[NSRCA-discussion] My Head is Spinning

[Patternpilot One]

Simple fact to watch pattern is boring UNLESS your flying it..
We need to get back to basics of the father and son able to show up with a trainer and fly entry level class and not compete against the guppy 2 meter planes. It starts in our own clubs of doing an entry level event only and helping new pilots trim planes and walk them thru the pattern.. SPA has done a novice only contest for several years and has recruitment growth.
Several things that killed pattern in the past was turn around, cost of planes, and the pattern difficultly.  Not all of us have time every week to practice as desired with family, work etc.
This is why CPA and SPA has a fallow ing as it is low key, low pressure and you do not need to practice 4 days a week.  Leave that to the F A I guys.. Bring back the fun and keep the cost down and you will have more people flying pattern.

I agree practice and self challenge is important but damn you have to be able to have fun , as we are getting older.

Sa.


Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone


-------- Original message --------
From: W Anthony Abdullah via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Date: 11/6/16 10:13 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: John Gayer <jgghome at comcast.net>, General pattern discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] My Head is Spinning

I like the scoreboard idea. Perhaps we need to make pattern more of a "show". Big jet events and even our annual club big bird fun fly has an announcer. Imagine Michael Buffer announcing the pilot and calling the next maneuver over the PA system <JK>. We don't need to go all WWF but a little showmanship wouldn't hurt. Imagine baseball without announcers.

Mark A, don't you dare nominate me as the permanent "color" man. :o)

Sent from my iPad

On Nov 5, 2016, at 6:45 PM, John Gayer via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org<mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>> wrote:

The Contest board has already received a number of proposals to change the rules.

There are three that pertain to this discussion:

  1.  Proposal to eliminate the advancement criteria and allow contestants to step backwards in class at the end of the year
  2.  Elimination of the weight rule for Sportsman, Intermediate and Advanced
  3.  Eliminate the box requirements for Sportsman

I suggest that if you have opinions on these proposals, that you find out who your representative is, and make your opinion known. It seems clear that there are some making an attempt being made to address some of the issues. Any AMA member can propose a rule change. If you feel strongly about any of the suggestions made in this thread, I suggest you propose a change that you feel would positively impact pattern.

Other ideas.

Something that has been done by the NSRCA is introduction of the Club Class. Personally I do not feel that it would be appropriate to add a class at pattern contests. However it would be a great vehicle for running a pattern seminar for your area. Come up with some drawing prizes, some pattern guys to help, someone to cook some hot dogs for lunch, someone(s) to run a seminar on "what is pattern" and finish up with a couple rounds of club class. Make it an annual event and make sure the word gets to all the clubs in your area.

Another thing that needs to be done is to have a real scoreboard. A large scoreboard. This is essential for any spectators most of which are RC flyers with no or little exposure to pattern. Without a way to tell what is going on and who is doing it, a spectator will watch two flights and leave very bored.

The scoreboard should have:

  1.  Pilots Name
  2.  Photo of pilot and Model
  3.  Scores by round with both raw and normalized scores
  4.  Current standing in class
  5.  Handouts available for:
        *   What is pattern including explanations of the classes
        *   Ribbons and Aresti of the sequences being used and explanation of scoring, k-factors and normalization
        *   How about pilot Bios?
  6.  There needs to be someone designated to support the board if you have much traffic.

How about a Senior award like IMAC does at local contests? The NSRCA used to do this at the NATs but it seems to have faded away.

John


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