ORIGINAL: Doug Cronkhite
Basic is a class overlooked by CD's sometimes but even moreso by pilots. Too often people look at Basic and say "I can do that stuff.. I should fly Sportsman."
WRONG. I see WAY too many people moving up too fast who don't have a firm grasp on the most basic of elements. Unless you can fly the Basic sequence and get 8's every time with the occasional 9 or 10, you shouldn't move up. You NEED to learn the building blocks before you start in with the tougher maneuvers.
I absolutely agree with this. Sadly, when CD's and other pilots place a heavy stigma on the Basic Class, as is often done, then it makes it hard for a pilot to stay where he should be until he develops the necessary skills to compete in the upper classes.
Basic is the lifeblood of aerobatics. Without it there will not be any upper class pilots, at least not any worth taking the time to judge!!
Basic is often one of the most competitive classes at the JR-SCAT Series contests, and I love seeing that!!! These guys are serious competitiors and not any less so just because their sequence is not as difficult as anohter.
In fact, Doug's criteria for moving out of Basic should be used for all classes. If you are not consistently near the top and scoring well all the time, then that is evidence that you still have something to learn where you are.
Bill