Hi dear,I have been a sport flier for many years,now I am planning to practice pattern,what kind gear do I need?,I have couple of .46 and .50 2 engines ,do I need tune pipe for them?what kind of airplane will you recommend?is dual servos aileron must?thanks
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You do not "need" anything for pattern beyond a model that is mostly neutral to airflow (symmetrical or semi-symmetrical wing chord and little of no dihedral). Dual ailerons help as you can work in differential for axial rolls. Not really necessary, but the smoother you perform the maneuvers the better your scores will be.

So . . . how much do you want to spend? Retracts? Kit or ARF?

If you're looking for an ARF for the Sportsman Pattern that will tale a .46 side the Kaos is a good model.


Or a Phoenix Models SeaBee



If you're going to get into the full-house tuned pipe pattern ships I'll defer to the wiser pattern pilots.

Well you can complete a schedule with almost any sport model so get out that low winger and a copy of the schedule you can clip to your tranny and go practice.

Start with just getting through each manouvre, then start placing it in the judges box see [link=http://www.gbrcaa.org/faisch.htm]CLICKY[/link] for good explanations. Get someone to act as your critic. Finally string them together.

If you want sometning pattern orientated you want something with a relatively long fuselage and ideally at least a 90 size. No pipe is needed.

If you want an inexpensive ARTF that will be better than the average sports model then you could do worse than a Blackhorse Bravo 303 which does need a good 90 2st or 120 4st.

I had one when I was working on the BMFA C test and really liked it.

Entering competitions is good too, just don't be too hurt when some 11 year old scores higher than you do.

Ditto on what Charlie said about the Tower Kaos 40 ARF a good flying airplane plenty of power with a .46 AX. I flew one in a Vintage Pattern contest placing second in my class. The World Models Intruder is also a good airplane to begin with, ARF runs about $200.00 its a vintage pattern design that flies well.

What kind of pattern do you want to fly? SPA and CPA have gained a lot of popularity lately, so several manufacturers are making ARFs and kits for that. The difference between the two is that SPA requires standard mufflers and fixed gear, while CPA allows pipes and retracts. And of course, if those advantages are allowed, they are pretty much required to be competitive. The Kaos is easily the most popular plane for SPA, and the Dirty Birdy is probably the most common for CPA. Neither are particularly expensive, although I've seen guys sink a few dollars into their CPA planes with the really hot engines and good retracts trying to get the last little bit of performance out of them. But if you're talking about F3A which is the current high performance pattern competition, that gets you into fairly large planes with fairly expensive power systems and electronics so it's a whole different level of commitment. Of course, if you're just talking about building your skills by learning some of the sequences, it's not necessary to have a dedicated plane for it. An Ugly Stick will work fine, as will any number of other sport planes that have fairly neutral handling.

My all time favorite was the Kaos or Dirty Birdy. The Kaos can be had in the 40 size ARF and the Birdy is in the 60 size from Tower. Blue Jay models has the Bridi kits so there are a lot more selections to be found if your a builder. Special gear isn't required to begin with.

Thank you guys,what about a 4 stocks eng,do I need it?

Hmmm...I don't mean to be mean or a party pooper but, why are you asking questions about Pattern Competition in a Beginner Forum? Let me suggest you ask in the Pattern Forum. You will get all the right advice you need to make the most informed decisions.

In Pattern's entry class, Sportsman, you can fly whatever you are flying now, even if it's a high wing trainer type that has ailerons. If you can loop it and roll it and climb straight up into a stall, you're golden

+1
there is one other important detail the guys in the pattern forum will need to know:
you're in Taiwan... are you planning to compete in the USA or in Taiwan? the rules can be different, AMA vs FAI.

I flew my first contest last year with a hanger 9 pulse 60 on electric. I won the sportsman class with it. This year I have hit my second contest and have plans for 2 more. I am flying it with a mini pattern plane a seabart wind 50E. My point being here in my US district there are guys that dump money fast into pattern buying expensive 2 meter pattern planes for the sportsman sequence but any sport model is reasonably competitive. The real trick is getting a plane you are comfortable with and practice, practice, practice. Your skill has more to do with sequence than any other factor. I would say fly what you got and get a caller to help you. Get familiar with the pattern and fly it till your eyes bleed. I bet I have put 100 flights this year on flying the pattern over and over. I hope this hel[ps but I can not speak as to how other countries do their contests I can not imagine they are too much different.

+1.

For starting out, fly what you have. I flew my first contest with a small low wing sports model with a OS 32sx.

Hello there;
I've been flying the Sportsman Pattern sequence for the last 3 years, and I've been flying with a Phoenix Models Sea Bee sport / pattern plane with an OS 46FX engine on this, and I've been very pleased with its performance. Just be sure that the rudder is glued on straight so you don't have to worry about rudder corrections....... anyways, during an event that I flew last year, I lost 1st place by 4 points to another pilot who was flying Sportsman for the first time and he was using a 46 size Sig Kougar plane. His plane flew fast, however, his skill in being able to fly the sequence and fly them precise and fast was how we was able to win the Sportsman event by 4 points.

Regardless, I've been to several events, and for the Sportsman class, I've seen Revolvers, 4 Star 40's, Big Stiks, U Can Do 40's, and even an Avistar Trainer flying the sequence, with each pilot enjoying the challenge of the sequences. If you want to try the pattern sequence, find a plane your comfortable with, one that you fly often, and one that can fly straight and level, and then go practice. You just might be surprised at how much of the pattern sequence you already know through your daily flying, just need to smooth out the maneuvers.

Most importantly, remember to have FUN and enjoy the challenge..........

Once again kuobin, what equipment you need depends on what kind of pattern flying you want to do. If it's just downloading the sequence and learning it, you just need a well trimmed and fairly obedient airplane. If you want to show up to a contest, the rules of said contest will dictate what equipment you need.

Alright I will just use my present equipment to practice,thank you all.

Also the first last and most practiced item in your sequence should be the straight line. A straight line as at the beginning of every other maneuver. A true wings level straight line will reduce your headache in the loops sections and will help to establish a good presentation. I still fly my first practice of a day in straight lines across with turn-arounds at the ends. I throw other maneuvers in in later flights. I wish you the best of luck and remember that its not about being perfect its about improvement.

Since I moderate both Beginners and Pattern forums, I can probably pass on some useful information here.

First of all, since you are not a beginner, and you fly sport aircraft, that's probably a great place to begin. I started out with practice sportsman pattern using a Tiger 60 sport plane with an OS .61 SF. My pattern mentor and instructor suggested that I fly what I have and what I had was the Tiger 60. The most important thing to remember is when you are ready to move up to a more capable model, you will know it. You will reach a point where you will out-fly the sport plane and will be ready to move up. My truly first pattern plane was - and is, an Great Planes Venus II with an OS 1.20AX engine. After considerable setup time, it flys like it is on rails.

However, as some have already suggested, the most important beginning anyone can make with entry Pattern is flying the straight line in both directions - right to left then left to right ( or vice versa). You would take off, make a trim pass down wind, then turn into the wind at the extreme end of your flying area outside what is called "The Box", then, making a Perfect level turn, meaning a U turn without gaining or losing altitude or air speed, come out of the turn straight and level and fly across the field at a constant altitude and without making any changes in aircraft attitude or attitude (no banking using the ailerons or rudder yaw corrections).. straight and level, in other words.

Practice that until you are absolutely bored with it, then practice it more. It must become second nature to you. The trim pass should involve a constant throttle setting, say 2/3rd throttle, and then making slight adjustments in the trim to achieve straight and level.

This is why extensive preparation is necessary to make sure that every control surface is set up perfectly so that you can trim with minimum input and on the first pass. Again, second nature. It takes time but is well worth the effort.

Find someone in your club, assuming that you are a club member - join one if you are not, preferably with folks that fly pattern, and work with a mentor.

OK.. I hope that helps.

Best of luck and remember - the only way to really learn and become competitive in Pattern is to burn fuel... in other words, practice practice practice!!!

CGr.

I flew in a pattern contest my first year flying model airplanes. I flew a Phoenix Dolphin, similar to the Tiger etc. It was a lot of fun and I have been flying pattern ever since.

What you need for pattern is to show up to a contest and to bring whatever airplane you have - mid or low wing preferable. You will learn more from one day at a pattern contest than you can imagine. Most pattern pilots are great at making the new guy feel welcome and helping him learn the ropes.

The only requirement is the ability to takeoff and land your airplane safely.

Work on one thing at a time, don't worry if the whole sequence is challenging, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just have fun and give it a try. Your flying skills will improve so fast you will laugh about the first few times you struggled.

A good place to start is flying a straight line back and forth, with a 1/2 reverse cuban 8 at either end.

Feel free to PM me with any questions as I am fairly involved in pattern flying.

Well, Joe, everything I learned about Pattern came from some real pros.... Dave Lockhart and his dad, Ron. Both, I think you would agree, are accomplished pattern pilots. Both said that learning the straight line, no matter what else you do on your own, is probably the best approach to beginning the "science" of pattern. I agree with everything you say, but I believe, when at the field either alone or with others, learning to fly the straight and level pass will be the anchor of everything you do in Pattern because every maneuver begins with a straight and level approach.

CGr.