[NSRCA-discussion] Competition

Tue Sep 20 17:26:55 AKDT 2016

Easy fix:  in D1 we go to the bar after the contest to “visit”. Sometimes we even meet some new people… J

John Pavlick

Cell: 203-417-4971

idslogo2

Integrated Development Services

From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Robert Campbell via NSRCA-discussion
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2016 12:04 PM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Competition

Pattern contests aren't as fun as they used to be.  As attendance drops, contestants have to work more.  At contests, you're either flying, calling, or judging.  No time left to visit with people you don't get to see every day.  

On Tue, Sep 20, 2016 at 10:33 AM, blotch44026--- via NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:

Stopping the bleeding would be a good start. NSRCA had around 1500 members back in the late 90's. What is membership at now? Lost a whole district last year.

Rick 

-----Original Message----- 
From: John Pavlick via NSRCA-discussion 
Sent: Sep 20, 2016 11:02 AM 
To: 'General pattern discussion' 
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Competition 

I always thought the reason why we went to turnaround Pattern in the first place was to reduce our “footprint” and to minimize noise. This was back when we had 60’s and tuned pipes (the good old days) Now that the average Pattern plane makes less noise than a freaking butterfly I guess it could become an option (no turnarounds) but I don’t think that’s necessary. 

One thing that we tried in D1 was to have an informal / loosely judged competition with small electric planes. We opened this to ANYONE although I don’t think any nn Pattern pilots ever entered. It was fun but we stopped doing it.

See the REAL “problem” is that, as you said, we’re losing people faster than we’re attracting new ones. Just retaining people is good and certainly necessary but it just stops the bleeding. You DO need to get new people interested but as I’ve said that’s about 1 out of every 10 that has just learned to fly. L

John Pavlick

Cell: 203-417-4971

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Integrated Development Services

From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of David Harmon via NSRCA-discussion
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2016 2:38 AM
To: 'Scott McHarg'; 'General pattern discussion'
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Competition

Even if we are recognized……the interested person is likely going to be a modeler who already is aware of Pattern.

I don’t think any assets or time should be wasted in trying to get non-modelers-flyers interested in Pattern.

As others have said…it’s booooring…like watching paint dry.

There are plenty of modelers who already know how to fly but are never going to try Pattern.

In the past….retaining flyers is a larger problem than attracting new flyers.

Over the years the entry count dwindled to what it is now….extremely low.

Why???

There are a lot of reasons but in my opinion….the most prominent are…..

Turnaround style of maneuvers.

Ever increasing difficulty of maneuvers.

Some clubs resistance to an event that locks up the field for 2 days……or even 1 day….for a crummy $50 or so donation to the club from entry fee residue.

As others have repeatedly said…..expense. I really don’t buy this because Pattern has ALWAYS been expensive…this is nothing new.

If a club flyer is interested enough to try Pattern….he will find a way to justify the expense.

The same flyers always win, place or show. 

After years of trying…many flyers drop out because they know they do not have a chance of taking home any wood….yes, I know, practice more….true to a point.

Judging…..well…..we all know about this subject….but I know this causes many flyers to drop out.

All of this is nothing new….it has been hashed over hundreds of times….but as Scott said….nothing keeps on happening.

I think that the NSRCA should try something radically new….like change all classes below Masters to non-Turnaround maneuvers.

Fly what you bring….up to 30 lbs.

Remove all integrated maneuvers from Masters class.

Have radically fewer contests in an effort to get the entrant count much higher at each contest as a way to help club members justify a non-flying weekend.

Hopefully a large crowd will attract club members to Pattern……6 guys flying for two days ain’t gonna attract anything but hard feelings from club members who just want to fly their stick.

If changes similar to the above could be tried….perhaps club members should be allowed to sport fly along with the contestants.

This at the least would remove the club members ‘lost weekend’ and perhaps change the attitude of some clubs.

David Harmon

Sperry, OK

From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Scott McHarg via NSRCA-discussion
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2016 4:14 PM
To: Atwood, Mark <atwoodm at paragon-inc.com>; General pattern discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Competition

The original reason I posted this is because we need to really "do something" to actually get people to recognize us.  DRL got ESPN and, while there is an obvious attraction to this by young and old, they started from something and somewhere.  Do we need ESPN?  While nice, the answer is no.  I wanted to show all of us that this is what is attracting potential pilots and, for that matter, getting the notoriety.  The discussion is usually "why is this happening" instead of what can we do to "Be like Mike" (in this case) and then actually acting on those ideas.  There have been some pretty good ones in this thread.  Maybe it's time we acted.  Let's not leave it up to someone else to do the acting, each one of us can make a difference in our own way and through our own contacts.

Scott A. McHarg

VSCL / CANVASS U.A.S. Research Pilot

Texas A&M University

PPL - ASEL

Remote Pilot Certified Under FAA Part 107

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