ORIGINAL: CGRetired
That's not exactly true, regarding pattern planes. Although they are ''slippery'', they are not necessarily fast, although, like anything else, they can be fast.
Pattern is flown with ''maximum'' control. Each flight that I do gets trimmed up for straight and level flight at about half throttle. Then the maneuvers go from there. Going vertical, for instance, requires pushing the throttle to full followed by a pull to vertical, followed by whatever throttle management setting is required for the maneuver. A stall turn, or hammerhead, the pilot will pull to vertical, then at the right moment, reduces throttle to min and pushes over for the proper maneuver.
On the way down, straight down, the throttle is usually kept at minimum until the return to straight and level where the throttle is moved back to about half.
The throttle is not an on-off switch. If it is used as such, even pattern planes will fly fast as will a trainer.
CGr.
Seems to me the photo I posted of my DB shows it as a tail dragger? It is a small photo though but I have to transfer photos from one puter to the next to get them from my file. Long story, guess I could open a new membership from that puter?
I am an old pattern pilot that has more fun punching holes in the sky these days. Flying presision can put you to sleep, I do fly the basic plus when I fly my 2 meter and it does dazzle the other guys but they are old farts too and easy to impress. I also don't have the pattern pilot ego thing going on.
Flying smooth as Dick mentioned here is more important then flying the pattern but pattern is nice to learn. I had it hammered into me so even when I'm jinken around in the sky it is usually smooth if I'm flying a good plane. I flew my stupid over powered Hots and my little electric the other day. The Hots is not a presision plane in the least but I had fun with it. This is supposed to be a fun hobby. If you want presision flying then by all means learn, if not then just have fun. I haven't competed in anything but club events and would never bother travling around the state to compete. Even competing is boaring!! Hurry up and wait to fly then try to stay awake while others do the same thing.
Build or buy a class C and have fun with it! Don't make a big deal about it. Just buy the kit.
