyers that never attended a contest still built and 
flew simply constructed Balsa or balsa and foam pattern planes. This is 
gone. Even considering the modern equivalents of these planes such as 
the Excelleron and others, most are now out of production and not being 
replaced by new kits/ARFs. Just ask any manufacturer about the 
importance of pattern in their marketing plans. Ask Jon Bruml who sells 
ads in the K-Factor. I'm not privy to the figures but I suspect even the 
topline radios that we consider ours, sell better for IMAC, Helis and 
jets. Time was, your club members were interested in your new 
radio/model/motor/engine. Now they just say "smooth flying model" and 
ask about the weather.

The point is that we are now a bit player and in all probability will 
never occupy center stage again. See a lot of action in the modeling 
press about last years WC? Get real. Nobody else cares and we are all 
getting older and slower, dying off one by one and being replaced by 
only a few and most of those are in their forties. See the graph below? 
It shows a slow decline in membership dues and it gets worse the further 
back you go. While the NSRCA membership decline is not conclusive proof 
that pattern is declining in this country, I am convinced that they are 
related. What I see in contest attendance in the west is a steady 
decline over the last couple of decades and is a confirmation of the 
NSRCA numbers.



So what should the NSRCA and the pattern community do? Maintain the 
status quo?  I believe I've made a case that it's not working. Can we do 
something to get back on center stage? Very unlikely. Can we do 
something to move from a dying niche in the hobby to a growing niche?  
Perhaps.
As a first step the NSRCA board has made rules proposals with the 
_intent_ of increasing safety and making it easier/cheaper to 
participate. Will these rule changes have the desired effect? I believe 
so but they are not a complete answer by any means. We need more 
participation and more ideas not more accusations about our "hidden 
agendas" and "flawed surveys". Apparently we've gored a few oxen in our 
proposals. I suggest everyone back off a bit and support the only group 
that is trying to move forward. I understand that there may be unwanted 
consequences along with the wanted ones. I doubt it but even so rules 
can be rolled back in two years.

There are a lot of very smart people out there on this list involved in 
precision aerobatics and we really need to be putting our heads together 
for ideas on how to grow. Right now it looks like we only know how to 
tear each other down. There has been a lot of emotion out there on these 
rules proposals, lets apply it in a more positive direction. I urge 
everyone to support these proposals now and to stay engaged with us on 
what to do next. The NSRCA is always open to ideas.

John Gayer




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.nsrca.org/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/attachments/20120319/eac970ca/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: clip_image002.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 5617 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.nsrca.org/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/attachments/20120319/eac970ca/attachment.gif>