Duane:

I sure do wish that I could make it to Asheville. I'm sure that it would be worth the trip. I just can't swing the time and 1600 miles due to personal schedules (read downsizing) at work. Three people can do the work of seven if they want to keep working. Oh well this is America, but on with airplane business.

I believe that the large turnouts in novice say that the SPA format has a bright future. The novices will eventually progress to sportsman and then on to expert ranking. The problem with the current F3A is getting anyone to start and then go past novice requires a substantial cash outlay. In SPA an ARF or ARC with engine can be had for a reasonable amount and take a pilot all the way to expert. You should continue the contest if at all posible as people will eventually move up and more people will attend.

Pattern was alway a fairly expensive portion of our sport even in the "Classic" days. Just look at the old adds for $500.00 Pro-Lines or Kraft C series and even EK Super Pro and add in an engine and retracts and the cost of the airframe and you still had almost $1000.00 1970 dollars. That would be almost equal to a tilted out 40%er today.

The SPA format is very inexpensive fun and I think that is one of the reasons for the high novice turnouts. All a person really needs is a Kaos 40 or equivalent and simple 4 or 6channel radio, 46-55 size engine and you are rockin. I would think that the current SPA format is going in the correct direction. More members are joining all the time and lots of novices at contests, sounds right to me.

Peace

Mark O