I have been flying for a few years now and am interested in getting into pattern, where's a good plane to start looking for affordable pattern ships...I found that World Models has about 5 or 6 different pattern planes. What else is available?

Thanks

Venus II with a OS 120, two or four stroke is a nice jump off point.........

There are many pattern guys in Texas. Probably make sense that you visit a field were they fly and get information directly from them. Texas is district 6. Here is the web site:

http://nsrca.us/districts/d6.html

You will see a contact name and web pages with contest information. I am sure that they will help you. Good luck,

Vicente "Vince" Bortone

Focus 110 is a good plane also.
http://www.piedmontmodels.com/

If you fly at the Thunderbird field look up Rick or Stephen Byrd

NE Aerodynamics Aquila. Excellent flying, easy to assemble and great presentation on just an 1.20 size engine, with or without a pipe.

The best your wallet will let you..

gary

All these recommendations are good airplanes, but REALLY- you don't need a "special" plane to compete in Sportsman pattern! Any stable, moderate sized airplane should be able to be trimmed for the sportsman routine....that is the point of the sportsman pattern! If you have a mid wing or low wing plane that flies well, one of the pattern guys around Dallas or Ft Worth should be able to help you slow down the rates, add expo and mix it to be a decent sportsman platform. ( I know Lance Van Nostrand and Gray Fowler fly in North Dallas, and the Byrd's in Ft Worth, and Keith Black is in Dallas, too.) I you want a new plane and can afford a new plane, then by all means go for it, but you can learn on a plane you already have and spend more money going to contests and learn a lot more about what you will want to get for your move to Intermediate- which probably will require a more specialized airplane (though not necessarily a full "2 meter" ).

I hope I'll see you on the SE Tx contest circuit this spring!

George

George, is right if you have some extra money to spend get you an aquila or focus 110 as Todd stated. If you already have a plan that can fly straight and level hands off, it is good for flying the sportsman pattern.

Hope to see you this season.

Good luck,



Matthew L.