I am building a Midwest Citabria with a .91 four stroke. It weighs in around 7 pounds loaded up. What do you folks think my odds are of doing a decent job in the basic IMAC sequencs? I've been flying for around ten years and fly well but have never competed. Thanks for the input!

Only if you practice and get the airplane trimmed out.
And it's the same answer even if you have a 3.3M CA- Yak.

Go for it get out and compete and watch the other planes by next winter you will have a good idea if you need a better plane for the next season. I competed my first season with a super stick and had a ball and even picked up trophy or two. Mark,

A Citabria is perfectly capable of performing all of the Basic IMAC maneuvers.
Find yourself a coach/critic to stand with you and talk you thru the maneuvers
and with some practice you will definitely be competetive.

I think a Citabria could do the Sportsman too. I think the biggest challenge will be rudder coupling and upright vs. inverted trim. It will probably want to roll with rudder input. Just practice those hammerhead turns and be ready to keep it lined up with aileron and elevator.

I agree with dam630. The two biggest contributors to my improvement are reading the judging standards and getting a coach.

invest in a real imac airplane. You will find people flying a 40% animal in basic. My advice is to get a 30 % or better extra or edge or velox if your serious. I like a power to weight ratio of 2 to 1 or better anything less and vertical lines suffer. You can fly anything in basic so if your out just to have fun go ahead but it will be tough to be competative with a citabria . good luck

Yes, but think how good you will feel when you wax the guy with the 40% Extra with your little Citabria because you read the judging guide and practiced a lot more than he did.

Go for it, and wax those 40ers !! I know how it fells to get trophies while some big, good aircraft are not getting any. Just be ready that some may not want to give you advice only because you have a smaller plane.

After all, basic is an entry class so it is OK to try with anything. To a certain extent, you could even compete in sportsman next year with that plane, but I would not expect to win, I would expect to have fun at least.