Pattern & Imac 2003 Nationals articles in AMA Mag.

Wed Oct 29 09:11:52 AKST 2003

Ken,

Very well stated. I agree we have more in common that differences. The us
vs. them attitude is  too prevalent and this latest article in MA shows that
the grass is not as green on the other side of the fence.....IMAC as an
organization has some huge hurtles to overcome. From newsletter issues that
have now caused membership numbers to decline in mass. To some noise issues
(not touching that one) to the management of a National Championship event.

The NATS has become in many ways as you stated another contest, rather than
a National Championships. For better or worse this is where we are. We as
the NSRCA and the Pattern community have a huge amount of influence, and
experience to offer a group like IMAC or SPA but there is too much of the
bickering over who gets the new pilot or who gets the prime time slot in the
magazine......

as the Great Rodney king stated so well " Can't we all just get along?"  LOL

Ken thanks for lurking. And  try a pattern model you'll love it....The newer
designs are really capable of many of the things the 40% Extras can do. This
is on a smaller platform and with a better precision base that the scale
models....We have similar power to weight and in some cases better wing
loadings. You'll be impressed when trying your first pattern model. I have
surprised many a IMAC flyer with my Smaragd and my Hydeaway. They could not
believe the locked on feel and the models were still able to do the flippity
floppity stuff too.

A wise man once told me the IMAC planes are sport planes that can be
competitive. Sport flyers have grabbed the big is beautiful and gas motor
horse for a great ride. There are 33% Sport planes all over the country and
all the flying fields....yet Pattern models are like Pylon planes we don't
sport fly them....there are not many sport flyers that own them.....We
preach you don't need a pattern model to compete in pattern...but go to a
contest and how many sport models are there?

Go to an IMAC event and there are tons of sport models that are flying
Competition...Not only that but the local guy has a IMAC style sport model
and when the clubs local event rolls around he enters it to support the
club, to have fun and to enjoy his everyday spot model in a competition
atmosphere.....This doesn't happen with pattern models.

Troy Newman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken McGuire" <rcplanefan at yahoo.com>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 12:35 PM
Subject: Re: Pattern & Imac 2003 Nationals articles in AMA Mag.

> George and all,
>
> This is my first post on this forum as I've been
> lurking for a while.  I currently fly IMAC and have
> for the past 3 years.  I have never flown pattern,
> though I am interested in getting started.  I chose to
> fly IMAC because I like the "scale looking" airplanes
> and love competitive aerobatics.  I just wanted to
> make a couple of comments on your post.
>
> First of all, I didn't attend the NATS this year which
> kind of sucks because I live in Cincinnati and would
> have only had about a 2 or 3 hour drive.  However,
> there were 21 IMAC contests in my region (North
> Central) during this past season.  All of these
> contests occur on weekends and, as a result, require
> that I take no vacation from work to attend.  The
> average attendance was about 20 people--some had many
> more than 30, a few had less than 20.  So, at least in
> my region, the competitive circuit is full.  The NATS
> would have required taking the better part of a week
> away from work.  Nah, for me I can compete in 15-20
> contests during the spring, summer, and fall.  No need
> to skip a week of work for the NATS.
>
> Economic reasons?  Well, this has been said many times
> before, but the top-of-the-line IMAC plane really
> doesn't cost any more that a top-of-the-line pattern
> plane.  I don't think that "most" IMAC guys have
> planes worth >$7500.  I personally know very few.
> However, most of the competitive planes are large.
> Ever tried to ship one of these via the airlines?
> Can't be done.  Which means you have to drive to the
> contest--usually towing a trailer, or ship in a crate.
>  Not alot of guys in California who want to do either
> (and I don't blame them).
>
> The IMAC NATS to me is really just another contest.
> And I have so many to choose from that don't require a
> week away, that I chose to skip.  You are correct
> about one thing--the article certainly won't help
> future NATS attendence.  But there are plenty of other
> "national" level contests to attend--the Joe Nall
> Masters, JR Challenge, and Tuscon Shootout to name a
> few.
>
> Anyway, I hope you guys realize that IMAC is really
> the same type of guys as pattern flying competitive
> aerobatics with a different type of plane.  Same goal
> in mind, though--precision flight.  Please don't get
> an "us vs. them" thing going.  This is supposed to be
> fun--it sure a hell is for me!
>
> Ken McGuire
>
>
> --- george kennie <geobet at gis.net> wrote:
> > Boy, I had a similar reaction. After all the hype
> > over the last several
> > years about how Imac is the fastest growing venue of
> > the sport, they had
> > a total head count of 37??? C'mon, at a Nationals
> > event???????????  As
> > far as representatives of a SIG, it appears that
> > they had absolutely
> > zero support people. You can't feel that this is due
> > to some economic
> > condition, as all these guys seem to have airplanes
> > in the >$7500
> > category. It also sounds like they do not have a
> > judging program to
> > certify potential judges, as there were many
> > complaints regarding unfair
> > scoring awards, resulting in many pilots realizing
> > that they had been
> > unduly cheated.
> > The overall tenor of the entire meet seemed to have
> > a great black pall
> > decend upon Muncie for the duration of their event
> > with nobody leaving
> > for home with a good feeling.
> > This report certainly does not bode well as an
> > encouraging carrot
> > regarding future attendance.
> > Their venue appears to require a super shot in the
> > arm of administrative
> > influx, if they are going to survive in a manner
> > capable of sustaining
> > any number base.
> > It's very SAD!!!!!!!!
> > Georgie
> >
> > Woodward James R Civ 412 TW/DRP wrote:
> >
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > Have you read the write up by Eric and Ed
> > regarding the Pattern and
> > > IMAC nats results and event running in general?  I
> > really enjoyed
> > > reading Eric's article.  When I read the IMAC
> > article I thought, "Ed
> > > has a lot of courage to describe the event the way
> > he did."  It once
> > > again made me think of how lucky we are to have
> > dedicated individuals
> > > running our Nationals & NSRCA.  Lots of times we
> > start threads about
> > > what needs to be changed in pattern.  Given some
> > things could be
> > > improved; we must overall have a pretty good
> > formula for getting
> > > people involved & trained in judging.  The
> > articles are definitely
> > > worth a thorough read!!
> > >
> > > No flame suit, just starting dialog.
> > >
> > > Jim W.
> > >
> >
>
>
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