Questions about the pattern

[Paul Taylor]

So I am trying to figure out a few new moves this year.

Vertical eights are to be started at the point of 45 degrees elevation and finished at the same point in inverted flight. The inside loop must be flown first. Correct eights are judged when the model makes two (2) eights, each consisting of two (2) round circles or loops of the same size, tangent to each other, and in a vertical line. The model must be horizontal at the intersection point of tangency of the circles. The eights must be symmetrical, the top of the eights at a point 90 degrees over the flier’s head, and the bottom of the eights at normal flight level.


So the top of the hour glass is right over the top of center circle?

[Kim Doherty]

So I am trying to figure out a few new moves this year.


So the top of the hour glass is right over the top of center circle?

Yes, the top leg of the hourglass is flown directly over the top of the circle as a straight line bisecting the path of the wing over and perpendicular to it. Easier to fly it fractionally in front of you rather than fractionally behind you. Don't let it get too wide or the last corner will require the use of a defibrilator.  :-)


Kim.

[SteveMoon]

That's right Paul, the top of the hourglass is directly overhead, same with
the vertical eights. It's quite common to see them flown too big, especially
when learning to fly them. I also see people fly them too small, and this makes
the maneuver more difficult. I've even seen them flown too small during
the Walker Cup flyoff at the Nats. It makes me absolutely crazy when a pilot
who flies a maneuver too small is not penalized while one who flies a maneuver
too big is. Both cases are mistakes and should be judged accordingly.

Later, Steve

[phil c]

It drives me crazy when you look at a couple of score sheets and can't figure out what the judges were thinking when they wrote down the scores.  One gives you 33 for the loops, the other gives you 27, then the first judge gives you 27 for the outsides and the second judge gives you 30, then they both give you 35 for triangles where the third corner looked like half a loop.  It is nice when the judges agree which maneuvers were better and which were worser.  Too bad they can't tell you why.

[john e. holliday]

Make it three full laps between maneuvers and then they can make a small diagram.  While practicing with a coach they some times do that.  DOC Holliday