So you say you want to try Precision Aerobatic Competition (or Pattern as we call it) and you're wondering what you need for an airplane. First let me say that it's not necessary to buy and build one of those expensive pattern planes to enjoy the thrill of Aerobatic Competition. Most of the potential Sportsman flyers are under the misunderstanding that they can't be competitive with anything but a full bore, YS140 powered, glass fuse, 2 meter plane. May I suggest that you can be very successful with any .60 size sport-scale aerobatic model. If you can afford something larger, that's even better. The first pattern contest I ever entered, I had a Goldberg Chipmunk with a K&B 61. This plane flew far better than my abilities. It was possible to win the Sportsman event at any Pattern Contest with that airplane. Let me also add that it is competition legal to fly any model up to 2 meters in size and 11 lbs. in weight; and that includes ½A ships. But it is important to remember that old axiom; "big planes fly and little planes flit". In other words, the bigger, the better for the pilot and the judges. The popular planes used in the Basic class of many IMAC contests are the "Sport-Scale" type planes and they can be very successful in Pattern competition. There are some very capable kits available, such as the Goldberg kits Extra 300, Sukois, Chipmunks, Caps, etc. Some would require a larger engine such as a 91 or 120 two stroke, or four stroke. Even though someone may have enter the Sportsman Pattern class with a full 2 meter ship, the average flyer with practice can do very well with the standard sport-scale aerobatic, 60 size airplane in Pattern competition.

Some kits will be near to or over 11 lbs. in weight which is the legal limit. It would be hard for some sport flyers to build a 6 ft airplane and keep it under 11 lbs. I built a Midwest Giles 202 (w.s. = 72"), kept it as light as I could by replacing some of the wood and cutting extra lighting holes, put in a Moki 120, 2 cycle and it ended up at 11 lbs. and 1 oz. Now, most CD's in this country would not keep an entry level, Sportsman flyer, from his contest because his plane is a little over weight. We want to encourage as many new flyers as we can. So if you're a beginner in Pattern flying and your plane is a little over weight, call the contest CD and see if it is OK. In most cases there will not be a problem.

Here are some ideas how you may procure your first Pattern ship for that contest you would like to enter this summer.

Join the NSRCA and get the K-Factor Magazine. In there are a lot of adds from some of the model kit manufacturers that may be able to supply you with a nice beginners kit at a reasonable price.

Get one of the Sport-scale aerobatic ARF's out there, for a 60 to 120 size. The catalog's and hobby shops are full of them.

Buy one of the Sport-Scale aerobatic kits that are commonly available right now.

Get an aerobatic, non-scale ARF , of which there are many available, i.e. the "Spectrum" from Hobbico, only use a small frame .60 engine like the K&B 61. Same with the "F3A/40" or the "F3A/90 ARF's from Kangke Industrial, and also the "Tai Ji-60" from World Model Manufacturing. Search the magazines, there are plenty more.

Get hold of an XLT, Escape, or Great Escape kit from Bridi Aircraft Designs, a Kaos from Great Planes, or a "King Kobra" from Sig Manufacturing. If you can find an "Ultimate Kaos" kit or one of the older discontinued pattern kits out there, then grab it. You don't need tuned pipes or retracts on these models and they can fly the beginning routines with ease.

Next, if you don't mind scratch building, look through some of the old magazines, or get the Plans Catalogs from RCM, Model Airplane News, and Flying Models. They have plans, in all these catalogs, of some of the great flying pattern designs of the past which are still very good for today's two entry level classes. If you look in Flying Models, August 1991, you'll find the plans for the Desire 60, by Mike McConville. I built this one some years ago, and I loved it. This is still a very good flying model by any standard.

I've presented these ideas to show that there is still a good number of kits and planes out there for the Pattern new comer that wants to have a go at Precision Aerobatic competition. And if you don't like the competition, you'll still have a delightful airplane to fly on the weekends at your local club field.