I predict that SPA and Vintage pattern will become more popular than existing expensive pattern if it is not already. The fun factor and the inexpensive airplanes will make this part of the hobby more attractive to many old time pattern fliers and new guys. . Jim

I hope so, but it's not nearly as popular around here. I think I'm the only one in my club that flies vintage pattern.

Pattern and Vintage Pattern are both non-existant in my area. There is only one other pattern pilot in my club and the last person flying SPA has moved to Tenn. Three years ago, IMAC was the "IN" type of flying in my club, but even that is starting to fall off. I finally got tired of trying to make my IMAC planes fly like a pattern plane, so I finally decided to go back to pattern. I'm hoping that maybe I can generate some interest in Vintage Pattern in my club.

I just finished a Spot On 120 for Turnaround Pattern, but I'm waiting for Dirty Birdy plans to show up in the mail. I'm looking forward to flying the Dirty Birdy more so than any modern pattern ship. The Spot On cost me $1200 to build (which is cheap by today's standards), were as the Dirty Birdy will probably cost me $800 to build. A modern 2 + 2 can easily cost $2000 to build. Cost will be a big factor for many pilots interested in aerobatics. The only down side to Vintage Pattern is the need to build most of the kits. Granted there are some ARF's but few enough that if a person wants something different they will need to build from plans or a box of wood. Many of todays new pilots will never have the skills to build a kit, let alone from a set of plans. It will be interesting to see what happens with Vintage Pattern as the older pilots unfortunatly pass on or are no longer able to fly. Will there be enough younger pilots interested in Vintage Pattern to maintane the SPA or BPA. Only time will tell. Personally, I look forward to getting back to the simpler, cheaper, and funner side of flying aerobatics.

Bob
#172378

The club I belong to has around 60 members and I’ve never seen anyone fly a 2M pattern ship at our field. I don’t think anyone has one. When I joined the club in 1988 there were a lot of members flying pattern and competing but no one followed the turnaround change and by 1997 there wasn’t much interest. There are a few diehard members that still fly classic pattern aircraft for fun and years ago the club actually held a SPA pattern contest. That was early in the SPA history before the use of four strokes impacted the direction. No contest activity since then.

Hmm... Call me crazy, but isn't kit and plan building as well as aircraft research part of the fun? To me it's just as much a part of the hobby as flying, and I'm one of those young twenty-something whippersnappers who is supposed to hate it and not have any patience.

Sometimes I keep finding things to make better on a model because I don't want the building fun to stop! I've been working on a scale aircraft for about five months just finding pictures of how the real thing was built to make authentic plans from.

I would not call you crazy Nathan. I too find that building the plane a very enjoyable part of the hobby. Unfortunatly many of todays pilots do not. I work in a hobby shop that carries over 400 ARF kits but only 2 or 3 wood builders kits. It's just a fact of the times. The SPA may be just the thing to get some pilots thinking of building, who can say.

As for me, I can't wait to start "building" my next plane.

Bob

I'm not sure which I enjoy more, building or flying! There's a lot of satisfaction in completing a plane you've built whether from a kit or even better, from scratch. I too hope the old pattern style catches on more as things like Duane's excellent article in the AMA mag get our niche in the eye of the common modeler of today. As far as the building aspect goes, I think it's just a sign of the times as instant gratification is what a lot of people want and also some guys don't have or can dedicate the time needed to take on a building project. Don't get me wrong, ARF's have their place, (at least guys are flying!) and I own a couple myself. I still haven't given up an my Curare ARF kit project and as my finances allow, will be getting back to work on making the fuse mold a reality.

I really hope jeide is right, since there really aren't many reasons it shouldn't catch on. The models are relatively inexpensive, they fly great, are pretty fast, and look awesome. Our club has around 129 members and I think I'm the only one that flies vintage pattern.

I've talked to several of the local club members about Vintage Pattern and it's amazing how many of them flew the old pattern. There seem to be a lot of members about my age (mid 40's) who started flying back in the 70's and 80's who would like to fly the planes they remember from that time. One guy told me today that he has an original EU-1A that he would like to put back in the air if he can find a suitable power plant. There are a lot of the old designs around that people have stored that can be put back into service.

I would personally like to start a SPA chapter and have contests. Many people may not want to fly in contests but I personally have fond memories of flying pattern in the early 80's.

Well, I'll see what happens once I get the Dirty Birdy in the air. Maybe seeing the old patternship flying will spark some interest.

Bob
#172378

That may be our saving grace! I too am in my mid 40's and these are the planes I remember from the old days back when my Dad started flying and I'd tag along to the field with him on weekends.

Hey guys. I am new to pattern flying, especially classic pattern. I have my first pattern plane I built from a kit. Its a MK Cosmos 60. I found a new, in the box, webra speed 61 rear exhaust on ebay for power. I actually didn't know what I had untill I showed it to a friend. He is a pattern flyer and started giving me advice on the build and the webra. I have only flown about 2 gallons thru it and I love it! I don' know the manuvers yet and have never competed but very interested. I am 42 yrs old and have been flying for about 5 yrs. I hope to compete as a novice one day!

Bob

There are about a dozen guys who either are or have been SPA members. Contact me privately if you'd like contact info. A couple of them plan to come north to Andersonville, GA the weekend after next to fly the first SPA contest at Mac Hodges' field.

Steve, there are two Andersonville, Georgias. One in Sumter Counter (close to me at 81.4 miles) and the other in Cherokee County. Do you know which it is?


Ed Cregger

Bob;
The over-riding reason I wrote both vintage pattern/SPA articles is that I am absolutely CERTAIN that if more pilots, (and younger pilots), knew about what is going on, SPA would indeed "take off" and surpass current pattern. I think the word is getting out now, but I don't think M.A. will want another vintage pattern article anytime soon, (can't have too much of any particular area of interest)[].

As for building, I feel things go in cycles. If people get turned-on to vintage pattern one of two things will happen; either manufacturers will start producing more ARFs, (I would like to get World to produce the Blue Angel for example), or people will take an interest in building. I was fortunate enough to buy my first King Altair RTF from a guy getting out of the hobby, but very shortly after the first flight, I just KNEW I had to have another of King Altair. I wanted it bad enough to build two more from scratch---now that takes motivation. It was the only way I was going to get one. I am absouutely thrilled that Jeff fom Home and Hobby solutions is now going to produce a laser-cut kit; it makes the job of building so much faster. See picture below:

The point I'm trying to make is that young modelers are no different or less talented than modelers of the past--they just aren't motivated enough. When/if they become motivated, (and find out that SPA has nothing to do with old guys flying their relics--but high performance aerobatic machines), you'll see a lot more kits being built--if there are no ARFs of what you want, you need to do what you need to do.

I am not sure about SPA's future, but I DO KNOW the young pilots we have competing with us now know what competition is about, and competition has nothing to do with age. Modelers of all ages share the desire to compete. Part of the reason for use of vintage pattern planes is that's the best way to get a supurb-flying plane that is still simple and inexpensive. Most any pattern plane from the mid-60s to 70s will fly better than most modern sport planes--all pattern planes are bred to fly aerobatics--not 3D, not "froggin around"--but pure, clean, beautiful maneuvers.

BOB----I would urge you to gather the Florida SPA members, (we have more than enough for a state chapter) together under one chapter. People WILL COME down there if a contest is held in the winter. Contact Steve, he's the man for membership information.

Good luck to you.

Duane

Bob;

If you get a chapter of the SPA going here in Florida, I will be one of the first to join! I'm about 4 hours North of you here in Kissimmee and fly at the Osceola Modelers field which is about 10 miles South of Kissimmee. Keep me informed on your progress in starting the chapter!!

Jon W
SPA 261

I was reading about the "BPA" Ballistic pattern Association but I am unclear if it is a "national" thing or just the mid-west. I love SPA but many of the airplanes I fantasize about are not legal for SPA as they are from the 70's, Curare, EU1A, Tiporare, Atlanta etc. Am I right?

Heck I have a 2x2 because I always wanted to see just how good they fly but I am even more excited to have my Supra Fly-45 ARF from the 80's

Here's the link to the SPA approved plane list
http://www.seniorpattern.com/planes.asp

Cool! The "Blue Angel" and "Curare" are approved....now to find one- [X(]

Check with Steve Byrum--who answered above for info on the Curare--that plane is his specialty.

I too would join.
I have been toying with the idea, but just lazyiness have not done so. I know a few more pilots that would go SPA.

Orlando

Guys

I'm going to send Bob contact info on everyone I have in Florida. Jon, you may have seen this list. It includes both current and former SPA members and should amount to about 15 or so. That could make a pretty good nucleus.

Ed

Sumter County at Mac Hodges Field. We've got 18 pre-registered and a few more I know will be coming. Come on down.

Revver

Curare can be built from MAN plans. Dynamic Balsa sells cores for both wing and stab. This is not a tough build. I have built about a dozen for myself and friends over the last 5 or 6 years. A lot can be done to lighten the plane without giving up structural integrity. My heaviest (painted fuse) weighed 8 lbs 4 ozs with an OS 91 pumper in the nose. I t flies fine and is rock steady in heavy wind. It is my current backup. My new one (12 flights now) weighs 6 lbs 12 ozs. I've learned a couple things about weight reduction. The new plane is unbelieveable. It's almost too easy to fly. As soon as I quit helping it, scores should go up significantly.

Atlas is also a very good air plane. Duane's Altair is HUGE and very smooth. I may build one this winter just because. Compensator is a good plane. Daddy Rabbit has been dominant for a number of years. All these planes are basically box fueslages with foam wings and tails. There is nothing difficult about building these great planes. Build them straight and align them correctly and the fly great.

A couple of mods need to be made when converting from 2 cycle to 4 cycle. SPA is not terribly picky about minor mods. As long as a plane looks like what the builder says it is, it will be accepted.

Orlando,

What club do you fly at? RCACF ? I've been there a few times watching pattern contests.



Steve,

Have you heard any more about the Compensator kits from the discussion list?????

Jon in Kissimmee
SPA 261

Ok Florida Flyers, I would like to start a chapter, BUT, at this time I barely have time to fly. Between running a business and taking graduate classes, I don't have the time to dedicate to starting another club/organization. Yes, I've started others, including an IMAA club in Ohio.

I think a Florida chapter would be great and a contest in the Orlando/Kissamee area would be fantastic. I would drive that far to fly a contest and the Orlando area would be centralized so all of Florida would be within easy driving. I would be willing to help with a chapter, just can't take the com at this time.

Mr. Byrum, I did get the list you sent me. I've been thinking about sending out an e-mail to everyone to see if there is much interest. Maybe someone should start a topic looking for interested Florida vintage pilots. Hint, Hint

Bob
#172378

To Balsawings. I have scratched 5 Dirty Birdys and my best weight to date is 6 pounds 5.9 ounces dry with plug in wings. I love to go vertical at half throttle because folks just can't believe it's as quiet yet as powerful. My worst weight is 6lb 9.5oz. Stickman/vic