This weekend is a pattern meet in New Hampshire, and it will be my first ever rc flying event. It is scheduled for 2 days (Sat and Sun) and starts at 8:45am on Saturday. I'm planning on driving from Vermont (3 hours) Sat AM.

Should I find a motel and spend the night? Will I fly again the second day, or is it just worth it to hang around?

How much fuel should I bring?

Do you guys usually make the trek out the am of, or do you try to get there the night before?

I don't know what 100yds looks like, but I will try to practice staying in a line all day tomorrow.

I tried doing the whole routine today, and it looked terrible! Granted, there were strong gusts totally across the runway. I ended up WAY out of line though[&o]

If I get off line during a maneuver, should I try to regain my line subtly or just do what I need to do to get set up for the next move?

Does speed matter? I find that I'm better at this stuff with throttle (1/2 or above).

Do you have any other advice or guidance for this rookie? I have only been into this hobby for 2 months. I don't know anyone else (locally) who likes pattern, and will be doing this alone. ANY advice or tips are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Well, plan on a hotel. Better that way. Dinner with the fellas, relaxation....
The most I drive to a local contest is usually an hour before I get a hotel..
Fuel, if going only Saturday and Sunday (not Friday for practice) take however much you would need to fly 8 flights. 6 for the contest, and 1 practice flight each morning.
At a 3 hour drive contest, I usually try to get there the Friday morning to practice.

If you get outta line, try to get back in where no one notices or where it's not scored..
Speed, well, fly where you feel comfortable.

Tips, well, be yourself. Ask everyone at the contest what you should do. They will guide you through...

Bring stuff to drink, and snack on.. Also bring an easy up canopy if you have one..

Good luck!!!!!!!

Chris

No additional advice as such but I wish you all the best for the weekend.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy yourself and experience same great cameraderie that I experienced when I first started attending pattern meets.

Joe, this is America, so you don't have to stay for the second day unless you're having fun. For a 3-hour one-way trip, and the price of gas these days, this is not exactly a local event for you. When I'm traveling to a meet, I like to arrive Friday afternoon, fly a couple rounds at the new field, then get a good night's sleep before the scoring starts on Saturday.

Saturday is usually more flying than on Sunday (weather permitting), because the traveling contingent like to have an early start for returning home. If you can spare the time for the second day, you'll get an added day of observing some very good pilots, and for you at this early stage, I think that kind of exposure is crucial to setting an image in your mind of what a well-flown schedule should look like. Plus on Sunday you will know everyone at the field, or at least everyone you want to know, so no awkward moments of introducing yourself and telling your story. The other flyers will also be more relaxed on Sunday, easier to talk with, readier to cough up advice, tips, sea-stories, what have ya.

If you have a fresh gallon, or most of one, that will probably suffice. You'll actually be in the air about 60 minutes over the two days. If you run out, I'm sure you'll be able to bum a tankful of fuel from someone.

I was out yesterday practicing in a breezy crosswind with my buddy, and he had trouble with the wind knocking him off his line, so welcome to the club. Wind correction is the major challenge in actual fly-time pattern. When it's blowing, it blows on everybody, so the picture-perfect pattern in your mind's eye is really just an abstract ideal, like peace and justice and the brotherhood of man.

Saturday wind forecast is quite benign, moderate breezes, straight down the runway. Sunday also good forecast.

Speed does matter, but realistically in Sportsman you need to focus on setting up your next maneuver before you complete the maneuver you're just startingsorta like playing pool, every shot should leave you in position for the next shot. For your first competition, I would plan on using as much throttle as you need to feel you have good control.

If you get blown off line, the judges will surely see it, so once you see you're off your line, my advice would be to concentrate on the upcoming turnaround, and try to maneuver through that to come back on a good line for the next center maneuver. You do get three exits/re-entries to re-position yourself in the box, so use them to advantage.

If you think a subtle correction can be made, by all means touch it in.

As to further advice, once you get to the field it will start flowing copiously. The main thing, as Woody Allen said, is to just show up and let it all happen.

......And HAVE FUN!!! I'm glad you decided to go try it out. [8D]

My advice, get a room you'll need the rest before your first big day!

Brandon Ransley here in the UK once gave me probably the best advice ever, during take off, take your time, go slow. On your down wind leg before your first center point manouvre sort your trim state out, get the model locked in. This will be day specific due to wind conditions. Use a half reverse cuban to get back in to wind ready for your first manouver, set your line up and enjoy the flight. Remember, wings level before you pull, this is probably the biggest overlooked reason for coming off line during a manouver, get em level.

I still remember my first comp and my first competitive flight, geez it was ugly but I enjoyed it, theres the key!

Have a great comp and let us know how you got on, best of luck dude [8D]

Regards from over the pond,

Andy.

Edit: Nevermind

Chin up dude, make it happen.

Balance: $7.61

[:'(]

I just got a call and my check was left here

Relax and have fun. I took my buddy to his first contest in May and he was very nervous at first but had a great time and now he is hooked on pattern and looking forward to his next contest.

Go and don't sweat it. EVERYONE there has BTDT where you are now. Best advice I can give is grab one of the upper class fliers to help you. Have the CD announce you're new to the sport and I bet at least a dozen hands will go up as willing to help. First flight will be the hardest. Don't sweat it dude. Even FAI fliers flat blow a flight once in a while.

Do each maneuver as a single deal. Don't worry about the next one at this point. If you find yourself getting too close in or to far out turn the airplane in or out and get back on line, this is preferable to possibly crashing the airplane trying to do something right on top of you or out so far you lose orientation awareness. I'd rather see a new guy get the airplane back on track from an extremely too far out or in line than take a chance on crashing because you can't tell what the airplane is doing, even if that means turning the airplane 90 degrees and flying back to the proper line. No flight is worth crashing over. Forget trying to stay exactly online, be close. I bet if you watch most of the flights by other fliers they won’t be exactly on line during their flights either. Many of them have been doing this for over 20 years! Believe me it's much better to get a zero than pick up pieces. Oh and you won't be the only one getting a zero during the weekend, there will be plenty of those going around.

I've coached many a new flier at a contest and it helps to have your caller help you fly the airplane. No one cares if you blow a flight or single maneuver, they do care if you kill an airplane. They want to see you at the next contest and the next.

If you have someone at your home field then by all means have them call a few "rounds" for you to get used to having that done for you. Don't try to be perfect because you won't be, no one is. The big deal on the first contest is to learn how a contest runs and how you fit into it. By all means have fun, it’s not uncommon to hear someone laughing their butt off while flying about a blown maneuver.

Remember, cutting a fabulous diamond always starts with knocking off the rough edges first then they start the polish to get a high shine. Pattern flying is no different. Have fun.


PS What ever you do DO NOT ask ANYONE about Spin or Snap entries. You'll be there for days.

LMAO! Good advice. Everybody knows that pattern aircraft actually fly because of all the hot air the pilots create when discussing spin or snap entries. It creates a giant thermal around the entire flying site.

Ditto about watching your wings before you pull, or push for that matter. If they are a little off when you start, that misalignment will be greatly magnified by the time you roll back out to level and you'll be completely off your line.

Well I did it! It was a small showing, so we got the whole thing done in one day. I took home a third place plaque, but don't ask me how many pilots competed in Sportsman I am very proud of myself for showing up and competing regardless of how humbling the whole experience was as I've only been flying for 2mos. I got quite a few zeros, although one of them was on the best half-reverse cuban 8 I've ever done; it wasn't supposed to be reversed You guys are so right about not entering a move with my wings level. I couldn't really tell most of the time until it was too late, and trying to make corrections vertical or inverted is pretty darn tough for this rookie pilot. But I did learn how to correct my line (rudder) while inverted after the meet If you ever told me I'd be using my rudder while inverted even 2 weeks ago I would have laughed.

I'm officially joining the Scott Smith fan club. He saw my VT plates as soon as I pulled in and introduced himself, and even flew a sportsman routine before the first meeting to show me /us what a pattern looks like; it was the first one I've ever seen. He made me feel comfortable right from the start. He called for me, I called for him, and I even judged him one round! I really got to experience everything. Scott flew the only real pattern ship there and it was electric. His flying was so graceful and precise, and watching him made me feel like I was floating in the clouds along with his plane. For a split second it made me want to go electric, but then when my OS started LITERALLY on the first flip for all of the 6 rounds I forgot about that. I'm definitely hooked and will be competing again in Sayre as long as no major crises happen between now and then. My Dolphin might not be straight as an arrow, or the best pattern plane, but it's definitely more than flyable for Sportsman competitions, at least for the rest of this year. I will definitely have a real pattern plane by next summer though.

I wasn't aware of how tight-knit pattern flying was. It sounds like I'll get to meet most of you guys by the end of the summer, especially if I make it to two or more events between now and then. I don't understand why more people don't fly pattern, but I guess that's pretty typical of many things...it's what makes us unique (and elite[:-])

Good luck at the Nats for whoever is going, and I hope to be flying with you all soon!

Thanks,
Joe Marri

See? now that wasn't so hard was it.

One day? I see you took my advice and didn't ask about snap and spin entries.

Great!! See, it was fun and relaxed wasn't it? I hate to say this, but I told 'ya so!!

Now go start saving your pennies to get a full fledged competition model in a few years. [8D]

Nicely done....soon you'll have to start going to the pattern pilot's annonymous meetings.....it is VERY addicting,

Arch

I can testify as an eyewitness that gaRCfield has a definite talent for precision aerobatics, and is a quick learner. Equally important, if not more important than the talent, is his readiness to jump into action when he sees something he likes. It was a pleasure making his acquaintance, and I expect District 1 will be seeing more of him over the rest of the season. Hats off to Scott Smith as well for taking Joe under his wing so to speak and giving him a first-class baptism into the sport.

Way to Go Dude!!

Thanks Norm, great to meet you too , and hope to see you in Sayre!

I wish I could go to some of these meets, but gas is too darn expensive. [:@]

Gas is a killer. We just got back from a 350 mile each way trip to drop off our planes to our driver for the nats. 90 bucks each way in a van with a v6... Going to start rethinking how far I travel to contests..

Congrats on your contest man!!!! Glad you had fun.

Chris

My civic gets good mileage. This contest was 3 hrs, next is 4.5. I try not to drive too much, except for flying. Right now its what i live for so nothing will stop me if i can help it. I live pretty modestly an spen all my extra money on flying related expenses. Its definately tim to start being more cautious though, no more planes and using fuel and gas wisely

Joe,
Ha! You popped your cherry. Now you're a veteran Pattern Pilot. Sounds like you had fun and met some good people, not to mention the fact that you took home an award. See - we told you it would be fun! Scott is a great guy isn't he? his "rudder technique" works extremely well - glad he shared that with you.
Start getting ready for Sayre. I can set you up with a buddy box ride on my Temptation during practice on Friday if you're interested. Warning: once you fly a 2-meter ship you will be totally spoiled. You won't want to fly anything else! <LOL> Do you have room reservations yet? Most of us are staying at O-Briens Inn.

John Pavlick
Team Black Magic

BTW - Rumor has it that some of the Southern boys are making a road-trip to Sayre. If you think NH was fun - wait until you see what happens in Sayre! Bring a foamy if you have one.

John, Scott had good things to say about you too, so I am excited to meet you. Scott not only gives me inspiration to fly pattern, but just inspiration that people can be so nice in general. And yes, that rudder thing is amazing! I'm going to work on flying the pattern inverted while making flat turns, that is if I can stop practicing keeping my line and flying pattern moves But drills like that is what got me to where I am now (still have A LONG WAY to go though!)

I don't have reservations yet. We'll see what happens. I think there's camping on site? I'm a college guy again, so don't have lots of money for hotels. I'm also afraid to fly a 2m plane 'cause I KNOW I'll be hooked. But yes, I'd love to try your plane on Friday!!! I'm already planning for next year- will have a pattern plane by then When I started this hobby 2 mos ago I thought pattern planes looked kind of silly, and only wanted scale planes. I just got my Decathlon and am already regretting not getting a pattern plane! Amazing how things change. Scott's plane was just SOOOO graceful, watching him fly was like a total escape, and the 2m plane lets you get some distance and altitude so you are really flying! So anyway I'm trying to figure out what route to go: I need a pattern plane, want an OS four stroke, and would like a better radio (have Futaba 6EX), but don't know which to get first or where to spend more and where to cut back. I also have to measure my Civic and see what will fit[&o] Scott said to wait until all my corrections are second nature before I think about getting a pattern ship, so I don't need one flying this season, but do want to start getting things together. My birthday is in October, Christmas is coming, and so are STUDENT LOANS!!!!!!!!!

God I'm SO hooked!

Yes, flying a two meter competition model will absolutely spoil you. Beware of the costs. An 'introductory' two-meter will still cost 'ya at least $1,000. There are some 120 sized options that work well with the YS 110 that you can start with for less than that. The smaller models can still be competitive at least through intermediate.

P.S. As far as four-strokes for pattern models, YS is top dog. Some guys are using O.S. 160 two-strokes in their two meter stuff though.

I wouldn't have suggested the Decathlon over in the Beginner's Forum if I knew you were going to jump in head first and not look back. You're tearing through this hobby faster than I did, that's for sure.