Below is a blurb I wrote for our local club N.L. I shared it with Rick (Contest CD) he said place it on this thread. Much of it is tongue in cheek, and the names have not been changed to protect the innocent. Mark

[h=1]My First Pattern Contest[/h] By Mark Yothers

Ohio Valley Pattern Classic

The Club, contestants, judges all were very welcoming and helpful. The field is wonderful with wide open fly over space. Parking and plane set up is not well defined, so I just followed suite and all was well.

Practice on Friday; wind 90 degree crosswind at about 5 to 10 mph. To get a flight you had to get in line by putting your name on a sign in sheet, one plane at a time in the air. Got one flight in with Lester calling. Did OK, boy you should've seen that big loop I did, also I kept falling back into sport flying mode by throwing in rolls were there should be none. Don’t want to do that on contest day, it would give you a 0 score on that maneuver. One flight was enough for me, I just enjoyed the rest of the afternoon chit chatting with flyers and the fresh air and sunshine. (Work in a building with no windows don't you know!)

Saturday, first day of competition, my only day of competition since I was coming to the August picnic on Sunday. Arrived at the around 8:30. Weather, totally socked in, the flying area was covered by a heavy blanket of thick fog. I unloaded my stuff put the FOCUS together and placed it on the flight line.

Lester is already there and came over to say Hey. We B.S. for a while, then Lester says “Boy I could use a better pattern plane.” I agreed somewhat with him, he needs a stronger engine on that wonderful plane of his. He continues, “There’s a guy over there that’s selling a 2 meter Black Magic. (I’ve wanted to build one of those for the past 6 years.) Lester says ”What do you think?” I said let’s go look at its condition. As we walked towards the fella’s camper Lester was saying, “Yeah it’s got a great YS 170 4 stroke and 2 servos , he wants $400.00 for the whole thing. I’m thinking do I have my check book and will he take a check?

George was his name, flying in Sportsman with Lester and me, and a young 79 years old. Great guy flying another Black Magic, always a smile on his face. He said the plane was actually built by the designer of the kit Mike Hester. Mike had dorked it at a contest 5 years earlier and George picked it up for a song and repaired it. (OK this thing is MINE!) Is it pristine like the Focus I bought a few weeks ago, not hardly. This thing has been rode hard and put away wet. But it’s a BLACK MAGIC V3! For the past 6 years I’ve wanted to build a Black Magic V3 since Dean Funk (Handglider on RCUniverse) did a build thread. I just could never justify spending $800.00 on the kit another $400.00+ on wood, landing gear, wing tube, covering. Then the servos, motor, header, tuned pipe, paint wow these top of the line pattern planes can get pricey.

George continues to talk about the great YS 170 engine; I’m waiting for a break in the talk so I can ask if he’ll take a check and before Lester says he’ll take it. Finally George takes a breath and I sense this is my time. Will you take a check George? I ask. Yes I will said George! WaHoo I got a Black Magic V3!

Now it’s 9:30 and time for the pilots meeting. It was the shortest pilots meeting I’ve ever been involved with. Rick the Contest Director (CD) says we’re flying Sportsman first then the other classes 2 rounds this morning and 2 this afternoon in reverse order. And we’re starting early since it’s cloudy (Fog had lifted somewhat) and those Sportsman pilot don’t go as high as the upper class planes. Someone in the background said, “Oh some do.” I’m thinking ahh someone saw that beaut of a loop yesterday I did with the FOCUS. No worries, I’m not venturing anywhere near that cloud base to get into that soup. Rick continues, there are two flight lines to the left odd to the right even. Switch flight lines between flights. Any questions? Yes I asked, in what direction do we do the pattern? Rick said it’s up to each flyer. We had another 90 degree crosswind this time blowing in.

Now the flying stations are about 200 feet apart, which will enter into the picture later.

I’m up second on the odd flight line. First couple of planes up are flying a little sloppy. I’m thinking I’ve got em whipped already.

My turn to fly. I asked a young fella named Bill who looked like he knew what he was doing to call for me. Thank goodness I was a good judge, cause he was great. Are you fueled up, radio on says Bill? Yes it’s ready to go. The trusty old OS 140 roared to life with that quiet whisper of it’s tuned pipe. (LOVE the sound of that engine!) OK take off smooth, straight and gentle climb, nailed it! In the pattern, straight flight out , reverse ½ Cuban 8, straight flight back, stall turn, 2 inside loops, 2 point roll, ½ Cuban 8, double Immelmann Turns without rolls – nailed em all so far except for the stall turn. Next an Immelmann turn with roll to setup for a 45 degree down line. I pull a nice large ½ loop and roll upright-POOF- planes in the clouds out of sight. There is a hush that came over the flight line 2-3-4-5 seconds, it has to come down soon I cut the throttle. 6-7 seconds there it is heading away at a 45 degree angle. Damn I blew it I said. Bill says keep flying the plane. So I snapped it back on line; finished the flight and landed a little long, but safely. As I turned to the judges, one was Rick the CD who said don’t worry about that one you did better than I would’ve if that was my plane in the clouds.

Since there were only 4 flyers in Sportsman at that time I was up first at the other flight line. Now I’ve got to get plane, battery, starter and caller to the other flight line. So a 300 yard dash to get the equipment moved. OK if I'm going to continue this I’ve got to get in shape or get lighter equipment!

Heart pounding from the aerobics course. The second flight was much better. Piece o cake! I could see the plane the entire flight. Much better that way.

The remainder of the morning was spent watching the other classes compete. Some were good, some were really good, some were impressive. Neat planes, people and power plants.

Then came lunch. A half of a chicken cooked to perfection. (Really it was.) Moist, tender and tasty, some beans, something to drink I was in heaven. Wow ate too much

WHAT IS THAT AGAIN? 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and 4[SUP]th[/SUP] rounds are starting NOW! And I’m first up on the far flight line. Grab the plane, radio, caller and dash to the even flight line. Luckily I left the 500 pound starting battery and starter at that end of the field. OK heart pounding from the 300 yard dash with an 11 pound airplane, fingers nice and covered in chicken grease. Nailed the landing everything else was very sloppy. Maybe it’s because all of the blood in body was in my belly picking up the just delivered chicken, or it was in my legs trying to keep them alive and the whole time leaving my brain with little to work with. And Lord knows I need all the help I can get up there. Turned to the Judges and they had a lot of suggestions on how I could improve. About that time Bill my caller, says they want us at the other flight line NOW for the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] flight.

Oh Sh—plane, radio, 5000 pound battery, starter and caller another 300 yard dash to the Odd flight line. OK now my heart is REALLY pounding, fingers chicken greased plus sweat and glow fuel soaked. Not to mention the little white dots in front of my eyes from lack of oxygen. Bill hands me the transmitter and says yer up. Off I go. Oh so many mistakes, not even my loops were any good. Oh well I did land safely, that's an accomplishment, right?

Put the plane, battery, starter, glow igniter, radio back on the flight line/pit area, walked to the van and plopped down in my chair. Thrilled that I was able to land the plane and fly it thru a sloppy pattern with only a 5% oxygen concentration in my brain. I broke out a bottle of water and downed it in a minute. The fellow parked next to me (AN AMA staff member and a son that reminds me of a 10 year old Charlie Z.) (Dang kids.) He says to me - done till tomorrow? I said done period, I won’t be here on Sunday, so I can’t win. He said not so fast, if you won all four rounds you can’t be beat. WHAT? So I went over to the scoring tent before I left for the day and Rick the CD pulls the results from round 1 and 2 it said Mark Yothers 1000, 1000. I had won the first two rounds. Maybe in my oxygen depleted state in rounds 3 and 4 I did better than I thought and I pulled off a win. Rick said I’ll give you a call if you win.

Now it’s Monday, no call. Checked the RCU website and George with the Black Magic took the win. Dang oxygen!

What do I take away from my first pattern contest?

1) If you want to improve your flying and your ability to control your plane- Learn precision aerobatics.
2) You are competing with yourself, to improve your abilities, you can’t do anything about the other guy.
3) You learn more in one 5 minute competition flight than in 10 practice flights.
4) If most pattern contests are like the Ohio Valley Pattern Classic you will enjoy and learn a lot plus feel very welcome.
5) Just do it.