Beginner Pattern

What is the time length of the beginner pattern? Also, is there a difference in OTS beginner pattern then the regular one?

Thanks for the help

According to the rule book, there is not a different time limit specified to complete the Beginner pattern. The eight-minute limit would apply to the Beginner pattern the same as for the other skill categories.

If a contest is being run with a beginner OTS event, it would probably be prudent to check with the contest management to determine what pattern is to be flown for that event. The OTS pattern is different than the modern pattern. I would think that if there is a separate OTS Beginner event, that the OTS pattern would be used. Again, one should check with the CD to find out for sure.

The normal time limit for Beginner is eight minutes. I run the Beginner event at the Nats each year. I do advertise in advance that the limit is six minutes at that contest. The Beginner pattern take about 3 minutes and 45 seconds to accomplish the number of required maneuvers. This allows a lot of wait time for the judges. My thoughts were that I should allow about the same amount of time after the completion of the Beginner pattern as the PAMPA pattern allows. Therefore PAMPA pattern takes about 5 minutes and 45 seconds plus extra time until the eight minutes is finished. Thus I felt the Beginner pattern should have the same amount of time. This would be a six minute limit. AMA allows changes to any contest as long as the changes fall within the safety guidelines and the changes are advertised in advance.

Every beginner PA event I flew last season observed the 6 min limit as per Allens' Nats lead. I believe it is becoming the defacto standard practice.

Beside the contest management advantages that Allen mentions above, I think it is also good for the competitors to begin to practice fuel and duration management which they will need in order to advance.

I might suggest however, that it be a "soft" limit. ie a point penalty rather than a non-qual flight.

IMHO

When I CD a Beginner event, I encourage the judges to be as lenient as possible....even suggesting the a stop watch only be used to advise the flyer of their time....not as a penalty...
I figure that this is supposed to be a fun even and the time constraint encourages mistakes.....

See Ya

Newell, I read your question as one missing a comma. Yes, there are three different patterns. I don't advocate learing the OTS pattern until you have the modern pattern down pat. I do and still get them mixed up if I don't concentrate. The beginners pattern is:Take off & level flight, 1 wing over, 3 inside loops, 3 outside loops, 2 inside square loops, 2 horizontal 8's, 2 overhead 8's, landing. Do not confuse this with Basic flight pattern. In the all patterns there are two level laps between maneuvers. The beginners pattern and OTS there are two differnt entries to the outside lops allowed. (optional)
The OTS pattern is: Take off & level flight, climb, dive, single wing over, 2 inverted laps, 5 inside loops, 5 outside loops, 3 horizontal 8's, 3 vertical 8's, 3 overhead 8's and 1 square loop, landing.
If you have an AMA rule book or a Brodaks catalog, these are shown there. Also PAMPA has them available as well as score sheets which are great to practice with. The above list is only the name of the maneuver, not how to enter them, which is different also.