History of F2B

Gentlemen:

How did it come to pass that the AMA pattern became the F2B pattern?

Or was it the other way around?

Did CL PA appear early on and independently in other nations or did it migrate from North America?

Is this history written anywhere--or is it waiting for Wynn's publication?

Curious,

Curt,

A while back, some "pals" fom down under sent me a bunch of information on Mr. Louis Grondal (winner of the first two "official" FAI WCs) and his verson of the Nobler. He called it the "AMA Special". Upon reading one of the articles from a foreign magazine, there was mention that the finals consisted of 2 flights using the FAI pattern and one flight using the AMA pattern. This was either the first (1960) or second (1962) WC, I couldn't find a date on the article. Mr. Grondal flew a normal "Green Box" Nobler for the AMA pattern and his own version for tha AMA pattern. In phone conversations before his passing he commented that he built
both from Top Flite kits!

Don't know how much help this is, but that's what Mr. Grondal told me.

>Gentlemen:
>
>How did it come to pass that the AMA pattern became the F2B
>pattern?
>
>Or was it the other way around?
>
>Did CL PA appear early on and independently in other nations
>or did it migrate from North America?
>
>Is this history written anywhere--or is it waiting for
>Wynn's publication?
>
>Curious,
>
>Curt

I do not have the dates at hand nor do I have the early FAI pattern. However, in the early years of FAI CL aerobatics, there was a different pattern than what is flown today. The first World Championships were held in 1960, though there were earlier international competitions. Sometime in the mid 60's, the FAI adopted the AMA pattern (which is still basically the pattern flown today) but used their own maneuver descriptions and maneuver diagrams. Sometime in the 70's, the AMA adopted the FAI maneuver descriptions and maneuver diagrams. (The basic pattern remained the same.) Now, starting in 2006, the FAI has adopted new maneuver descriptions and diagrams, though it is still the same pattern. (How those changes were made in the current 2006 FAI rulebook is a long and complicated story.)

So, to answer the question, the pattern, essentially what is flown today in accordance with AMA and FAI rules started here in the States in the late 50's or early 60's. The FAI adopted our pattern in the mid 60's. Other than some nuances with some wording descriptions, diagrams, the addition of wind arrows (much to the consternation of a handful of individuals), the pattern is essentially unchanged as far as specific maneuvers, sequence, sizes and shapes. Perhaps the most significant change has been the elevation of the entry and horizontal intersection altitude of the four leaf clover was changed in the 2005 AMA rule book from "approximately 38 degrees" to "approximately 42 degrees". The FAI rules in 2006 also use the 48 degree parameter for the four leaf clover. (I think most will agree that the 42 degree pattern allows the four leaf to be flown more as it is intended to be flown regarding tangent points and loop diameters. However, the four leaf clover description is still not completely consistent regarding the loop tangent points, but that is another subject.)

Bill ... The WC you refer to was 1962 at Kiev, Ukraine.

The 1964 WC at Budapest, Hungary used the "new" FAI Pattern, the AMA Pattern, which was adopted for effect January 1, 1964. Here in Aust, we tried in vain to have it used for our 1963/64 Nationals, but as they were the last event on the 63 calendar, the 63 Rules had to apply.

The adoption, with all the pros and cons, was a three year exercise, with all communication around the world being by airmail letters.

Prior to then, the FAI Pattern did not have squares at all, nor the hourglass. It did, however, have triangles. A lot of other differences too - entry to inverted was via a bunt and was judged as part of inverted, and the recovery was judged as a separate manoeuvre. Both loops were five, not three. All eights were three, not two. Cloverleaf was 45° entry and horizontal intersection. Each loop/eight was judged individually, not as a group like today's.

It didn't have the "technicalities" of today's pattern, but it sure was difficult to fly smoothly, and that was the key element rather than tight corners. Try five consecutive loops ! ! ! - especially when you're judged for each one individually. The slightest wander or travel was marked down hard.

>Bill ... The WC you refer to was 1962 at Kiev, Ukraine.
>
>The 1964 WC at Budapest, Hungary used the "new" FAI Pattern,
>the AMA Pattern, which was adopted for effect January 1,
>1964. Here in Aust, we tried in vain to have it used for our
>1963/64 Nationals, but as they were the last event on the 63
>calendar, the 63 Rules had to apply.
>
>The adoption, with all the pros and cons, was a three year
>exercise, with all communication around the world being by
>airmail letters.
>
>Prior to then, the FAI Pattern did not have squares at all,
>nor the hourglass. It did, however, have triangles. A lot of
>other differences too - entry to inverted was via a bunt and
>was judged as part of inverted, and the recovery was judged
>as a separate manoeuvre. Both loops were five, not three.
>All eights were three, not two. Cloverleaf was 45° entry and
>horizontal intersection. Each loop/eight was judged
>individually, not as a group like today's.
>
>It didn't have the "technicalities" of today's pattern, but
>it sure was difficult to fly smoothly, and that was the key
>element rather than tight corners. Try five consecutive
>loops ! ! ! - especially when you're judged for each one
>individually. The slightest wander or travel was marked down
>hard.

Hi Ken,

This post came about the time I had my "fall" and tore up my knees!

Thanks for the clarification of it being the '62 WC. Now I know that the "AMA Special" (Grondal Nobler) was a ~'62 design! I know Mr. Grondal told me he made the modifications specifically for flying the AMA pattern.

BTW: I only wear the "autographed" cap on SPECIAL occasions!
(tell Herb, HI!)

Thanks, again!
Bill <><

Even though the pattern has been the same for FAI and AMA as far as maneuvers and sequence is concerned, there have been other differences. FAI has always used a K-Factor scoring based on a range of 0-10. Initially, the increments were single points. Then, 0.5 point increments were used. Now, 0.1 point increments are allowed which essentially gives a judge 100 increments to work with for each maneuver. (In my opinion, this is great for the judges. a single full point was not enough differentiation between maneuvers when pilots with near similar capabilities were being judged. The 0.5 increment was a lot better, but still too course to distinguish scores of capable pilots.) I will not get into the pros and cons here about the K-factor system over the straight 10-40 point system used for AMA scoreing. This argument was waged long and hard during the recently completed effort to improve the FAI rules - a process capably led by Peter Germann over a period of several years.

And has already been mentioned, the FAI scoring with the K-factors was used for each individual portion or segment of a maneuver with consecutive parts, so that each loop of the consecutive loops received a score with a different K-factor applied to it. Same with the eights, triangles and squares. The separate segment scoring of a maneuver was dispensed with some time ago (by the early 80's??) and I do not have any record that shows when that change was made.

The point here again, is that the FAI adopted the AMA pattern in the mid 60's and both patterns have remained essentially the same ever since.

LAST EDITED ON Jun-13-06 AT 10:31 PM (CST)
 
Keith - January 1, 1993. The introduction of the 0.5 increments too.

Rather than reprint the entire book, our "masters" issued amendment sheets for the respective pages.