I fly both (Masters in pattern, Intermidiate IMAC). I can fly both back-to-back without problems. I wish that I could fly more. Usually I fly twice a week during the flying season. There are some differents in the rulebook but in general both are very close. Pattern 15 degree/point, IMAC 10 degree/point. Scale planes are better as they get bigger. That explains the tendency to use large planes in IMAC. The schedules are different but basically the concept is precision aerobatics. The limit in size for pattern is 2 meter and 11lbs.

There is an advantage in pattern. In pattern slow rolls are introcuced first before trying rolling circles. For unknown reasons, IMAC introduce rolling circles in Intermidiate but never have slow rolls in early classes. I believe that this causes the pile up we see in lower classes since the pilots never learn to do a true slow roll.

Regards,

Vicente Bortone