<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Jim</font>
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<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I have an solution for you and all those
IMAC expenses you have incurred. It appears to me that if you made the
switch to electric IMAC then you could save alot of money( mufflers, extra
servos and dat other stuff). This is the same color of money your wife
saves you when she buys that pair of much needed shoes "ON SALE"
-you know...the ones to die for..........Due to all the costs you have
encountered I will not charge you for this advice, I am just a nice guy.</font>
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<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">Bob,</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">Thanks for sharing your story.
The other angle on it this and I’ll use myself as an example: Any
discount I’ve received bar none, has been GREATLY spent back into the
sport by attending high number of contests, all the travel gas money associated
with it, and a nearly uncountable # of “extra” miles I’ve driven to
remote flying sites just to get some practice in - many times having
to just turn around and go home because of bad weather or whatever. The
equipment is a one time purchase (discounted or full price), where as the
total cumulative effort to practice and attend contests is repetitive and
in my case far out weighs anything else.</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">However, given that I’m sort
of studying the differences between IMAC and Pattern this year from a perspective
of practicing, contests, & equipment, the main point of my email response
is that your note below ABSOLUTELY applies in IMAC. Competitive IMAC
flying could cost you 3 to 4 times more than any pattern investment (including
electric power). This weekend turned out to be very expensive for
me: 1. The 3W that was running on one cylinder so much has
literally destroyed the canisters. I’m thinking to go with the standard
mufflers at $150/pair, instead of moving to the steel MTW canister/headers
at roughly $450/pair. 2. Had to purchase a well used backup
3W 150 TOC with old ignition style and old carburetor ($1000). 3.
Once I had a good running engine making some balls-out power, determined
that I need to add one more aileron servo per wing. 4. Decided
to “ensure” all the servos were getting their proper voltage and upgraded
the power system to the Smart-Fly Power Expander and Turbo Regulator. My
little lion-chargers were not up to snuff and needed to get a Fromcoe 3
port charger so the entire plane can charge at 2 amps at one time. As
for number of flights, I am right about 50 total flights – low flying
time and huge extra costs driven by the poor running 3W with new style
ignition and destructive vibration. </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">If you ever want to appreciate
what pattern has, and what in my opinion the current rules have ultimately
had on cost, go and out fit an unlimited style setup for IMAC. Then,
go to the contests and break something. Sure, some people have walked
into it without problems, while other have trailers with: Extra motors,
extra motor parts, extra exhaust systems, extra ignitions, extra Power
Boxes, Spare Plane or two, spare servos/receivers. Thus, getting
back your statements below, I see them as incredibly accurate (honestly),
of what can happen in scale aerobatics, and not so applicable on the pattern
seen (given the difference in scale of economy –no pun intended). I would
almost go so far as to draw the line and say you cannot be competitive
without sponsorships in IMAC, where as with pattern, you can get into it
with an OS 140, Dave L 3 blade, ARF, and it will typically out-fly your
abilities. </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">Thanks,</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">Jim W.</font><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><br>
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<br>
Gray Fowler<br>
Principal Chemical Engineer<br>
Composites Engineering</font>