After several years of just sitting back and watching pattern, I finally took the plunge and flew in a Pattern contest. I was the guy with the OLD T2-A at the D5 contest held at the Flying Electrons field in Menomonee Falls, WI. I flew in Sportsman and had a blast. I found everyone very helpful including the judges. I have flown competition Sailplanes for over 15 years and I have seen a decline in attendance. I also here that the most expensive plane wins, so I am not going to compete excuse as the reason for the decline in attendance. Guess what, I am part of the problem, I can now longer devote the time to travel to the events. In order to feed my addiction I would travel out of state most weekends to fly. I can no longer devote that much time to the sport. I have always wanted to try a pattern contest but I would have to travel to attend enough contests to make it worthwhile to practice. It is not the cost or the people (bad) that keep me away. 1987 was when I flew my T2-A. The T2-A was an outdated plane the day I flew it. I was very surprised by the reaction from the other pilots. NO one bashed the plane I dragged out everyone I talked to was more focused on helping me with the maneuvers then on the price of the plane. I had a great time and learned allot about my flying skills (or lack of) and with only a few weeks of work I am flying better.

I was checking out the NSRCA web site a weeks before this contest to see what is going on and I came across a Pattern Clinic that was at a local field and I signed up This was the best thing I have ever done in the hobby. I do have a newer Pattern plane in the works but it would not be ready for this event. So I dusted off my T2-A and attended the clinic. This Clinic was taught by Dave Guerin and promoted by Rusty Dose. Great job Guys. I was surprise to find out that my old T2-A would be good enough to compete in Sportsman. So you want to build up Pattern flying? Try talking it up at your club level and let pilots know that the Sportsman Class can be flown using a low cost plane that they may already have. Try doing a clinic for the Sportsman class and try to get the 3D guys interested in Sportsman class. I just set up my Profile Katana to fly the Pattern and it looks great for practicing.

I try to have fun with this hobby and it is just that, a hobby. My family and job come first and if I can’t make the contest circuit please doesn’t count me out and call the sport dead. We all may want to try to promote more events at the home field so pilots won’t have to travel as much but will still have a chance to be coached and judged.

I think Rusty Does (NSRCA Treasure) is on the right track. Thanks for the great effort.


Tom K.
SkyitoutRC.com