Reading thru some of the threads on this board brought back a lot of memories from my pattern flying days, so I decided to locate a contest and go spend a day as a spectator. Looks like pattern has died here in Texas, because there appears to be only one event scheduled this year(El Paso, approx 800+ miles).

This is a real disappointment, because I fondly remember the Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana pattern circuit of the 80's where within a 350-400 mile radius you could make at least 6-7 contests each year.

Whatever happened?

Gary,

There are a bunch of contests scheduled for 2007 in TX. I'm not surprised an Aggie couldn't find 'em! Here's link w/ the '07 sked:

http://www.nsrca.org/competition/con...stCalendar.asp

You'll find that pattern has changed a lot since the 80's, especially if you were active in the early 80's. No more ballistic pattern, no more screaming rear-exhaust 60s on pipes, no more retracts, etc.. In my opinion it's not as exciting for spectators any more, but you'll find a great bunch of guys who'll still make it very enjoyable. Hope to see ya at some events!

Tim

Pattern is very active in Texas. The first contest of the year is in Temple, TX the middle of April. should be a very nice turn out.

Arch Stafford

Tim,

THIS Aggie did find it. I simply used your link . Thanks for the info.

Seriously, has the AMA abandoned pattern? I had looked at the AMA competition calendar, and the only thing it is showing is the El Paso event. By the way, I didn't notice anything scheduled in Austin. Once upon a time Austin had a pretty respectable contest at a flying site east of town, I think just off Hwy 290.

A lot of the sanctions for the contests probably have not been submitted. The NSRCA calendar for the most part goes off of the previous years schedule. Most contests keep the same weekend, so people can plan ahead, but that doesnt mean that the club has the sanction for the event submitted. Until the sanction is approved it will not show in the AMA magazine.

Arch

You got that right Tim, all we have now is boring, slow, really expensive pattern now![&o]
GPB

Once I start my new work sked (May) I'm going to have time to finish my Curare and then my Tipo. Hopefully that'll spark some interest in maybe getting some SPA action going in the area. Remember the good ol' days when *everyone* had a pattern plane?

Tim

Glad to help! As someone else said, the AMA calendar will fill up as CDs get their applications submitted. Unfortunately, Austin hasn't had a pattern contest in the 12 years that I've flown here (that I remember anyway). I fly at ARCA - the field on Decker off 290 - and there simply isn't much interest in pattern. I'd guess there are only about 4-5 of us that even have pattern planes, and I've only seen one 2x2. Even talking w/ the old guys at the club, there aren't many that flew pattern back in the day either. There are a lot of them that were involved in pylon racing, but not much pattern.

Tim

Whoa, I remember that contest out at Decker Lake as being a huge event! It's tragic that the guys there don't realize what past glory took place at that field.

Hi Tim,

Welcome Back! There are quite a few of us that have reached the "Golden" years and beyond that flew pattern and attended the Austin Contest and many others scattered across Texas from the late 60's through the "demise" of the "Ballistic" pattern ships.

Well, I'm currently flying a Curare(with Fixed gear) not for SPA, I simply did not have any Rom-Air retracts when I built this so designed a fixed gear with pants.

Anyway, I am at this very moment planning on holding a Ballistic Pattern Contest based on 1983 Rules with the exception of allowing up to 15cc engines so those that want to install a .90 in the nose can do so. There are a couple of 90's that fit in the same mount as the old .60's and are readily available and are "American Made"!

Pipes, Retracts and NO BOX will be the order of the day. I still haven't nailed down a date but it will be around the "Indian Autumn" time late Sept or Oct. I simply want to avoid any conflicts with other pattern contest because I would like to draw folks from the Mid West as well as some of the guys from the Near west like Arizona,NM and of course the guys from the South East who are having a contest August 10th.

So start practicing, the class pattern you flew and lets have a "Party" here in Texas in Sept or Oct.

I haven't quite reached "Golden" age yet, but I'm starting a 2nd career after retiring from the Navy and am really looking forward to the normal sked in May (4 10's, then 3 days off).

You're talking my language now!! My Curare will have an RF61, pipe, and retracts, so it'll definitely be eligible to fly in your event. My Tipo will have a Jett 91 and retracts - will it be allowed? I sure hope some interest gets generated b/c I'd really love to see a bunch of these old birds competing again, and then hopefully be re-issued. Who knows, if some of the young guys coming into the hobby see how fast and graceful the ballistic birds are, we may attract a whole new crowd. I know it hooked me the first time I saw one!

Tim

If you guys keep this stuff up, I am going to be forced to get busy and finish my GP Tippo(hanging up for the past 16 years) and my Super Kaos(my 'scrapyard' project with discarded Tippo wing cores and an accumulation of scrap wood).

Tony, the Kaos is probably closest to being flyable, so when are you planning your contest?

Gary,

I just nailed down permission from the Club to hold the contest at this moment, I dont have an exact date but it will be in late Sept or early Oct. as I want to hold it when the "Heat' is a bit subdued.<BOSEG> I will keep you and others posted just as quickly as I get the date set.

Super Kaos is a fine pattern ship! I've built most all of Joe's designs(Sun Fli III 1st one) mainly from Plans as I never was a KIT builder just made my own kit and started building.

At present, I'm working on the "Sugar Land Xpress" which will be a "NEW" Ballistic Pattern Ship in the linage of many of the late 70's designs.

how about posting a picture of your "SK" here? I love pictures!