All this makes for great reading from a past pattern flyer (novice/advanced). Although pretty much out of it the past twenty five years I've been itchy to get back into it so I'm getting ready (joined AMA again and even got my old number back!). I can't help but ask if this is the same Mike Mueller who flew in pattern contests back in the mid - late seventies, early eighties. Would've been at theTri-Village (?) meet at Busse Woods, RC3 at Kickapoo Woods, down at Effingham, Salinas, etc.You mightrememberLarry Ott, Jerry Worth, even Tony Frakoviak (sic) was at our (RC3) contest. You might remember a kid named Mike Bliss (expert class) who I often traveled to contests with; last big contest was the 1980 Nats at Wilmington, Ohio. I think you were flying mastersorat least expertthen. I loved pattern and was in awe at the way you guys flew those ships. I started with a Kaos 40, next a Tiger Tail (Kraft .61) then a Bootlegger (Rossi .60RE); of course who didn't have a Dirty Birdy back then. Anyhow, I hope to eventually make it back into pattern in the near future.

Mark