ORIGINAL: dwdixie
Hello all,
I'd like to get into pattern flying, having recently enjoyed flying a 1.20 size pattern plane. So, I have a few questions that I'm sure are pretty basic to most of you...... maybe you can help!
1. I'd like to BUILD a pattern kit. What are the popular kits? I want a larger, 1.20 minimum, plane. Most importantly, where can I go to browse kits? (Can't find any great sources......)
2. Are electric and nitro separated in competition? Do large and smaller planes fly in the same class?
3. I live in Northen California. When/Where are the pattern contests held? Is there a central calander somewhere?
I guess for now I'm mostly interested in the finding out about the popular, larger-sized nitro kits so I can start building ASAP! I'd like to go somewhere to read reviews and browse availble kits. Thanks VERY MUCH for any input you guys can give me!
Dave Dixon
Lodi, CA<br type=''_moz'' />
Dave, Some answers to your questions above:
1: Unfortunately, there are not a lot of kits currently available due to the popularity of the ARF/ARC planes. There are 'some' available and we will try to get you a list. When you say you want to build a plane, do you mean from scratch, from a kit? Do you want a composite type plane or one you would build up from balsa and or foam?
2. No, there is no seperation of electric and nitro. Similarly, there is no seperation due to size. The only seperations are due to 'class' which refers to the levels of competition based on complexity of the maneuvers schedules. Currently, there are 4 classes for AMA competition with an additional class (F3A) which is governed by internation rules (FAI). There is a good website (
www.nsrca.us ) that shows these classes, the sequences each class flies as well as description of the maneuvers and how they are judged.
3. The
www.nsrcs.us website has a calendar for all the US/Canada contests. The next contest in our area will be in Fresno Oct 29-30 and is the District Championships for NSRCA District 7. There is quite a bit of pattern activity at the SAM flying field located at 11000 Florin Rd in Sacramento. If you would like to contact me off list to discuss meeting or discussing how to get acquainted/started in pattern, please email me at
[email protected].
Woodie ( aka Don Atwood)