I've heard a few other newbies on here mentioning The Pattern.. What is it? Something I should practice in FMS? I'm getting ok at FMS.. I can land decent most of the time. Usually not always on the runway, because I can't tell where the runway is at while viewing the plane. At least not without cheating and using chase cam mode. I figger 70% of what I'm trying to learn with FMS is flying the plane when it's coming back at me, so I don't use chase mode, even though it's easy. - Joe

The pattern ususally refers to the oval or "racetrack" pattern flown over the field, with the long way going from side to side, and the close leg being over the runway. It's the "landing pattern" with out landing. Assuming the wind is down the runway, this gives you a downwind leg, a cross wind leg and an upwind leg. A "left hand" pattern is turning left, and a "right hand" pattern is turning right.

The importance of "the pattern" is to avoid this: http://dockguy.com/headon.wmv

As opposed to flying "pattern" or pattern flying.

Pattern flying refers to flying precise aerobatics in competition. The sequence of aerobatic maneuvers being flown is also referred to as the "pattern". But it's primary use here in the "Beginners" forum is as mentioned above.
Dennis-

In one word "Boring" Sorry guys I had to get yall back for giving me a hard time on the definition of 3D.

That was awsome! That was by far the best crash video I've seen! The best part is when the guys says, "I $$$$ed up." lol, that was great!

Wings,

OOUCH!!!!!

[sm=punching.gif]

It came in 2nd in the recent RCU "How mangled did you go?" contest. It pertains to this thread because the biplane was in "the pattern" but the plane coming in from the left was not.

He was also inverted.

See now if everybody would have been down on the deck hovering there wouldnt have been a problem.

Southern you are a trip.........[sm=lol.gif]

problem with the pattern is everyone is trying to use the same airspace, much better when diffrent types of plane dont try to share the same air..
the fast ones pattern is a LARGE!!!!! U shape with pases in both directions low over the patch before a big climb at each end.
trainers use the oval
aerobatic planes use a higher shallower U shape with anything goes in the pases
funflys use the S(&%$ZX shape
these planes should not share the same air

as long as you know whats flying already and if your safe to join it you'll be fine

[X(][X(][X(]omg... i agree.. that is the best crash vid i have seen ever!! spinner to spinner!!! cant believe it came in second tho!

Wow, what kinda bipe was that?

Very funny skychaser.
It was a 30 year old Gere Sport, with a 50cc Tartan twin running alcohol.
The other plane was a decathalon.
It wasn't spinner to spinner.
It was, and still is my bi-plane, it was fixed in a week, and back in the air, and thanks to skychaser the video was posted here.
You can see other views of it here:
http://blackdirtsquadron.org/videos.htm

The "Pattern" is determined by wind direction. Can be either right or left traffic landing a certain direction.. In radio control you can't have both or you would be flying over the pit and spectator area which is usually forbidden. So the pattern is only on one side of the field. A proper flying pattern is performed by rectangular (90degree) turns. To perform this wil improve flying discipline.

A very simple explanation. This assumes the wind is coming from your left while you are standing at the pilot station facing the runway.

1.) Taxi to the end of the runway to your right and turn the plane around so that it is facing into the wind,
2.) Takeoff and fly straight out for a few seconds to gain altitude (upwind leg),
3.) Turn right 90 degrees, flight straight a few seconds (crosswind leg),
4.) Turn right 90 degrees and fly straight until you are past the end of the runway by a few seconds and
at this time you are also cutting back on power to start decending towards the runway (downwind leg),
5.) Turn right 90 degrees fly sraight and just before the extended centerline of the runway (base leg),
6.) Turn right 90 degrees. The turn should be timed to lineup with the extended centerline of the runway so you are actually making this turn before you get to the extended centerline and still decending to land.

You do not have to cut power to land on the downwind leg. You can just make all of the 90 degree turns and just fly straight down the runway. This is called practicing approaches. You can also land and let the plane roll a few feet then power up and takeoff again, also known as a touch and go.

You are basically drawing a rectangle in the sky. That is what is known as flying the pattern and should be second nature before solo. As also was described it can help cut down on accidents.

I have given you the full scale version but it applies equally well in R/C

Thanks, I really did not feel like writing it all out at the time. Anyways, Its a discipline thing similar to aerobatics. They have a "box" they need to remain in while flying their manuevers. Then you'll find those in faster planes tend to go from the rectangle type to more oval but the idea is still the same.

Many regulars and all that go up and do their thing but when its time to land , you kind of hop back into the pattern to prepare for a landing. Calling out a landing when your flying off in the north forty somewhere is a bit ridiculous. That way people can see your intentions.

antslake

How about an update concerning the aftermath of the head-on. Who paid to fix your plane?
Do the two of you still fly together? What was the shape of the other plane? etc...

Ummm, just a nit, but for those who follow directions to the letter, you might want to add "and turn around" to the end of step 1. If they overlook this omitted, but obvious (to most) step, their pattern will be all messed up (if they can even get off the ground from the end of the runway).

OPPSS Forgot that part. It is important.

I did edit the post to add the turn around part