[NSRCA-discussion] The most important thing to understand about pattern

Thu Jul 13 11:01:35 AKDT 2017

Yeah, you need to be intentional about who you have doing the calling, they
need to be supportive and know what level of guidance a person can take.  I
*love* calling for Sportsman pilots, I'll give them some simple guidance
before the flight for something to work on (if I've seen them fly before),
keep them calm during the flight, and then debrief them after the flight.

In honesty, some upper-level pilots have forgotten what it was like to be
in the lower classes and either just call the maneuvers (not that useful
for helping people do better), some give SO MUCH guidance its too much to
take in.  Others are amazing and give just the right amount of guidance
(touch of right rudder as you push over the top, etc.) it's a fine line.

Peter+

On Thu, Jul 13, 2017 at 11:56 AM, Jas S via NSRCA-discussion <
nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:

> That doesn't always work. Sometimes they get intimidated with an upper
> class pilot calling for them. Even upper class pilots get intimidated, so
> I'm not picking on any group, just the way some are.
> I try to watch the Sportsman and Intermediate pilots during the event or
> even before if possible, but without them knowing. That way they go and fly
> more naturally without putting pressure on themselves thinking they need to
> impress. If there is a consistent issue that needs adjusting (late on
> center maneuvers), I suggest a fix (try starting  before they think they
> should). I remind them that it won't feel correct for a while but it will
> gain them a point or two and become natural.
>
> Jas iP
>
> On Jul 13, 2017, at 2:39 PM, susan varela via NSRCA-discussion <
> nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:
>
> Peter has a VERY strong point.
> Have a upper class call and help them.
>
>
> Sent from XFINITY Connect Mobile App
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> To: atwoodm at paragon-inc.com,nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> Cc: Snaproll4 at aol.com
> Sent: 2017-07-13 2:03:51 PM
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] The most important thing to understand
> about pattern
>
> I totally agree on the last point!  Given that there are typically
> relatively few sportsman pilots, I would encourage CDs and Judges to make
> the time to allow the judges to provide 1-2 pieces of actionable advice to
> the sportsman pilots.  It shouldn't be things like "fix your centering" as
> they don't know what that means.  It should be "For the 45 degree downline
> to be considered centered, you need to start the down line to your left
> (when flying the direction you did today), and finish it the same distance
> away on your right.  You were consistently starting your center maneuvers
> too late, so they were significantly offset and I had to take off X
> points". Or "Slow down.  At cruising speed you should be traversing from
> the left box line to the right box line in X seconds.  Max throttle should
> only be needed on vertical up lines and the climbing parts of loops.
> Cruise throttle should be used when flying straight and level", etc.
>
> I *really* like what was reported last weekend about assigning a masters
> or FAI pilot to call for a sportsman pilot through a whole contest in Cedar
> Rapids.  Absolutely brilliant!
>
> Peter+
>
> On Thu, Jul 13, 2017 at 10:54 AM, Atwood, Mark via NSRCA-discussion <
> nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:
>
>> At least 20 years.
>>
>> And we JUST lost a very active (came to 9-10 contests a year)
>> Intermediate pilot because the box is too much for him.  Flying Sportsman
>> was no good because he was usually the only one, and he wanted competition
>> rather than a participation award.   I’ve said for many years the we lost a
>> lot of non-traveling, club participants when we went to turn-around.   But
>> that ship has sailed and we won’t realistically be going back.
>>
>> One thing I’d like to see at local contests is more attention and more
>> flights for Sportsman pilots.  We have to make their contest experience a
>> great one.  All too often they pay full price and get short shrift on
>> flying and attention.  That alone could help us.
>>
>> -M
>> *MARK **ATWOOD*
>> o.  (440) 229-2502
>> c.  (216) 316-2489
>> e.  atwoodm at paragon-inc.com
>>
>> *Paragon Consulting, Inc.*
>> 5900 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 205, Cleveland Ohio, 44124
>> www.paragon-inc.com
>>
>> <http://www.paragon-inc.com/>
>> *Powering The Digital Experience*
>>
>> On Jul 13, 2017, at 1:34 PM, Snaproll4--- via NSRCA-discussion <
>> nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:
>>
>> Mark,  Is it 20 years ago already?  That's when I started pushing for
>> unhindered movement between classes.  As I came up through the classes I
>> saw many people drop out because they were "sick of finishing last". Of
>> course, if they moved back and consistently finished #1-#3, they would
>> be shamed.  Every year that proposal would set people's hair on fire.  Why
>> have rules that discourage participation?  On another matter, Turnaround
>> was the death of the casual competitor. It takes a lot of practice to learn
>> to keep a whole sequence in the box.  I think that Intermediate should have
>> some breaks in the sequence.
>>
>> Steve Miller
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>
>
>
> --
> Director, Fixed Wing Flight Training
> Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark
> Associate Vice President, Academy of Model Aeronautics District X
> Treasurer, National Society of Radio Control Aerobatics (NSRCA)
>
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-- 
Director, Fixed Wing Flight Training
Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark
Associate Vice President, Academy of Model Aeronautics District X
Treasurer, National Society of Radio Control Aerobatics (NSRCA)
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