Why do you compete in IMAC?

[Al Czervik]

After three years in the hobby I was considering taking a shot at IMAC this year and had a few questions for those who compete.

*To begin with, what do you find fun in competing? Many people would agree that watching IMAC can be quite boring. Is it your experience that DOING it is more fun?

*What is the minimum amount of time you put in a week leading up to a competition to practice? I work in the city and weekday practicing could require some serious effort to get to the field.

*Would you consider IMAC to be a more conservative form of flying from 3D in the probability of a crash? I only have one gasser right now and the previous ones I have lost have been from deadsticks while very low to the ground.

*Lastly, living in Virginia, are there no competitions in this state this year? Looks like the "northeast" area would be my best bet.

Thanks!

[buildflycrash]

Get someone who's flown IMAC to help you, fly the pattern 20 or 40 times (thats several hours) and go to a compitition. Then you can decide if it is worth it.

Yes, you plane is in MUCH less danger than flying 3D.

[gareth.ky]

These are just my personal answers

* It's fun because you are flying in front of judges and the pressure is on!

* So far its 0 time. I always seem to be fixing my airplane instead.

* Yes. It will also make you a better pilot and technician. Your stuff will be reliable because it sucks to have a dead stick in a contest.

* Cant help you there. Try the IMAC message board. Maybe you can find some flyers in your state?

[Gary Powers]

[QUOTE=Al Czervik;730431]After three years in the hobby I was considering taking a shot at IMAC this year and had a few questions for those who compete.

*To begin with, what do you find fun in competing? Many people would agree that watching IMAC can be quite boring. Is it your experience that DOING it is more fun?

The fun is in the camaradarie. As for the competition, it keeps the hobby interesting and challenging and improves your all around flying skills.

*What is the minimum amount of time you put in a week leading up to a competition to practice? I work in the city and weekday practicing could require some serious effort to get to the field.

I practice only on Saturdays and Sundays, 3 - 5 flights each day and I am competitive.

*Would you consider IMAC to be a more conservative form of flying from 3D in the probability of a crash? I only have one gasser right now and the previous ones I have lost have been from deadsticks while very low to the ground.

Much more conservative.

Gary

[sweetpea]

1. I like the abuse from getting beat by 9-12 yr olds. Oh and I thought I was a decent flyer until I flew my first contest. I couldn't even fly a straight line or a loop correctly. It will give you more confidence in your everyday flying as well.

2. I only fly weekends (with occasional days off on Friday to travel to contests). I flew about 4 flights each day. Sometimes more sometimes less. Will that make you the next Leesburg? Probably not, but I did good enough to make the TAS in 2007 (though I flew terrible in the wind there)

3. I'd go to www.mini-iac.com and look there for your region contests. Contact the Regional director or the CD of the closest contest. Ask for help/support.

Also see if there are any pattern guys in your area. They can be a great deal of help with coaching you.


My suggestion is that if you drive to an event you to watch you might as well try it out at the same time. If you dislike it or get too nervous than stop and land. No shame in it. Also IMAC has about the greatest group of support you will ever find in the hobby. You will get more help than you need from the group of flyers in your area.
3. IMAC is more conservative than 3D. Flying high is actually better. You fly low and it gives a better horizon to judge altitude changes.

[xtra330]

its odd that you ask this - as I had just finished writing a short novel (as it seems) for the reasons why I compete. Probably sounds cheasy - but these are the reasons why. Oh, and as far as practice goes...my practice was this past weekend at a contest, hadnt flown in an easy six months, and flew a friends plane at that Hope this helps you out in your decision to compete this year - youhave some good and active pilots in your area, just check out the IMAC website.

‘Why do you fly IMAC?’, ‘Why compete?’, and ‘What do you get from all the expenses endured with traveling to and from competitions?’ These are questions that I often hear or see from ‘outsiders’, people who have been lurking on web site forums or even at the flying field who see me flying nothing but straight lines back and forth from one end of the field to the other. Well, truth be known – I guess I would have to say the ‘drive’ is comprised of several factors that make me want to compete.

The first one would have to be the competitive edge inside of me. We all have it, its human nature. A determination to be the best we can be at something we enjoy. This can apply to all facets of life, not just model airplanes. It could be a backyard football game, a video game, checkers, whatever the situation may be – its in us, its just a matter of letting it out. So when I go out to the local flying field, it’s for a purpose. The purpose is to become a better pilot than I was the week before, always striving to perfect my flying ability. It’s a never ending challenge, which is intriguing in itself.

The second reason for competing is to see how others view my progression with the practice I have been putting in. Its not that I need their approval, but it’s a matter of having another set of eyes critiquing my flying ability. They could see something that I may have been overlooking during my practice sessions. Taking their opinions and advice is just another stepping stone in becoming a better pilot. Their input and opinions are most valuable and (hopefully) the next time we meet at a competition, they will notice that I have been working on the problem areas they had pointed out before. It’s a sense of satisfaction and achievement when I have overcome those areas of concern.

The third is the friendships that are encountered. The feeling that I get when pulling into the drive way at the competition site is one I really enjoy. Its excitement, anticipation, nervousness, adrenalin all wrapped up into one. Getting out of the car after a 5 hour drive (or more) and seeing close friends and ones that you haven’t seen in a long time is a good feeling. The smiles that are shared, the laughs that are encountered, and the mild teasing from good friends before, during and after the contest is something I will never get tired of.

The fourth has to be the feeling I get seeing the sunrise and (most of the time) beautiful scenery that the flying field is surrounded by. Yeah, I know… ‘What’s beautiful about a farm, or a field of crops?’ Well, if you’re so lucky to be one of the first ones (or the only one) at the field in the morning when the sun is coming up or the last one leaving the field when the sun is going down is something I truly cherish. The peacefulness and absolute quietness is deafening. It’s an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle, no traffic noise, sirens, airports, lawn mowers, nothing! Just ‘scenery’. Nothing but for my imagination to take over. Staring at the sky and envisioning the perfect sequence being flown. A time in my life to just sit back and recollect everything that has happened in the past few hours, days, weeks, or even months or years! Having no obstacles in my viewing path (trees, houses, buildings, street lights, etc) leaves me with a sense of peace, and a feeling of no worries or stress.

And lastly, there is something about seeing a perfectly flown sequence. Watching a pilot put the plane through the sequence ‘where’ he wants it, at the ‘time’ he wants it, and executing each maneuver the way it was intended to be is something to behold. This results in the ‘perfect’ sequence and that is what I strive for – perfection. Not trying to be better than my competitors, but being better than I was at the last contest I went to. If I win a contest, that is just icing on the cake!

[Al Czervik]

Thanks, those are some very good answers to my questions. I'm friends with Don Szczur who is a big pattern guy and will hit him up for an IMAC lesson or two.

[teedee]

I fly IMAC to push my flying skills as far as it can take me. I am a better pilot than I was 5 years ago and hopefully I will be better in 5 more years. The friends I have made since competing far outways the reward you can achieve by winning a contest. I have learned so much from others , I try to pass this knowledge to others and hope they will pass it on . Terry hickey

[why_fly_high]

I'm into IMAC for the groupie chicks. Chicks dig the straight line.

[cap231jim]

	Quote: Originally Posted by why_fly_high
	I'm into IMAC for the groupie chicks. Chicks dig the straight line.

HA !!!

Buildflycrash:

What kind of guitar is that in your avatar? That thing is beatiful!

Sleepy C are you listning? We LIKE Buildflycrash's avatar......

[crhammond]

Al,

You are not really competing against anyone but yourself in IMAC. Its nice to rub it in when you beat your buddies but for me anyway its a personal improvement thing. If I improve my scores over time it doesn't matter if I'm last or first. Keep in mind I suck so this is my justification for all that effort

I like IMAC because it gives me something to focus on and practice towards.

I like it because its really, really hard.

I like the road trips - they are always epic (and normally totally exhausting as well!) The parts I remember most are the road trips. I used to race RC cars for 18 years... I can only remember a handful of races... the ones that were really close and fun (there are only 2 out of literally hundreds in 18 years that I can vividly remember.) But I remember just about ALL the road trips and all the fun times off the track.

I use IMAC as an excuse to practice every day (or nearly every day in our short 5 or 6 month season) and I use all that practice to justify buying fancy airplanes to my wife LOL. You don't have to fly tons... in fact you are better off focusing on QUALITY not quantity. But I like to fly so I fly a lot even if its 2 flights at lunch time or 2 or 3 in the vening before dark. You get better by getting help and having others watch you fly. Its very hard to do on your own because you don't see the mistakes when you are flying...

It's not for everyone. I suggest you go to a contest. If you don't want to fly, at least volunteer to scribe for a round or two. You'll get to watch the flights and you'll learn a lot. Talk to the guys in the pits they will help you. Its addictive for some people.

If you decide to fly start out below your skill level - Basic or maybe Sportsman. There are no unknowns in Basic so you'll get a taste without much pressure.

IMAC is not any easier on airplanes IMO. They are moving fast so the flight loads are way up there (during snaps especially.) But your are up high and flying a more controlled disciplined style. Hard to compare 3D with sequence flying... but down on the deck 3D is definately WAY more risky to the plane than IMAC. In IMAC if you get out of shape you can always call a break (better to save the plane than lose one.) I have seen plenty of Basic/new IMAC pilots plow airplnes into the ground from nerves... it's not for everyone. Take your time, relax and forget about the judges is my advice.

[RollingHarrier]

*To begin with, what do you find fun in competing? Many people would agree that watching IMAC can be quite boring. Is it your experience that DOING it is more fun? Abolultely. We have a few members that fly IMAC and I used to fall asleep when they flew. Then TheTank put an event on in CT and I tried it. Didn't know, I didn't know how to do a snap, spin, loop etc.. correctly until that contest. This has improved my flying 10 fold.

*What is the minimum amount of time you put in a week leading up to a competition to practice? I work in the city and weekday practicing could require some serious effort to get to the field. I'm not a diehard IMAC'r. So every other flight I'll do 3D/ Free style then IMAC. If it's within a couple of days all I'll do is IMAC pratice. I fly probably 8 times a day on average if I'm out there all day.

*Would you consider IMAC to be a more conservative form of flying from 3D in the probability of a crash? I only have one gasser right now and the previous ones I have lost have been from deadsticks while very low to the ground. The probablility of crashing doing low to the ground 3D is much higher than flying IMAC.
Try it you'll like it!

[FENWAYFLYER]

I started on the last contest of last year. I can say that I enjoy the people who fly and the competition as well, however only flying 3-5 times all day long stinks. I guess I am spoiled I have a private field and fly 10-15 times in 3-4 hours.

[flyin4fun]

I'll make my answer REAL simple......."to get away from the wife"....!!!
Don't tell her this .

[NCFR "Lucky"]

I only do it because chicks dig it!