Hello Guys,
The often asked question is here again. Which plane should I look at for entry into Pattern?
I built the Super Curare in the late 80's for a fellow club member - loved the thing!
I have built MANY kits, Scratch Built several over the past 25 years so building is not a problem.
I like the idea of Classic Pattern, because I just like the "Old Stuff" and don't want to see it go by the wayside.

I just learned about SPA also. Yeah, I know... but hey, check out where I live - not exactly the place to keep up on the hobby very easily.
I appreciate all responses.

There is no one answer to this question. What do you want? Ultimate performance? Early nostalgia?

Planes like the Taurus and Perigee fly great for what they are (semi-symmetrical wing, positive incidence, downthrust) and look nice
Planes like the Banshee, Curare, Dirty Birdy are more precise, with symmetrical airfoils.

In the end, all of the old pattern designs flew well, pick one that you like and start making sawdust!

I guess that I would need something that would be great to learn the sequences on, manuevers, etc.
I have flown "Fun" for years without any attempt at Pattern or disciplined aerobatics.
Yep - a Rookie at Pattern.

I do like the looks of the Curare, but the nostalgia of the Astro Hog age may be more suited (???)

wouldn't the Kaos be a good suggestion here?. i chose a sig king kobra for a practice build. i will build a blue angel next, although probably a difficult build for me, i hope to use the build thread already here to get me through it.

david

I'm learning on a Kaos right now and consider it an excellent pattern trainer. The thick 19% symmetrical airfoil allows you to practice at a slow enough speed that you can concentrate on being precise. The drag helps prevent it from accelerating in down lines also and it doesn't land, it parks on the runway. My only knock is that it quickly loses altitude in knife edge in it's classic form.

Fortunately, Great Planes came out with a sport plane called the UltraSport which uses the same wing as the Kaos but with a taller fuselage so you can extend your training into all the knife-edge maneuvers. Great Planes make a nice kit and they recently reissued the US in both the .40 and .60 size kits.

In addition, there are several recent build threads on the UltraSport over in the Kit Building forum. Frankly, I wish I had known about the UltraSport when I built my Kaos!

An Ultrasport is just a Kaos with a turtle deck and canopy.

I'm currently working on a Tower Kaos ARF. I discovered that the new OS .55AX will not fit the included metal engine mount without some widening, while the older OS .46SF drops in there with room to spare. Since I can't get to my drum sander attachment at the moment (wife's business inventory), I'll just go with the .46SF. It should be plenty of power for the Kaos.

I am impressed with the Tower Kaos ARF, especially for the cost. With just a touch of grinding on the included metal mount, even my Fox Eagle .60, HB .61 PDP or my K&B .61 Pumper will fit in the nose with ease. I'm not up to building a battery box behind the trailing edge of the wing in the fuselage right now, which is what I would need to run one of the heavier engines. I'll just stick with the OS .46 SF for now. Or maybe even a new ASP .52 two-stroke, should I get tired of the .46 SF.


Ed Cregger

The answer will depend on which pattern you wish to fly. If you are thinking of 'Pre Turnaround' then any of the suggestions will be fine, select the model depending on your building experience. (Simple = Kaos, complex = Blue Angel/Perigee). If you are more inspired with the modern patterns then any of the 'ARF' 60~90 size 'Pattern' type models will do. In the end success will depend on how much flying time you have, and who your judge/critique/caller is, so you practise the right stuff.
Evan.

The building part is no problem, been doing it for over 25 years.
I guess t know what "type" of Pattern I would like to fly is something I will have to decide after going to a meet and watching.
I haven't seen Pattern since the 1988 Nats in Va. Beach when my club was hosting. (Saw a nasty mid-air during practice rounds)
In those days it seemed all were fibergals fuse, foam core wings, retracts and the "new" YS engines.

Hi to all,
I am just getting "back" into pattern (current Turn around) after being gone for 19 years. I flew a Bootlegger & an Arrow competitively at the 1982 & 1983 US Nats (15th & 17th in Masters, I think). I also flew a Tigertail III and a Compensator (all Southern R/C designs except the MK Arrow) in Novice & Advanced classes. My take on the designs was the swept back wing styles were better at rolling manuvers and the tapered wing design, including the tapered front with straight trailing edge were better in looping type of manuvers. I am not sure what the restrictions on classic pattern are but here is my opinion of these aircraft in order of ease of flying and competitiveness. The Tiger Tail was the easiest to fly and worked great for the early patterns, the Compensator was slightly better at rolls and flew a little faster, the Bootlegger was a GREAT compromise between rolling and looping, The Arrow was the BEST aircraft I may have ever flown, BUT it flew VERY fast.

I know this is not a sampling of everything that was flying at that time, but I hope I may have been helpful.

Chuck East