5 Tips for an IMAC Novice

[Dave_ORCC]

Lot's of good advice here but 2 things haven't been mentioned yet.

1: assist the CD's however possible. This might not help your flying but, it'll be appreciated.

2: make yourself available to scribe for the upper classes. You've read the ruleook, right? so you should be able to watch a sequence and come up with scores which you can compare (mentally) with the more experienced judge's. If your mental scores and the judges scores are wildly different ask, politely, between competitors for an explanation. Scribing for a more experienced judge will help you to understand what the figure should or shouldn't look like.

Cheers,
Dave

[bubbagates]

Wow, excellent thread,

BREATH, you have no idea how many times I have realized that I was not breathing and starting to shake. I found that taking several deep breaths during the sequences as well as spreading my legs at least a shoulders width apart works wonders

RELAX, we all screw up and make mistakes. If you make a mistake, keep flying, do not stop flying at all, put it out of your mind, it's done and you cannot change it

Do not talk to yourself out loud saying things like I really blew that roll damn I over-rotated the snap. Judges make mistakes as well and just maybe they did not see it, but if you announce your mistakes they may start looking a bit closer.

Ask for help if you need it. I've never been to a contest where everyone has been extremely helpful and very approachable.

Practice, I was once told that 25 good practice flights equal 1 contest and I believe it. Never stop practicing, just because you had a great contest does not mean you will fly the same at the next one.

Make sure you get help, if at all possible, for practice from a more experienced IMAC pilot. That helps eliminate bad habits. No there no harm practicing your sequences on Sat before you grab your unknowns. Also, most every contest has a practice day the day before, usually on Friday

And most of all, thank the judges at the end of your flight, at the end of the contest thank the CD and any club members that are working the contest. The CD and club members work hard to put a contest on and sometimes it's a thankless job.

I often go to DA's website and download the unknowns from the Shootout and practice them with only an hour of looking them over, great way to learn to read Aresti on the fly plus test your flying skills

[jmoesdad]

#6 no whining when you get beaten by a 13 year old.

[fmnspooch]

	Quote: Originally Posted by jmoesdad
	#6 no whining when you get beaten by a 13 year old.

Or a 70 year old!!!! more than once!

[hubb]

	Quote: Originally Posted by jmoesdad
	#6 no whining when you get beaten by a 13 year old.

LOL, that seems to happen at all levels.......kids

[fmnspooch]

	Quote: Originally Posted by bubbagates
	Wow, excellent thread, BREATH, you have no idea how many times I have realized that I was not breathing and starting to shake. I found that taking several deep breaths during the sequences as well as spreading my legs at least a shoulders width apart works wonders RELAX, we all screw up and make mistakes. If you make a mistake, keep flying, do not stop flying at all, put it out of your mind, it's done and you cannot change it Do not talk to yourself out loud saying things like I really blew that roll damn I over-rotated the snap. Judges make mistakes as well and just maybe they did not see it, but if you announce your mistakes they may start looking a bit closer. Ask for help if you need it. I've never been to a contest where everyone has been extremely helpful and very approachable. Practice, I was once told that 25 good practice flights equal 1 contest and I believe it. Never stop practicing, just because you had a great contest does not mean you will fly the same at the next one. Make sure you get help, if at all possible, for practice from a more experienced IMAC pilot. That helps eliminate bad habits. No there no harm practicing your sequences on Sat before you grab your unknowns. Also, most every contest has a practice day the day before, usually on Friday And most of all, thank the judges at the end of your flight, at the end of the contest thank the CD and any club members that are working the contest. The CD and club members work hard to put a contest on and sometimes it's a thankless job. I often go to DA's website and download the unknowns from the Shootout and practice them with only an hour of looking them over, great way to learn to read Aresti on the fly plus test your flying skills

Well said Bill. Im a first yearer too. I have asked more questions than you can shake a stick at, and then some. Too the point were I am annoying, but the information I get translates in proper approach and technique.

[bubbagates]

	Quote: Originally Posted by fmnspooch
	Well said Bill. Im a first yearer too. I have asked more questions than you can shake a stick at, and then some. Too the point were I am annoying, but the information I get translates in proper approach and technique.

Yep, you proved that point this past weekend, all I can say is DAMN nice flying

[bubbagates]

	Quote: Originally Posted by jmoesdad
	#6 no whining when you get beaten by a 13 year old.

Yep, I have that very problem right now. Can't seem to get past second place whenever he shows up

And yep, I do whine, ALOT kids anyway

[fmnspooch]

	Quote: Originally Posted by bubbagates
	Yep, you proved that point this past weekend, all I can say is DAMN nice flying

Thanks and I appreciate the constructive coaching.

[bubbagates]

	Quote: Originally Posted by fmnspooch
	Or a 70 year old!!!! more than once!

Ye, I remember that contest. Coolest thing to see, a 70yr old coming out and doing fairly well at it. He came to watch at Pegasus if you did not see him.

[bubbagates]

	Quote: Originally Posted by fmnspooch
	Thanks and I appreciate the constructive coaching.

Which actually brings up another couple of tips (not that you had a problem with any of these)

Remember it's all in the details, try to learn where radius' need to be equal, work on centering elements on lines (rolls [part and full] snaps things like that), and though not a judging criteria, try to keep the flow of the flight nice and even.

Another little thing I like to do is NOT blast full throttle during take, I do a nice scale like takeoff straight down the middle of the runway. Sort of sets the "tone" of the flight plus you are not blasting past the other pilot that may be in the middle of his/her sequence. The last thing I need to worry about is another pilot blasting his takeoff 5 feet in front of me instead of in the middle of the runway

If the CD has said that you must be in the air before the previous pilot is done, do not run up your plane right next to the other pilot (had this happen to me this past weekend which totally screwed the pilot I was calling for which caused me to call a break 3 times for him till he settled back down), when you take off, go orbit off to the side until the pilot is done and the judges are ready.

Never, ever start your engine with the prop in line with the other pilots and the judges, it's just common sense and safety related should the engine spit the prop off or a blade parts company

[RMaia]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Dave_ORCC
	2: make yourself available to scribe for the upper classes. You've read the ruleook, right? so you should be able to watch a sequence and come up with scores which you can compare (mentally) with the more experienced judge's. If your mental scores and the judges scores are wildly different ask, politely, between competitors for an explanation. Scribing for a more experienced judge will help you to understand what the figure should or shouldn't look like. Cheers, Dave

That's an EXCELLENT advice!!

Specially if you are starting out in IMAC, spend some time scribing for an experienced judge. I did this and the amount of learning you will do is really worth it. And you can already get started on the "right" path, applying the info to your practice flights further on.

Really, I can say this first hand, do it, you won't regret!

[louu]

do you need wheel pants to compete in imac?

[bubbagates]

Nope....

[castlebravo]

	Quote: Originally Posted by louu
	do you need wheel pants to compete in imac?

No pants needed....wheel or otherwise. As a matter of fact, in Basic, you dont even need a scale aerobatic airplane........any airplane can compete. My first contest I flew a Hobby People Magic Extra.......certainly no where near a scale airplane.

Only if you move up to Sportsman and beyond does your airplane have to be a scale derivative of a legal IAC airplane(an airplane that has flown or could compete in IAC competition) with a pilot figure and a instrument panel. There are no size restrictions (min or max) although bigger airplanes present better. This doesnt mean you have to have a 40%er to compete........there are tons of 50cc and smaller doing fairly well. Remember, the key is to have fun and improve your skills.......not to win every competition.



CB