MK Aurora 60
 

MK Aurora 60 for sale on E-bay. Would this be a good plane to start pattern with?

RE: MK Aurora 60
 

mtcarey,

Any plane that will allow you to fly in a straight and level line, do a roll and a loop is a good plane to start flying pattern with. It does not have to be per say, "a pattern plane", they just look cool.

I would reccomend that you go to the NSRCA website and download the current Sportsman pattern if you haven't already, and just fly the maneuvers that are listed with your current airplane. If you have a local pattern flyer ask him to take time to go through the schedule and explain to you what the judges will be looking for meaning centering, presentation, etc. (If you don't have a pattern flyer locally that can offer you some help, give me a call and I will help you) If the plane that you are currently flying will allow you to fly through the Sportsman schedule begin to practice that schedule and go to a contest as soon as you can.

From what I have seen at past contests I don't think that you will be dissappointed with the results of alot of practice. After attending your first contest I believe that you will leave knowing a couple of things, the main thing being if you even want to persue pattern the second being alot better understanding of why the more current designed pattern planes look the way they do. Keep in mind that Sportsman is an introductory class and that noone is expecting you to show up with a full blown pattern ship.

You will most likely recieve alot of input to your question and this is only my opinion

Russell Honea
www.patternproz.com

RE: MK Aurora 60
 

The MK Aurora is a beautiful airplane, but from a different era. What do you currently fly, and are your building skills very good?
MK kits as a rule are incredible, but are not trivial projects to build, and build straight. Additionally, this airplane was designed around
the YS and OS 61 size rear exhaust two cycles...neither currently in production. Yes, they could be found on Eb*y or here, but...
It also requires (unless you modify it) tri-gear retracts...another unneccesary hassle.

I would recommend a more modern, easier to build platform for your first pattern model. Take a look at a CA Models Widebody 60 or
Epsilon. Both are easier to build, and fly great for Sportsman pattern. They come with pre-sheeted wings & tail, and the fuselages
are pretty simple. They run about $200- you'll spend more to snag that Aurora kit.
They fly very well on an OS91FX or ST90 2 cycle, or YS 1.10 4 cycle.

There are also a few nice 90 size pattern arf's out there, again they wouldn't cost much beyond what the Aurora kit costs.

Don't get me wrong, I love the cool looks of vintage pattern airplanes from the late 70's thru late 80's...and they are a blast to fly- for fun. Get something else though to learn & compete in present day pattern.

Scott

RE: MK Aurora 60
 

MTCarey --

The Aurora as mentioned above was an excellent pattern ship for the pre-fourstroke days. I flew them for several years -- actually one year too long. The last year there were two of nine flyers in Advanced flying two stokes (my Aurora and an Eclipse -- not the current one). I finished 8th and he finished 9th -- neither one of us was flying that badly but our patterns were rushed because of the speed of the plane and the distance needed to fly at that speed - they were not good trackers flying slowly -- it just didn't present well compared to the other bigger, slower planes; and "it didn't look or sound like the others" so it must not have been as good.... The planes mentioned above would be good starting points, they don't need to zoom to fly well (even though they can if the throttle is left wide open...) and they will give you a little more comfortable experience getting started with pattern and staying in the box. Sure had fun with mine, though...

Good Luck!
Tom

RE: MK Aurora 60
 

I just pickup a MK Aurora 90, fiberglass body and a os91fx 2 stroke with tricycle retracts, flaps.. I'm have some trouble with the motor and the tune pipe combo. it's been well stored marvins myst oil was in it and I'm not sure if it ever flew or how many flights. does anybody have any web sites or how to tune this plane