To start flying pattern is best to do it in the Sportsman class. The advantage is that you can feel what pattern is about and get to know some of the people involve in it. Most of the people are terrific and will give you a hand and an opinion as to what to get. Also you will see different airplanes in action. The other plus is by participating in Sportsman you can use ANY AMA legal airplane. Go to the NSRCA site (
http://nsrca.us/) and look at the calendar for your area and pattern sequences. NSRCA is the pattern special interest group with the AMA, you may want to joint them. They publish the K-Factor which is dedicated to the pattern activity.
I'm in the Texas, Austin area, do not know where you are, but feel free to contact me if you want.
Rene Grebe
[email protected]