How to improve pattern flying?
 

Hi,
I'm really excited about pattern and precision flying.
I'm in the process of building my first pattern plane (Birdi's Killer Chaos, with a TH .75 engine) and until it will be ready, I'm flying a scratched built Big Stick 40 with a .46 size engine.

I have downloaded the AMA rules and patterns for beginners and trying to practice those 80% of the time I fly.
What I notice in my patterns is that they are not accurate and precise as they should be. Although I try to correct myself all the time, I still repeat the same mistake or inaccurate maneuver.
There are some maneuvers that I've never attempted to perform yet - such as the 1/2 Cuban eight.

I was wondering if you could give me some idea on how to improve and get better. or maybe, point me to sites that explain that.
I do realize that it takes a lot of practice and patience, but I also want to make sure I start off correctly such that the fundamental skills I'll acquire will be correct.

Any help is appreciated,
OG.

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

There's no better way to gain experience than to burn fuel. However, if you practice doing the "wrong" thing, you get into a groove that's harder to re-learn when the time comes. The best suggestion is to find a seasoned partner. You can read day in and day out and maybe, just maybe, you'll get the information you need. By flying with a partner, you too can call maneuvers for him. The most important thing to do in any sequence flying is to be able to mentally picture what the perfect "10" maneuver is, then strive to achieve that mental picture in flight. Let your partner show you what you need to do. After about 1000 times, you'll say, "Oh, I've got it".. Just kidding. Seriously, there's no better or faster way to learn when you have a mentor that can hold your hand, flight after flight, day after day, month after month. Good luck..

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

When I was at the stage you are at I was fortunates enough to run into a good pattern teacher. Three things he taught me that helped.

Learn to fly a straight line. Sounds so simple. But go to a pattern contest and watch how many flyers think that wings level means the wingtip is pointing at you, when in reality they are in a gentle banked turn because they are wing low to themselves. The pull up from a straight line is the basis of all of the patterns.

Go to a toy store and buy one of those magnetic drawing boards (http://www.toys2wish4.com/madrbo.html) Now learn to draw a 45 degree up and down line free hand. Check your drawing against a drafting triangle. Too many flyers fly what calls for a 45 either too steep or too flat. By drawing it correctly free hand, you will fly it correctly.

Build your pattern in stages. Fly the simple maneuvers first, by them selves until you fly it correctly. then start putting them together.


The best help you can have is a good coach judge that's making notes or videos to review after each flight.

HTHTom

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

I will back up what my Polish cousin says--an experienced coach/flying partner plus lots of flying time and focused practice is the fast track to learning pattern. A day or a weekend at a pattern meet will show you the difference between pretty good and very good pattern flying. While everyone likes light or no breeze for practicing new maneuvers, you've got to get out on breezy days and learn to fly straight lines and stay on track throughout maneuvers, upright and inverted, in any wind.

It is good to read when you can't fly, or something to do at night. A few excellent sites for flying tips are--

"Awesome Pilot" on the TroyBuilt Models site: http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/AwesomePilot.html
Mike Lynch's page: http://www.trivillagercers.org/news9507.html
good RCU thread: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_72.../anchor/tm.htm
Don Ramsey's "Maximum Points in Sportsman": http://members.cox.net/don.ramsey/

Indispensable is the Pattern site at nsrca.org and their links page: http://www.nsrca.org/hotlinksA.htm

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

One thing that new pattern pilots do is they practice too much and wait to long to go to a contest. You learn alot of good pointers going to contests and it instills confidence and a sense of comaradarie. You will find that lots of people will help you at contests so go for it!!!
Greg

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

Thank you all for the great suggestions and links.

I need to find out if anyone in our club flies patterns and will try to hook up with him.
Also, I assumes that flying weekends only might not be enough and I'll need to get out to the field more than that.

Thanks again,
OG.

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

Hi,
I agree with burning a lot of fuel, as has been suggested. But I would like to point out another thing, that IMHO is one of most important things often not properly addressed: aircraft setup, of aircraft trimming. Properly trimming a pattern aircraft is IMHO not a simple task; there are good starting points here:

http://www.nsrca.org/trimA.htm

A well trimmed model makes the difference in flight, and you can really think of doing the manouver right, instead of losing time correcting airplane bad tendencies. Another great article that will teach you how to trim you pattern aircraft is that one by the great Peter Goldsmith:

http://www.flagstaffflyers.com/image...thTrimming.pdf

I suggest you to spend some time (actually much time!) in setting up your plane and think carefully of each test, in order to fully understand what you are doing. Besides, I think model trimming is not a unidirectional process: when you are done, you will start to notice that the airplane flies much better. Then, after several other flights, you could realize that another aspect should be corrected and eventually you end up with an airplane that keeps improving its flying quality. The bad news is, IMHO, that all this process require experience but all of us has been a novice right? :) The good news is that when you master this magic activity you will be able to really understand how to "perfectly" trim every aircraft!!!

Good training!

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

Perhaps this web page will help? I created this web page several months ago for those starting out in pattern. Has some videos and suggestions:

http://home.comcast.net/~scottcov/

Hope it helps.

sc

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

Really good site sc!!!

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

Lots of good fliers in the NJ area. Come to this on the 17th and 18th

http://www.nsrca.org/competition/con...ils.asp?ID=164

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

Go to a pattern contest. You will learn a lot from that experience and I'll bet you meet a lot of very helpful people. I practiced and practiced and when I went to my first meet I found out everything that I was doing wrong and how to correct it...not that it instantly made me better but now my practice is much better.

My $.02

BTW - I fly Sportsman this year and I'm quite sure I'll be flying it for most of next year. Flying straight lines and making round loops is a lot harder than it seems.

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

I plan to go to the one on the 17th and 18th to take a look and see how are things going.
Not sure though, that I can come on the 17th, but definitely should be able to make it on the 18th...
Would you know where can I find which events will take place on the 18th?

Thanks,
OG.

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

OG, the Jackson meet is the last scheduled event for District 1 for this season. Details at the link provided by Anthony in post #10 above.

RE: How to improve pattern flying?
 

Thanks again for all the links and info.

Last weekend, I focused only on straight flight, and indeed, it was not as easy as I thought...
At least now, I know what to focus on for the near term future :)

OG.