F3M - To Be or Not To Be

[Jim Woodward]

FG Members and model aerobatic folks,

I would like to see the F3M class flown in the USA. F3M will be an active FAI class starting in 2010. I would like those pilots that are interested in this class, wether they are causally interested, or have the skill to potentially represent the USA in a WC event one day, to have an opportunity to compete in this class. If this is to be done successfully it needs "enthusiastic" support by volunteers who are yet to be found or recognized.

A significant personal reason for moving towards the F3M direction is that I prefer to fly model aerobatics in the "3-zone-angled-box." The FAI F3M rules setsforth a 3-zone-angled box similar to that used for F3A (pattern) flying, except that 70 degree lines, rather than 60 degree lines, are allowed. Therefore any field that can currently host a pattern contest should be able to support an F3M contest. Having flown the F3M sequence within the 60 degree poles as newly installed at the Miami AMPS field, keeping this sequence "in the box" is not a problem at all, and it happens to flow beautifully together.

So where to we go from here? As a single class, the F3M skill set fits right in between what I see are the IMAC Advanced, Unlimited, and NSRCA Masters, F3A skill sets. The F3M "competition" as described in the FAI rules setsfrorth that rounds should consist of: Knowns, Unknowns, and Freestyle. It is important to note that these rules are created to separate each nations "top" pilots at a World Championship event. These same rules are not necessarily condusive to "local" competitions, understandably. For instance in the USA, the F3A format described for a F3A WC in only applied at the US Nationals. During local competitions, the F3A class is simply flown right along side the NSRCA classes and only the 'known' sequences are used. Some regions use only the Preliminary sequence, and others use the Preliminary and Finals sequences. To emphasize this again, it is near impossible to create resourses for local contest that emulate exactly the standards that would be used at a FAI sponsored WC event or a US Nationals, but this does not invalidate the experience our F3A pilots get during local contests or by what they add to the overall contest exeperience.

There are two main ways to go forward at this point:
1. Find willing CD's that want to include the F3M class at local competitions planned as either Pattern or IMAC.
Or:
2. Fit this effort under the NSRCA umbrella, or create an entirely new organization that will have F3M as its top class, with some supporting lower classes. If this is the road to go down, each class would fly the same 3-zone-angled-box, but with sequences commenserate with the different skill groups (in a local contest format yet to be determined that best fits the introductory nature and personel available to support).

How can a CD start introductory competition for the F3M class? Because the specific WC format is disruptive to the traditional pattern and IMAC contest flow, I would suggest the following two ways (easy button solutions):

1. If included in a pattern contest - Use the known rounds on Saturday and Sunday (simple right?) Or if developed in time, use the known on Saturday, and an unkown on Sunday. It would be up to the CD to determine if a "freestyle" event fits into their planned contest or not.
2. If included in an IMAC contest - I imagine that the knowns would be flown on Saturday, an unknown created for Sunday, and the CD (as usually done), would make a determination if a freestyle portion fits into his contest or not.

So there we are - this is obviously not an entire 100% go forward solution. I do not have a 100% plan. This is to stimulate ideas for moving it forward if anyone wants to do it. The details will become narrowed down and defined once a volunteer effort is discovered (or not). I am not interested in building an organization by myself, but would gladly lend effort if others are interested in going down this path. If you are intested in this effort, please feel free to post on this thread or to contact me privately at the email listed below. I personally welcome ANYONE for ideas on this topic.

Let the conversation begin with a fresh start.

Thank You,

Jim Woodward
jim.woodward@baesystems.com

[exeter_acres]

The IMAC portion has already been voted on.

Sorry you missed that...
http://www.mini-iac.com/LinkClick.as...c%3d&tabid=137

[Jim Woodward]

Curtis,

For those that did not know, IMAC cannot tell a CD or club what to include or not include in a contest weekend. IMAC can only make a minimum recommendation (contest guideline). They cannot dictate to a club/CD what events will be held that weekend. I guess they can try to dictate which IMAC events will be available to count towards Regional Standings. It would be interesting to read draconion "criteria" given to clubs that would essentially dictate that nothing but IMAC could be done in a 48 hour period or something once they schedule a contest.

Thank you for your input,
Jim

[exeter_acres]

I should think a club could host anything they want...
but if it is F3M, it is not an IMAC contest....

[tobytorkn]

So Curtis, are u saying that if a cd adds an additional class to an iMac contest it isn't officially an iMac contest anymore? Toby

[NJRCFLYER]

	Quote: Originally Posted by tobytorkn
	So Curtis, are u saying that if a cd adds an additional class to an iMac contest it isn't officially an iMac contest anymore? Toby

It's great marketing, easy to remember and catchy to call them IMAC contests, but they are actually AMA Scale Aerobatics contests. IMAC is an AMA Special Interest Group (SIG), and IMAC BOD vote or not, the IMAC BOD can not tell a CD holding a a Scale Aerobatics contest that he can not include other events like F3M in the same venue. We'll need to look into the AMA rules technicalities of holding F3M contests if they happen to coincide with a Scale Aerobatics contest at the same time, same place, but I know of no reason at this time that it can't be done.

As Jim pointed out, they may wish to be heavy handed and threaten that the points for the AMA Scale Aerobatics portion of such a contest won't count towards a regional championship, but that is another matter entirely. I've heard 2nd hand that they've recently applied this type of arm twisting to sponsoring clubs to extract an extra fee if a contestant is not an IMAC member, although there may be more to this that I don't know about. If anyone "in authority" wishes to clarify or correct me on that, please do.

[psk560]

Jim,

I'm new to this F3M idea, but I am here and listening. The FAI website is difficult to manipulate; could someone post the current sequence on this thread so that I can look it over and try it?

Thanks,
Craig

[Jim Woodward]

Welcome aboard! Attached is the FAI sporting code for model aerobatics.
Jim

under the www.fai.org website, check out the top right tab for "documents" http://www.fai.org/documents/sportingcode

[wgdenge]

Jim,
Looking at those sequences, reminds me of early IMAC. I did not fly IMAC then, but did download them. I think they are pretty cool. Beyond my ability, but I like.

Wayne

[Jim Woodward]

Trying to attach a jpeg of the sequence.
Jim

[psk560]

Jim,
In the loop, is the 1/4 roll integrated for the entire 1/2 loop and then a neg-snap to another integrated 1/4 roll? Looping rolls... Kewl...

Craig

[Jim Woodward]

Craig - the 1/4 roll in maneuver #1 is performed as a 1/4 roll, not an integrated 1/4 roll. For #1, you pull a 1/4 loop, execute a 1/4 roll, 1/4 loop in knife edge, perform a snap (pos or neg up to the pilot), 1/4 loop in knife edge, 1/4 roll, 1/4 loop, and your done

In FAI speak - this is a loop. The pilot should make every attempt to make is round even though there are 1/4 rolls on it.

It is a pretty manuever, not too hard really ad gravity is helping the 1/4 loops in knife edge at those moments.
Thanks,
Jim

[wgdenge]

Rolling loops.. Cool.. Uhh. I wish!

This is right up your alley Craig.

w

[Jim Woodward]

IMHO,
Rolling loops (positive ones going up) are safer to learn than rolling circles
Jim

[mike chandley]

Thanks Jim for posting in a new thread.

Should we discuss F3M here and worry about where the contest will be later?

If there is a way to not make this a imac fight thread that would be a big help.

I want to learn more.

I am interested in trying other things in my life with planes... and without.

How many people do you need to get things started?