what is a "pattern" plane?

[Del Rykert]

Thanks Terry, for being an Ambassador for precision aerobatics.

    del

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Terry Terrenoire" <amad2terry at juno.com>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 6:16 PM
Subject: what is a "pattern" plane?


> Last night I had a disturbing conversation with a gentleman who called me
> from MD. He has an old Cox plane he wants to sell, and contacted me thru
> the VR/CS.
> During our conversation I commented that my first love in flying was the
> pattern planes. He proceeded to tell me that one of his club members had
> one and it nearly cost the club it's field. When I asked why, he said
> that it was because it was so loud!!!
>
> I was dumbfounded!
>
> I explained how quiet my planes are, and that we were the first SIG to
> require quieter planes. While probing to get  details of the "pattern"
> plane, I FINALLY got to the description of a giant scale ship, with a big
> gas burner in front. This guy's comment was "well, anything that flys
> maneuvers and stunts is a "pattern" ship.
>
> So, here we are, getting tared with the IMAC brush.
>
> There has been a lot of discussion on the subject of perception. How are
> perceived as "elitists"? How do we get a bad rap for being too loud? This
> might be the answer. How many neophytes have seen one of these big
> planes, and been told that it is a pattern ship by one of the "older"
> members who may not have ever seen a true pattern ship?
>
> It all goes back to education, and we just are not reaching the average
> sport flyer to give him this education.
>
> By describing my plane, engine, muffler (he referred to it as a "can"),
> prop, and fuel, I was able to get him to see the difference and to
> acknowledge that the plane his fellow club member had was indeed NOT a
> pattern ship, but more likely an IMAC or IMAA ship.
>
> Terry T.
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