Tony,
Dave is spot on!

I respect your oppinions But I have to say,
"Money" has the least to do with people trying pattern.

I know you fly or have flown Jets, Large scale IMAC style aircraft, and number of other diciplines, including gliders.
Have you gone to Joe Nall, or a IMAC contest, or any Jet events lately? has participation gone down there? no, they dwarf the size of our Nat`s and the money layed out is just Stupid to me!

The cost to participate in these events make our cost look like getting into foamy flying.
Please ,name me one event at the Nat`s that has gone up in participation ,,non of them have.
there are just too many interest in the hobby now days.
I talked to a top level sponsored IMAC guy this weekend about getting involved in flying, and when I told him about what to expect with cost he laughed and said I have that tied up in my 40% airframe alone, that aint nothing. He was jazzed the cost was so low.

I saw some sling gliders this weekend that sell for 400.00$`s just the glider, and they can`t make um fast enough, a sling glider,,,
I dare to say there were around 20 fliers at this fly in and the cost of these "non contest fliers" setups ,scale or IMAC style airplanes were more than the total value of your normal Masters and FAI line at the Nat`s combined.

It`s not about Money it`s about Having Fun to most of these people.
Most Guys will pay for the entertainment they most enjoy.
Pattern on a Whole is one of the cheapest competition to participate in,
I think the rules as they are are near perfect and drives improvement.

Bryan