Ok, first forgive me for even saying anything, I have never flow in a pattern contest but am a "newby" wanting to fly pattern.

I don't want to use a gyro, I want to fly pattern to learn to be a better flier. Maybe some people would be more attracted to fly with a gyro, which I am the first to say are GREAT to help you learn to fly (such as HH "Safe" system. But as soon as I could fly, I never looked back (ok a few times I wish I had a gyro, but thats how we learn.

To me the biggest thing holding back more people from flying pattern is
1 thinking I have to have a big expensive plane
2. thinking its an 'elite club' that I might not want to be part of (I have found pattern people EXTREMELY willing to help someone that wants to learn.
3 most clubs don't have anyone flying pattern, so they don't even know what it is (people confuse Pattern with IMAC, and think they have to have a 200cc plane to be competitive.

Getting the word out through AMA to just explain what Pattern is about to new people flying would help,,,even the NSRCA site shows the closest "instructor' to me in Austin, Im in Dallas,,,but there are great people willing to help me here in Dallas


andy