Absolutely right on, Gray Beard. What I do, though, is make sure anyone that I train or give advice to, is to tell them to make sure they can fly straight and level. You cannot do any of the maneuvers until you learn to fly straight and level. And that means learning how to properly trim, both mechanically and while flying in the air.

That first part, mechanical, may need some explanation for the "uninformed". Most of us maiden, trim, fly, land. Then repeat the refuel and fly, land, then repeat....you get the idea.

To fly any maneuvers with or without precision needs a bit more. Without precision, well, for the most part, we all do that. But to fly WITH precision takes a little more time.

Each plane is built (kit) or assembled (ARF) according to our talents abilities and capabilities to follow instructions. Most kits/arfs are fairly simple so that just about anyone, including me, can build/assemble with a minimum amount of effort and some basic knowledge of mechanics. If we have a question about something, well, RCU Beginners Forum, here we come. With most ARF's, for instance, if you can read, you can assemble. Kits require a bit more but modern kits are pretty much pre-cut and ready for glue.

So, we get our kit/arf, and go home, and think it over, and build/assemble and, voila, we have a plane ready for maiden flight. If we are reasonably competent, they are built straight and strong. (ok.. straight.. some manufacturers are a tad short on the use of proper glue, but that's not the discussion here).

Now, after proper pre-flight (fuel up, engine tune, range check, and so on) we fly our maiden, get it up there, do our basic trims, get it to fly right, and then we get going with our day's fun activities.

Precision now steps in. After we trim out, and fly straight and level, with hands off, we're happy, right? Not so for pattern, or to fly the maneuvers and have them not only look right, but to set up the next maneuver, because that's what goes on with Pattern. One maneuver follows another. If, for instance, you exit the Split S wrong, well, if your next maneuver is a set of loops, well, if you are not straight and level, you can not directly enter the next maneuver. Often, that is not the fault of the pilot, but the fault of the mechanical setup of the airplane.

If, for instance, you have split elevators, and one is a degree off (for example) from the other, then there will be a tendency for the aircraft not to fly exactly straight. Same goes for all other control surfaces. They must be set up, one by one, to make sure they are straight, and more appropriate, will fly the plane straight with no tendency to push, pull, twist, roll, whatever.. the airframe while trying to fly it straight and level. We usually adjust the trim (elevator trim for instance, to stop the tendency to climb at one particular throttle setting) to remove those tendencies. The thing to do now is to land the plane and remove that trim then adjust mechanical (clevis in or out) to compensate for that tendency to climb at that throttle setting). There is more to it than that, but you get the picture.

There is a web site, I'll have to find it, that has a complete description of how to go about this process. If you want to fly pattern, you will have to spend a lot of time with this mechanical setup... meaning several tanks of fuel, perhaps on several flying days, to get it all right. This usually works best with someone, that has knowledge of this process, around to help.

Sorry for going on and on, but I thought it worth it to put this out for those interested in pattern flying, to get the idea that it takes time to set them up right. The best part of this, though, is what I've been told and I've personally witnessed (Overbored77 for instance) is that it really makes you a better pilot, even if you don't compete (like me.. I don't, I don't have the time but I enjoy flying my planes with precision) you will be a better pilot and your flying days are more enjoyable, even if you go just to fly and do things in no particular order, like I do.

CGr.