It amaze me how every hobby whether it’s pattern flying, racing or checkers keeps having this same conversation, and nothing seems to change. We always want to make an easier class to attract the beginners. We make the class and if it works at all it doesn’t work long. The problem isn’t always the idea it’s the execution.

Back when pattern was starting with the Turn-A-Round format the beginner’s class was called Novice. It started out being a very easy Turn-A-Round class. The experts said that this was too hard and you needed something easier to attract the beginners. So the class breaks were added. Now the Novice could fly three maneuvers and break the box to reposition his airplane for the next 3 maneuvers. Basically what you have now.

Then it was thought that you weren’t getting any new people because the class was called Novice. The feeling was that no one wanted to fly novice because they were better than that and the Sportsman class was too big a jump. So Novice became Sportsman and you called the old Sportsman class Intermediate and made it easier. Still no one came. Now you want another easier class. The classes aren’t the problem. The effort required to do this, like all forms of competition is the problem.

Like most people that compete when you go to the field what do you do? You practice. You fly flight after flight with your expensive pattern airplane and get better and better. You are willing to help anyone that has an interest but no one usually says anything. It is conceived that to be competitive in pattern you need to practice every day with your expensive airplane.

Even if I approach you about getting involved, this first thing I’m told is that you’d love to help but my airplane is too big or too heavy and if I want to compete I need to get a different airplane. Or if I call the CD at the contest 3 hours from my house he might let me fly my airplane. Unless someone protests.

I’m going to cut this because it’s getting a little long. But, if you want to bring new blood into Pattern try to make entering the contest easier not the maneuvers. I can go to an electric fly less than an hour from my house and fly any electric airplane I own. I have to build a different airplane, practice forever, and travel 3 hours to fly pattern. You decide where as a beginner I’m going to go.