RE: a first pattern plane not so pricey
 

Ah!!!! I like the SPA Novice program. Thanks Steve I really appreciate it. Where do I find the schedule of events. See if something is close to my area. (within 200 miles)

RE: a first pattern plane not so pricey
 

The SPA and NSRCA pattern sequences for Novice/Sportsman are quite different. You should probably pick one or the other based on what is more commonly flown at your club and in your region. Having friends with which to practice is quite handy, and if you're the only pilot flying SPA while everyone else in your club is practicing NSRCA schedules, you might end up without anyone to call for you. You can fly both, but you'd have to learn and practice two completely different schedules.

If you discover that most of the pattern pilots you fly with are NSRCA pattern fliers, you're in luck. The World Models Spot On 50 would also be an excellent choice for learning to fly NSRCA pattern routines. The National Society of Radio Control Aerobatics website has listings of all schedules (routines) for each class of pattern from Sportsman on up, they also have .PDF slide shows of each sequence that explains each manuever and how it is judged and scored. There is also an event calender that notifies you of all upcoming sanctioned pattern contests.

The Sportsman schedule:

http://www.nsrca.us/ama-classes/sportsman.html

The Sportsman sequence explained in detail:

http://nsrca.us/documents/judging/cu...rtsman2007.pdf

The calender of district events:

http://nsrca.us/calendartop/districteventslist.html

The calender is a little clunky to navigate, but at least it's there.

Whichever type of pattern you decide to fly, you're in for great deal of fun. Practicing and learning your particular routine is very rewarding. Your very first actual contest while flying in front of judges can be very daunting, but you'll be surprised at how helpful and encouraging experienced competitors are with regard to "new guys." Even if you go out and stink it up during your first contest, pattern pilots are glad to see folks coming out and giving it a try.

RE: a first pattern plane not so pricey
 

thanks for all the info. No one at our club flys pattern. So I guess at 70+ I will be the 1st one. I was also the first one to fly a gasser. Great bunch of guys, that have fun and are fun to be around. I think I can get someone from another club to help me. Thanks again and have a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year. I have instructed Santa to drop off some planes to you.

RE: a first pattern plane not so pricey
 

I have a couple of 91 magnum 4s, would that be overkill on the spot on 50. Calls for a 70 4s. Or I could go with an OS55ax. What do you think.

RE: a first pattern plane not so pricey
 

Gene, on disc I have the Sun Fli 4 and the daddy Rabbit. I had plans printed and sent the DR plans to a friend and he built the plane first. He loked it so much he talked me into building one. Two or three years later I built mine, there was no reason for me to have another old pattern plane, I still have the Kaos in 60 and 120 size so my thinking was, if you have a Kaos you need nothing else!! Well, the DR is smaller but I think it tracks better then the Kaos, it's like it's on rails. I was talked into building it as close to the plans as I could but there really are better ways to set up a plane sense 1966, the wood rail motor mount is just too old school, I did it but I wouldn't do it again. Engines sticking up and looking at you is just wrong. If anyone wants to tell me how {I think I know} how to put these into my files I can just send them to you by computer. Very easy build, flys very fast but lands nice and slow. Standard every day old school pattern plane!! I'm going to fly it tomorrow!!

RE: a first pattern plane not so pricey
 

I would be very interested, I will PM you in a bit.

RE: a first pattern plane not so pricey
 

I have them three ways, JPG, TIF and Adobe Acrobat Document. Just PM me your email address and I will get them to you. Let me know how you want them or if you want them all three ways.
Gene

RE: a first pattern plane not so pricey
 

Hi Gene.

No matter what you choose, and many of the choices are fantastic aircraft, I've seen most of them fly, but only have flown my own aircraft (Skylark 70 and Venus II). What pattern does is makes a person a much better flyer. The discipline to go from routine to routine is what does it. You have to do each maneuver correctly in order to set up the next maneuver.

Even though I don't do formal pattern, I practice it and I've noticed that my flying is much better for it.

I am actually looking at the Kaos but reading through this thread gets me thinking about what I may decide to do next. A lot of very good suggestions from people I trust.

BTW, that OS .55 AX.... well, in my opinion, you can't find a better engine. But, that's only my opinion. I do like my OS engines!!!

Dick.