[NSRCA-discussion] 2015 proposed sequences

[John Ford]

To my knowledge, I don't think I've heard too many (or any) pilots quit pattern because it was too hard to do, or too expensive, or anything else. 
IMAC and helicopters are at least as expensive, if not more, and the classes' difficulty levels mirror our own, in my opinion. 

What makes the difference is marketing. IMAC and helis are always high profile at any event, the promoters do a good job of "selling" the pilots and the equipment. Hobby shops always showcase the latest or the biggest. The magazine adds almost always choose IMAC or helis to promote radios, batteries, or fuels.

Back when Pattern was big and local contests had 40 pilots, the cover of the magazines featured Hanno, Ivan, or Rhet, and the full-page glossy back cover was of Ivan and his Summit 3, endorsing Carl Golberg widgets. 

Today, if you walk in off the street as a rank beginner and you try to "find" pattern, you gotta dig deep, go far, send lots of emails, and finally you might (never for sure) come across a contest flyer. Then you go to the contest and you find a bunch of really nice people, willing to drown you in advice and help, but you realize pretty quickly that this group of people are a bit off-center…sharply focused on planes, endless trimming, practicing to the exclusion of all else, and sleeping on a bed of nails at night. Above all, almost nobody knows they even exist in this little hidden world of RC idealism.

Go to a hobby shop and say you want to do helicopters…same reaction as walking into a ER saying you have chest pains. 
Go to a hobby shop and say you want to do pattern…hmmm…"well, there's a guy I used to know that did some of that, I think, not sure if he's still around…haven't seen him for a few years"...

That's where the difference is. 

John


On Aug 19, 2014, at 7:14 AM, Whodaddy Whodaddy via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:

> K factors should be rethought .. An eight point role with my Phoenix 8 is alot different than with my current 2 meter .. Its like flying a gift now days other than centering of the maneuver  yet retains the same or close to the same k factor as many years past... Food for thought... 
> 
> Once again the current proposed pattern needs fixed or the numbers will dwindle by at least one nxt year.. I can promise that..
> 
> 
> Gary 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Aug 18, 2014, at 11:34 PM, John Gayer via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Advanced and Masters are not our entry classes and should not affect future participation. Those new to pattern should begin in either Sportsman or Intermediate depending on skill level. When a flyer feels he is ready to move up, he will try flying the next class in practice. If it is too difficult to even see a way to fly that sequence reasonably, then that pilot was not ready to move up and should stay in his current class another year (or more). We do not lose people because they stayed in their current class, we lose them because they moved up when not ready and find they are outclassed without the vision, coordination, time to practice (or name your reason) to be competitive. Not competitive for winning, just competitive. 
>> Both Masters and Advanced can, and probably will be, changed next year. Any substantial problems can be addressed then. Many have tested these sequences. All have have flown them successfully, if not always happily. We can go on and on about ugly maneuvers, difficulty levels and dislike of change but that happens every cycle. 
>> 
>> Just for comparison here are Advanced and Masters from 20 years ago. Overall both appear somewhat easier than the current sequences we are flying but not a lot. Total KFactors are a bit lower. Also we are flying many of the same maneuvers. I hope you noticed the knife edge top of the cobra in masters. If you go back even further you can find a two roll loop in the days before retracts...
>> 
>> John Gayer
>> 
>> 
>> <ejceefij.png><eibcgfea.png>
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