I may be wrong but i think that the now defunct TOC had at least one round where the pilots flew a fixed pattern. Since the TOC was THE 3D event to win i guess its not all bad!

It's my understanding that there is going to be a pure freestyle round, a fixed pattern round (or one where you make your own schedule from a catalogue of manouevres) and a freestyle round with music. Personally i think it would be good... but i guess theres only one way to find out!

One question i had last year is how much 3d and pattern should you do in a flight... well for anyone who's looking to enter this year for the first time the answer is...

3D. Lots of 3D. Lots and lots of 3D!!!!! There is room for some of the more technical stuff of course (like Welsh said, Paul M flew some beautiful one roll circles/loops etc) but essentially its all about aiming your plane at the floor at pulling out at the last second! Seriously though if your not a proper bo 3D'er then its game over. I was woefully underprepared last year and i'd love to have another crack at it but at the moment it doesn't look like i can make it.[]

Shame really 'cos i've got a reputation to repair!

- Martin