Hey guys,

I'm thinking about starting IMAC, not necessarily competition, but I want to be pretty good just in case I see a comp. near me.. I will have a WH Edge 540 or the BME Edge 540 for christmas so that's what I'll be flying it with.. I've printed out all the sequences and have looked over basic. To me (I'm a 3D'er) it seems pretty easy, But that's in my head. How hard is it to make the sequence really really smooth? And also, from the Pilots POV is the sequence just back and forth between your righthand and lefthand sides? I think I can get through Basic and Sportsman fairly easily. Of course I understand practice is the key and I'll be sure to get plenty of that. I guess I'm really looking for some videos.

Any advice?

ICE,

I am no expert with IMAC competion (only flown in one event), but what I did which I feel is a tremendous help was attend one of the judging schools and studied the rule book as much as possible. I figure if I know what the downgrades are for scoring, I can try and avoid those errors for a better score.

The next thing I would suggest is find someone that is experienced that can help you with your flying. The experienced flyers have a critical eye for errors and can easily point out our mistakes when we might feel we are performing the manuever correctly (i.e. wings not level).

Best of luck.

Ice,
As you said, practice is the key!! Practice flying straight lines, parallel to the flightline. Practice flying at a constant speed. Learn how to fly 45 degree lines up and down. From watching other guys who fly alot of 3D come into IMAC I would say reduce your control throws and increase your exponenential values. Make everything as smooth as possible.

Most importantly, get out to a contest next spring and see what it's all about. There's 2 contests just east of St Louis, 2 just north of Terre Haute, as well as a couple around the Cincinatti area. I'm not sure what's south of there.

Be sure to go to the IMAC website and look around on there. You can get the current rules there.

Good Luck,
Gary H.

More advice for the fire here.... Find a local that is really good with precision stuff. As in that, actually competes in IMAC, and is up in the ranks. Alot of the Sportsman and Intermediate guys are still learning things, like rudder corrections and etc.... The guys in Advanced and Unlimited are the ones you want to have help you. I started in Sportsman 4 years ago, and now I fly Unlimited here in the NC region. It's alot of fun flying with these folks here, and the friendship here in the NC is second to none!!! We are a big family here, too!!

I noticed that you are from Paducah?? I believe Jeff Williams is in Indiana, somewhere's around there..... When he comes out and flies, he does pretty good!! With practice, like you said, anyone can be a potential threat!!!

Think about attending the judging school the NC puts on each year in April. Meet everyone and have fun!!! My schedule is so hechtic, I cannot attend the school. But I do learn fast from others in my class. I ask help from everyone in making me a better pilot. It all just boils down to practice.

Quick story on the subect of practice.... Last year, I had just finished up my 35% 330S from Carden. Put 10 flights on it, dialing in and etc.... Ok, now lets look at the Advanced sequence. Ok, no problem!! I put in 50 flights of nothing but practice, and maybe at teh end of the flying day, I would treat myself to some 3D as a reward of practicing all day. I went to my first contest that year, Cincy AeroModelers. Start out in 4th, finish in 3rd. Go to the next contest, Peebles, OH. I win that contest, hands down!! I made the least amount of mistakes, I should say!! Now, at the Regional Finals contest, I started in the lead, and got thrown off my game. Thank you, who ever you were!!! I really appreciated that!! [:@] I had 150 point lead over 2nd place. Not solidly locked in for the win, but with a good unknown, and a solid known on Sunday, it would secure the win for me. Well, I totally blew my unknown, 3 zeros!! And we know how bad those suck!!! Now, I'm sitting in 2nd place, 250 or so back..... I try to get my game face back on, and re-coop from the unknown. I did, mostly. I missed out on the win by 70 points!!! The moral of my story there is be ICE COLD, when that engine starts up. Try not to think about the sequence, let your practice be your guide. Take your time, breathe, relax, and most importantly, BREATHE!!!!

Now, if I take my own advice, I could easily be up on the podium next year in Unlimited It's all about the practice......

Chris~

I'm just starting out too......

I 3D quite well.... but once I started practicing the IMAC patterns (yes...the basic one) I realized how tough it is and how much I have to learn.......

See there's no one who flies competitive IMAC around here.. I'm on my own which is why I posted this question. I've gotten more help in the replies here than I could've in my area! Thanks alot guys! Can't wait to get my Edge X-mas Then I can really start prcticing!


Keep um coming

start practicing NOW.... get out and fly... no really...today (the weathers great here! I've already been out for a few hours! )
learn the manuevers, learn to fly precision... I'm practicing with my Showtime until; I build my QQ yak...

Heck, I even do the routine with my OMP Katana Profile before I start 3Ding... I practice with my Fliton Jumping Jack... I think I have flown the pattern with my Hobby Lobby Yak 55 foamy a few times too.....

I'm going to fly basic too.... it will be interesting and I feel very humbling at first!

Enjoy

http://www.video.shutupandfly.com/MattBasic.wmv
http://www.hobbiespr.com/imac_2005/basic.wmv

Here is a video for you. if you have a bearinged engine you can do basic with a trainer.

I pulle dout the old trainer both to teach dad and as a holdover til I get some parts to get my main ship back in the air.. I did do the basic with it! It doesn't like to but it can be doen.

I hear you there I bet the 2 turn spin is wicked slow. What did you think of the vids, it makes that EF YAK look sweet.