[NSRCA-discussion] unknowns

Tue Sep 22 05:57:06 AKDT 2009

 Wow Jim that is the best explaination of the difference I've ever seen. Thanks for that post I will save it and use it again.
 I'd love to try IMAC someday but it's a time and resource problem to do so at this point. We have a number of IMAC guys at my field and I like them all. I find we have a lot in common but your right about the differences too. Thanks, Mike Mueller

--- On Tue, 9/22/09, Woodward, Jim (US SSA) <jim.woodward at baesystems.com> wrote:

> From: Woodward, Jim (US SSA) <jim.woodward at baesystems.com>
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] unknowns
> To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 8:46 AM
> 
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> Unknowns in pattern?  IMAC
> versus pattern?   
> 
>    
> 
> I’ve flown a bunch of
> IMAC over the last 4 years. 
> IMAC and Pattern answer two different questions, and each
> group has DISTINCTLY different
> personalities.  At the end of a pattern contest, you
> will see who flew the
> sequences the best (usually the best pilot).  At the
> end of an IMAC
> contest, you will get closer to seeing who the best pilot
> is in that
> class.  There are pros and cons for each, each fitting
> the personalities
> of the groups. 
> 
>    
> 
> Pattern:  Is about
> learning the fundamentals of precision
> flight. Group is not too excited about changing sequences
> too often, especially
> for the lower classes.  It is a pattern-truth that the
> lower classes are
> designed to build piloting skill and teach precision
> aerobatics fundamentals
> (wings level and such).  This group recognizes that
> guys don’t get
> to fly every day, and the goal is “fly your sequence
> the best you can.” 
> Lower classes are not considered “destination”
> classes. 
> Pattern guys almost 100% of the time can get into Advanced
> and Masters, with
> F3A being hit or miss.  Pattern guys believe it is
> “fair” that
> the competition is only the  “known”
> sequences because this
> levels the playing field – anyone can compete because
> we know what is
> going to be flown ahead of time, and the tier-2 kind of
> pilot has a competitive
> chance against tier-1 pilot, per se’. 
>  Pattern guys want to
> know what the rules are, and then build a plane within the
> rules and maximize
> what they can.  Pattern guys are open, and keep all
> contests open to
> whoever can make it. 
> 
>    
> 
> IMAC:  almost 100%
> opposite to the pattern
> personality.  Guys don’t like rules!  Do
> not want rules applied
> to planes (… no support for even adequate mufflers or
> tuned
> pipes/silencers). Not willing to “describe”
> airspace or where
> maneuvers are flown (read ACS definition if like and let us
> know what the criteria
> is).  IMAC does not encourage moving up in the way the
> culture of pattern
> does – plenty of guys in IMAC will fly Basic or
> Sportsman for many
> years.  Intermediate is realistically the destination
> class.  Few
> make it into Advanced, and less into Unlimited.  IMAC
> guys want to fly new
> sequences every year, and this sort of offsets the
> motivation for moving
> up.  IMAC guys have some affinity for
> “freestyle” and
> undisciplined flying – they like that you don’t
> have to practice
> the know sequence all the time.  All you need to do is
> keep “close”
> in the knowns, and score a high unknown round and you can
> win the contest due
> to the higher weighting the unknown round carries. 
> IMAC guys don’t
> really focus on getting better geometry out of
> maneuvers  - as hitting
> snap rolls will make or break you IMAC score.  Using
> the 0.5/point per 5
> degree rule, “snap-rolls” are in fact the whole
> secret to scoring
> IMAC patterns well – it is a maneuver within a
> maneuver and you need to
> learn how your plane snaps at low speed, high speed,
> power-on, and
> power-off.  If you can’t hit a snap roll exit,
> don’t even
> think about getting into Advanced or Unlimited.  This
> group likes “exclusivity”
> or “invitational” events, and this also makes
> its way into the
> regional championships.   
> 
>    
> 
> So – there are totally
> different personalities at work for
> both organizations.  I like flying unknowns, but I
> don’t think it is
> a good mix for precision aerobatics events. 
>  Guys moved from F3A into
> Masters to get away from the two known sequences, so I
> don’t think
> unknowns for the AMA classes really fits into the culture,
> or our goals of “precision”
> aerobatics. 
> 
> Thanks, 
> 
> Jim 
> 
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> 
> From:
> nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On
> Behalf Of Anthony
> Romano
> 
> Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 8:50 AM
> 
> To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> 
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] unknowns 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>    
> 
> Hi Stu,
> 
>  Did you happen to find out how they deal with the
> scoring? If it is
> national and everyone is using the same program maybe
> an update could be
> available for the CD to download prior to the event?
> 
>  One thing I noticed was a lot of judges
> with the aresti in one
> hand and score sheet in the other while judging. Lots of
> looking away during
> the flight. I looked over a few shoulder and would have put
> down some similar
> numbers.
> 
>  
> 
> Anthony
> 
>  
> 
> > Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:42:06 -0400
> 
> > From: schale at optonline.net
> 
> > To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
> 
> > Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] unknowns
> 
> > 
> 
> > OK don't kick me off the list but I flew an IMAC
> contest last weekend. 
> 
> > (yes in Basic with a pattern plane :) )
> 
> > Has any thought been given to flying unknowns as the
> IMAC guys do? If 
> 
> > you are not familiar with it, on a 2 day contest the
> unknown is handed 
> 
> > out after flying is done on the first day. The unknown
> is appropriate 
> 
> > for your class and is the same nationwide for that
> weekend. You are on 
> 
> > an honor system not to fly it or use a sim (I suspect
> some people do) 
> 
> > and the first flight of day 2 is the unknown. I
> believe it can not be a 
> 
> > dropped round. Basic class flies their usual sequence
> no unknown. It 
> 
> > adds a bit of excitement to the 2nd day of the
> contest. You have to be 
> 
> > able to do a bunch of maneuvers not in this years
> sequence but 
> 
> > appropriate for the class. So practice time might be
> more than 6 
> 
> > identical flights of your current sequence. And most
> importantly it may 
> 
> > provide for some separation for the top fliers in each
> class. I had a 
> 
> > lot of fun discussing the sequences with my friends
> that were there, and 
> 
> > watching and listening to them after flying it. Hard
> to fly a sequence 
> 
> > for the first time without making a significant
> error.
> 
> > 
> 
> > Stuart
> 
> > 
> 
> > _______________________________________________
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