WE all know a big plane flyes easier than a smaller one, so going by that, a guy that shows up at his 1st pattern contest, and sees nothing but 2m ships, while he is flying a 40 size Kaos, he already has one strike against him, but of course thats ok because we wouldn't want to make it easier for the low buck guy to compete in pattern with a lower price smaller bird in sportsman class. No wounder pattern is dieing, by not adapting 2 simple rules no 2m ships and 110cc motors the largest motor allowd in sportsman the casual pattern flyer just might feel like compting. These 2 sugested rules I just threw out there, to promote pattern in those areas that have no one competing. How can these national champ flyers help the want to get into pattern guy flying at the club field when they are out by themselves practising at a different field to be alone for their serious practice time, you have lost me there. I don't know one national champ winner to lend me a plane or show me any thing as I am sure most of us are in the same boat. It is this lets do it the same old way that is killing intrest in pattern, not lack of people that would love to try. Take the 11 pound rule for example, how silly is that. Have you ever taken a good look at some of these warbirds that come in at 15-30 pounds with long fuses and 80"+ ws looks to me like they would make wounderful pattern birds in the lower classes, but no we want to do it the same old way.