you can hold the costs down if you try

Might just be "contestant" judging.....[X(]

Hey Dick

That looks like Robbies car when he went to the Nats.

After several years of just sitting back and watching pattern, I finally took the plunge and flew in a Pattern contest. I was the guy with the OLD T2-A at the D5 contest held at the Flying Electrons field in Menomonee Falls, WI. I flew in Sportsman and had a blast. I found everyone very helpful including the judges. I have flown competition Sailplanes for over 15 years and I have seen a decline in attendance. I also here that the most expensive plane wins, so I am not going to compete excuse as the reason for the decline in attendance. Guess what, I am part of the problem, I can now longer devote the time to travel to the events. In order to feed my addiction I would travel out of state most weekends to fly. I can no longer devote that much time to the sport. I have always wanted to try a pattern contest but I would have to travel to attend enough contests to make it worthwhile to practice. It is not the cost or the people (bad) that keep me away. 1987 was when I flew my T2-A. The T2-A was an outdated plane the day I flew it. I was very surprised by the reaction from the other pilots. NO one bashed the plane I dragged out everyone I talked to was more focused on helping me with the maneuvers then on the price of the plane. I had a great time and learned allot about my flying skills (or lack of) and with only a few weeks of work I am flying better.

I was checking out the NSRCA web site a weeks before this contest to see what is going on and I came across a Pattern Clinic that was at a local field and I signed up This was the best thing I have ever done in the hobby. I do have a newer Pattern plane in the works but it would not be ready for this event. So I dusted off my T2-A and attended the clinic. This Clinic was taught by Dave Guerin and promoted by Rusty Dose. Great job Guys. I was surprise to find out that my old T2-A would be good enough to compete in Sportsman. So you want to build up Pattern flying? Try talking it up at your club level and let pilots know that the Sportsman Class can be flown using a low cost plane that they may already have. Try doing a clinic for the Sportsman class and try to get the 3D guys interested in Sportsman class. I just set up my Profile Katana to fly the Pattern and it looks great for practicing.

I try to have fun with this hobby and it is just that, a hobby. My family and job come first and if I can’t make the contest circuit please doesn’t count me out and call the sport dead. We all may want to try to promote more events at the home field so pilots won’t have to travel as much but will still have a chance to be coached and judged.

I think Rusty Does (NSRCA Treasure) is on the right track. Thanks for the great effort.


Tom K.
SkyitoutRC.com

Hey Tom I'm really glad that you enjoyed the contest and Rustys seminar. I thought your T2A was cool. Mike Mueller

Hiya, very interesting thread but I haven't read it all yet...

I've been an aeromodeller for 15 years on and off, but in the last year or so have found the time to get back to it seriously. Aerobatics of some form felt like the way to go, but which type?

One thing that hasn't been mentioned here (in the bits I've read) is the relation to full-size, which I think has a significant influence on some people (me included). I go to full-size air displays and see guys doing fantastic things with extras and the like; the challenge of making a model perform the same manouvres with the same appearance & presence is just irresistable for me. This is what is driving me toward IMAC style rather than pattern.

Until recently I raced motorbikes (circuit) - we have a similar problem in the UK with numbers dwindling in 125 and 250 two stroke championships, the feeders for motoGP. Everyone (me included) wants to run in the larger displacement four stroke classes because these are the bikes they see around, are familiar with, see most racing on telly etc. The fact that they get there asses kicked by the riders who have come up through 125 and 250 classes and therefore developed excellent setup and riding skills isn't enough to stop those classes dwindling.


If its any consolation, I have just bought a 70 size pattern model because I can see the benefit in using one to really understand trimming and practice the "disciplined" schedules; but I'm doing it with a view to making my IMAC stuff more aesthetically pleasing.

"Pattern is dead" - I don't think so. My club has quite a few experienced pattern flyers that are very helpful. I find pattern relaxing and never really thought pattern is boring; however, I can see how the average person could be bored. I believe that people find it boring because they don't know the rules or goal of the sport, how it's played. If you went to a baseball game without knowing any rules I bet you'd be bored/frustrated and walk out in no time. It really isn't that intuitive as compared to other sports. I know nothing about tennis but by watching I can figure enough out to make it fun. You can't really do that with pattern because of the nuance.

I am getting into pattern even though I've only been in R/C for a few years and am only 21 years old. There is potential for the new generations to carry this great sport on. I think more people don't take it up because it is complex and seems overwhelming and expensive. It can be done without a 2m aircraft. Heck, I've spent under $600 for my setup and love it. It should take me to the intermediate level if I take care of it. Perhaps I'm just naive, but I don't think so.

Don't take the "Pattern is dead" comment too literally. The original poster does have a point. The popularity of pattern flying has plummeted in recent years.

The Omaha Pattern championship at Hawk Field went from 34 entries in 2004 to 17 entries in 2005 and then was cancelled in 2006 due to a lack of interest by the designated Contest Director. It will be interesting to see what kind of turnout we get this August.

The point being that pattern competitions and pattern flying in general used to be a big draw five to ten years ago. Now not so much. I wouldn't nail the coffin shut on pattern flying just yet, but 3D flying events, electric flying events, and helicopter contests are all much bigger draws these days.

Newer pilots (particular those of us with discriminating good taste! ) will continue to be drawn to pattern flying. It's a time-consuming and difficult discipline that frankly doesn't appeal to very many casual flyers in this day and age. The grace and precision of pattern flying requires a lot of practice in the air and a good deal of effort with regard to airplane setup and trim as well as engine tuning. Most club members these days would rather take a quick-building profile plane and make it flop around like a fish in the sky.

I heard one of the pattern flyers from the Omahawks remark after the board meeting that he went and flew so much on Tuesday that he "got sick of it." I'm sure Claude was half-joking, but those guys put a lot of time and effort into being competitive.

The bottom line? Not too many pilots want to take the time and effort to fly pattern well. Fewer still want to compete, much less take up whole weekends helping to judge and administrate at pattern competitions. Other forms of flying don't require the commitment or the displine that pattern does, so they are rising in popularity while pattern flying ebbs instead.

Oh boy, I knew somebody from the club would stumble across this! [sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

That's odd. Your post changed completely while I was replying. I agree, the poster does have a point there's no denying that. But let's not be too fatalistic about the state of the sport. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that more people need to inform them selves/get informed about the sport before they cast judgement. As my previous post stated, you wouldn't go to a "physical" sporting event not understanding the game. Why do we expect people to enjoy it even though they have no idea what to watch for?

There's hope. There are young people like myself who are picking this up, granted fewer.

Patience also seems to be an endangered resource today, which is compounding the problem. You get out what you put into the hobby. I try to put in as much as I can, and there's nothing like the feeling you get when you receive so much back. I still swear my heart tries to squeeze through my ribcage when I really nail a maneuver .

I'm using a smaller (cheaper) Brio to practice. I still have the old Joker, but on any downline the thing just turns into a big missle, even at idle. It even sounds like one as it whistles by. Cross controlled inputs won't even create enough drag to slow it down. It just isn't built for today's pattern style (really fun to haul you know what around with though).The wider fuselage of the Brio gives MUCH more control over the downline speed. I've just been going over the Sportsman schedule piece by piece. It's much more fun and rewarding than going up and wiggling the sticks trying to get something that looks cool.

Something about that doesn't look so legal. LOL

If the motor stuck out the front, and you opened your doors and put the wings and stabs on, you could fly yourself there Dick!!

Chris

Really good thread. I flew in the pattern wars for years in the SE. This thread brings back memories.

Frank Baity
AMA 38026

bigedmustafa,

Pattern seems to ebb and flow in different geographic areas. At the Houston Jetero contest this year we had so many pilots (47) that we were only able to squeeze in 4 rounds. Many more and we'd need a facility with two runways.

It’s a shame the participation is currently down in Omaha, but it was also down in Kansas and Oklahoma a few years ago and it's now back with a vengeance. BTW, I just flew with someone from Omaha last weekend at the Turf Fliers club near Tulsa.

As to flying so much you get sick of it… I love Blue Bell Rocky Road ice cream, but if I ate a whole tub in one sitting I'd get get sick of it too. I’ll bet, however, that Claude was itching to get back to the field in just a few days.

Still lovin' pattern,
Keith B

Oh yes, he was back at the field in no time! I don't blame him!

I'm looking forward to pattern flying surging again here in Omaha. Two Omahawks pilots finished 1st and 2nd in the Advanced category down in Tulsa last weekend; I'll give a shout out to Robert and Ron for representing Omaha in such a fine fashion.

We have several newer pilots who are working their way through sport planes and learning the basics of aerobatics that are interested in giving pattern a try. I don't really know of any other clubs in the area that are all that active with regard to pattern flying, though.

I guess as long as the Omahawks keep adding new members and introducing new pilots to pattern flying, we'll have a good chance of growing our own ranks of pattern flyers once again. I need to get off my arse and finish building my practice pattern plane. I've got a Thunder Tiger Imagine 50 with a Saito .72 half-finished that has been sitting around my house for so long I'm embarrassed to think about it.

I'm nowhere near ready to compete at even the sportsman level, but I'm not going to get there until I've got a decent plane set up and I can practice flying regularly with something a little crisper than my trusty old sport planes.

We had our annual pattern contest here in Aurora Colorado last weekend. Showing was down but many people have expressed some interest in keeping it going.

biged,

That's the spirit! It's amazing what a positive impact a core group of guys can have. Robert and Ron are super guys with a lot of enthusiasm and a pleasure to be around. With such positive attitudes I can easily see pattern growing in your club.

Keith

I would agree with your assessment if it were about 6 years ago. However, IMAC is not as you describe, at least not in the Southwest. I switched from pattern to IMAC about 6 years ago (actually the southwest JR SCAT series). Now, I am interested in starting pattern again. I enjoy precision aerobatics of all types and I have found that IMAC emphasizes different elements than pattern. One is not better than the other, but they are different. I think if you really look at what is going on in IMAC, you will find that the contests are extremely competitive and intense.

The thing that appeals to me about returning to pattern is that it will be more relaxing and it emphasizes focusing on details and finer points. My precision flying has suffered a bit in IMAC, but the degree of difficulty in IMAC is much higher. Someone once said that comparing pattern and IMAC is like comparing Ballet and Gymnastics. That's a pretty good way to look at it. I started off well in IMAC because I had the extensive pattern background. Now, I am a better overall flier due to the complex nature of the patterns in IMAC and I look forward to honing my geometry skills again.

As far as age group, I think a lot of the younger guys get attracted to the 3D capability of IMAC type airframes and the overall WOW factor. That probably won't change anytime soon. But if a guy is truly serious about competitive aerobatics, then sooner or later he is going to fly pattern.

Steve Hannah

Ed stop thinking like this, and get your arse out to a competition. The odds are that if you don't think you are ready
now chances are you may never be ready. I have only been flying for less than a year and I competed in my first
pattern event recently, I flew a tiger 60 with a 60 sized engine and was very happy at the end of the day. I plan on
doing 3 more events this season. I think that part of the reason that the event attendance is falling off is that people
don't think think they are ready coupled with the I don't have a good enough plane syndrome. I watched one of the
masters pilots in my club doing six sided loops and vertical lines with a trainer this past weekend.

I have been flying for 36 years and have never competed or even tried to fly "pattern". I just like to fly pattern ships, my old Kaos 40 is still my favorite. With a 6 channel radio, a 46 engine and basic servos, I don't have a lot invested in it. But I have as much fun as the guys with $2000 to $6000 IMAC type planes. Plus there is the fact that I built the doggone thing.

Hi There

I have also been flying models of various types - ussually update the model due to unexpected happenings (hahahaha) - but found that just going down to the local field and stooging around without much purpose was boring. I went to visit a field where there are a lot of pattern fliers - compared to none at my field - and was very impressed with the grace and precision of the flying.

I started trying to put aerobatic manouvres into my stooging on Sundays and found that it was quite enjoyable alothough rather hap-hazard to start with!!!! Eventually I was forced into a new plane (as previous mentioned the plane suffered untimely demise) so I bought a cheapo "Scanner" low wing and used my old ASP52 motor and my old 4-channel radio.

I went down to the field where the guys were flying pattern and just asked for help - THAT WAS THE BIG STEP !!!

Hi Wb

Like you I have been flying pattern style for over thirty years without competing.
However, last year I decided to take the plunge. Although it was a fascinating experience and I managed to win my second entry level comp it was a lot of effort for very little flying. Even starting one tier up from the bottom level and opening out my maneuvers as much as possible the schedule lasted just four minutes with three and a half hours between flights (three round comps). Coupled with the long drive to the nearest comp it left me a little disillusioned with my efforts. I still have my cups (second, first, and third) and many happy memories from my first season but will not be re-entering this year.
I guess that comp flying is not for everyone and I very much prefer to fly at my local field than stand around for hours in the middle of a disused runway waiting for my next go. Just MOHO on why more people don’t compete.

That's correct. School figures were eventually phased out. I believe 1992 was the last Olympics to include them. I knew all those hours at the rink would pay off. []

Foul play, however, is what really put the sport on the map. 'Champions on Ice' cast members owe their six figure salaries to Tonya Harding.

Tom

As long as you enjoy the sport that is all that counts. Everyone finds something they enjoy about it. My competion every time I fly is to take the airplane home in as many pieces as I took it to the field.

Piroflip Wrote:
Chacun a son Goute,as they say, but a comp doesn't have to be all like that,just in case any wavering shall I/shan't I entererers are about.
For beginners especially, there's lots to be gained by doing useful things like scribing, asking questions of the other flyers, etc etc---and most of all, you'll learn more about proper pattern flying at one comp, than in a month of Sundays thinking you're doing it all dead right at the club field......

I'm not aware of an IMAC world championships. As long as F3A is internationally recognized, it will still be "the main event."

Tom