My older pattern ships, Curare, Escape, Deception etc all have the stabilizer/elevator placed above the engine thrust horizontal line. My old RC City Vortex (precursor to the Typhoon) is more of a mid-wing design with the wing and stab in almost a straight line. Most newer F3A pattern ships have the stab/elevator placed below the engine thrust line. What effect does stab/elevator placement relative to the thrust line have on the flying characteristics of a pattern ship?

Hello,
the position of the elevator has an influence on the blade Knife-Edge Flight
Elevator position too low: Trajectory deviation in direction high
Elevator position too high: Trajectory deviation in direction low
But I also think that older pattern ships were more low wing, while the new F3A models tend more towards mid wing.

Greetings Gerhard

Trajectory deviation in direction high => rudder application causes pitch coupling toward canopy.
Trajectory deviation in direction low => rudder application causes pitch coupling toward belly.