IMAC – International Miniature Aerobatics Club
“Inspired by full-scale aerobatics, we strive to fly scale aerobatic model aircraft in a competitive and realistic manner that is challenging for the contestants as well as interesting for spectators”
The IMAC contest at the BMFA Nationals is the event to win for Scale Aerobatics enthusiasts. IMAC UK holds a contest tour throughout the season where we fly across the country and the ‘Nats’ is the one where pilots will be aiming for their best results. After the pilots’ briefing which is held around 9am, the precision rounds begin whereby pilots aided by their callers will fly a scale aerobatic machine to a set sequence. Models used will be near scale versions of aircraft used on full size IAC tour – Various Extra designs, 330’s 300’s and 260’s, Yak 54’s etc. The airframes flown are around 2.1m to 3.1m wingspan, with engines used from 30cc single cylinders, 100cc – 195cc twins up to around 200cc quads. Levels of difficulty range from the Sportsman class, Intermediate, Advanced to the top flight Unlimited class. Whatever the class, to fly the sequence well and achieve high scores requires considerable practice, dedication and consistency. The three day contest will see pilots fly the ‘known’ sequence throughout the day – the ‘known’ round is the set sequence that IMAC pilots around the world fly for the year. Also an unseen and challenging ‘unknown’ sequence for each class will be issued to pilots, this is to be learned and flown once a day by all classes. The known and unknown flights are judged with each figure in the sequence initially given a maximum score of 10, with deductions taken depending on the way the figure has been flown. All flights are judged by two judges and the scores noted by scribes. The scores are then digitally entered into the IMAC scoring system to show the standings for the class. One of the exciting features of IMAC flying is we fly precision and freestyle rounds in the one contest. Around 5pm when the precision rounds have been flown, the freestyle round is run. Pilots fly a scale airframe (any size, electric or gas) of their choice to music for four minutes and ‘anything safe goes’ in terms of manoeuvres flown. It is again judged – this time by four judges – watching for fluidity, presentation and technical aspects of the flight. Freestyle is a fun but tough round to fly and is a nice closing round at the end of the contest day.
Come and visit the IMAC flight line in the Compound during the weekend, speak with the IMAC members and have a look at the airframes and flying. To find us, follow the map in your BMFA Nationals Programme.
Dan Gallo – IMAC UK P.R.O.