I am curious about the aversion to turnaround maneuvers as well. I am an active pattern flyer and often hear that the reason the popularity of pattern declined so much was due in big part to going to the turnaround format. I have flown both and admit that the turnaround style is a bit more challenging, but less boring to fly.

The best jet demos I have ever seen were basically pattern flights without a lot of the snaps and stalling manuevers. I watched Lewis Patton fly his CAI Predator (I believe) in Dayton, and it was fantastic. Long passes with precise rolling and looping maneuvers in the middle... Fantastic.

Nothing improved my flying as much as getting involved in pattern. It demands a certain focus and discipline that improves your flying. Some pattern guys say that flying without a purpose is like golfing without the holes.

I am all for it!