5 Tips for an IMAC Novice

[louu]

sweet, next year imm gona give it a go.

[castlebravo]

A couple more tips........

Learn to take off downwind......most contests run multiple flightlines and at some point you will be required to take off downwind to not interfere with the other flightline. Usually not a big problem but can be intimidating if you never do it.....especially at a field you've not flown alot at.

Get used to flying with other airplanes in the air. With multiple flightlines, your in the air with other classes. The way it worked in the contests I flew in.....Basic and Sportsman were the largest so it always seemed that we were flying together. While the chances of a mid-air are slight.....they do happen and a near miss will spook ya........believe me, I know that first hand.

Make sure your camping gear is up to date!...........Nothing better than camping at the field talking nothing but airplanes......it truly doesnt get any better! Also......if you know how to cook..........everybody will become your new best friends!


CB

[exeter_acres]

I thought of one...

Learn aresti....

it isn't as hard as you think and you will need to know it....

attend a judging seminar..... make the road trip to the nearest one...

[louu]

	Quote: Originally Posted by exeter_acres
	I thought of one... Learn aresti.... it isn't as hard as you think and you will need to know it.... attend a judging seminar..... make the road trip to the nearest one...

i googled that and found this
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/...ics/aresti.htm
is that what you are talikn about?

[weezle]

i think i might give it a try this year too

[Dave_ORCC]

Louu..... that's the stuff but do yourself a favour and google "aresti made simple" and "aresti dictionary" Print off those two documents and read them. Probably the most straightforward explanation of the Aresti language.

On second thought........ print off several copies...... one for each bathroom in your house

Cheers,
Dave

[McFueler]

	Quote: Originally Posted by louu
	i googled that and found this http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/...ics/aresti.htm is that what you are talikn about?

This is good the only thing I see wrong with it is they changed the way they show point rolls now instead of 2/4 and a 4 next to the roll arrow they now put 2x4 next to the roll arrow.

[spacey]

Well, afraid I'm not an IMAC expert.

I'm coming from an F3C background and been competing in Heli Aerobatics for the past 4odd years, been to a few World Champs and got myself embarresed there...yeh been around the block a few times. I'm retiring from international F3C competition and pondering a move back to my true love which is of course fixed wing and aerobatics (Both IMAC and F3A).

Anyways same principles apply even in the F3C and there's one very important trouble thing I can add to the list:

1) ALWAYS blink your eyes!

It's stupid I know but a real problem I've been wrestling with and I know many of students/friends with same issue. When the going gets tough you just like the breathing problem forget to do things the body depends on. You concentrate so hard, you never blink without even knowing it. Not blinking unfortunately completely messes up your depth perception, and very very quickly you end up with tunnel vision through 90% of your flight. Not good if you want to work on positioning etc.

Thanks for the good reading all!
Ciao,
Rudolf du Toit

[Murocflyer]

Great info guys! Thanks for sharing that.

Frank

[Dozer Blade]

Lot's of great advice in this thread. I've found that managing practice time is an important issue as mentioned earlier. Particulary considering that many of us have jobs, family and other commmitments we are responsible for. Be careful not to choose quantity of practice over QUALITY of practice or at some point your flying could just become another job. Surround yourself with good mentors and Have fun!!!

[tele1974]

Excellent thread... I hope to attend my first competition next summer. I have only been flying 3 summers and I am totally intrigued by the discipline of IMAC. I am looking for a mentor, I am having difficulty putting the sequence together. I can fly the basic on the sim, but at the field it is another story. So, their is probably a number of things that I am missing. It is probably that I am not flying straight and level. Another set of trained eyes would help. So, if their is any one in the Cleveland area that would like to take on a student, give me a shout. I plan to practice through the winter. It was 28 degrees out at the field last Saturday, and obviously I had the field to myself. Perfect.

[NCFR "Lucky"]

	Quote: Originally Posted by tele1974
	Excellent thread... I hope to attend my first competition next summer. I have only been flying 3 summers and I am totally intrigued by the discipline of IMAC. I am looking for a mentor, I am having difficulty putting the sequence together. I can fly the basic on the sim, but at the field it is another story. So, their is probably a number of things that I am missing. It is probably that I am not flying straight and level. Another set of trained eyes would help. So, if their is any one in the Cleveland area that would like to take on a student, give me a shout. I plan to practice through the winter. It was 28 degrees out at the field last Saturday, and obviously I had the field to myself. Perfect.

Most of us in the North Central are hunkered down for the winter and either building or flying indoors. You should definately plan on making it to Muncie in April for the Judging Seminar. Look forward to seeing you at some contests.

Keith

[jamesrxx951]

	Quote: Originally Posted by tele1974
	Excellent thread... I hope to attend my first competition next summer. I have only been flying 3 summers and I am totally intrigued by the discipline of IMAC. I am looking for a mentor, I am having difficulty putting the sequence together. I can fly the basic on the sim, but at the field it is another story. So, their is probably a number of things that I am missing. It is probably that I am not flying straight and level. Another set of trained eyes would help. So, if their is any one in the Cleveland area that would like to take on a student, give me a shout. I plan to practice through the winter. It was 28 degrees out at the field last Saturday, and obviously I had the field to myself. Perfect.

yea come up to the muncie judging school and just start coming to events. make yourself known and come up to people. i can't think of one person that wouldn't be willing to give a few pointers. you will need a caller/spotter also. if you don't have one im sure you will have plenty of volunteers to help out. sometimes my caller was the guy i was flying against. were just there for a great time.

[topflight36]

Informative forum. Im going to be starting IMAC this season and saw some very helpful tips along with the chart to trim my plane.

Thanks
Tom

[mbacosa]

Being a noobie myself I will post some of my experiences.

1. Find a good coach, preferrably someone from an upper class. He will help you learn the manuevers and most importantly trim your plane. It will reduce your work load and make your plane more enjoyable to fly.

2. Read the rule book. Your idea of how a manuever should be judged WILL differ from the book...trust me on that one.

3. Burn lots and fuel and have lots of fun practicing. If you are not having fun then its time to move on to something else.
4. At the contest introduce yourself to everyone. These are some of the best people on the earth and you will make alot of friends who in turn will help you feel more comfortable.
5. Scribe for the judges. You will learn so much about what judges look for and you will also hear how different callers work.
6. Don't rely on one caller (thats where the introducing thing comes into play!!)

7. Don't worry about winning. If you are having fun, you already won!!!!