I have a question about pattern flying.

I am learning pattern flying and plan on competing in my first contest in a few weeks. My question is, what's the best way to fix your routine if you screw-up? For instance, let's say you do a double Immelman and when you're done, you're nowhere near the line and altitude you started at. What's the best way to get back into position (line and altitude) for the next maneuver? Will I be penalized for flying back into position before the next maneuver?

Thanks,
flyingtomg

This is what I do..after losing my line and altitude, I try to get back to it in the next 2 to 3 maneuvers so it doesnt seem so obvious to the judges...

Its really hard for me to explain, but maybe someone else can word it a little better.

hope this helps

Chris pretty much said it.
A really important aspect of bombing a maneuver is to not get POed at yourself and let your emotions take control.
If you pay attention, with time you will see even the very best pilots make mistakes, recover, and continue on to get a great score. Forget about it and move on to the next maneuver.

Yeap like that's going to happen with "them" [8D][8D][8D][8D] watchin'

I find that having a second or third pair of eyes on you flying really help. An experienced pattern flyer watching and giving advice is vitally important.

Greg Grigsby

Smooth and graceful is key. If you make a large correction, you just told the judges “I screwed up!�

Move the plane in or out across the entire length of the box. If you get off line on a downwind turn around, try and aim for the correct upwind turn around point. Use the center maneuver and upwind maneuver to sneak back in.

Use the rudder to steer to that point...don't use the ailerons for heading corrections!

Well all the above is very good advice.

But a wise man once said "A Zero is better than a Hefty Bag"

In other words if your off by 45 degrees which is really easy to do when first flying a Double Immelmann. Sometimes you will be better off using the next manuever to get back on line and your bearings.
anyways as an example and using the double i as an example seeing as it is a center manuever.
If you really get off line you can use the end of the box to get back on line and possibly zero that manuever but at least when you get back to center the next manuever will start out ok. if you fly past center while trying to correct from the previous manuever they both get zeroed.

And especially in Sportsman no one makes it unscathed in their first contest. Usually nerves, a different field and not to mention judges and trying so hard. By the second and third rounds you will start to become relaxed enough to stealth in the corrections. I am trying to teach a perspective new pattern flyer at my club. and a couple manuevers that i did not think would be tough are.
mostly the vertical upline. entering this manuever straight and level is the key as you cannot tell if it is drifting left or right.
whoever dreamed up the cobra. An easy thing to do. the key is the half cuban eight. if it is done to big no time to do the cobra and center it. not to mention if the half cuban eight comes out crooked.
tough manuevers to do
the double immelmann entering it with the wings not level usually leads to the wrong rudder on top when the plane is inverted.
the two inside loops tough enough on a calm day much less with a crosswind or even one straight down the runway.
the two point roll usually holding down while it is inverted and then holding down when rolling out. tends to pull the plane off line and leads to a nose down condition on rolling out.

Anyways have fun and i hope to see you at a contest.

<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 9pt">At my first contest Mark Atwood called for me. Here is the dialog that makes the point...This is pretty funny...

I took off and started very smooth. Markwas doing his best to keep me calm as I was a nervous wreck. I made my trim pass and headed for the first maneuver, here we goand went something like this:

Mark: Ok nice straight line don't move the sticks and let the plane fly the straight line...

Mark: 1/2 Cuban Eight.

Mark: Very nice, now level out and lock on the straight line back.

Mark: Your line is drifting, just a touch of rudder slowly to correct.

Mark: Perfect, Now do the same maneuver you did on the other end.

Larry: (very animated tone) Holly crap, I did a reverse didn't I !!!!!! Dang it !!!!!! That's a Zero right?

Mark: (Whisper) OK calm down, don't let the judges know you screwed up because those were very nicely flown.

Judges: Too late, we got it...(giggle and chuckles heard behind me)

When I got my call sheets I saw what Mark was trying to tell me...On both call sheets a 9 and a 8.5 were scribbled out and a zero put in it's place...

Lesson learned...There is a better than50/50 chance at local meets one or both judges may miss it. Especially in the beginning of the season after the schedule changes...

I still laugh about it today...

Larry Diamond</span></div>

Usually there are 6 rounds in a contest, and they count only your best 4. Don't panic about a mistake. The most important thing is safety, followed by the well being of your airplane. I've been competing for almost a year and still get zeroes once in a while. Usually that round ends up not counting.

If your double I is way out of line, take the zero and get your plane into a safe position for the next maneuver.

It happens at more than just local events. I can recall at least 3 different times it happened at the TOC when I was there. You won't sneak it past all the judges all the time, but why make it easy on them by getting upset or making drastic corrections?

Your action should be determined based on the degree of error. Let's take the double loop for example. If you notice after the second loop you're a little further out or at a different (but safe) altitude then just fly it smoothly to the end and adjust in the turn-around maneuver. On the other hand if you’re pointed away from the flight line headed to the next county make a sharp turn and get back to the proper distance before you lose the airplane!

BTW, I'm not being sarcastic; I've seen numerous times where a pilot tried to keep flying the sequence 300+ meters away where the plane could barely be seen (and not just in Sportsman).

First priority, keep the plane safe.

Second priority, get good scores.

Keith B

Also be as smooth as you can be....once In intermediate I did a double I without rolls when it should have been with half rolls...and it looked really good even being the wrong maneuver. but I didnt let the judges know I screwed up...hell bryan Hebert was in the chair and he said he didnt even catch it....lol

just remain calm through the whole flight, if you zero the first maneuver (who cares) just go to the next one and try to lay down the rest of the flight perfect....

there has been one time when I 0'd the stall turn with 3/4 rolls up and down and felt like just landing and 0 the whole flight, but I didnt I stayed with it and actually won the round...you just have to say calm!!!!....lol[8D]

A lot of it will depend on the size of the mistake. If you end up 200 yards further out than you should on a maneuver, just turn and fix it. Otherwise, the next 3 maneuvers are going to look bad, as well as risking a crash. If its a slight mistake, then try to be smooth, but if it is really bad, then just fix it. Take the hit and go on. Much better than losing a plane or trying to be smooth and scoring badly on 4 or 5 straight maneuvers because you are too close or too far out,

Arch

Wow, thanks guys. I didn't expect so many responses.

More practicing this weekend. My first contest is two weeks after that.

Thanks again,
flyingtomg

Most importantly at your first contest. HAVE FUN!!! You are going to do some goofy mistakes you don't do in practice. It is only natural. We all started there. Don't over think things or assume because you have a tough couple of rounds, you can't do this. Even the best of the best started out where you are. Go for the atmosphere, talk to the guys, ask lots of questions and learn all you can. You'll learn more in one weekend of contest flying than you will in months practicing on your own.

Arch

Well said Arch
Anyways i'm off to the Doctor's and while they can't fix ugly well not with my wallet anyway. hopefully i will feel better anyways. Are you coming to Hebron in Sept.?

Another thing that works for me: if you over- or underrotate spin or snap roll, leave the correction until it is not so obvious what you do. Like into the next radius. Radiuses in general are very good for corrections: the plane changes orientation anyway, so the correction is easier to hide. Even if they notice what you do, they may be more benevolent because you do it the "expert way".

Dennis,

Not sure yet...thinking about it, but a lot of things are probably going to change in the next 6 weeks, so we'll see,

Arch

I can only echo what has been said so far.

My first Masters contest, I sort of flopped a stall turn (more rolling than flopping) and did a half roll down when I was already oriented correctly, making me fly the next few maneuvers in reverse. The only place I could sneak in a correction was on a K5 maneuver- a Figure M. I did a 1 1/4 roll up instead of a 3/4 roll up on the first upline. Nobody caught it, as I didn't give them a chance to. I ended up winning the round, and winning the contest, all because I didn't let it get to me.

Practice and patience, these are virtues in the world of pattern. Good luck, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

From what I've seen of pattern, it's too far away. Such nice looking planes but we never get a good look at them until they land.

Tom

Too far away? If you can't see a 2-meter airplane at 150 meters then you probably shouldn't be flying ANYTHING in the first place.

John Pavlick
Team Black Magic, Tech-Aero Designs

I have to agree with John on this one. 150 isn't that far out. Most of our runways are 450' long, if you can't see your plane from one end of the runway to the other then you need to have your eyes checked. 150 meters is a LOT closer than you think. Most guys end up much further out though. It is hard to keep the big wide body planes at 150 meters.

Arch

I haven't watched a legit pattern competition in decades. The fellow I watched recently was practicing too far away as far as I'm concerned. Maybe it was an isolated case.

I thought it could be more of a spectator sport if people actually saw the planes. I see sport fliers do similar maneuvers, but close in enough to see them.

I suspect the average pattern flier has better distance vision than the general population.
Maybe this accounts for the popularity of 3D and TOC sized airplanes.

Trisquire,
Oh, that explains it. You owe it to yourself to go to a "legit" Pattern contest and see for yourself. I'm sure you'll be surprised at how smooth and graceful the "new" Pattern planes are compared to what you've seen in the past. Keep in mind that we have to fly in an aerobatic "box" now. If you look at how the box is defined you'll see that it's to your advantage to fly as far out as you dare - this makes the box "larger". Normally, a competent Pattern pilot can keep the plane at 150 - 175 meters distance and still fly all the maneuvers in the box - regardless of the wind speed or direction.

John Pavlick
Team Black Magic, Tech-Aero Designs