My first pattern contest was the summer I was learning to fly. Just happened by the flying field not knowing there was to be a contest that day. Rather than going home without flying, my instructor talked me into competing. I had never flown inverted other than doing some loops, had no idea what an Immelman or a Split Ess were. But my instructor called for me and coached over my shoulder. OK, so I placed sixth out of six in sportsman that summer but I was hooked on pattern flying.

This was flying my LT-40 SIG Kadet with an OS 4OLA.

The next summer I flew an Easy Sport 40 and in following years a Four Star 60/ Saito 91.

Have had to move up to intermediate which I still fly with the Four Star 60.

This winter I am building a Giles G-202 which I hope will carry me through the next couple years of pattern flying.

I fly for fun, and if this wasn't fun, I'd find something else to do.