ORIGINAL: Skylane
(snip) However, it has been said by some that they aren't ready to fly in Sportsman since one has to learn both the slow roll and the 4-point roll as the pattern is currently set up. Indeed, some might stay away if forced to advance too rapidly. So, another piece of the solution could be to make the Novice/Sportsman transition less difficult and then increase the difficulty of the Sportsman/Expert transition. As it is, some think that that transition is currently too easy. (snip)
Jeff
I agree with all that you said you said.
The copied sentences from your post illustrate what I perceive as a problem. The jump to Sportsman including the slow roll (very, very difficult) and the four point roll (somewhat difficult) are problematic. Not only do these maneuvers' emphasis on knife-edge ability with special emphasis on building and trimming skills represent a large leap in flying skill, but also demand a huge leap in set up and building skills.
Frankly, these skills are where I fell short and are why I didn't progress much further than I did (but I had help and an extremely hard head). I could fly the maneuvers (thumbs), but I wasn't able to pull off building a model that could satisfactorily perform them.
I have a much better idea of what I was doing wrong now, but for someone just entering classic pattern as their first pattern experience, it might turn out to be really difficult for them, especially if no one in their club or surroundings knows the "secrets" to performing such a build/setup. Of course, tips can be gained on the internet today that were not available when I was trying to fly pattern in the late Seventies and early Eighties.
Ed Cregger