[NSRCA-discussion] Pattern and Imac practice

[Jim Woodward]

Hi Guys,

 

Lately I’ve been practicing the IMAC Advanced sequence as there are 4+
contests I can easily get to in SoFla that do not interfere with the pattern
contests I can get too.  This has been a lot of fun to do and a very good
experience as far as flying aerobatics goes.  I’ve flown through the
sequence about 40 times since November.  This sequence has nearly every
combination of rolls, snaps, and a 3 roll 270 degree circle.  One
observation about the precision aerobatics sequence is that you can nearly
fly the all of them rolling only one direction if you like.  Rarely does a
maneuver mandate that you roll two directions in the same maneuver, let
alone two directions immediately after one another.  In this one IMAC
sequence you will snap left and right, inside and out, 1 and 1.5 rotations,
most followed by an opposite roll or opposite point roll.  There is also a
negative spin and stall turn.  One vertical down line maneuver has opposite
point rolls in it.  Nearly every maneuver must be tailored to the direction
of flight as to ensure you end up correctly.  Most of the maneuvers offer a
chance to zero if you loose concentration or if your caller doesn’t quite
get it right.  After only a few times through the sequence my left and right
rolls became nearly identical in quality (left side was always the weaker
side as my precision aerobatic sequence did not demand alternating rolling
direction, I went with the most comfortable direction).

 

http://www.mini-iac.com/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/Adv-200
6.pdf

 

My favorite maneuver is the reverse avalanche from the top with a ½ roll,
opposite positive snap.  While this maneuver on the pattern forum received
quite a bit of backlash in the Masters sequence (simplified as the reverse
avalanche with one positive snap), my 42% Extra 260 does it like butter.
One maneuver, the ½ outside loop with 1.5 snap, 8 point roll, is also a fun
way to end the sequence.  

 

Without getting into a debate on the value of snaps, or the judging criteria
of snaps, or the snap versus flick-roll, flying so many snap rolls over the
last two months followed by opposite rolling combinations has been
incredibly good practice for all other areas of the flight.  Doing these in
different wind direction and speed combinations quickly teaches how to vary
the inputs and a lot of other things.  While it was obvious before, it is
even more obvious now to see how the “top-conpetitors” of the precision
aerobatic pilots are really capable in all the areas of R/C flight (at least
prop), IMAC, Pattern, and 3D.  

 

During this time I’ve also flown through the P07 FAI sequence with the Extra
(un-timed), and with my Aggressor with OS 140 and 18x10 Mejzlik.  The stand
out quality of the Extra is that is has slow downlines built-in!  The one
maneuver where this is really nice is the square loop on corner from the top
with ½ rolls.  The second leg doesn’t look rushed at all. Also the hourglass
with 2/4 down, second ½ looks nicer.  

 

All in all, this has been some of the best practice I’ve ever done in terms
or challenging you every flight in concentration & finger-drills.  Whether
you want to fly IMAC or not, I highly encourage you to practice some of
these sequences.  Some will say in pattern that you should not move up a
class until you have mastered the one you are in.  I think that the only way
to solidly jump in skill is to challenge yourself with harder sequences
(plus it is fun).  

 

Thanks,

Jim W.

 

 

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