[NSRCA-dist1] NSRCA-dist1 Digest, Vol 47, Issue 5

Mon Aug 25 15:19:57 AKDT 2014

I'll give my perspective on this, being one who gave up pattern competition five or six years ago. 

There once were four or five active pattern pilots in our club in Hadley, Mass. Two left the club because we have to be strict about enforcing the 400 ft altitude limit since we are within a mile or so of Norhampton airport. Full size planes often fly directly over our field on approach. As far as I know those two are still flying pattern "somewhere." Another member simply stopped flying at all and moved away. Another quit flying altogether for health reasons. 

I gave up competition because it became much too expensive for me. Most District One events are held in NY, NJ, and PA. The cost of gas, motels, entry fees, food etc. adds up to $300 or so. We held two events at our field and they were poorly attended, so our travel to events out of state was not very well reciprocated. There was once an annual event in Vermont that I attended two or three times, but I never saw anyone from south of here. 

The cost of competitive equipment just seems to keep growing. The switch to electric was prohibitive for me and having to have the latest and greatest plane to compete with was not an option for me. At the last contest I attended I was flying a Typhoon 2000 and one of the judges remarked, before I flew before him, that it was a ten year old design. 
It was said in a tone that implied that it couldn't possibly score well. Despite what everyone says, I believe judging IS influenced by what equipment people use. The money required to compete successfully took the fun out of competition for me. I still love to fly pattern, but do so just for fun. (I still have the Typhoon!) 

The Lampron brothers were definitely influenced to enter pattern by those of us flying it at the time; mainly me, John Tarpinian and Scott Smith. They have both left pattern for IMAC for a number of reasons. You probably know how successful Dean has been at that. (I have to laugh at myself for having been Dean's first coach!) 

As far as putting on demos at clubs to recruit pattern pilots, I can tell you it would not work at our club. Most all the members are sport flyers and see pattern flown at our field quite often. Dean still flies there and puts in spectacular 3d flights as well. It doesn't do much at all to convince anyone to take up pattern. It seems either one likes it or doesn't or has no desire to do it. 

Pattern obviously appeals to a very narrow sector of r/c flyers. It's a crap shoot to find those in that sector and the number within that sector who can afford to actually take up pattern is likely much smaller. 
----- Original Message -----

From: "John Pavlick via NSRCA-dist1" <nsrca-dist1 at lists.nsrca.org> 
To: learn2turn at yahoo.com, "DE 'CT, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT'" <nsrca-dist1 at lists.nsrca.org> 
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 4:12:43 PM 
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-dist1] NSRCA-dist1 Digest, Vol 47, Issue 5 

I co-CD’d a Pattern Primer with Ed Alt at my club field (The Balsa Bugs) in CT few years ago. A lot of guys came all the way from New Jersey to support me but in spite of announcing the contest at meetings for several months AND offering to help people trim out their planes and practice every Sunday only one actually showed up to “compete”. I did get support from the club officials and a few dedicated members to help with food, field chores, etc. but it was kind of disappointing. That was the first and only contest we had in CT in quite some time. Sadly, I remember the Balsa Bugs used to be full of Pattern guys. I don’t know where they all went but they’re not part of the club anymore. 

John Pavlick 

Cell: 203-417-4971 

Integrated Development Services 

From: NSRCA-dist1 [mailto:nsrca-dist1-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of learn2turn via NSRCA-dist1 
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 3:49 PM 
To: nsrca-dist1 at lists.nsrca.org 
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-dist1] NSRCA-dist1 Digest, Vol 47, Issue 5 

It sure would be nice if at least one New England club could get something going with pattern. It may be that the deal up here is that most fields just aren't suitable. I don't think our field (MMAC) would be suitable for a contest. To date I've met in person only one pattern flyer from New England and heard from only one or two others on the net. With so few pattern fliers, maybe it's also that there just isn't critical mass to get a club to hold an event. If one or two guys in a club fly pattern, I could see why all the other club members might not want to give up the field for a weekend, or even a Saturday, for an event. 

-Ken K. 

... 
One thing that might make pattern more interesting is if some of the top flyers talk to D1 RC club presidents and offer to go to the fields that have no pattern flyers and no contests and do some pattern demos. Give the club some time to drum up interest in advance of the date and let the club members try to fly the sportsman sequence with the help of our traveling experienced pattern flyer; ie, a grass roots effort. Even talk to the club presidents about hosting a pattern contest even if they have no active flyers just to throw that out there if the club has the facilities to support such an event. This type of stuff has probably been discussed before but in my club of 100 members, it'd be all new to them. My sportsman flying is hardly motivating, ;-) 
... 

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