ORIGINAL: Ed Cregger



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But not really a pattern plane.

There was a trend in the Seventies by all kit manufacturers to classify any low winged sport model as a pattern plane. This confused the dickens out of the non serious sport aerobatics folks. It was simply a marketing ploy and it worked very well - for the sellers.

For modelers, it became very confusing. After all, the box said it was a pattern model. How do you explain to someone that their Sterling Lancer, Andrews Trainermaster, etc., were not really competition grade pattern models without disappointing them? It's about the same as today's ARFs coming with fuel tanks whose necks protrude through the firewall. Anyone around in the late Sixties forward knows that this is bad engineering and leads to lots of engines being killed early in their lifespan due to fuel foaming. But try to explain this to the new modeler that trusted his ARF's manufacturer to design the model properly. Most of the time when I see a bad engine post, I know that this is the root of the problem. But who are the newbies going to believe? An old gray bearded guy, or the manufacturer?

Don't believe everything you read. These folks will say or imply anything to sell their products. That's just how the world works.


Ed Cregger