Taildragger,
Good luck on the Pattern Primer and hope that you have a better experience than the first guy you came across. I am in my 3rd year of competition and can say that I have seen just about everything you can think of for the Sportsman flier. You the Sportsman flier can't go to the Nationals (NATS) so most Contest Directors (CD's) will relax the size rules for just about whatever you can bring up to a limit. I've seen up to 15 pounds which gets you most of the 1/4 scale stuff. And I've seen and flown against .40 size planes that beat me with a full blown high 2m bird. So really don't need to put in any new rule as far as equipment goes just come to the event and fly. Usually there is plenty of time before and especially after the contest to bring out you crazy birds and let things ring out a bit.

But consider this, Don Szcur Flew an ARF at the the NATS a couple of years ago and won the top level. AN ARF. $600. when it was new. Of course the engine and the rest got the cost up there to his liking but the ARF beat all the others.

Learn to fly the plane. Some one well practiced and comfortable with his airplane has a better shot at winning than someone who shows up at the field with the latest and greatest and most expensive. Perfection is found at the bottom of a fuel jug, lots of them, no matter what you fly. When I judge a competitor I judge him on how he is flying and how he presents the maneauvers in accordance with rules put forth. Size and money spent on the plane are not that important early on. Get your feet wet and see if you like, then get serious and fly something you like that will be competitive.

And also realize to put in a full contest season you will have to put in a lot of flights, and I mean a lot of flights. The aircraft and the associated items in that aircraft have to be able to withstand the rigors of flying 300 to 400 times in a year. The average sport pilot does not put that kind of milege on the average sport plane. The planes just can't handle it.

Yes there are times when the guys in the higher levels get serious and need some serious practice. For those aspiring to go to the top level and travel to the NATS it takes a certain amount of commitment but that is no excuse to exclude others at the field from flying or be a helpful guy at the local club when someone has a stupid question. You will get no arguement about that point from me for sure.


We have 4 guys at our field that are heavy into pattern. 1 Sportsman, 2 Advanced, 1 Masters/ FAI. 3 of us are going to the NATS this year and plan to do well. But there is also time for the sport flier wring it out plane, above all else this is a hobby and it is for our enjoyment. The only way that the entire hobby is to grow is that newcomers are welcomed in with open arms and every stupid question every time. Other wise the hobby dies not just pattern. There are snobs yes in pattern, but I bet you find them in IMAC, SCALE, Helicopter and any other SIG of the hobby. But I think they are few and far between. Having witnessed the very top pilots at the NATS last year even on the finals day at the FAI line when things are really on the line, most of the competitors had time for questions right up till time for them to fly. And I am talking these are the people that are looking to get selected to or are members of the USA World Team.

I can say this for certain it felt pretty good to be in the same tent getting my 4th place trophy along with some of the top pilots in the world, that was pretty cool.

Sorry to get long winded but I think there are some myths out there about pattern that are just that. And coming from a backround of flying everything other than pattern I can say that it has been a very rewarding experience for me personally and has made all of my other flying, from trainers to 33% gassers much more enjoyable.

See you at a pattern meet sometime down the road.