can anyone help me pick a pattern plane like a CAP or EDGE that will fly well with a ryobi 31cc conversion engine?

I think the cap and edge are scale aerobatic planes. My understanding is that pattern planes aren't supposed to be designed to look like a real plane.

Sorry, I've only been flying for about 9 months. Still learning the difference between the two.

You can fly anything within the wingspan limit (2meters) and wt. limit of 5 kg. (11.2 lbs). Unfortunatley, the Ryobi is not going to help you fit into those paramaters. Its not to say that you couldn't fly pattern with a Ryans Rebel. I just don't think you could get one light enough to compete with. Go to a pattern meet or two, and get a feel for what entry level flyers are using. You might be suprised.
Z

Would a pattern plane be too much for a 3rd? I am really interested to begin competing and it is going to be pattern or combat.

If you are serious about competing, may I suggest that you look at the pattern site www.nsrca.org.

Here is the link to the beginners section http://www.nsrca.org/beginnerA.htm

Also, don't forget to look at the pattern forum here as well. Plenty of good reading...

Strictly speaking you don't really need a pattern plane to practice F3A Pattern. You just need to make sure the design you pick is aerodynamically efficient enough to fly well at higher speeds. This usually means a slender fuselage and tapered wings. You also want to avoid the hardcore 3D type scale aerobats with HUGE control surfaces. Flying those at pattern speeds is inviting disaster. Pattern planes are purposely-built with thinner airfoil for carrying speed through manuevres and long tail moment for stability and controllability without the drag penalty of large tail feathers. Pattern flyers usually use higher pitch props for that reason.

It sounds to me like you are not really looking for an F3A "Pattern" plane. You just want to use your Ryobi 31cc on an aerobatic aircraft. If you stay magneto, you are limited to something like the Stinger or 4*120, as the weedie won't power the typical Extra, Edge or Giles with any kind of authority. If your 31cc is a twin-ring and you upgrade to elec. ign and a big bore carb, you might be able to shoehorn it into a 1/4 scale scale aerobat and do well.

I would start with a Kaos and go with a regular .45. It is a good basic pattern plane to learn on. The CAP is a great aerobatic plane, but short coupled. The Kaos has a long tail movement is smoother in flying basic IMAC pattern. Even the Katana .40 is a good beginning plane.

Having built and flown KAOSs for more than 25 years now (still have 4 of them), I would agree that it is one of the best flying basic pattern planes in the world. However, I would suggest a 60 instead of a 45, if you want any kind of vertical performance. You can get the Killer Kaos from http://www.bridiairplanes.com/. I have one in the box I am getting ready to build (with conventional retracts).

John