Very good Bill !

Shortman Pattern is a precision event in our hobby. It takes numerous hours to practice and perfect just one of so many maneuvers. Sport pilots are great and out to have fun, just as I do 90% of the time. 10% of all R/C'ers are Pattern/F3A. At my Club I'm the only one that has an owns various pattern planes. I fly mine and people come up and ask questions on just how straight and precise the maneuvers are and how beautiful the landings are. I hand the controller to them and they also see just how straight the plane maintains flight in any angle. They then make comments like I guess my next plane will be a pattern. Still haven't seen one from any member yet. With this percision there is a cost! Thats not to say Planes as Bill mentioned aren't capable of performing just as nice maneuvers. I did see a Japanese guy at an Okinawa F3A comp, beat the pants off of us with an Extra!

Hope this answers more of your questions.