[NSRCA-discussion] Pattern and Social Media

Fri Jan 4 12:17:02 AKST 2019

John,

With everyone looking at a cure for the decline in pattern flying, I believe
that you are closer to the cause than other factors being considered,
including the price and size of our planes.  Before I started flying pattern
in 1974, I knew who Don Lowe, Phil Kraft, Ron Chidgey, Tony Bonetti, Norm
Page, and other great pattern flyers where from READING about them in all
the model magazines.  In that time frame, all the model magazines, just
about every month had pattern contest results in them that made great
reading and made the entire modeling community aware of pattern flying.  At
the present time, I'll wager that the vast majority of the modeling
community never heard of or could tell you the name of the top pattern
flyers today.  I believe that the basic reason for the decline in pattern
flying is the TOTAL lack of exposure in the model magazines and other media
outlets for pattern flying activities.  Even the AMA Model Aviation magazine
has minimal coverage of even the NAT's pattern competition, even when it's
held in their own back yard in Munci.  Probably the fastest growing part of
all the modeling venues is the quad copter group and I believe that is
likely because they are in the news all the time, mostly for negative  or
bad news and occasionally for news about some beneficial use.  Even the
Model Aviation magazine, just about every month is full of articles about
the multi-rotor crowd and equipment.  Until the lack of coverage or
information about pattern flying competitions, equipment, and people
involved in it is corrected, I believe that ALL of the present efforts to
curtail the decline, including the rotation of the NAT's location and
mandating cheaper equipment for the beginning classes,  will be for naught.

Curt Oberg

  _____  

From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On
Behalf Of David Harmon via NSRCA-discussion
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2019 2:07 PM
To: 'General pattern discussion'
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Pattern and Social Media

John..IMO..your last 3 lines are well said..+ a bunch.

David Harmon

NSRCA 586

From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On
Behalf Of John Pavlick via NSRCA-discussion
Sent: Friday, January 4, 2019 1:04 PM
To: 'General pattern discussion' <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Pattern and Social Media

Increasing exposure to the entire aeromodelling community is, in my opinion,
the BEST way to promote Pattern. Concentrate more on that than anything
else. I flew Sportsman with a super Kaos 40 and I won more than a few
contests with it (eventually). The airplane wasn't what held me back from
winning the District Championship in my first year - it was ME.

I didn't even know that the NSRCA existed until one of my club members told
me that he heard about a "Pattern Contest" in  a nearby state from someone
that he met at a fun-fly. You guys are like a secret society - especially in
Connecticut. Most people here still think that a Pattern plane has a 60-size
engine with a pipe and retracts. When I showed up at my first contest with
my Super Kaos 40 and I saw all of the 2-meter pregnant guppies on the flight
line I wasn't sure I was in the right place but I soldiered on and flew in
the contest. I came in second out of 2 entries in Sportsman. The pilot who
won was flying a 60-size Ugly stick.  A few years later I was the D1 402
District Champion (flying a second-hand Focus 1). 

Please, focus on enlightening the rest of the World and let them know that
Pattern EXISTS. This should increase participation more than anything else.
Also be aware that not everyone will want to fly Pattern. Pattern flying is
difficult. Those of us who understand this enjoy the challenge. People who
want instant gratification will not. Don't try to fix that - it's not
possible.

As far as I'm concerned, you don't need to change ANYTHING to attract more
(potential) Pattern pilots. Just make them aware of the NSRCA and let them
know where the contests are.

John Pavlick

Cell: 203-417-4971

idslogo2

Integrated Development Services

From: NSRCA-discussion <nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org> On Behalf
Of Scott McHarg via NSRCA-discussion
Sent: Friday, January 4, 2019 12:33 PM
To: Dr. Mike Harrison <drmikedds at sbcglobal.net>
Cc: ronlock at comcast.net; General pattern discussion
<nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Price for a pattern plane...

Mike,

I've proposed and have had pass multiple rules.  I get it.  Concerning
social media and what not, I wasn't suggesting that an individual do that,
I'm suggesting that we as an organization (which certainly has more pull
than any individual) do so.  Limiting planes is done at the 2M level and
nothing more.  You're suggesting to further limit airplanes in classes that
most people would want to try.  That is why I do not believe your proposal
is better.

Scott

Scott A. McHarg

Takeoff is optional.  Landing is mandatory!

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