I've got a question for the masses out there...I'm getting in to IMAC towards the end of this year, and I'm wondering what size plane is good for the up and comer...I'm gonna start out at basic then move up...So should I start with a bigger plane like a 102" ws yak, that should take me up through sportsman and a little beyond or a size plane that sports a 50cc???


Thanks for your help


Matt

I don't actually fly IMAC, but the bigger planes will present better in the air. Smaller planes tend to look fast and more shaky.
You don't need a Giant scale plane to begin with, but if cost is not an concern, go big.

As long as you are comfortable flying the 102" Yak go for it. It will take you much further than Sportsman. I would say you would be competetive through advanced with that plane. If you want to be competetive in unlimited you will want every advantage you can get so a 40%er might be the way to go but the 102 Yak will be capable of the unlimited sequence.

One thing you will find is that the more time you spend with the same plane the better you will fly. Starting with a 50cc plane and then moving up to a 102 incher isn't bad but my suggestion is to get one plane and fly it a lot.

Dan

What are you currently flying? If you have never flown a gasser then trying to learn the ins and outs of giant scale and IMAC at the same time may be a bit much for some. There is no wrong way to go about this but odds are that if you go 35% the airframe won't be around long enough for you to utalize it in the upper classes. Sorry to sound so negitive but after 9 years of flying IMAC I see lots of nice airplanes getting trashed as their pilots come up the learning curve. If I were to start over now, I would go with a 50cc airplane. There are several good airplanes available that would be very competitive in basic. Select equipment that does well on the resale market when you do feel the need to upgrade.

Shawn

Matt, I flew my first Basic IMAC event in the beginning of March this year. I flew a 27% H9 Extra 260 with a DA 50 on it and did well. The other planes were a 30% KMP Yak, a 40% Composite ARF 330 and a 35% Giles 202. I had flown the 260 about a dozen times before the event. So I was comfortable with the 260, however it was extremely windy and I wished I had a bigger plane. I know have a CHP 34% 300S that I will fly at the next event. What ever plane you decide to go with make sure are comfortable with it and that it is properly trimmed. In my opinion (with limited experience) if cost is not a factor than buy your self the Yak or another 35% plane. A pilot came in second place in Intermediate with a 40% Carden Yak at the contest I went to. If cost is a factor find a 50cc plane and put a DA on it. By the way I am orginally from Wesley Chapel. I now live in Oklahoma.

Andy

Im currently flying the 90 funtana with a saito 150 on it...I do all my crazy flying and learning on the 46 ucando with a saito 91...I dont care what happens to the ucantdo so if i biff it in the ground doing low waterfalls to a hover o well...I flying with a friend and his dad they have a toc 50cc yak 37%cap bme110 and a GP patty with bme 50 on it so they are breaking me into IMAC with those...I call for my friend so I am picking up the ins and outs from them before I buy my own towards the end of the year...Its seems that the bigger planes track and show well, so i thought i would ask all you that know a lot more then me about giant planes...It seems like if Im comfortable with big then go as big as Im comfortable with...Maybe Ill look to get something to put a 100cc engine in either BME or DA...Havent made up my mind its either a yak or extra...Thanks for all your help...E3drvr where did you fly at when you lived here??


Thanks again

Matt

There is no doubt that bigger flies better. However, if you are just starting in IMAC, I would be real careful about buying a big, expensive airplane. What you need - more than anything else - is something dependable that you can put LOTS of flights on. You will find yourself in uncomfortable situations time and again, and when the big $$ are staring you in the face, things can be REALLY uncomfortable. I flew my first year in Sportsman with a 50cc Edge. While it wasn't the best plane at the field (I routinely competed against 35 and 40% airplanes), it was a fantastic plane to learn the skills of flying precisely. The year before - right before my first contest in Basic - I trashed my Goldberg Ultimate. Got disoriented flying BASIC. Laugh if you will, but this stuff is hard when you are getting started.

I am now flying a 40% plane in Unlimited and have for the past 3 years. It is a great flying airplane. But honestly it isn't needed to learn the basics. If I could have afforded it, I would have owned one sooner. But I probably would have been scared out of my mind flying my first unknown with it.

Whatever you choose, get out there and give it a try. I can almost guarantee you will enjoy yourself and find your skills improving every day.

Ken

What Ken just explained is exactley where I am now. Last year was my first year in IMAC and I flew with a EF 87" Yak with a Brison 3.2. It was an amazing plane to fly but it was too small and I have now moved to a 40% Carden for this year. It is a huge jump but I am excited but also scared at the same time. I could have made a slower transition but I decided the price jump from 50cc to 150cc was just a little larger than the jump to 100cc, so I went to the 150cc size. I also got a steal on a 40% Carden that I have completely gutted and recovered and will have ready in a month. Good Luck and wish me well too...