Classic Pattern Day at MFHB Awatoto.  Saturday 20^th Nov 2021.

 

Article By Barrie Russell

Saturday morning 9.30 saw some fifteen pilots setting up to fly pattern aerobatics at the Awatoto club field, how good is that. Skills ranged from newbies to expert and what a great day was had by all under the expert guidance and CD Hamish Galloway.
The weather couldn’t have been better, warm with a light to moderate sea breeze down the strip and a cloudless sky. Great to welcome Geoff and Sandy Hall and Simon and Mel Tansley from Palmerston north, Ewan, Hamish and Sean Galloway from Norsewood, and local members, Derek Whelan, Mike Shears, Rob Lockyer, Barrie Russell, Stu Sturge, Ian Grant, Brian Hitchcock, Bill Roydhouse and Danny Young.  Our thanks to Anthony Hales who with help manned the barbecue, and also to Russ Nimmo who spent most of Friday on the tractor and had the field manicured to perfection.

The day was very much about learning and enjoying aerobatics.  Competition with the Nautomatic scoring system was held in Clubman and Classic pattern, and those less experienced flew the MFHB Basic pattern schedule under Hamish’s tutorage and how very successful that proved to be with some now very keen converts!  The beauty of a day like this was that no one was under pressure, you could fly and compete to the level you aspired and the help, advice and encouragement from the top was magnificent.  At MFHB we have compiled a simple Classic Pattern schedule for the newcomers to pattern flying and it is working a treat.  From here they can get a taste of pattern flying then graduate to Clubman, Classic and upward. Today six pilots took advantage of this schedule and flew under Hamish’s guidance. Their flights weren’t scored so the atmosphere was very relaxed, and they learnt heaps and gained a lot of confidence.

You can download the schedule here https://mfhb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Basic_Pattern.pdf  The Nautomatic scoring system was put to good use and three rounds of Clubman and two of Classic flown with some good competition and no dramas.  The cream rose to the top with Hamish showing the way in
classic, great to see Sean flying so well, and congrats to Rob Lockyer taking out the Clubman after a close tussle with Geoff Hall.

 

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