PAMPA Beginner Pattern

[James Holford]

Finally getting around to learn the Beginner pattern.

According to PAMPA if I read and followed correctly.. There is no inverted flight other than Outside maneuvers?

 In other words when I go into a Wingover...I pull out level counter clockwise flight? followed by inside loops into level flight? then up at a 45 go into 3 outside loops? then 2 inside squares? followed by 2 horizontal 8's? and then pull up into a wingover and pull into 2 overhead 8's? then proceed to land.

Note I know I didnt include the numbered laps between maneuvers as Im not sure if its 3,4, or 5 or more. And I did leave out the the fine details into presenting the maneuvers.

If thats really all there is to it then it may not be as difficult as it appears to my novice mind.

[Dan McEntee]

    I think you have the idea of it James. If I can make a suggestion, and you can already fly inverted at all, I would do the outside loops from inverted. Just tell the judges ahead of time that you will do the two laps after the insides inverted, then do the outside loops. That is what you will be doing when you get to the full pattern so may as well get used to it. You could also do the two laps upright, then do a lap inverted and execute the outside loops. What ever you are comfortable with. I will also suggest that you do the pattern that way every time you fly, so you get the repetition you need to get things down.
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Tim Wescott]

This is second-hand information, so take it with a grain of salt:

From a posting here years ago, the beginner pattern was invented as a way to let someone avoid inverted flight altogether.  You can even omit the outsides, if you're that worried (you can always omit maneuvers from the pattern -- you just lose your pattern points).

So, if you can fly inverted, do what Dan says, because you'll be practicing inverted flight every time you do the pattern.  If you can't fly inverted, then work hard on learning, because you need to know.

[John Rist]

I also am learning the beginner pattern.  I am having trouble with the overhead 8s.  I am old and stiff and I am having trouble seeing where I am going.  What is the best way to stand to see what I am doing?  I am thinking that I start the  maneuver with the wind in my face.  And then bend over backwards to see the back side of the  maneuver.  I then rotate at the end of the maneuver to see the pull-out.  Also dose the pull-up and pull-out need to be as sharp as the pull up and pull out of the wing over?  What say you experts? 
                                 

[James Holford]

Out of the beginner pattern. Overhead is the only one I havent attempted yet. Been having tank issues sonit be a be bad idea to try.. but now since I have a Uniflow strapped on its time to try. Right now Vertical 8's are my fav.

 I can do inverted to a degree. But again I am learning. Just need to put more time in the handle.

For this first contest for me coming up in October. I may just stick to regular flight til then. after that hurdle I will proceed forward. But who knows.  May change my mind.

If the rain holds off I may try to get some tanks in this afternoon and film.

Thanks yall for the replies!

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[Tim Wescott]

My first contest was in October (of 2010, I think), and I omitted the overhead because the plane was underpowered.  It was, all in all, a last minute, thrown-together bodge, and I pulled out about three inches underground in the horizontal eights on my second flight.  It started about a year of coming home from contests with fragments of airplanes -- but I got better over time, and I'm flying in Expert now.

So -- Go James!!

[Will Hinton]

quote from John Rist:  " I am having trouble with the overhead 8s.  I am old and stiff and I am having trouble seeing where I am going.  What is the best way to stand to see what I am doing?"

Hi John, good to hear from you.  Definitely face the wind to start the OH8, but when you get to the top, if you are able, I turn my upper body in the direction of the loop I'm doing at the time.  In other woirds, once I start the inside loop, I twist to my right from the waist up, and then do the opposite for the outside section.  As the ship comes around to the intersection, I follow it with my upper body, just like following a manuevor with the handle hand, and it gets me both to an accurate intersection and assures me the manuevor is not in front of me.
There may be those who poo-poo this stlye, but I've typically scored in the lower to middle 30's that way.

[afml]

Congrats Guys on learning the Beginner Pattern. 
To answer the question:
"Also dose the pull-up and pull-out need to be as sharp as the pull up and pull out of the wing over? "
In a word.......NO.
The maneuver starts and ends at the intersection above your head.
Save your energy going vertical, but be sure to pull up in front of the Judges or as mentioned:
'With the wind in my face'
Don't need a wing-over type pull out 'just yet' either.
They are impressive, but not scored.
The very best to you both & "Tight Lines!"
Wes

[James Holford]

I forgot to ask.  How man laps between maneuvers?

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[Dane Martin]

In beginner, it's not as critical. But do the maneuver, count one full lap, start next maneuver on two. It's one lap basically to get the judges time to write. My first intermediate contest, I flew two full laps between. They didn't dock me, but I barely made the pattern. Ran out of fuel almost too soon. Lol

[Will Hinton]

The rule book requires two full laps, period.  You can do more, but no less.

[Dane Martin]

Because of the way I read it, I actually did two full laps, then one lap to line up the maneuver. So I ended up with three laps between each one. I just mean to count them, it's only two, and the maneuver starts after the second lap

[James Holford]

Gopro and handycam on charge gona go be nostalgic and fly at the ballpark.

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[Tim Wescott]

I forgot to ask.  How man laps between maneuvers?

OK.  This is the third wording you're getting, but we're all trying to go to the same place.

"At least two laps", although you can shave that a bit if you reposition for shifting wind, and I'm pretty sure that the wingover ends where you exit the last turn, but then most people start their inside loops right on the line of the descending wingover.

One of the many things you can expect to get wrong is your lap count between maneuvers, particularly for takeoff and inverted.  Takeoff because it's one full lap to take off, TWO laps of level flight, and then TWO laps for the judges, and inverted because it can be astonishingly hard to concentrate on flying well AND count to six (or seven, because for inverted it's a good idea to toss in an extra lap -- that way, when you lose count you'll have some margin).

And don't worry about it too much.  If you really belong in beginner you'll be screwing up every which way, and there will be lots of helpful people getting you straightened out.

[James Holford]

OK.  This is the third wording you're getting, but we're all trying to go to the same place.

"At least two laps", although you can shave that a bit if you reposition for shifting wind, and I'm pretty sure that the wingover ends where you exit the last turn, but then most people start their inside loops right on the line of the descending wingover.

One of the many things you can expect to get wrong is your lap count between maneuvers, particularly for takeoff and inverted.  Takeoff because it's one full lap to take off, TWO laps of level flight, and then TWO laps for the judges, and inverted because it can be astonishingly hard to concentrate on flying well AND count to six (or seven, because for inverted it's a good idea to toss in an extra lap -- that way, when you lose count you'll have some margin).

And don't worry about it too much.  If you really belong in beginner you'll be screwing up every which way, and there will be lots of helpful people getting you straightened out.

Tim youre too nice lol.

Anyone who have seen my videos on youtube know first hand Im straight beginmer lol!!!

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[James Holford]

Not flying in a month showes its colors... 1 flight.  Soggy field.. goin home with plane in 1 piece.

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[Will Hinton]

Not flying in a month showes its colors... 1 flight.  Soggy field.. goin home with plane in 1 piece.

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And going home a WINNER!!  Way to go.

[James Holford]

And going home a WINNER!!  Way to go.

Lol.

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[Steve Helmick]

There are some pretty good flying tips over in the Judging Clinic, tho that wasn't the original intent. It kinda spills over from Judging to Flying to Coaching, and I happen to know that's cool with the Moderator.

A few points I'd suggest are (assuming you fly upright with your handle straight up & down, and "up" is "back stick"), learn to fly inverted with your handle in the same position...none of that turning your hand sideways stuff. Bad for your inverted flight scores, because you'd need to synch your rotations perfectly to the plane to avoid up/down inputs.

Another is to start the OH8's off your right shoulder (tough if you're a Lefty!) and turn downwind during the climb. The reason is that since most of us are old and stiff, most everybody flies them "out front", which turns out to be upwind. That makes for some problems. If you can actually do them overhead, it won't hurt your scores, but if you can't do them overhead, you'll be better off. 

Thirdly, get your list and description of the tricks and "dry fly" at home. All maneuvers should be done while facing the maneuver square. Actually stand and rotate, and put in all the laps...five minimum after launch, six inverted, two after each maneuver (except 2.5 after the Hourglass/prior to the OH8's), and be sure to grease that landing! Footwork is important, along with body positioning, hand and arm positions, etc. Don't forget to have fun!  Steve