Many people that do practice the Pattern sequences, and do them in order as intended, learn to fly much better than people that just fly circles and do random maneuvers. The reason is that the discipline is instilled to know what is next, and to prepare for it. That means setting up the maneuvers with a 'straight line' and learning stick control... pulling straight back on the elevator, for instance, rather than accidentally angular which throws in some aileron influence in a loop.. (just an example).

It also takes some time to get the plane set up properly. Such things as mechanical trim adjustments to fine tune the surfaces to get them right, and to make the plane fly truly straight. Once done, then practice of the maneuver sequences, with knowledge of what is coming up next and the maneuver after that.. sets up things so that you tend to fly much better because you are thinking of what is to come rather than reacting to it.

This is, of course, if you are looking to move forward. Granted, some RC'ers are just fine with taking off, doing orbits and an occasional loop or roll, and then other things.. which is just fine. That's sport flying and is just as much fun as anything else you can do, including pattern practice. This is not a bad thing, by any stretch of the imagination, so if you are contented to do just that, then, by all means, go for it. No one will will say anything negative about that, for sure.

We had one guy that would take off after I was in the air, fly a few orbits, and land. Then he would refuel and do it all over again, while I was still in the air [sm=bananahead.gif]. I'm not sure if he knew he had over 10 minutes of fuel in that plane or not.. but that's what he did. Strange, but true. And he enjoyed doing that. Drove most of us crazy because he would decide to land while we were on approach after burning a tank... and he had plenty of fuel left. Strange indeed.


CGr.