Pattern & Imac 2003 Nationals articles in AMA Mag.

[george kennie]

Thanks Ken,
I'm happy for you and encouraged that the sport is alive and well in
your area.That is indeed good news!
Georgie

Ken McGuire wrote:

> 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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