8178, I too think you got the chronology pretty much right.
I do have a differing opinion on some of your points if I may.
I am a pattern retread.
I flew my last pattern contest in 1985.
Quit RC around '88 or '89 and started back a year ago this month.
Last year when I started I told myself I would never compete again.
I bought a UCD 60, had the weather turn cold a couple months later and had to wait for Spring. When the weather turned flyable again I quickly became tired of just boring holes in the sky. I told my wife if this was all there is I would quit again. I found myself trying to fly the old AMA pattern. I knew about the changes to turnaround. I was a judge at the US Team selections in 1985 and that year you were allowed to fly your AMA class, mine was Advanced, and the FAI if you liked at the local contests. By the way I too flew the Texas circuit back then. There was a lot of resistance to turnaround by the established flyers but you could tell it was the way of the future.
When I decided to give it a try this Spring I attended a pattern clinic. Yes...with the UCD!
I hadn't seen the new planes but I was impressed.
I was also impressed with the level of flying.
I decided to give it a try and started on an Ultra RC Quest 2.
Observations:
The new pattern is more difficult with judged turnarounds. You get no breaks.
If you mess up one maneuver that error compounds and you can dig yourself a deeper hole.
But you know what? It's a heck of a lot of fun.
The planes and engines are better! My ARF Quest flys better then my Phoenix, Arrow or Dalotel from 20 years ago. It's a fact. And the power of a YS...well...if I had only had one 20 years ago! No more scrambled plugs, blown couplers, etc.
I trully do believe that the overall skill of the pilots is better. And the grace and flow of the flying is impressive.
And finally, folks are just friendlier. If you have a problem at a contest you have so much help it is unbelievable. I have made two contests now...12 judged flights. I have had a Master as a coach/caller on each one. All you have to do is ask and they all will help you...all the way up to FAI.
At the clinic there was someone there with an old AMA plane. Looked like a Phoenix but wasn't...retracts, .61, the whole bit. I was both glad and sad to see it fly. Glad because until that time I too had longed for the old planes...sad because seeing it fly in that context I realized it's time had passed...it was obsolete.
As far as size of the planes, yes they are bigger but most have two piece wings so that part isn't too bad to transport. The fuse is longer. I remember being able to put the Phoenix fuse in the passenger side of my '81 El Camino! You're right you can't do that anymore.
My experience this time around has been all good!
Just like 20 years ago.
It's a lot of fun and worth tracking down a contest as close as possible to you.
Just go to the NSRCA website and you can see all the districts and schedules.
Give it a try...I bet you'll like it!!!