ORIGINAL: 1bwana1



As I have previously stated, I agree with those that think the weight issue on electric planes needs to be addressed. However I don't believe that this is the key to increasing participation in pattern flying. Since weight rules are not enforced at local contests, and the NATS are really not on the radar for beginning Pattern Flyers, the weight rules are not stopping people. I think the biggest deterrent to Pattern flying is that from the outside looking at the sport it seems like too big a commitment for most people.

I felt this way when I was learning to fly. We have a reasonable sized IMAC group here in San Diego. I noticed that the best pilots at the field seemed to be this group of IMAC pilots. I wanted to improve my skills, so I talked to them about it, and when there was an IMAC contest close by I went to watch. I was convinced that learning to fly with precision was the best way to improve my skills. However, I had recently retired from driving race cars, and traveling on weekends to events was a bigger commitment than I was willing to make. In racing the feeder series are local one day event series, I thought that this format could be adapted into a precision flying series. I discussed this idea with the IMAC group, and they all said things like I am reading here. Most people don't have the discipline, they won't make the effort, they are not interested. After some discussion we decided to give it a try anyway, and with the leadership of the IMAC pilots we started the EMAC series here in San Diego. It has been a great success, and will be starting it's fourth year in 2010. The contests are at our local field, one day events that start at 10:00 am and are usually done by 4:00pm. They are easy to attend, and cost nothing. The series has a regular group of more than 30 pilots, resulting in about 20 pilots in each event. The rules for planes are easy, fly what you have (they are all electric because the field is electric only). Although we fly the IMAC sequences (due to the originators IMAC background), Pattern planes have become the choice of many (my guess is 50%) pilots, because at sizes that are convenient for electric, they fly the best. Yes, many of the pilots have begun to fly IMAC, and have bought big planes for that. It has proved successful as a feeder series. However, as a great number of pilots have pattern planes, interest has developed in having a real pattern contest in San Diego. We have discussed this with the EMAC group, and asked how many would want to enter if a pattern contest was to be held locally. None has been held here in the 4 years I have been flying. There is a commitment from 17 pilots who said they will enter. Just from the potential, there are now at least 10 guys who are at the field practicing the AMA sequences. Some of these are planning on attending district events this season. We are talking to a nearby field (our regular field does not allow glow), and they are open to letting us have the field for a weekend. San Diego's one serious pattern participant has agreed to CD the event. I attended two contests in my district last year, and had a great time. Hopefully we will end up with an official AMA contest in San Diego for the first time in many years this summer. If we get support from the regular district pilots, I believe we will have well in excess of 30 pilots.

My point is that it is not the expense, people will sell their children once they are hooked. It is not lack of discipline, or lazyness that keep Pattern from growing. It is exposure to other pilots having fun flying pattern that keeps the sport from growing. The thing that overcomes this is effort and leadership in the local flying community. The feeder series seems to work well.
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