In the previous link I discussed the three types of competition pattern flying that exist in the US. In summary, there are there main types of pattern activity. IMAC pattern is flown with planes that resemble full scale aerobatic aircraft. They are often 1/4 or 1/3 scale and the maneuvers and sequences flown are similar to those used in full scale competition. AMA pattern is flown with specialized planes which are 11 pounds or less in weight and 2 meters or less in wingspan and fuselage length. There is no limitation on engine displacement. These aircraft are a joy to fly, as they tend to have a surplus of power accompanied by a light wing loading. But this all comes at a price. Kevlar, carbon fiber, and titanium are common construction materials and the all up price of a competitive airplane can exceed $3000. The third category is that sponsored by the Senior Pattern Association or SPA, for short. SPA was founded in the early 90s in order to promote “pattern as it used to be.” The web site www.seniorpattern.com gives a brief history and some of the motivation for the organization. Basically, it exists to promote pattern flying more or less as it was in the 1970s, before the advent of the “turnaround” style of pattern which AMA pattern uses and before the advent of the 2 meter models. A motivating factor is simplicity. The models used must have been designed and flown before January 1, 1976. Retracts and tuned pipes are not allowed, in order to keep the cost down. Likewise, supercharged engines are not allowed. This means that some true pattern classics such as the Kaos, Super Kaos, Dirty Birdy, Compensator, Deception, Phantom, Tiger Tail, and many more are all competitive. Many of these used to be available as kits, but are long out of production. The good news is that plans are still available and a number of devoted pattern flyers are making kits available again. The maneuver sequences flown in competition are all taken from those in use in the late 60s and early 70s. Novice, Sportsman, Expert, and Senior Expert classes are flown, each with their own maneuver sequence. The complete descriptions of the sequences are available on the SPA web site. The basic concept is to have a series of maneuvers flown in front of the judges. Each maneuver is centered on the judges. The aircraft is then turned around using any method the contestant chooses and another maneuver is then flown in the opposite direction. This is followed by another course reversal, etc. Typically a series of 12-15 maneuvers will be flown, depending on the class. This style is relatively low pressure, since the pilot gets a chance to relax between maneuvers. As you might expect from the above description, many of the competitors are folks like myself who competed in the 70s and 80s and enjoy building and flying the planes we flew back then. The contests feature a lot of war stories of competitions past and great reminiscing about how things were. But there is also a contingent of young flyers who appreciate the planes, the maneuvers, and the camaraderie found at the contests. I might add that I have never before flown amidst such great scenery as that available at the Chattanooga and Asheville flying sites. Doing pattern maneuvers with the Smoky Mountains as your backdrop has to be experienced to be believed. SPA has a full contest calendar featuring 7-8 contests around the southeast. New chapters are being started nationwide and contests are being held in Texas, Indiana, and the New England area. The organization has undergone a great deal of growth in recent years. You can see SPA members with their planes displayed each year at the Perry, GA show. The contest year ends with a Masters contest. This determines the season champion in each class, based on points accumulated throughout the year. There is also a special fly-off between the number 1 and number 2 pilot in each class. I started SPA competition with the 2008 season, flying my Cutlass in the Sportsman class. I was fortunate enough to win all the contests I entered and received the annual Championship award. I also won the fly-off at the Masters. Of course, I was then promoted to Expert. It is safe to say that competing in 2009 has been a humbling and learning experience, so far. Even though the planes we fly were designed decades ago, there are still many aspects that can be tweaked, tuned, and otherwise optimized. The competition is strong, but it is done with a genteel southern flair that makes it all fun.