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<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Tom,</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks for sharing your experiences.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jim W.</FONT></DIV></DIV>
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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>De:</B> nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org en nombre de Koenig, Tom<BR><B>Enviado el:</B> mar 14/08/2007 18:59<BR><B>Para:</B> NSRCA Mailing List<BR><B>Asunto:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Natural Progression<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Interesting point Dave,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>During recent times in Australia, we have undergone some 'robust' discussion, with reference to the flying of only the P schedule at local contests.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Until recently, we have always flown the P on Saturdays and finished with two F's on Sunday ( FAI class). But the fact remained, that at world champs, we never managed to get an Aussie into the finals. We got close ( I think Peter Goldsmith just missed the cut once). The fact remains we need to get to finals first! Its not that we cant fly the finals, infact, once there, our top pilots could easily mix it with the best. But at a worlds, the competition in the pre-lims is so tight , that you really have to be on the top of your game. Being well known, is also a major factor at these international events,and lets face it, Aussie pattern fliers don't really get much press!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>The funny thing is, and it remains unexplainable to me, is that it appears that the top fliers just barely do 'enough' to get over the line during the pre-lims at a Worlds. It seems, the competition really only starts after the cut?? Freaks???? Possibly.....maybe I should take up R/C Submarines and not bother!!!????</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>So..... our national interest is getting the team into the finals at a W/C first-this is why we have now adopted to fly only the P schedule at local contests. The aim being to improve our overall 'P' performance. ( or should I say the three P's?? <G>)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Granted in the US you do not suffer the same problems as we do. You guys have the 'Star' fliers and an enormous depth of field. But be aware that you could possibly dilute the quality of flying for the P schedule, by doing to much F at the local level. My national pride hopes that you guys do, because then we might have a chance<VBG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Maybe none of this is an issue in the US? Certainly to us mere mortals down here, the top fliers you fellows have in the US , you included :), are more or less freaks who could fly anything, anytime!!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>As I recall, the whole intent of the F schedule was to sort out the sheep from the goats at the W/C's only-it was never intended for use at local levels( but nothing stops you from doing so)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Good luck with it chaps...but yes, our whole National focus is to do well at the W/C. It seems the only real way to get our hands into the cookie jar!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Tom</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV><SPAN class=241440922-14082007></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN class=241440922-14082007> </SPAN>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Dave Lockhart<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, 15 August 2007 7:59 AM<BR><B>To:</B> 'NSRCA Mailing List'<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Natural Progression<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Earl,</SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I think we’d agree that the survey needs to be completed more frequently? I can’t remember exactly when the last one was completed – I do know it is a lot of work assembling it, compiling the results, and evaluating the results.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">For F3A – is the fallacy that needs to be debunked -</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">a) Most will never be able to competently fly F3A?</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">b) Most will never be competitive in F3A?</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I don’t think they are the same thing. I do believe that there is a substantial number of guys that do not want to fly F3A because they do not want to (or have the time to) be competent flying 2 schedules. Competently flying 2 schedules (at the current Masters/PO7 level) is far more difficult task than being competent at one schedule – especially looking at F09 and F11 – I bring this up because there has also been a recent trend for more “F” being flown at local contests (and the last 2 years at the NATs for rounds 5 and 6 in the prelims).</SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dave</SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Earl Haury<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, August 14, 2007 9:32 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> NSRCA Mailing List<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Natural Progression</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dave</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">You make a very good point in that the NSRCA survey is a very good tool for taking the pulse of the pattern community. Certainly the majority should prevail, but it's also good to explore new ideas and rethink old ones with the goal of increasing the satisfied majority. I think that's what Tim and I've tried to input to this thread. I have no desire to dictate the direction of Masters, any changes should be generated from within. I do find a perception that F3A is somehow unattainable for most and feel that's just a self fulfilling fallacy that could stand some debunking.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Earl</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">----- Original Message ----- </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <A title=davel322@comcast.net href="mailto:davel322@comcast.net">Dave Lockhart</A> </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">To:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <A title=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">'NSRCA Mailing List'</A> </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sent:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:05 AM</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Subject:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Natural Progression</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tim,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I think you’ve made a lot of good points. I think some of the answers to your questions regarding the current/future status of Masters can be taken from the last NSRCA survey – the direction of Masters has pretty closely followed the survey results - in that it is distinct from F3A and the difficulty level is slightly less than F3A (which fluctuates, granted) in that some maneuvers are found in Masters (ie, integrated loop/roll figures).</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The gap between classes will always remain a constant debate – and I think a point that has been posted on this list many times (and seemingly gets forgotten) is that pilots can practice for a new class by flying the new class prior to entering a contest in that new class. If we had 10 classes between Sportsman and Intermediate, the gaps between the classes would be very small. I think the driving factor for the number of classes currently is the current participant level will not consistently sustain more classes. Yes, reintroduction of Expert might allow Masters to be a more difficult class, but if pilots really wanted a more difficult class (or higher level of competition), they have the option now of flying F3A. I think Masters is the largest class across the country because a lot of guys are happy with it exactly as it is.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Regards,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dave Lockhart</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="mailto:DaveL322@comcast.net">DaveL322@comcast.net</A></SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>twtaylor<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:15 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [NSRCA-discussion] Natural Progression</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In an effort to break apart the two subjects we’ve been talking about the last few days I offer the following.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Since the dawn of man we’ve had a competitive side (At least that’s what RVP told me he was there after all). Some are more competitive than others and that’s fine. Since our sport has developed over the years we’ve made major changes along with many minor ones. Given man’s thirst for ever increasing challenge we’ve come from old school pattern through what seemed like a decade fight over going to turn around. We lost a fair amount of pilots during that time yet the sport survived. We picked up some new pilots and that’s a good thing. Then the TOC came along to decide the best of the best. It started with Pattern planes, and then someone decided to add a 10% bonus for using a scale airplane. From that day forward Pattern was divided and IMAC was born. Many of our former pattern fliers joined the IMAC ranks. I don’t pretend to know why, they just did. That diluted Pattern and no longer did we see contests with 50+ contestants. I for one am glad we don’t get 50 plus pilots anymore as that creates a nightmare contest. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> I returned to Pattern after a decade lay off and can honestly say the level of competition, airframes, engines, and radios has increased at an exponential rate. I think the current fliers are more dedicated to the sport than ever. The flying skills across the board have come up in every class by an order of magnitude larger than I ever thought possible. I asked myself why this was.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> After thinking for a year or more and talking with those that have been in the trenches since going to turn around I’ve formed an opinion about why. Right or wrong here it is.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> FAI drives everything we do. Don’t think so? Let me explain.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> The guys at the top of the game have nowhere to go, FAI is it. To keep those guys interested and to separate the players from the wannabe’s they had to make the sequence progressively harder. Those that won all the time can easily become bored and move on to something else. For a case in point, one only needs to look at the amount of top pattern fliers that jumped ship to IMAC.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Let’s look at our sport from top to bottom. We’ve made FAI so difficult to keep the top guys happy we’ve out stripped the ability, or perceived ability, of masses to fly that class. Some might say this is a good thing. Harder keeps the numbers low and from top to bottom a better overall flier.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Masters became the top class for guys that didn’t think they could, or just didn’t want to fly FAI, yet masters flew the old FAI schedule for a time. So now we had to make Masters hard enough to keep those pilots happy and interested. Seems we did the exact same thing for Masters that we did for FAI.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Now were on the classes that we hope will lead fliers into the upper classes through a natural progression. Let’s look back a few years and see what we really did. We’ve made every class with the exception of the lowest class harder. I don’t see any real problem with that. If we look back at what FAI flew the first year, that schedule isn’t any harder than the current Advance schedule.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> So what does that tell us? It tells me the level of flying has moved up by leaps and bounds. I think it’s a good thing.</SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> The question I have is this. Are we to continue to develop two distinct top classes when they should or could be channeled into one? Are we so afraid of what FAI flies that many master pilots are just happy to remain in Masters and never try FAI? If so then this discussion is a moot one. Is the jump from Advance to Masters not as hard? Does it not require the same level of dedication to join the ranks of the cream of the crop? If you’re not willing to put forth the effort to try to crawl your way to the top, then like me, you’ll end up being just a guy out having fun. Nothing wrong with that either. A zero in FAI is the same as a Zero in Masters.</SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tim</SPAN></FONT></P>
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