O.k. guys, I started talking about this on another thread, and it started to get off subject. I didn't want to hijack the other thread so here we are.
I have been thinking about an IMAC/Pattern combo contest for quite awhile now. Since both organizations are basically doing the same job but using different tools to do so, I think we could have a contest where both organizations competed in the same classes at the same contest, but with both types of aircraft.
In a nut shell, this contest would be designed in a way that IMAC legal, and NSRCA legal 2 meter pattern planes would compete against each other in the same classes. This event would be designed in a way that the chosen aircraft would not give anymore of an advantage as one would have competing in an IMAC contest against other IMAC planes, and the same goes for the 2 meter pattern planes.
This would be an annual event and would most likely have to be an invitational event. I see this as being closely related to the Tucson Shootout in the sense that we would have more than one class competing. This event would still be able to have a freestyle event, even with the pattern planes. A pattern plane can be built with larger control surfaces, that would be completley 3D capable. The freestyle event would most likely need to be optional due to the fact that there is not a whole lot of 3D capable pattern planes out there right now that would put up a fair fight with a 40% IMAC plane. This doesn't mean that a pilot that competed in the aerobatics portion of the contest with a pattern plane couldn't compete in the freestyle with an IMAC plane.
In an event like this we would be able to take the best of both IMAC and the NSRCA and combine them into one major event.
This is an event that would be capable of drawing major sponsorship, which would in turn draw high caliber pilots. I believe that combining the IMAC and pattern pilots in one event would be a great service to r/c in all aspects. Both organizations are great, and combining them would make one very great and unique event.
This type of event would require a lot of planning. New class names would need to be decided upon, new sequences would need to be designed, and most importantly, new judging criteria would need to be created. The reason these three things would need to be redesigned is that the two organizations do not align with each other very well in those aspects. They are close enough though that it wouldn't be much of a burden on the pilots to adjust to this new type of contest.
An event of this caliber is not something that one person can put on. This would require a team effort, and I believe here at the Flying Giants we have the best team in the world. Right now this is just my idea, but if others like the idea, they could expand on it, and together we would be able to create a new type of competition that would benefit the r/c world greatly. Everybody...even those that do not have an interest in competion would benefit from an event of this caliber. Reason is, an event like this would bring new technolgy to the r/c world that everybody could use.
So first lets use this thread to decide if this is even a good idea. Second lets figure out if this is even possible. That decision would be based off of the amount of interest. I truely believe this is possible, and I can't think of anybody more capable to tackle such an event more that the Flying Giants.
Another important thing that would need to be figured out would be where would an event like this be held? I would think that Tripple Tree, or the AMA Headquarters would be two good locations to consider. The only problem I see with that is it would be difficult to draw pilots from the west coast, or even worse yet the rest of the world. Maybe I am thinking to big right now, but only time will tell.
So, what do you guys think
or
May the discussions begin.
Thank you,
Mike Darr