Practice makes perfect?

[mflander]

Okay, first a little background, then the question. I am going to fly Basic this year in IMAC(my first year). I have the sequence down pat I think, although I am finding it hard to "master" and haven't flown in wind much yet(still to cold here). But I have begun to practice the sequence on the simulator quite a bit.

My problem is this, I get bored way to quick flying the basic sequence on the simulator. I usually find myself quickly flipping the flight mode switch to 3D rates and doing rollers down to the deck into hovers, etc. So I don't get good hardcore practice time. So, I am wondering what the consensus would be if I were to start practicing much tougher sequences starting with sportsman up to unlimited. Is practicing other classes going to help me with my Basic endeavors or will it be wasting my time? I have to imagine that mastering tougher maneuvers can only help with easier ones.

Thoughts? I know it sounds simple an straightforward, but I don't have much help in my neck of the woods and want to make sure I am getting the most out of my practice time...

[rdgood]

mflander,

You will porbably find when you go to your first IMAC meet, That it will be a big learning experence. Mine was.. Once you get your first IMAC meet under your belt it will make more sense. Go to the IMAC website and look for some folks in you local area who you can hook with up with and fly. Also it's a good idea to go over the written explanation of each manuever and how the maneuvers are placed in the flight box...that alone will help bunches... But of course actual practice with the real thing is always the best...
You can start with Sportsman class and bypass Basic..
I did...

I usually make it through maybe one or two flights of an IMAC routine before I just have to huck it on down....its normal!!

Ronster

[JoeHerbert]

Thats what happens to me too. hehehe! I just do it for fun anyway. some guys I have seen are into it way hard it's fly fly fly!!!!I just cannot do it that much I started flying for fun not competition so when it gets to be something that is not fun to me I wont do it anymore. I like hanging out with the guys and flying..I may never go past basic, who knows where it will lead. I am just in it for the fun...

[JimC-MD]

I understand. I am a newbie to IMAC as well and like to fly and have fun. The focus required to fly the sequence well WILL make you a better pilot. On calm days or cross wind I try to fly it both directions to prevent a handicap from setting in.

Here is another suggestion. Instead of always flying the sequence, you can break it up. Pick a couple of the end manuevers. Do "whatever" in the center, but control it to where you can come out of it in position to execute the turn around manuever. The other thing I will do is fly a loop in the center and a turn around at each end like a stall turn, humpty, or sharks tooth. (pick one) Then change to a tear drop in the center and another of the turn arounds. Then pick another combination. You can put the manuevers together in any order you like, just be sure to fly the correct sequence enough that you will be able to do it well at an event. This helps prevent the fatigue.

[3D-Seth]

YES! It will help. In preparing to fly intermediate at Tucson last year, I flew the Advanced and Unlimited unknowns. BUT, in my first IMAC contest, I thought I could fly the sequence well, when I actually ended up dead last (not last but the guy in last crashed his airplane). You may think you are doing well, and you may very well be, but for many it is an eye opening experience. Practice hitting every vertical line, every 45, every level line. Then practice adding the roll segments to those lines, and make sure there is an even amount of space between the first segment of the line before the roll segment, and the segment after the roll. Nobody ever gets any of this perfect. Not even the pros. Every figure always has something wrong with it, and use that to your advantage. Use it as a challenge to try and fly perfect. I try to fly perfect, but never do, and it aggravates me so I try again. Then its not perfect, so I give it another go.

My .02

Seth

[bodywerks]

Very wise advice, Seth...
IMAC is a pursuit of perfection. Anyone who get's 10's across the board probably has their hands in the judges pockets!

[FlyguyXII]

Somthing that helped me when practicing was to make a program for just IMAC no 3d throws in you program for your radio. I often found myself doing the same thing

[ilovemetro]

Think of it this way, if your looking to become competitive and win, then practice, practice, practice, and when your done practicing practice some more. but you have to remember this is a hobby, and its about having fun, if you go to a few imac meets and fly the basic sequence the way you have been and say hey as long as im having fun, then its all good, if you like doing 3d all the time and its what you truely enjoy then do that.

[Wayne]

	Quote: Originally Posted by bodywerks
	Anyone who get's 10's across the board probably has their hands in the judges pockets!

And was standing in front of judges who dont know what they are looking at.
Ive seen judges hand out 10's but I have never really seen a maneuver flown as a 10.

[sweetpea]

	Quote: Originally Posted by 3D-Seth
	YES! It will help. In preparing to fly intermediate at Tucson last year, I flew the Advanced and Unlimited unknowns. BUT, in my first IMAC contest, I thought I could fly the sequence well, when I actually ended up dead last (not last but the guy in last crashed his airplane). You may think you are doing well, and you may very well be, but for many it is an eye opening experience. Practice hitting every vertical line, every 45, every level line. Then practice adding the roll segments to those lines, and make sure there is an even amount of space between the first segment of the line before the roll segment, and the segment after the roll. Nobody ever gets any of this perfect. Not even the pros. Every figure always has something wrong with it, and use that to your advantage. Use it as a challenge to try and fly perfect. I try to fly perfect, but never do, and it aggravates me so I try again. Then its not perfect, so I give it another go. My .02 Seth

Then do it all again........flying the sequence from the opposite direction

Then do it when its 10+mph winds down the runway

Then do it again when its 10+mph winds blowing you out

Then do it again when its 10+mph winds blowing you in


Yes it gets boring sometimes.....practice always does. Fly a couple flights of practice then do some 3-D to mix it up.

As long as you are having fun!

[Roger Russell]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Wayne
	And was standing in front of judges who dont know what they are looking at. Ive seen judges hand out 10's but I have never really seen a maneuver flown as a 10.

Wayne scored me a 10 once, I turned around after flying and looked at his judge sheet, saw a 10 written down and thought WOW, but then my caller reminded me I was looking at the score card upside down and it was really a 01

[Wayne]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Roger Russell
	Wayne scored me a 10 once, I turned around after flying and looked at his judge sheet, saw a 10 written down and thought WOW, but then my caller reminded me I was looking at the score card upside down and it was really a 01

True story.

[sweetpea]

That sounds about right! It was probably supposed to be a .01 but that's not allowed.

[Stainless Skills]

Perfect practice makes perfect.

[FastnLow]

Sims are a great way to practice but get boring real quick ,I agree. What is truly important is stick time whether your doing an Imac routine or not, just keep improving the relationship between your eyes an thumbs and your competition flying has to get better.