Starter Pattern guide
 

Hey Fellows
Here's the scope, I'm wanted to start flying in some IMAC tournaments the beginning of next year, Right now I'm just polishing my sticking up, But about 3 months ago I met a guy at our field a he is by far a true die hard pattern flyer and at the time I really wasn't that interested in pattern flying UNTIL I tried it and I knew then that if I can get these incredible hard maneuvers down or at least understand them and practice them on a regular bases , It would make my over all flying improve 75% more, I really enjoy flying 3D and I'm really fortunate that I can practice every day depending on the weather, So what I'm wanted to know is where is there a site that I can go to that will show me all the pattern flying maneuvers, entries and exits, and my last question is I have been trying for about a week in a half to do I THOUGHT was a relatively easy maneuvers but man its been beating me to death but when its done right man it is so nice looking, and it looks like it would be easy to do, but its when your flying by straight and level and you make a very slow 360 degree roll but then plane never goes of its straight coarse nor does it rise or fall, Maybe its just me but that is such a nice maneuver, But also what I was wanted to ask is I'm using a Futaba 9Z radio and to make slow turns like that what is the best way to set your radio up to do this, do you guys use a mix for your ailerons, then simple switch it on when you are ready to begin your rotation..

Thanks a lot Guys any help would be great

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

Allright, I'll give this a try. First I need some info from you: what is your plane, engine, and what sequences are you attempting? Set up is very important, from a beginner all the way through unlimited and F3A. I can give you some helpful tips on some things, but unless I know exactly what you're doing and exactly what you're doing it with, it's difficult.

But here's the foundation for EVERY type of precision flying: straight lines. Yes, they are boring as hell. But every manuever begins and ends with a straight line. In IMAC, if you concentrate on just positioning control you'll be miles ahead of the competition from the start. In pattern, it's even more critical. Begin by flying across the box perfectly straight. Do not allow the wind to knock you off course. Keep your wings perfectly level, and concentrate on holding your altitude and track constant. If you have a crosswind and find yourself blowing in or out, grease in the rudder to hold your track of the CG in a straight line. You MAY dip your wing ever so slightly, but if it's abrupt or noticable, it's a downgrade. I wouldn't suggest more than a couple of degrees, and even then you'd better not be able to notice it. If they have to wonder about it, you might get away with it. But I'd try to do it with the rudder as much as possible.

At the end of the box, smoothly pull to a perfect 45 degree climb. Hold the track for a count of "one thousand one", then half roll to inverted. Hold the inverted track at a count of "one thousand one" again, then SMOOTHLY begin pulling into an inside loop segment, concentrating on keeping it perfectly round. As the plane passes level and begins to head down, at about the 11 o'clock position, reduce the power and continue the pull until the aircraft is perfectly level again. Just before level, smoothly add in the power and nail the exit as a straight and level line, hopefully at exactly the same altitude and exactly the same distance out, following the exact same line back across the box.

Rinse and repeat until you are out of fuel, then keep doing it until you can nail it every time, no matter what the wind is doing. If you can do this, you are ready to begin learning the sequences. This is the first step in precision flying, and one that is all too frequently neglected. If possible, have someone watch you and tell you what they see. Are your wings cocked when you pull? If so, it will make the plane veer off course. Are you constantly climbing and diving? Are you getting blown in? Are you corkscrewing your loop segments? Are you dipping your nose after the half roll? Are you bouncing on the exit?

99 out of 100 times a person having difficulty learning a sequence has skipped this most basic of drills. I promise you, mastert his first, and you'll be HARD to beat when you compete.

Now if you give me some more info I'll be glad to take it a step further, if you'd like. Or anyone else feel free to chime in and correct me if you believe I have missed something.

Have FUN,
-Mike

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

Good info, thanks :)

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

Thanks so much Mike
That was some great info, Let me tell you what I have, I have a 33% Suhkoi with DA-100 on it, and I have it set up where is does a great job for IMAC but since I haven't been doing this long I really don't know if its what I need to the fullest of pattern flying, But I have a dual rates set where I can flip a switch and go from a nice walk in the park to a serious 3DE machine, Now I don't know if this is something that one would want to do and that is mix these two types of flying characteristics in one plane or should each plane have its on purpose, I also have a 2.3 Composite-Arf that I'm in the very beginning stages of putting together, I will be using a ZDZ 80 up front, not really sure about any mods to it yet, But I have a Carden 35% that hasn't got here yet and I'm so much looking forward to this I cant see straight, and since finely everything work out in my life towards the good, I'm 37 and retried so I get to fly a lot weather depending, But if there is anything else you would like to no I would be more then happy to answer your question, But I'm not sure I got the answer I was looking for unless you said it and it went over my head, Is there a website to visit that shows all the Pattern flying maneuvers, I'm a real pilot my hobby and I have about 45 hours in a Pitts9Dual of coarse but are the maneuvers in the same ball park as those, as in Cuban eights, half Cuban, harmer heads, 4 and 8 point rolls, etc.....


Thanks again for your reply I really appreciate it..

Randall

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

Well, it's tough to serve 2 masters (3d and pattern) with one plane. it can be done but it's tricky. If your plane is not responding well to inputs, it could very well be out of trim. There is an excellent trimming chart at http://www.nsrca.org/ and also a lot of good information about pure pattern flying, set up and teh manuevers. Also I would recommend visiting http://www.mini-iac.com/ and just spend a little time going through both pages, there is a wealth of knowledge there.

If you are looking for something that will show you very detailed descriptions of the manuevers themselves, I'm not sure if it exists.

Also you might want to consider getting a pure 2 meter pattern plane and doing some competing in that arena as well. IMAC is great, but pure pattern teaches you some important flying disciplines that IMAC does not. A person who excels at IMAC usually has a pure patern background, with a few notable exceptions. Plus it's cheaper, and you can effectively double the fun [8D] Just a thought.

A Sukhoi is a good play plane, but isn't the best for prescision. An Extra 330L is about the best there is in that respect. If you need more specific info about an IMAC type set up, I'd encourage you to check out the IMAC forum as I'm currently of little help in that specific arena. But I'm still more than willing to help however I can.

-Mike

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

You describe a slow roll in your post. In the first pattern I was flying that required a slow roll I set my aileron to perform the roll at the rate I required, at that rate it would fly the remainder of the pattern well also. However as I advanced I now fly slow rolls at max aileron rate and adjust with the stick. Flipping rate switches is distracting for me and if forgotten the maneuver is blown.

Good luck. You should try and find a good pattern plane, you will enjoy it.

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

I thought there was an 11 pound limit on pattern aircraft. Or is this just for FAI?

Thanks

Hank

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

Yes there is an 11 pound limit right now in pattern. But the weight limit may go away in the near future.

I would say a good slow roll takes 3-5 seconds, and remember the center of the slow roll must be positioned so that you are inverted on the center line of "the box".

In the sportsman pattern you have to do a roll, but not necessarily a slow roll. The 1st slow roll is in advanced pattern which is basically the 3rd level.

You really need higher rates than what you want for a slow roll so you have to just learn to control roll rate with limited aileron input. ALso you will be blending aileron, rudder and elevator through the roll. Not one and then the other as you roll.

I do my slow roll at at about 3/4 throttle, the faster you are flying the less the plane wants to descend, but the faster you can end up in the dirt if you get crossed up. You should be flying your roll at at least the speed you can fly hands off level. In my opinion.

Slow roll
1. Roll to KE
Begin Roll, I would recommend that you start the roll so that the canopy faces you as you come into the 1st knife edge. That is the way I am explaining here.
Anyways as the plane begins to roll, at about 22deg start feeding in opposite rudder really easy so that you end up on knife edge with enough rudder to hold the plane level.
2. Roll to inverted
Continue through KE rolling and letting the rudder come back to center as you go to inverted but as you head for inverted start easing in down elevator as you let the rudder come back to center so that you are only on a TINY bit of down elevator to keep the plane level.
3. Roll to opposite KE
As the plane continues to roll through the inverted portion to opposite ke, start easing out down elevator and at the same time begin feeding in rudder in the same direction as the aileron inlut you are giving to roll the plane. This is where the plane will be in KE with the wheels facing you.
4. Roll back to upright
As the plane passes through KE begin easing the rudder back to center and feeding in little to no up elevator depending on how you are trimmed. If you are trimmed for level flight hands off then you only need enough up elevator to transition from KE to upright but should be off the elevator as you come back to level.

You can roll so that the wheels come to you 1st but you will use same rudder on the 1st ke and opposite rudder on the opposite ke. This is harder for me personally.


So in short for right slow roll, opposite for left roll
Right Aileron SET ROLL RATE AND HOLD
ease in left rudder as you roll
left rudder(knife edge)
ease out left rudder and ease in down elevator simultaneously
down elevator (inverted)
ease out down elevator and ease in right rudder simultaneously
right rudder (opposite ke)
ease out or right rudder and ease in only enough up elevator to transition out of KE without climbing.
STRAIGHT LINE
next maneuver!

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

I hope they lift the weight limit, it would allow use of a gas engine instead of glow. For now I guess we are stuck with glow since there are no practical gas engines for use in pattern.

Obviously I would prefer gas and 80" plus wingspan, not being obnoxious just would like to be able to fly larger, more manageable airplanes.

Flame suit on.

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

I made a misstatement!! OOPS!

HARDER BECAUSE IT IS WRONG!

Rudder works the same way regardless If you are rolling from upright, always opposite rudder on the 1st knife edge. But I dont roll as well with the wheels coming to me 1st, I personally always roll with the canopy coming at me 1st..

BrainFart!! LOL:eek:

Thanks Scott,,,

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

Hank, Thats why there is an IMAC class!;) As big and heavy as you like it....

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

I know you are being friendly but you got me a little wrong.

My ideal pattern plane would be one where I could use my Zenoah 26. Large enough to see, gettin older, and small enough to transport. Unfortunately, it would come in well over 11 lbs.

Personally, my limit on size is where you need 2 servos per aileron. Too many problems.

Hank

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

hankpajari,

A gas pattern design is available today that meets your requirements. The designed is called the L'Essence. RCM published a construction article in May 2003.

Do a search on RCU for L'Essence to find threads discussing this design.

I saw this design fly at the 2002 NATS in Masters. It was powered by a RCS 180 with ignition and appeared to be a capable competitive design that met all the current constraints i.e. size, weight, sound.

Regards,

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

Thanks, I will look for it.

Hank

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

I myself just received a set of L'essence plans. They are very nice. www.rcmmagazine.com (go to plans service)

Good luck.

RE: Starter Pattern guide
 

Found the article, I save all my old magazines. Drive the wife crazy.

Looks neat - a real building challenge!!

Hank