Started in RC this year, had a great year and I'm hooked. Currently flying the Ultra Stick 60. Suits me well for the time. I plan on building an Extra or Edge over the winter to gradually move into in the spring. In the meantime, I want to learn more about the maneuvers done in competition and 3-D - stick input, pattern outline, etc... Where can I find reference for this? Books? DVDs? Thanks.

Go to [link]http://towerhobbies.com[/link]. Use their menu on the left and click on "books and vidieos".

They have two books on aerobatics: "Great Planes a look at Aerobatics" by Mike Cross and "Aerobatics for Everyone" by Dave Patrick.

They also have a video featuring Chip Hyde covering basic aerobatics.

The book by Mike Cross looks promising as it has diagrams included.

Hope this helps.

I have the Dave Patrick book and it is very well written. I burn a lot of gas (flying). I hope it is helping!~).

Joe

I have both the Dave Patrick and Mike Cross books. I have found both of them a great help. The best tool, funds permitting after that is a simulator. I have learned a lot using my Aerofly Pro sim. As for pattern and Imac sequence flying I am still learning how to fly consistent straight lines. By this I mean horizontal, vertical upright and inverted at the same distance out pass after pass.

Hope this helps

Alan

Heres my take for 3D and IMAC.

I'll start with IMAC 1st. I havent ever competed in IMAC but I have competed some in pattern and they are similar. If you are serious about IMAC you need to get with some people who fly IMAC and watch them fly the patterns and work with them from the beginning. What you read in a manual or online isnt always properly interpreted by the brain and can end up in you learning to fly the IMAC pattern(s) incorrectly and starting some bad habits that will leave you frustrated and disappointed at your 1st competition. Get real familiar with the sequence you are learning and basically what the judges will be looking for before you ever fly through it, that way you know what it is supposed to look like and you can compare you practice to what the end product should look like ideally.


3D for me was as "shoot from the hip" as 3D itself is. I learned what I know from watching videos online. Sites with great videos www.3Dbatix.com , www.scaleaerobatics.com and www.flyingcirkus.com. , there also a site called 3dRCinfo or something like that that has some good instructions on the basic maneuvers. I watched videos, read in the 3D forum, asked lots of questions to find out how the planes were setup and how the maneuvers were executed, and dinged up about 6 planes pretty good. So far I havent really crashed....... yet. Some (most) of it I learned by trial and error and I am still learning. There are really only a few maneuvers that constitute what people call 3D you just need to practice them. AND GET YOU AAAA SIMULATOR. Thats a must for 3D...

Hovering
Torque Rolling
Harrier
Rolling Harrier
Low Speed High Alpha Knife Edge
Blender
Waterfall
Knife Edge Spin
Flat Spins Inverted and upright.


I think that the ultimate is not only being able to execute the maneuvers but being able to do it under control such that you can exit one maneuver and immediately begin another without wobbling all over the sky. For instance heres a sequence that I cant do altogether but work on in bits and pieces using the basic 3D maneuvers ( sounds easy huh?) But you get the picture...

Takeoff
Climb out with a low altitude quick 4 point roll
CLimb sharply and waterfall the plane over to inverted as low as you dare
From inverted coming right back at the runway start a rolling harrier and transition into a rolling harrier circle.
At the end of the RHS pop the plane into a hover, then a torque roll
Climb out quickly and setup for a blender
Do your blender and at the end of the blender, flat spin the plane down to the ground and fly an inverted harrier figure 8
Push into a hover and nice LOONG torque roll
Transition into a high alpha knife edge and fly to the downwind end of the field
Climb out and push over the top to the downwind end of the runway and waterfall down to approach altitude
Make an inverted approach and at the end of the runway roll the plane to upright and land...

That way you are doing 3D without just blowing holes in the sky and wondering about aimlessly.

BigNed,

So should I do all of this with my eyes open or closed?

Ken

LOL,
Yeah, I ALWAYS fly with my eyes closed. But seriously, learn to do each maneuver, then start finding ways to tie them together.. I JUST have transitioned from Pattern to a big 3D IMAC plane, I am having fun learning to do the things I did with a U CAN DO and a Foamy with my new Edge!

I'm with you all the way!

I am just now in the process of adding up the total weight of my latest aquisition to figure out which engine I want to use in it.

My new bird is a 38% Laser 200, originally a Miami Valley Models kit.

113" wingspan
Airframe alone weighs just under 20 lbs., still light for this big bird.
All together it should weigh 23.5 lbs. minus the motor and pipes.

I still have to figure out if the DA-100 will be enough to do extreme aerobatics or do I have to go bigger.

Damn, I can't wait for Spring.

Ken

Im pretty new to these big airplanes but based on what little I know I would think that the DA100 would be ok if it weighs under 30 pounds. Going by my buddies 3D planes if its much over 30# they usually go with the 150. Congrats on your new plane. The weather is great down here in Texas, if the wind will lay down I may be able to get a few flights in today!

Mike

Its already getting cold up here, so fly a few for me!

Thanks for the info, I'm also getting some info from some IMAC guys I know. I need all of the info I can get.

Ken

Thanks everyone for the advice. This should get me going. Like you kennyandannie, I live in MI, (Howell). I flew last week, but the days are getting further apart trying to squeeze in that last flight before the snow flys (yuck!).

Yeah Fly,

I am just about done for the day, stopped by the house and loaded up my gear and Goldberg Extreme 330. I think I'm going to have to stop by the field.

See ya,

Ken

go to www.flyingcirkus.com and look at the "3D university" video's to get the stick positions and see how the maneuver should look like.

I would suggest getting a simulator like aerofly pro for the winter if it is too cold for Mr. and Mrs. thumb. Also if you can get a foamy. Tons of fun and a great learning tool. ball it up and cut a new one and build it for like 50cents.

have fun

5 flights on the 330 today, had a ball!!!

All of my flights start with a roll right off the deck. On the 5th flight, showing off of course, I tried a snap roll instead of a regular roll and damned if the tail didn't touch the ground in the snap. Not my brightest move of the day. Not so bad, almost fixed.

See ya,

Ken

Hey Big Ned and all, that is a great FS routine you dveloped ! Along with all of your great suggestions - our son Chris and John P from Fla. just finished filming and are currently editing a new "How To-3D" DVD that will be out by Christmas hopefully and it should be advertised here somewhere ? John is a great pro photo guy and Chris is a great 3D kid who just loves to have a blast ! So, keep an eye for it to be out soon.
Here is a pic of Chris havin FUN with our 330 LX and JR / DA-150. Take care and keep havin FUN !! Rod in PA.