DISTRICT 7California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah
Bob Hixon: Our small group ("Advanced")
had to have had the most fun.
This was the first contest I have ever flown in where the winner and
final placement was not known until the end of the last round.
Usually, there is a " super-star" in each class that
quickly emerges, and rises to the "top" by several hundred points;
virtually shutting down first place...
but not this time.
All shared the spotlight...
We all won at least a round. Jim Brown and I both won two.
The "new guy", Robert Lischer was the "unknown" factor, and Jim and
I had no idea what to expect from him... I understand he used to fly
pattern years ago, and was making a comeback. Jim and I immediately
thought: "Uh, huh, sandbagging; using this opportunity to beat up on
us to build up his confidence for future contests in a higher skill class"...
No. Honest, close flying for all three of us...
(The official old fartz, retired guys, flying class)...
I was breathing down Jim Brown's neck all six rounds. I dug myself a
hole with the dead-stick, and climbed back from third to second. But,
as many sports, time was against me making up all my errors.
Jim could hear my footfalls the entire contest.
I left the door open for him several times with problems,
and he did not falter; his consistency, in the end,
won the contest for him. He won first place only 26 points ahead of me...
I was all over the place. A few flashes of brilliance, followed by a
dead-stick or zeroed manouver...
The competition was very close, and great fun. The competative
spirit was intoxicating; bringing out the best effort on all of our parts.
Yes, we all struggled. Yes, there were problems, and goof ups for all of
us. But the positive and honest effort, and comraderie was there for all.
It was real. It was wonderful.
In short, this was what pattern is, and should be all about.
Not just winning, or
loosing, but what goes on in between, also...
Had some super star been in the class, and kicked all our butts to the
curb, early in the contest, it would not have been nearly as much fun.
We, in advanced, were, for sure NOT the best pilots in the contest.
Yet, I can say, NO ONE had more fun !!!