I am just getting started in the hobby and have a trainer as well as a SIG Four-Star I am now completing. One question I have, however, is when I go to look at another plane, what is it that I want to look for? I see different planes and terms used in magazines, forums (RCU!), ect., such as 3D, Sport, Pattern, ect. Can someone please describe the different types of flying to me? In the near future, I plan on just flying at the local field and mess around trying to learn new aerobatics and things like that. What is that called (sport)? Thanks.

If you plan on basically goofing off and doing simple aerobatics that's "sport" flying. Your 4* is great for that.

3D is extreme aerobatics, usually obscenely overpowered planes with really big control surfaces. It kinda goes beyond flying since in many of the manuvers the plane isn't using aerodynamic lift to keep itself in the air, but instead using thrust and deflected thrust to manuver about.

Pattern is perhaps the most difficult (or at least the most disciplined) type of flying. Here the flyer tries to fly a set of manuvers in a very precise manner. For example, a loop is a really easy move to do, but for a pattern flyer to do a perfect loop it has to be perfectly round, he has to finish the loop at the exact spot that he started it (same altitude, same z axis), he has to fly the up part of the loop at the same speed as the down part. The best pattern pilots make a straight line look impressive.

Sport flying is just that -- flying for fun -- & sport models are generalists. They usually have a good turn of speed, are capable of fairly advanced aerobatics, & are usually not tremendously difficult to fly (there are exceptions). There are Sport Scale planes that look a lot like real airplanes & there are also non-scale sport planes.

Pattern planes are designed to excell in a very specific regimen of non-3D aerobatics & are highly capable at what they do. They tend to look slick & stretched out (often with slightly swept double-tapered wings). They can be really fast, as well as aerobatic, & while they look very cool, they are usually not easy to fly for an inexperienced pilot.

3D aerobatic planes tend to be more compressed in appearance than pattern planes, and often have very large control surfaces. They are light & relatively easy to fly (although not necessarily doing 3D stunts). They don't go fast but they do amazing things.

Scale models look just like real airplanes (obviously), but they can be the most difficult of all to fly. Inexperienced pilots are well advised to avoid them until they have learned to handle speed, instability & unforgiving stall behaviour -- both at high & low speeds.

Hope that helps

i am wondering what pilon (i think that is right) racing is

Pylon racing is where multiple planes fly around poles in the ground (pylons) to see who can go the fastest. Sometimes there are just two pylons, sometimes three (in a triangle). Generally ten laps are flown. a "cut" is when the plane turns too short and turns short of the pylon. There are judges that look at the pylons to make sure no one cuts the corner too short. The planes are generally low to the ground, but the pylon extends indefinitely upward for purposes of racing. So the planes do not literally have to go around the actual pylon (which is only about 15 feet in the air).

And "pile on" is where one of your buddies crashes and everybody piles on, trying to get him to laugh it off.

3D require no talent whatsoever. It may look like it but if your want to really learn to fly well, stay away from that crap and get an Extra or Edge and learn precision aerobatics.

No talent? WHAT?? That may be the dumbest thing that anybody has ever said.

Your english skills could use some brushing up, but nobody is calling you a "no talent" hack. Why don't you go crawl back into your hammock and let the kids play.

Once you get comfortable with your 4 star you will find its a good plane to learn the entry level pattern called the "sportsman" class. You dont have to become a pro at pattern to get a lot of use out of learning pattern' Pattern will teach you how to properly trim your plane and optimize your control setup. It primarily teaches you how to fly straight lines, to perform maneuvers with correct geometry. One of THE biggest things pattern will force you to do is learn to fly utilizing your rudder. One of the big componants of pattern scoring is learning to maintain a line. That is a consistant distance out from the pilot and learning to fly straight, truly straight lines. It isnt hard to do but it takes perserverance and attention to small details to really master it.

Lets talk about a reverse cuban 8. Simple maneuver a basic figure 8 with 1/2 rolls in the uplines.
1. Pull to a 45degree upline.
2. Halfway up the line you roll inverted travel the same distance and line as before the roll.
3. At the top of the line, pull through a 5/8 loop right back to ANOTHER 45 degree upline 1/2 roll at the mid point of the line
4. Pull through a 1/2 loop and exit flat and level upright.

Pattern is made up of several of these manevuers performed on center. (The center of the maneuver right end front of you) and a precise turnaround maneuver performed on each end that sets you up for the next centered maneuver. Sortof like being in a skateboard bowl except you are doing some thing in the middle and on both ends. That really oversimplifies it. But thats it in a nutshell.

IMAC is similar to pattern except that the requirements for centering and box limits are different.

"3D requires no talent", that statement really shows your ignorance. 3D is something you will be able to perform much more crisply and precisely once you learn to use your rudder competantly. Trust me, I can fly 3D and pattern and IMAC and 3D done well takes tremendous practice and some phenomenal hand eye coordination.
Lots of people flop around and claim to be 3Ding, but there is a HUGE difference between flipping and flopping and executing 3D manuevers precisely and predictably entering and exiting maneuvers..


even if you are flipping and flopping the main thing is its a hobby so have fun with it and remember its supposed to be relaxing and not a job...


Mike!

My personal definition of sport is just about anything non-competitive and non-scale. That would include precision aerobats flown at the club, 3D, Stiks, trainers, etc. From there it breaks down farther as has already been explained.

Others may disagree with me, but per usual, they're wrong.

I think Snoop was bored and decided to go trolling.
Dennis-

Everyone knows that 3D is where one plane is hovered over the runway. All other planes try to fly into it and bring it down. It is great fun !!!

Try is the key word.. With all that power and control surface no one can get
the 3D plane, because it just zips and zags around all the planes trying to
get it :-) Then as the planes miss and smash in to the ground, It resumes
hovering over the mess to help clean it up:-) Of course this is to help the
other fliers to land, since the 3D plane will just Harrier to a spot landing

Just use a tennis racket and swat it out of the sky. OR better yet use the tennis racket to swat the pilot...

Andy

I know this is just a troll but my desire to answer has overcome my common sense.

If 3D requires no talent them why do you see Chip, Jason, QQ and the others doing it in IMAC freestyle. These guys make it look easy but while I am no 3D expert, I have seen that learning 3D flying is definitely helping to improve my all around skills and my IMAC (precision) training is definitely helping with all of my flying.

Sport flying, at least as I see it, is for flying to have fun, 3D is advanced aerobatics but not in the sense that the plane is aerodynamically flying, but is more likely flying in a stalled condition with pure thrust doing all of the work to keep the plane "airborne". IMAC/Pattern (precision flying) is all about being precise. The really good IMAC pilots can make any manuever look extremely smooth. Take the straight line flying level. It sounds easy bit now add in wind. The point of precision becomes the track of the plane in the air and over the ground. Now throw in a roll on that straight line and do it without losing altitude or changing your heading at all. When done well it looks incredible.

Even harder still is the ability to do a rolling circle that is not really a circle but a straight line (rolling harrier). Talk about using all of the controls all at the same time...sheesh and yes that is a 3D maneuver

Remember one thing, in every type of flying, the rudder is your friend. Learn to use it and you will be surprised just how much more you can do.

I'm surprised no one mentioned my personal favorite type of flying...


COMBAT!!!

The 3D pilots at most fields are runway hogs. The planes are usually fairly small so they keep them close in front of them hovering and flipping around over the middle of the runway, similiar to heli pilots.

There you go Andy, That may be the only way to get that plane.. Not
sure of the use on the pilot though, But, I agree it would be good if
someone called taking off/landing or fly-by and he did not get out of
the way.... Give them a good swat then:-)

Hanging from a prop right in the middle of a runway in everybody's way. If thats not talent then I guess its a gift. One guy here said once that whenever somebody learns a stupid trick, they call themsleves 3D pilot. My engrish is fine "Sai Toh

Hovering in the middle of the runway (while others are trying to use it) is rude, but it does require skill.

This thread is going downhill in a hurry. The guy wants to learn about the different types of flying and once again you morons reduce the thread to attacking one another.

Shame on you. [>:]

Morons? Shame on me?

How about you go find a hammer and a sand-box and pound sand up your. . . . .

Speaking of downhill, has anyone mentioned slope soaring yet?

Not talking about you frankenthumb. You havent been rude or counterproductive at all...

Im talking about people who are putting down what they arent into or dont understand. The guy asked a simple question and there is a difference between pulling each others chains a little and attacking people in thread after thread because they enjoy something different than you or I do... Thats not trolling or kidding around its just being mean and condescending and frankly its against RCU policy.

By the way yes,, morons
Definition- A stupid person; a dolt.
Psychology. A person of mild mental retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having communication and social skills enabling some degree of academic or vocational education. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

,,, and shame on them...

Just having a laugh! Work was moderately boring the last few days and I needed a giggle.