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<DIV>After all of this discussion which by the way has been going on prior to
each rules cycle for as long as I can remember, it seems to me that we all
agree that what is important is learning to fly the airplane in every position
and every direction and make any and every correction necessary to safely
smoothly and gracefully perform a set pattern.</DIV>
<DIV>I can remember years back when many pilots at a contest would skip
maneuvers that they were not proficient at.</DIV>
<DIV>Changing the difficulty factor is not as important as making sure that
achievable fundamentals are included. That may mean that we have two patterns
for each of the three lower classes, one easy teaching basics of that class one
year and changing to the more difficult pattern the next year to complete
the course. Then start over again by rotating back to basics 101 in each
class.</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>With the current advancement requirements is this constant increase in
difficulty</DIV>
<DIV> overwhelming and alienating the new crop of pilots instead of
projecting a sound basis for learning fundamental skills?</DIV>
<DIV>Instead of forced advancement moving to a new level should be a reward for
becoming proficient not a punishment for having an accumulation of points and
ill prepared pilots moving up to a level where they do not belong.</DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Am I wrong or do I remember watching in awe at FAI pilots back in
about 1995 doing a 45 deg. down line snap for the first time and if I remember
correctly the FAI pattern at that time was about equal to the advanced
pattern of a couple of years ago before advanced was softened up and changed to
the current version.</DIV>
<DIV>Is more difficulty every rules cycle to benefit those who have been in
masters for eons and need a change to keep the interest high? If so that's
OK.</DIV>
<DIV>Could all of this constant change be a cause for the high drop out rate we
have seen in the last few years?</DIV>
<DIV>Just my observations and a little food for thought.</DIV>
<DIV>Buddy </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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