ORIGINAL: MTK
Joe is right on the mark. Study the presentation.....As with any presentation however, it is very difficult to put everything in. These generally do an excellent job with the major points.
I would add that the folks that are early in the pattern learning curve tend to not lock their wings, and tend to move the model in pitch a lot. Recommend that those manuevers in question are done as much as necessary concentrating on the fundamentals described in the presentation AND keeping wings locked AND maintaining smoothness...no pitch rocking, adjusting, etc. That goes for any maneuver BTW. Mastering Wing lock and pitch lock is the heart of Pattern
Thanks Matt,
I never put that into words or thoughts exactly, but the "wing lock" concept is great. Of course that assumes you can pull a corner and come out pointing the right way
I read your comment and spent the next 10 packs of flying today trying to minimize my movements.
and of course,
Thanks to one and all for the insight! I can assure everyone that I have read and re-read the rules and diagrams over and over, but translating that into a good practice without someone at my side to yell at me is tough
ORIGINAL: Hauling-A
While I don't fly competition pattern any more, When I was first starting to fly competitively (this was in the 60's) I would ask the judges that scored my flight what I did wrong and what I needed to improve on.
The Judges were Advanced pattern flyers or had been, they were a great help in me being able to advance my flying skills, both in competition and in every day flying.
When I wasn't flying competition and I was out at the local field flying, I was practicing the pattern, not just flying around. I would typically go through 125 gallons of fuel (12-0zs at a time flying a .60 sized pattern plane) during that years flying season.
You need to know the pattern class sequences that you are competiting in bckwards and forwards, both from the left and the right as you never know from which side of the field the wind will be blowing.
I wasn't the best pattern flyer in my class, but I was one of the most dedicated, now almost 50 yrs later I still go out to the field and fly the pattern. I still enjoy it now as much as I did then. Old habits die hard.
Jim
Jim,
I couldn't agree more! I'm trying to do the same as you except I'm burning electrons 8 minutes at a time instead of burning fuel 12 ozs at a time.
, but I love your comment about judges being helpful. When I go to a competition, the post flight critiques from the judges are my favorite part. Without question I have learned more in those few minutes than anywhere else in my brief Pattern career. Now I'll keep my fingers crossed that I can come back and add some posts after 50 years of flying!!
Thanks for the advice,
Joe