The domain registration on the website has expired, the Facebook page hasn't been updated for months, and I haven't seen a presence in the forums for a long time. Has CPA called it quits? Or is their media guy just asleep at the wheel?

Didn't get a membership renewal reminder this year. There hasn't been any contests here in the SE since Prattville in 2013, so in my mind it's been dead/dying since then. Frankly, I didn't get any benefit from membership, except for t-shirt and decal.

Seems that Scott has shifted focus to SPA, and selling balsa Bootlegger kits...

I've been threatening to build a box to take my Bootlegger out west to fly with those guys! But that will have to wait until after the '17 F3C World Championships.

Cliff

Well I'm one of those guys over here in SPA's biggest hotbed of activity in DFW Texas. We have a small but very dedicated group of pilots here. But i don't see the growth or intensity that it had a few years ago. I finished 3rd in SPA west this year, but there were only 6 competitors who posted points. That's not exactly a national sport.

I think we will see a few more pilots this year. Several of my fellow club members have gotten the itch and may catch the bug.

Our event is scheduled for May 20th. here in Grand Prairie. We will also be hosting the now deleted Intro class. I feel it is the best way to attract new pilots who want to try it out.

I really didn't understand SPA's reason for doing away with it.

Frank

It's a shame but I saw it dying for a while. MFG's came out with good stuff then stopped. Classic pattern is dead

It stopped because the planes weren't selling well enough. There was a big swell about 5 year ago, and then it was gone as fast as it came. I'm not quite ready to pronounce it dead, but the trend don't look good. Oddly enough, in the latest SPA newsletter, there was mention of "maybe" letting pipes and retracts in. Had they done that 10 years ago when there were lots of pilots flying and asking for it, things may have gone a different route. But who knows? Maybe some former CPA fans will respond if those rule changes happen and we'll see it get started in some new locations.

Hi All,
To be honest I have not been on RCU in a very longtime. Working 14 hour days and familylife is very busy. Have to work when we have it in the construction world. Notcomplaining just busy.
CPA in the SE has been inactive for several years with problemswith fields and club politics, we had several events on the books and rightbefore the contest clubs backed out. TheWest coast is very active and have several guys running events all year round.
For close to a year now we have been asking for help withthe CPA newsletter and other duties as well as holding contest and NO one hasstepped up.
It is the same one or two guys holding the events here inthe SE and family issues, work, and burn out have taken its toll.
I have heard from a club in the NE of a possible contest in2017 so that will be good.
The SPA this year is having an “open” class at 3 contestthis year for those with pipes and retracts to fly in the events.
The CPA website is up and running http://www.classicpatternassociation.com/ and asfar as the FB page, that was a screw up on my part.I made a page instead of a group and there isno way to migrate the two together. So maybe when I have so free time I willkill the CPA FB page and make it a group which is interactive.
There are a number of CPA members in the SE and alwayslooking for new site and CD to hold an event as well in other parts of thecountry.
So anyone having answers on how to jump start CPA nation wideas well in the southeast I’m all ears.
Hope everyone has a great holiday season and you can contactme direct at [email protected]
Cheers,
scott

I'm glad to hear that CPA isn't gone. It would be helpful to have events posted on the website. I could possibly be available to edit the newsletter if there if enough content to create it. PM me when you guys get ready to start it up again.

Frank,

When we eliminated the Introductory class we also opened up Novice to non-SPA airplanes just as the former Introductory class had (less than 72 inch wingspan, same engine requirements). Membership in SPA is not required for Novice, although it is required if you want to earn season points. Thus, Novice serves the same function that the Introductory class served. There were few participants in the Introductory calss and there were few in Novice. It made sense to combine the two by easing the requirements in the Novice class as outlined above.

Jeff
President, SPA

Jeff,

I haven't heard anything about the SPA treating Novice as Intro. I haven't seen anything about the pilots using any plane, or not being members of SPA. All I've seen is that Intro was eliminated.

In the past, my club has not charged an entry fee for intro class pilots in an effort to attract more people to "give it a try" so to speak.

I would have been nice if the governing bodies of the SPA had come up with some kind of warning that some changes were being considered last year and ask for a little input from the dues paying masses. But, instead, at the end of October, we get the news of the already decided changes.

However, that's life and we must live with it.

Frank Cox

I think the changes make sense. As for the process, the BOD seems to do a good job of talking through various scenarios and making the best choice they can. The west had a great representative for the last 2 years, so it's guaranteed that a guy was there who knows how the Texas events go and what they needed. There is a lot to be said for details and contingencies being hashed out in a small group rather than endlessly debated by the group as a whole. That's the entire reason we elect a BOD, so that capable people work these things out and give us a solid plan to follow.

Like I said, That's life and we must live with it.

Frank,

I'll take the hit on that one. I realized after writing my last column that the announcement of the changes fell between newsletters and that I hadn't written up the details of the changes nor the ideas behind them. The July-September newsletter was written before the changes were finalized by the BoD although, if you go back and read my column, you will see some of the possible ideas we were considering. It is important to note that the only feedback on that column was from Bernie Olsen and his comments referred to another topic, not the Intro class. It is unfortunate that more folks don't get involved with providing feedback - the BoD takes what feedback we do get seriously as we discuss various options. I will write something about the Intro class for my next column.

Jeff Owens
President, SPA

CPA is active on the west coast. We have been hosting a calendar of events since 2011. As Scott stated, no one is willing to help. If you look at the average posting on the forums, they read something like "What engine for my Dirty Birdy?" (hint: a 60). Or "Look at the latest over priced box of MK balsa on Feebay". Not exactly a lot of enthusiasm for FLYING these things. I would be willing to bet that for a lot of folks, their real hobby is posting on internet forums.

No one wants to be a leader. It is a lot easier to sit around and complain. I have put forth a simple solution to getting action started in your area. It is the "Get-Together" or "Fly-In" format. Most pilots are not interested in contests, and prefer a non competitive, low pressure fun event. It is super easy to do. Just invite a bunch of people to fly. Virtually no cost, and does not require a crew. And the results are fantastic. The Classic Pattern Get Together here in So. Cal. is still going strong, and has been instrumental in building classic pattern activity in our area. Try it. What is the worst thing that could happen? Success?

Robert Fish
West Coast Regional Director,
Classic Pattern Association

I tried to allow my club to let us have a pattern event a couple (4?) years ago but was turned down.

David,
Club leadership can be a blessing or a curse. Perhaps they would be more amicable to the Fly-In format? Good luck.

Robert

Personally, I hate fly ins. If it's at my club, I'm basically paying to come and fly the same way I would had there not been an event, except I can't use the facility I paid for unless I pay again. It's dumb.
IMHO, if pilots aren't interested in competing at all, then they'll never be pattern pilots. I like competing; it gives me a goal to work toward and an objective standard to measure my progress. I find it hard to believe that there aren't enough competitive people around to get classic pattern flying started in any decently populated area. Are there no former athletes in your clubs? No sports fans? Sure, there may be a perception that it's expensive and time consuming, which may mean they aren't willing to make the commitment. But if you make intro class very beginner friendly and don't let veterans hang around in it just so they can get a trophy it could encourage people to give it a try. A well trimmed Ugly Stick or 4 Star can do intro/novice maneuvers just fine, so there really isn't much of a barrier to entry if you think of it that way.

Fly ins are not dumb. If fly ins don't work for you, then you could always do a contest. If that grows classic pattern in your area go for it.

Some people are just not interested in competition. It does not make them less of a man (or woman), they just enjoy flying pattern planes! At the end of the day, it is just a hobby.

We have had several two round informal "non contests" at our fly ins. It gives a pilot the opportunity to fly the pattern format for the first time, and in front of judges. They discover something new- flying with a purpose. The result has been that several pilots that would have never considered flying in a contest are now regular attendees. See what we did- we grew the event. That is why we are doing well in our region.

Robert