I KNOW THAT IT VARIES FROM DESIGN TO DESIGN, BUT WHAT ARE THE FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF A PATTERN PLANE LIKE THE FOCUS OR MAJESTIC TO AN IMAC PLANE LIKE AN EXTRA 300. I HAD A GP ULTRA SPORT 1000 A FEW YEARS AGO AND IT FLEW GREAT. HOW DO THEY FLY AT LOW SPEEDS? ARE THEY SNAP PRONE?

I have flown both 2M pattern and 3D IMAC set-ups. First pattern plane tend to be square or over-square designs; ie the fuse is equal to or longer than the wingspan. This means the model is more stable in pitch than an IMAC model. Also pattern tend to have less area for the control surfaces, specifically those for roll and pitch. This means they have slow rates in these axises. Third pattern planes are designed to have minimum coupling between the control surfaces. In IMAC you are left with what control coupling remains after scale adjustments to the full-scale. Finally the step-up on the radio on really different. For example, I got to fly a practice IMAC plane for a TOC competitor. The roll rate on this model was three times faster in normal/rate than the high rate on a 2M pattern model.

Pattern plane normally fly just fine when slowed down and do not snap on you. But there are exceptions.

Randy