ORIGINAL: NJRCFLYER2
Hi Dave:
For perspective, I've been to about 40 local pattern contests over 5 seasons, as well as 4 Pattern NATS. There have been three midairs that I know about in those local contests, one that caused minor damage to both models, one with a total loss of both, and one with a loss of one and major damage to the other. At the '04 NATS, there were 2 mid-airs I can remember from the FAI line. There may have been others over '05 through '07, but I don't recall any. There were none in '08. Particularly with the NATS, where two of the three flying sites at Muncie have the same class going simultaneously on both flight lines, and with a higher percentage of pilots of pilots who hold a consistent line than at local contests, there is a low number of midairs overall. This years there were 128 pilots competing at the NATS; typical numbers are 110-120 each year.
Since there's virtually no cross box stuff in Pattern, except the occasional Humpty with options, you can pretty much pick a line and stay in or out from where the other guy is most of the time. Not a perfect solution, but it helps some.
I appreciate what you're saying, Ed, and you're right that it is the exception not the rule. I just like not having to choose to take a bad score in the event I think I need to bail- it's the having your hands tied thing for me.
Assuming we agree that it's not normally an issue, is there still a strong argument against allowing avoidance? Where does the resistance come from? Just trying to understand.
I had just come to the conclusion that it's no big deal and, bam, I see another one from Huntsville this weekend- an Oxai Pinnacle and a Black Magic got together.... pics on the home page over at FG.com
PS- got a bunch of flights in today and the OS140 seems to be running well now. I'll probably have some more questions this week, though!