IMAC Beginner?

[3Disaster]

Wow, This is all soo very confusing. Ok, here we go . So I decided I would like to be a part of the IMAC competitions held at my local field. What do I need to do/get to join the beginner class? I need a Mono with 70"+ or a Bipe with 60+? I'm confused there. Also what is the pattern I need to learn, and does it change yearly? I'm sorry if I sound dumb, I'm completely new to all of this (if you coulden't already tell ) Also could you fill me in on anything I missed or didn't ask about? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike

[RCER123]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...09/ai_n9118460

Have a read over that! You can get pictured diagrams somewhere else! Jack

[3Disaster]

Thanks, I just started reading it, its very helpful so far, you've been answering all my stuff lol

[sweetpea]

Also go to www.mini-iac.com

To answer your questions quickly......

In IMAC basic class (the first class) you can fly any plane, any size. Trust me when I say Basic is harder than it looks on paper. The figures alone are easy.....flying them in order, in the wind, with people watching and judging and straight lines is very very hard!

The sequence changes every year. In basic you will fly the sequence everytime. Once you move up you'll have to fly an unknown.

[3Disaster]

Wow, so its harder than on paper huh? I'm screwed, lol . I don't under stand what the lines mean (I get the loop though ) Is there an index anywhere? I'm pretty sure it'd be on that link you sent me.
Thanks,
Mike

[excelpoint]

Do a google search for "Aresti made simple". It will explain everything you need.

[3Disaster]

I just read though all the info you guys gave me. I actually understand it! Well now I get the routine from last year. I'm going to practice it on the sim, and at the field to get this IMAC flying down a little better. Thanks for all the help guys I really appriciate it!
Thanks,
Mike

[Tim F.]

You are at the right place to learn about IMAC, this site has a lot of valuable info. Good luck, but be prepared to get hooked. It is a very fun and challenging sport.

[RCER123]

Just helping a fellow Flying Giant!!

[bubbagates]

We can all add to this to help him even further. I'll give him what I've seen and learned and picked up along the way this year as it also was my first year.

Some pretty common things to look out for:

All maneuvers start and end in a horizontal straight line. One of the hardest things for a new pilot is to fly a perfectly level straight line that is properly wind corrected. Practice that first by flying the length of the field without losing or gaining ANY altitude and the plane turning one way or the other. Then start practicing your vertical lines. Again, perfectly straight both up and down without the plane pulling one way or the other nose left or right or nose to the canopy or gear. Once you have that down then start on 45 degree lines. A 45 degree line is actually rather steep and at first is hard to judge. If you are using a 72mhz radio, the antenna is plenty long enough so that if you keep it pointed up and in your view, it's easy to tell if you are holding a 45. Remember you have 45's both climbing and falling. Remember, all maneuvers have a straight line between them, Once you complete a maneuver and establish a straight and level line, the next maneuver has started so DON'T change that line, even if it's not level. You'll take a point for not entering the next maneuver level but if you change it you'll take another point for that as well

Ok so now you can fly perfectly straight lines. Now take the sequence and break it up into 2 or 3 maneuvers and fly the snot out of them. Keep doing them until you can do them without thinking about it, then do three more and keep going until you can do all 10.

I typically like to do 5 minutes of a set of 3, 5 minutes of me just goofing around and another 5 minutes of the same three. This helps me see the changes in my flying as time goes on.

IMAC is all about having fun. Ask the judges after you fly and if they have time for any advice. Most will gladly help if time allows. Scribe for judges when you can. Most judges will go over why they gave a particular score with you.

One other thing I often tell people is to be consistent, methodical and SMOOTH. Smooth is key to a good sequence. Be prepared long before it's your time to fly, have the engine running and be ready to taxi out just as the pilot in front of you is finishing his sequence, say Hi to the judges and announce yourself with your name and the direction you are going to fly, when done thank the judges and if time, ask them for advice. What this does is show the judges that you are prepared in command and confident.

[zzw26n]

damn bubba, that was good.

[bubbagates]

Thanks,

I tried to give him a view from a Basic class pilot. I did everything I mentioned before my first contest which was this year at F.A.R.M and took 6th flying a well used 50cc Cap232. 6th wasn't so bad as I was 111 points out of first.

Went home and looked over the raw scores to get an idea of what I needed to do and spent a full week trimming out my 2.3M Extra and flying the snot out of the sequences and took 2nd at Butcherfest (only because I flopped a Hammer in the "unknown") and won CAPI (was first out of 12 others) with the odd second to fourth at the other four contests I flew at.

One thing I did forget to add was always keep the wings level. Also, the rudder is your friend but remember the judges most likely know where you will be adding rudder or any other corrections to try to hide a mistake (they've been there and done that) so doing it in such a way that it's very subtle and hard to see is a good thing.

BTW, basic does not have unknowns in the true sense. What basic usually does is fly a round of the known sequence that is counted as an unknown.

Also, most people do not realize that you actually fly the sequence twice. You take off, fly the sequence, call yourself out of the box, do an approved turnaround maneuver get lined up and do it all again. Unknowns are only flown once.