Pattern in general has always done a very good job of making smooth transitions from one class to another.  If you take a look at the Sportsman class and follow that through Advanced and beyond, you will see exactly how new "parts" are introduced at each level making the pilot work a little harder in each class.  You can see the evolution of a pattern pilot with each move up.  It really is amazing.  Even in the sequence design guide, you can see exactly how things are thought of and how to introduce them nurturing a pilot as he moves through the ranks.

The Masters sequence is the top of the top for AMA and is the final step in "Mastering" the techniques that we have been taught through our venture in pattern.  It is the culmination of everything that we learned and now get to showcase our abilities.  The Masters sequence should truly separate the pilots that are at the pinnacle of pattern and challenge them.  The reason the Masters class is so large is because there is no place to go after unless you want to step up to FAI.  The reason that Masters is so big is because those that can't be competitive in FAI can be competitive in Masters.  I've said this before...we compete to win, period.  This is proven every contest that I've gone to from back in the 80's to present time.  There will be some folks that leave after Saturday because they are not in the running and have a long drive home.

All that being said, I think there needs to be a stepping process from Advanced to Masters.  Obviously, Advanced fliers that move up will not be able to truly compete with folks that have been flying for a long time and have been in FAI.  Why is it that we talk about this but never really do anything about it?  Why don't we put a class in that continues what the pattern group has always done and that's to slowly introduce new techniques and maneuvers to encourage participation and growth?  Is it really that difficult to add a new class?  If you think about it, this serves several purposes.  #1, it allows Masters pilots to truly compete and have the hardest stuff thrown at them that isn't on the FAI level and #2, it allows those that...and this is important....are <u>forced</u> to move up  to be able to compete with others that are more "on their skill level" and #3, it cuts down on the size of the Masters class which will show beyond a reasonable doubt why Masters is really the largest class.  Please, tell me what I need to do to formally suggest this.  Think about it guys!  By doing this, we eliminate all this bickering about too hard or too easy.  We continue to support the growth of the pilot and we give another "goal" to pilots while allowing people with simiilar skills to compete against one another.

Maybe I'm one of few and not many really feel this way or chose not to admit it but we all compete to win.  I, for one, will be rather discouraged when every contest I go to I'm getting whooped by guys that have years of experience more than myself and who have been flying pattern forever.  Yes, I practice A LOT and yes I do OK and am happy with my progress but not being competitive with the elite guys for the next 5-10 years is going to suck.  Just sayin....