Scoring Maximum Points in Novice Pattern
by Don Ramsey

  I’m not going to try to cover all points in flying the pattern but some of the important ones. The most important points to remember are:

I’m sure you have checked your plane thoroughly during the setup process but make sure everything is ready to go before your first flight. I’ve taken off with the retracts unconnected. So, be sure you’re ready!!!

When you arrive on the hot seat and your plane is ready for takeoff, stop, take a deep breath, look at your radio one more time to make sure all switches are in the right position and everything is ready to go. You do have your neck strap on if you use one, don’t you? Before you start your takeoff think about what rudder correction you will need if the nose turns toward you or away from you. Make this thought process and checkout a part of each takeoff. You don’t have to hurry!

Before the caller releases the plane, clear the engine one last time to insure its not going to quit when accelerated. Call your takeoff and advance the throttle smoothly, not suddenly. A sudden advance of the throttle is cause for downgrade so consider positioning the plane a little further back for that smooth acceleration. Correct any deviation in heading immediately. Small corrections are easier than large ones. Try to takeoff centered on the judges and at an angle that gives a gradual climb. Call the takeoff complete at 2 meters.

Your first pass in front of the judges is free so use it to establish your line. Try not to fly too close in because this will severely restrict the size of the box. Also remember, you have ample opportunity to establish or correct your line each time you exit the box. Use this opportunity to maximum advantage. Go far enough out and make any correction necessary to have the model online and at the proper altitude before you enter the box. Try to be dead level perfect as you enter.

First and probably most important are lines. Two of the first three maneuvers, Straight Flight Out and Straight Flight Back, are just lines. Remember, each maneuver starts and finishes with a straight line. This is important in the other classes as well and you must practice it now.

On to the maneuvers.  Here's what you'll do after the takeoff and trim pass:
2.  Straight Flight Out 7.  Split-S
3.  Half Reverse Cuban Eight 8.  Three Inside Loops (exit the box)
4.  Straight Flight Back (exit the box) 9.  One Horizontal Roll (exit the box)
5.  Stall Turn (exit the box) 10. Landing
6.  Immelmann Turn

Your first set of maneuvers consist of two centered maneuvers and a turnaround; Straight Flight Out (centered), Half Reverse Cuban Eight (turnaround), and Straight Flight Back (centered).

  1. The rule book says in Straight Flight Out the model should be brought exactly parallel to the flight line and flown in an absolutely straight and level path for a distance of approximately 100 meters centered on the judges.  That means at least 50 meters of the straight flight out comes after center (distance does not have to be accurate).
  2. The Half Reverse Cuban Eight is not a centered maneuver, the Straight Flight Out was the centered maneuver (said again for emphasis because there seems to be a lot of confusion here). This maneuver begins with a gentle pull up into a 1/8th loop to establish a 45 degree line. This is not an abrupt pull up. The radius of this 1/8th loop should be the same as the radius of the 5/8ths loop to follow. After the pull up, hesitate, draw a line, half roll to inverted, hesitate and draw another line the same length as the first one. Now start your 5/8ths loop. Try to make this round and don't pull the power off too soon. Reduce the power after the nose comes down.   Use less up elevator on the top of the loop to round it out. At the end of the loop be gentle and try not to bounce the exit.
  3. Straight Flight Back should be along the same line as Straight Flight Out. That means the same altitude and same flight path. Call "Exit The Box" or have your caller make the call. Remember what I said earlier about using this exit to make any correction necessary to your flight path.
  4. The Stall Turn is a centered maneuver. You must start your pull up at center. It doesn’t have to be a steep pull up but the model must at some point come absolutely vertical. I suggest you make a very gentle ¼ loop to vertical and hold that vertical about 50 feet. The gentle pull up allows you to have a much better view of the plane for corrections. A plane standing vertical on knife edge to you makes it very difficult for you to see what needs to be done. Now, reduce the power but not to idle. This little bit of power will allow the rudder to be more effective for the turn and also help to damp the tail oscillation on exit. A pendulum movement of the tail on exit will get about a 1 point downgrade. The best way to minimize the oscillation is to hold some rudder until the plane is vertical on the down line then gently reduce it. Fly the plane out along the same line as the entry. Remember to hold a straight line on exit (maneuver starts and ends with a straight line). Exit the box.
  5. Your Immelmann Turn begins at center and the half loop ends at center. The half roll should begin immediately after completing the half loop. Any visible line is cause for downgrade, usually 2 points.  What this mean is that the roll comes just after center (the half loop ends at center).  If you read the downgrades on this maneuver in the rule book that is what #9 is trying to say, the roll is not centered.
  6. The Split-S is a turnaround maneuver and should be done near the end of the box. If you do it too soon, there will be no straight line entry into the three loops and that lack of an entry line will get a 2 point downgrade on the loops. Begin by half rolling to inverted then immediately upon reaching inverted begin the pull for the half loop. No inverted straight line allowed here.
  7. The loops are centered. Try to make the last as round as the first. There seems to be a tendency to pull the last loop too hard on entry. Exit the loops and box with a straight line.
  8. Again use your exit to set up for the roll. Center the roll on the judges and try to make it a little slower than a blur. Centered means the inverted portion of the maneuver is in front of the judges.. Exit the box.
  9. The landing begins at 2 meters and you should try to have the model centered on the runway with wings level at that point. Its always best to slow down as soon as possible on landing; downwind is good but no later than base.

In addition to the above pointers you should remember all maneuvers should be wind corrected to preserve the geometry of the maneuver. You should also call your takeoff, landing and all box entry and exits or have your caller make the calls. I hope this helps with some of the questions you may have.

Don Ramsey

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