Hello all guys of this forum, I have some years in this hobby and unfortunately here at my city there are no people interested in serius pattern flying, perhaps because there is no promotion (known at least) of serius pattern competition of our National Aeromodelling Asociation. I have tried to reach this people but it has been almost useless.
So, I am interested in practicing some pattern sequences. At this moment I think I´ve known almost all the theory involved in maneuvering, judging, rules, etc, etc, etc. I even have practiced some sequences in my fligth simulator, but I thought it was time to take real practice at the flying field some time ago....
Unfortunately again I have been dissapointed finding it difficult to take the next step in my skills. My theory is that I have no method to do this practice, and that´s what I am looking for: A method to master any particular pattern sequence. I could maybe design some "personal method" but I am sure when someone tries to discover something by himself it could take a lot of time and effort more than people who´s already involved in that particular area. A typical example would be the Champions of this discipline..but they could be difficult to reach, couldn´t they?

So, I´d appreciate any help of some learning method or ideas of it...
Thanks in advance!!

Greetings,
[sm=50_50.gif][sm=drowning.gif] Luis E

Just like anything else, really---start at the beginning and master the basics.
In this case, learn to fly straight lines at a constant depth and height---not as easy as it sounds!
If you have a 2 metre plane, mark out a line 150 metres out(or a little more)-----------if you have a 90-sizes plane ,a little less---say 120metres.
mark out the 60 degree box, with a centre line where you stand to fly, and two 60 degree lines leaving it----parcel tape works well.
Then practice flying up and down the 150 metre line, on the base line to begin with, using something like a stall turn to reverse direction at each end.
That's the beginning----good luck!

And if you are flying your Venus, bring it again somewhat closer. Flying the straight line is very important for contest flying (and you can actually spend a season on "getting it"), but I think you are OK just trying to get the basic figures right. I have spend a lot of time learning to fly decent loops, square loops, cuban 8 and then all these inverted. You do have to spend time and fuel to get it right. Of course it helps to have some instructor, but the fact is you need to burn a lot of fuel to practice. That's the fun of it! A simulator can help you to feel confident to excersize some figures and for instance fly inverted, but to get a nice round loop, you have to be at the field to learn!

I know it might not be easy, but the quickest learning will be done at a contest, a local `unimportant' one is best. After your flight start asking questions of your caller and judges, these guys probably see a lot of flights and whilst you may not like their answers, if you want to win listen carefully to what they say and start to practise what they say. The trouble with lone practise is that you might be practising the wrong stuff, and you then ned to un-practise all the bad stuff before you progress. Lines and angles is what it is all about.
Evan.

Not sure where you are in mexico but I know there is some guys from El Paso,TX area that fly pattern. Good guys, if your close I imagine they would help.

Not a pattern flyer myself but...

It would probably be good to have somebody observing your training flights. Somebody who is not concentrating on moving the sticks should be able to spot if your lines are straight, your loops round and positioned right, etc.

Thank you again all of you kindly guys, all your information is being very useful for me. ANY more information will be very welcome!!
Invite more people to post your ideas or personal methods or techniques to well start the way to master a Pattern Schedule, [sm=idea.gif]

Sincerely

Luis E

Luis

Try to get just one other person hooked. It is very, very hard to be objective about your own flying. Don't give up. I tried for more than 2 years to get somebody else hooked into precision flying. By just doing some nice precise aerobatics each time there were other pilots around eventually got a few to ask me, "How do you do that?" The rest is history as there are now several pilots practicing precise flying. We are not doing pattern per se, but are using our Extra's, Ultimate's and Edge's for what they were designed, precision aerobatics. The sharp looking flying that is now evident is the result of practice and passion for good flying. Hopefully we will take the next step soon and do some contests. I am not sure where you are in Mexico, but try to visit some competitions if at all possible.

As mentioned before, just flying a straight line at constant altitude is the first step. Cross-wind correction using the rudder is a must. Getting your plane set up and trimmed is the basic requirement for precision. If you are constantly having to correct the way the plane flies then your precision and pleasure will suffer.

There are several good articles on different websites on the how's and why's of aerobatics. The pattern forum has some good information as well. If not sure, ask.

Safe Flying!

Wow.....you guys are about as far south as you can get without leaving Texas! I wonder if any guys are flying pattern in the Corpus area?


Best Regards,
Mark

It looks like you are in central Sinaloa. El Paso or Phoenix may be a bit of a drive but worth it. There is usualy at least one contest in Phoenix every year. Check out the NSRCA.org website and go to the district 7 link for details. They have a tentative scedule for 2007 posted already. The phoenix contest is not on there yet; keep checking it.

Hello Dreadnaut!

Yes, I was just writing Blikseme that I am 11 hours from Tucson, and maybe 13 from Phoenix? ( In central Sinaloa as you said) I agree with you it is worth traveling to Tucson or Phoenix for being in a sanctioned contest. Just this last month (october) the 2006 Tucson Shootout took place, didn´t it ?, tough I wanted to know the starting basics of pattern flying, now it is clear to me I should at least visit for now, as some of you have recommended, some sanctioned contests. The only thing is I want to get involved in F3A, not exactly IMAC, but as a learning and introductory experience I am sure it is very valuable.

Thank you very much for your suggestion Dreadnut.

Thank again all of you guys and again, I invite you to post some other helping ideas of How to Master a Pattern Routine

Greetings,

Luis E

The guys in Juarez/El Paso are trying to get their first Pattern contest going in 2007. I believe they are shooting for Aug. The same club also hosts an IMAC contest in the Spring, but am not sure of the date yet.

To master a sequence is the ultimate accomplishment and to be honest, almost no ever does. We are always striving for the perfect maneuver, followed by the next perfect manuever and so on.

As stated before, the basics are the building blocks. If you don't learn them well, and move up, your flights typically don't do very well. Straight lines (not bowed, not up and down, verticals that draw a line as straight as a rope hanging down) are all essential. As well, centering any rolls/snaps on lines is very difficult. Making all radii the same roundness, entering and exiting all center manuevers at the exact same altitude. Using the rudder to keep the plane on a wind corrected heading. Wings level throughout. Making all loops perfectly round, not egg shaped, no flat spots ending at the exact point you began the loop at.

As you can see, us mere mortals never Master a sequence but we can fly it the best we can.

Start off with straight flight, wings level, in any wind condition. Don't fly kittycorner just cause the wind is blowing that way, use the rudder to crab the fuselage to maintain a straight track. At each end of the box (as suggested earlier) pull into a stall turn or humpty bump or top hat. If the plane doesn't go straight up, your wings weren't level and we must see our plane, from the ground correctly to do this. If it comes in as you pull, the inside wing was low or you added aileron as you pulled, if it goes out as you pull, the outside wing was low or you added aileron as you pulled. Work on using very little correcting aileron and elevator as you fly across so the plane looks like it is on a rail, if you can see the little corrections you make, trust me, so can everyone else. As you exit the end manuevers, work on coming out at exactly the same altitude as you entered (just good practice) and with the same radius as you entered.

After you can do the above, then work on loops centered, rolls centered. Use a marker so you can see the plane and center marker at the same time to know if you performed the rolls exactly centered or not. Again, work in the wind so you can use the rudder. Try to make all up and down lines perfectly straight, even after stall turns. If your loops are corkscrewwing in or out, check lateral balance on the plane, check equal elevator throws, then again, look for wings level or crosswind correction needed.

Strive to be in total control of the plane at all times. remember the plane only does what it is told by the pilot. Again, if you see a correction is needed and make it, everyone else saw the correction also. If you see correction is needed, subtely make the correction and you couldn't see it, maybe you snuck it in. If you know you will need correction prior to it being seen, then you can make the appropriate changes without others seeing it and bingo, that is what we strive for. As you practice try to stay ahead of the plane, most planes are predictable in different conditions so corrections can be made.

Lastly, have someone else, that is honest and willing, watch your progress. Most of us can perfect mistakes without someone willing to tell us that sucked. At contests, ask someone to watch, show up Friday when everybody are telling stories and ask someone to watch, most will. Ask the judges, if you have time, for any comments and listen to them.

This is extremely fun, and extremely difficult. Enjoy it, strive at it, and burn the fuel, yeehaa

Ed

Where do I get a print out of the 2007 pattern routines?
Also a print out of text description of the 2007 pattern routines?
Thanks.

http://www.fai.org/aeromodelling/documents/sc4

Luis Enrique:

Buenas Noches, pues yo estoy en la misma situación que tu aquÃ* en Hermosillo, Sonora y soy FAN de PATRON, yo quisiera también saber más aún del PATRON.
Lo que tenemos que hacer es pegarnos con la gente del PASO TX y TUCSON y PHOENIX para ir a los eventos e inscribirnos en principiantes.

Espero verte pronto en febrero en Culiacán.

SALUDOS

Luis y Erder, chequeen www.f3avenezuela.com.ve ahi hemos hecho algunas recopilaciones ya traducidas, como la guia de principiantes y guia de jueces, no es escrito por nosotros, es recopilado, traducido y adaptado... saludos desde venezuela.

precisamente los de cd juarez organisaron el primer evento internacional de pattron en el paso y estuvo concurrido para la gente de hermosillo le que do bien a pesar de la distancia

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