OK, I heard these terms used today and am not sure of the meaning.
1. 3D flying

2. pattern flying

don't mean to ask dumb questions. I fly in my own little field or dirt lot and
don't get around other flyers often.
Thanks
Rick in Kingman AZ

1: 3D flying is flying at very high angles of attack, anywhere from mostly to totally hanging from the prop.

2: Pattern flying is the traditional aerobatic competition flying. It gets its name from the fact that you fly a predetermined "pattern" IE: an inside loop followed by a cuban eight followed by a torque roll, etc....

OK , now it makes sense.
Thanks

3d:

Seventeen Year Old RC Pilot Stuns Crowd (7 min 12 sec)

Pattern:

R/C Pattern flying (4 min 59 sec)

Pattern fliers use powerful, light, aerobatic planes to try to emulate full size aerobatic pilots, usually at very high speed;3D pilots fly very light, overpowered planes (in a sense unrealistic) to create slow, but almost anti-gravity manoeuvres of their own, unique to rc.

Another way to think of it is in 3D the wing is frequently stalled, in pattern the plane flies with lift from the wing.

These links should help considerably:

http://docaustinextreme.blogspot.co....rt-pilots.html

http://docaustinextreme.blogspot.co....ide-to-3d.html

Disclaimer: While Doc Austin is directly involved with Extreme Flight Radio Control, I am not.

Also, provided your airplane is capable, Precision Aerobatics, or "Pattern," does not have to be flown fast. I used to really enjoy flying my slovenly version of the novice pattern slow and right down on the deck with my late, great Sig "Somethin' Extra."

TP

Pattern flying could also be a reference to "flying the pattern", which means doing circuits around the field while maintaining level altitude, as well as what was mentioned for pattern flying in previous post.