Radio Control
SPORT/AEROBATICS
Ron Van Putte
The letter from Ed Cregger about "factory teams" competing in Pattern contests, published in the April 1982 column, really hit some sensitive spots. Reader responses have run about 50-50 on whether they agree with Ed.
About half the letters said something like, "Yeah — let's ban factory teams and prohibit pipes and retracts in the lower three classes." The other half said, "Factory teams don't really exist on a major scale, and besides, ability and not equipment wins contests." Ed Cregger's letter was a response to a comment I made in the December 1981 column, in which I said I disliked being beaten by someone just because he could afford more expensive equipment. My mind hasn't changed about that.
Some readers pointed out that the cost of attending contests overshadows the price of sophisticated equipment in the long run. A modeler who can afford to go to many contests can usually afford the "whistles and bells," too. However, accessories don't really improve competition, and it's hard to justify spending money on something that doesn't make a competitor a better flier. On the other hand, it makes good sense to invest money and time in practicing the pattern. My Scottish background compels me to agree with those who want to keep airplanes in the lower two or three classes simple and let competitors invest the money they save in fuel, props, glow plugs and practice sessions.
This column is a forum for modelers, and I'd be happy to report on the responses received on this controversial subject. However, I don't have any more impact on what will be flown in future contests than any of you. The people who decide what the RC Pattern rules will be are the members of the RC Contest Board from each AMA district—based upon proposals submitted by AMA members (see the June Competition Newsletter for procedures and the proposal form). Those of you with opinions on the subject should let your district representative know how you feel so that he can represent the members in the district. Their names and addresses are in the Directory section of the Competition Newsletter.
Excerpts from letters
- Mike Lee (Phoenix, AZ):
"Many times I have seen pilots who come out winners in their classes with some pretty ancient equipment and aircraft. It is my opinion that it will be the pilot with the most experience on his particular ship who is most likely to win a Pattern meet, regardless of how much money he has sunk in the equipment. Nothing can replace experience. I agree that it does help sometimes to have that top‑notch stuff, but only to make it a bit easier to handle the maneuvers. I believe the pilot who is dedicated to the art of flying Pattern should be allowed the freedom to utilize retracts and pipes, whether this is at the lower levels or otherwise. In the end, everything boils down to having a plane that you know intimately and reliable equipment that works for you. With this you can gain the experience to make it work for you. Only this combination can put you into the winner's circle."
- Mike Finnigan (Oklahoma City, OK):
"I am a Novice and hold the same views as Ed Cregger about buying success in Pattern. Pattern is becoming a dying art. I think more people will participate if we do away with tuned pipes and retracts. I hope the AMA will bring the issue to a vote again, at which time maybe more average‑income, non‑sponsored fliers will voice their opinions to their District Contest Board members. I know I will."
- Jim Mowrey (Kinsley, KS):
"In any competition in which I have participated, 'factory teams' did not exist in Sportsman or Advanced classes, nor did retracts or tuned pipes guarantee winning in any class. You still must be able to perform the maneuvers. I just moved into Advanced last year and gained the necessary 100 points by flying a fixed‑gear, non‑tuned‑pipe aircraft. In the process of gaining those 100 points, I have been beaten not only by retract‑equipped, tuned‑pipe aircraft, but also by the shoulder‑wing, advanced‑trainer type. I have been competitive in many sports in my life, and I have yet to find one that limits the equipment you can use to that designed for the beginner, even in the beginner class. If you want to kill something, just start limiting its creativity. The secret is to quit looking for excuses and learn to fly."
- Bob Beckstein (Biloxi, MS):
"If you make it too expensive to compete, the wife will help you make up your mind to change the hobby. So, make it simple while the flier gets his experience."
All these opinions are valuable, but they won't have much effect unless the district Contest Board member gets them. Make your opinions known to your AMA district representatives.
Once in a while the U.S. government does something nice for me (inadvertently). I am a Civil Service employee working for the Air Force in the Advanced Medium Range Air‑to‑Air Missile project office at Eglin AFB. I had to make a trip for the government to the Grumman Aerospace Corporation in Bethpage, NY recently.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
