Good points Sean! I fear Luke and I are some of the last pattern pilots at Tomcats due to (unfounded, IMHO and from the data I've collected) concerns about radio interference on Futaba equipment at tomcats. As fixed wing training director I've actually been thinking about adding a training offering at the club for people interested in learning to fly the sportsman sequence it'll be a bit of the blind leading the blind, but I can certainly help people develop the confidence to fly the whole sequence and to know the basics of what to look for in their maneuvers and hopefully keep them from falling into a ditch (obscure biblical reference, sorry, I couldn't resist).

As for being in the corner and not interacting, I've had quite a few folk come over and ask questions about getting started in RC, getting started with Aerobatics, electronics, electric power systems, etc. and I'm always happy to help. Thanks for the heads up though, I'll work to change the perception of "pattern corner".

Peter+