Why? Why would it steer anyone away? If anything knowing this BEFORE going in cold would prevent it. Otherwise, reality will slap them sooner or later anyway. Lose them in sportsman or advanced what's the difference? They're still gone. Sooner or later they're going to need a pattern plane to compete in pattern. You don't bring a 73 malibu to the Indy 500 and expect to win. If they let you in, you could still learn a lot and have fun though, and that's my point. You also must realize some people take this stuff SERIOUSLY. They aren't afraid to spend the money, or even fly all around the country to fly with somebody like Troy Newman etc. (One person in particular comes to mind ) They are out there, and in greater numbers than you would believe. Especially if you aren't in the Southeast, these guys are serious. Your region may vary, of course. If you can win through advanced with a Runaround, then have at it. It simply doesn't happen around these parts, unless nobody else shows up.

BTW what year was that Jeff, and what class do you fly now? Just curious.

-Mike