[NSRCA-discussion] Anthony Manifesto/pattern participation

Tue Nov 8 07:35:10 AKST 2016

Interesting conversation over the past week or so, and while I am fairly confident that we will NOT be re-writing the entire AMA rule set for pattern just because NSRCA is moving the Nats next year; I am also fairly confident that the rules do not play as large a role in participation (or not) as many would opine.  We have read a lot about folks not having the time to practice enough to feel good about competing; lots of perspectives on life gets in the way; and the many reasons members were either drawn to pattern or drifted away.  Last year the Contest Board made changes to facilitate fluidity between classes, so that work is done for the time being.  There are a whole set of issues related to parity with F3A that NSRCA is concerned with, aligning AMA rules, etc.  While I am not adding any of my own opinions to those conversations here today, suffice it to say most of the rules are ok the way they are.  

We have a highly NICHE interest in precision aerobatics (what happened to IMAC?) that just does NOT appeal to many people, and which happens to be relatively expensive as a hobby/sport when one adds up travel to contests and time away from work, family and other commitments.  Same as with any competitive sport: not for everyone, time consuming, and relatively expensive compared to just enjoying the hobby part without adding competition.  Jets right now seem to be more attractive to young precision pilots, so I’ve noticed, and that is even more expensive than F3A or AMA pattern equipment!

Enjoy your lunch hour and get out and vote!  It’s the big day in America and we are all very proud to be Americans who can freely vote our conscience!

> On Nov 8, 2016, at 11:12 AM, cahochhalter via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:
> 
> Not sure what class you flyin but the AMA rules committee backed off the weight limit quite a bit. Intemediate and advanced are 5150 I believe now and masters and fai are 5050.
> 
> I dont understand why we are trying to eliminate all the rules in pattern?
> 
> Pretty soon judging will be all impression and we like that guy scores.
> 
> Pattern is competition with rules and limits and winners and losers. We just do it smoother than others.
> 
> Chuck
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> 
> 
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Ron via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> 
> Date: 11/8/16 9:53 AM (GMT-06:00) 
> To: blotch44026 at mypacks.net, General pattern discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> 
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Anthony Manifesto/pattern participation 
> 
> +1
> 
> On Nov 8, 2016 8:30 AM, blotch44026--- via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:
> Agreed on the weight rule. I have $5000 in a new bird; just missed making weight out of the box. A few mods and 1000  gram batts (4500mah) would have got me there.  After a few landing gear repairs, It would never make weight so that takes me out of attending the Nationals. Weight rule makes no sense, but it always gets voted down. The 2 meter rule is the neutralizer. 
> 
> Rick
>   
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Dave Burton via NSRCA-discussion 
> Sent: Nov 5, 2016 11:45 AM 
> To: Snaproll4 at aol.com, 'General pattern discussion' 
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Anthony Manifesto/pattern participation 
> 
> I agree with almost everything here and would add elimination take off and landing as scored maneuvers as well for AMA classes. Refusal to adopt similar changes are why I dropped out of NSRCA a few years ago.
> 
> I think the only limitations on airframe should be max 2 meter dimensions but remove the weight limit. All the weight limit does is drive up the cost of airplanes.
> 
> If  rules changes like these aren't implemented pattern will continue to die out and the only people flying will be the few FAI flyers who can contend for the US team.
> 
> Most of these ideas have been submitted as rules changes in the past but were shot down by the NSRCA BOD. You would hope the drastic drop in participation would force considerations of changing some things
> 
> Dave
> 
>  
> From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Snaproll4--- via NSRCA-discussion
> Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2016 12:12 PM
> To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Anthony Manifesto/pattern participation
> 
>  
> I do not want to be NSRCA president, but If I were NSRCA King, this is what I would do:
> 
>  
>   1.  Eliminate ALL mandatory advancement rules.  In fact, as King, I would ban all conversation about advancement.  I've been saying this for 20 years, but every time this gets voted on, the proposal gets soundly defeated.  Can't we all name a pilot who moved up to Masters and then dropped out?  We should never have rules that discourage participation.  This includes the rule about trying higher classes and not being able to move back down.
> 
>  
>  
> 2.  Sportsman and Intermediate should be non-turnaround. Turnaround was the death of the casual competitor. No 2 meter planes will be allowed in Sportsman.  You're not going to get a club flyer to compete when there are 4 Allures and a Proteus in his class.  This is not supposed to be a money competition.
> 
>  
>  
> 3. Advanced should be 50% turn-around and somewhat less difficult than it is today.  The emphasis here should be on the slightly more committed pilot and NOT as a building block for Masters.  This should become the new destination class.
> 
>  
>  
> 4.  Masters should fly all rounds of FAI P, but not compete directly against FAI pilots.  I can put up a respectable P, but I don't want to fly against Team members. (besides, who would judge?)  The sequence would still change every 2 years. Think of the advantages in judging as FAI pilots and Masters usually judge each other.  This would eliminate the need for development of a new Masters schedule and let the sequence committee concentrate on the other 3 classes.
> 
>  
> 5.  It would be nice if we could make Sportsman two 1 day contests, consisting of 4 rounds each day.  Perhaps they could fly two rounds within each flight.  Yes, that would mean 3 more awards, but you can't expect Sportsman pilots to spend the time and money to go to 2 day contests.  This way, a pilot could do family stuff on Saturday and compete on Sunday.
> 
>  
> Steve Miller, NSRCA #673
> 
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