Im a new guy to pattern, just getting started.

You have to understand my background, pop was a pattern flyer WAY back.... like 1964 back. Im surrounded by pilots with some sort of pattern background at one time or another.. Tony Stillman, Steve Rojecki, etc.

The only reason I'm getting into pattern is because I want the competition, and there are very limited choices for what I really like to do which is indoor freestyle....so I figured Id learn pattern. Besides, the precision skills Ill learn in pattern will help me in the other events.

But I have to agree with the early posters.....BORING sportsman sequences. Even though they are boring, they are designed to teach you how to fly with precision. Its the kinda old adage..."whats good for you doesnt always taste good". Sportsman sequence tastes like ****, but learning it correctly is good for you.

Let me give you an example. Most pilots can fly a loop. Its easy, just increase power, and pull back on the stick, Right...well that maybe ok for some folks, but thats not a "real" loop. A "real" loop is one that is perfectly round, and smooth. Ask a sport pilot to make two consecutive loops one right after the other, and to make both of them the same. 90% of the time they cant pull it off. Enter the sportsman sequence. A pattern sequence designed to take the beginning pilot, and teach him how to fly correctly. Sure its boring as hell, but its there to teach you not make you drool with excitement.
We all want to go throw down with a sweet F3A flight, but it just isnt going to happen your first time.

Problem # 1 -
The younger guys pick up a foamy, within a few months, they've got it hovering, and it looks so much more impressive than a big ol loop, that they dont show any interest in pattern. Its only the guys that actually take the time to try precision flight that actually realize its benefits. I quickly realized after my first freestyle competition that if I wanted any hope of ever gaining a top 10 finish, I had to learn precision. Just flying wild wing-snapping maneuvers is never going to get you a top place finish.

Problem #2 - Spectator involvement - have you ever gone to a pattern contest sat behind the fence just to watch. Its like watching grass grow. Hit the snooze button and wake me when its over. New guys watch from the sidelines, after watching about 7 flights, they either pack up and leave, fall asleep, or start wondering around looking for something to do.

Problem #3 - Cost. HOLY WRIGHT FLYER this is expensive. Get ready to empty the bank acct. Just the motor alone will set you back a good weeks paycheck. You'll need your tax return for the plane to put it in. Entry level sportsman class is capable of being flown by just about any plane, but if you want to be competitive, your still gonna need a fairly decent plane. Then you are going to go through gallons and gallons of fuel in practice sessions.

Problem #4 - Time - I once had a pattern pilot tell me if you want to win you have to fly EVERYDAY. You have to be completely devoted 100%, and fly all the time to stay competitive. Its hard enough to get people to come to the field once a month to fly, much less everyday. You've got to really be hooked on this hobby to put that much effort into it. So the beginner practices a few times, and goes to compete in a competition. He gets his butt handed to him because the guy next to him has burned enough nitro to burn a hole in the ozone layer, and he loses interest.

So how do we solve this problem. Hmmm

Start adding more visually appealing maneuvers to the existing patterns? F3Ai/F3P is already incorporating some of these maneuvers. The last maneuver in the F3Ai sequence is a single torque roll. Perhaps add different attitude flight maneuvers. At current the more difficult patterns...most of it is just changed from up right maneuvers to inverted maneuvers, and adding points into the rolls. What about KE. A simple KE pass in the sportsman class would improve the WOW factor, and dont kid yourself. Most of the sportsman class flyers could pull it off. At current, we dont see KE flight till the Masters class. WHY? There's lots of WOW in KE flight. Im sorry, but by the time you get to masters, you should be able to do a KE pass, with a negative snap in the middle back to KE. Do this at your field, and watch jaws drop. What happened to rolling circles? Ive seen kids with foamies doing rolling circles in the backyard, yet we dont see this maneuver in any of the AMA classes. Of course you still have to fly these with precision, but I think adding maneuvers that push the skills, will just end up making is better pilots in the long run.