Is there a basic flight pattern for a newbie? (as in 8 yr old grandson)

[John Skukalek]

Is there a basic flight pattern that a newbie could fly at the Nats?

[Dan Berry]

If he's brand new to it the basic pattern is 'don't hit the ground'.
When he's done being overly frantic and can fly around it's time a loop and some lazy eights.

[GERALD WIMMER]

Hello My sons both started flying stunt a very early age but they just flew what maneuvers they could in our Sportsman schedule like the climb , dive and wingover. They progressed to flying single loops with a lap between them onto lazy eights then proper eights. They learn quickly when young but also forget fast! As they got older  (now 14 and 16) new maneuvers and challenges became much easier especially inverted.
Trying too much too early on can be too stressful for them and they preferred practicing on a combat model till they were able to fly that new 'trick' as they didn't like smashing a nice model.
Scale models also proved a good way to fly competitions when you can't do a schedule yet.

Regards Gerald

[John Skukalek]

I think your ideas are outstanding Gerald. If a young beginner can feel good about flying the maneuvers that they are capable of it will be fun for them. Learning new more difficult stunts can be on a sort of separate track. At this point my 8 yr old grandson can fly a wing over and consecutive loops in addition to climb and dive. He needs to feel good about perfecting those instead of turning every flight into a failure while learning to fly inverted and crashing. 
 

[944_Jim]

Mr. John,
Good for you getting your grandson into the hobby. I tried with my boys and failed miserably. The youngest hated the sound of the engine.

PS Your grandson can out-fly me blindfolded...or rather your blindfolded grandson can out-fly me. Good for him-bad for me

[john e. holliday]

If your grandson likes to fly and wants to do competition enter him in the beginner class.  My son flew his first contest at 7 years old and all he did was take off, fly level and land.  Of course he had to stand with me at the plane while I started the Super Tiger 35.  Later he started flying with other people in the circle so he could race.  He didn't like stunt or combat .  Now he doesn't have time to fly with his rock band group known as Villians Dance.  He has videos on you tube.  He the one doing the socalled singing.

[Dan McEntee]

Is there a basic flight pattern that a newbie could fly at the Nats?

   There are two introductory patterns for new pilots. the first one is "Basic Flight" and the next is the "Beginner" . You might search around on the forums here for descriptions of each. Basic Flight is pretty basic, just get it started and off the ground, some climbing and diving, and loop or two, stuff like that. The Beginner class pattern, if my memory serves me correctly, is 1) Take Off and Level Flight, 2) Wing Over ( Not Reverse ) 3) 3 Inside loops, 4) 3 Outside Loops, 5) 2 Inside Square Loops, 6) 2 Horizontal Figure 8s 7) 2 Over Head Figure 8s, Landing. This is all to be done in the same 8 minute time limit as the full pattern, but some clubs shorten the time limit to 6 minutes to move things along if there are a lot of beginners. That will keep him challenged for a while. Look into joining PAMPA, and there is much to read, learn and download on their website.
   You have the right idea on how your grandson should progress. Let him advance at his own pace. Getting out to fly with others and watching them do the pattern is good motivation, especially if there are other kids flying. They tend to relate to each other better and can be a big help to each other.
  Welcome to the party pal!! Have fun!
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[John Skukalek]

Thanks John and Dan. I do have a copy of the Beginner pattern and am searching for a copy of the Basic Flight pattern.

[mike londke]

Thanks John and Dan. I do have a copy of the Beginner pattern and am searching for a copy of the Basic Flight pattern.

Contact Mike Stinson he runs Beginner at the Nats. He will allow someone to fly Basic at Muncie if that's all they are capable of doing. He'll have a sheet with the maneuvers on it.....

[John Skukalek]

Thanks Mike. I will do that.