Hi,
I have been flying pattern for 15 years now and am ready to fly turbines. I hope to start next summer. I did fly two Tom Cook Starfires years ago and didn't have a problem transitioning. The difference was only the speed from the 130's to the 180's. I flew a Saturday w/ Jim Hiller at our field in Alliance Oh on tips of in-flight mixture control. I think going from Ballistic Pattern to turbines or DFs is a smooth transition. Both need flat landing approaches. I've been to some meets were we count the bounces. The good pilots seem to have a patten background and it shows in their turnarounds and passes. But practice in the air is the best.