page was last updated 12/01/10
The Aims of IMAC U.K.
Just a paragraph to set out the aims of I.M.A.C. U.K. our main aim is to promote the competition flying, in several different classes, of scale model aerobatic aircraft in sequences of aerobatic manoeuvres as flown by their full size counterparts. The aircraft must be scale but can be of any size (Basic class models must be under 70" span) and can use either electric or I.C. power. The above mentioned classes vary in their degree of difficulty newcomers starting at an easy level (Basic) and progressing by results attained on to the higher classes ( Sportsman's Intermediate Advanced and Unlimited) All pilots must have a BMFA "B" certificate to fly at our competitions. I hope this gives you some idea of what we're about and may whet your appetite to come and join us, practicing for and taking part in our competitions really does sharpen your flying, so come and have a go you'll get plenty of help and encouragement we're a friendly bunch.
2010 Tour calendar now posted
follow above link also two training dates at the start of the season
All 2010 Schedules now posted and
also now in text format
Photos of Nationals podiums posted in the Gallery
Steve Mallinder
has yet again retained his IMAC UK Championship in 2009 will he start the next decade as Champion? watch this space.
AGM Changes
Main changes at the AGM were that Phil and wife Vicky Mousley have now taken over as Treasurer and Secretary respectively full committee details can be found by following the above link. I'm sure we wish them well in their new rolls.
A New Trophy
2009 sees the inaugural presentation of the Pilot of the Year trophy and the first recipient is Northern Ireland's very own Matthew Poots, well done Matt here's a picture of the new trophy
"What's the Craic"
Matthew has now done an excellent report on this even more excellent event on his website click on the photo to take you there
Northern Ireland IMAC 23rd/24th May 2009
a visiting pilot's perspective
"What's The Craic"
On the Thursday prior to the event myself and Richie Badham were picked up by Dave Lucas in his Transit van and full to the rafters with camping gear and models we headed off in convoy with Phil Hoyle and Mal Green in Mal's van for the Holyhead ferry to Dublin. From Dublin it was about an hour and a half's drive to the Tyrella Beach venue where we arrived around eight in the evening after a shopping stop at Sainsbury's in Newry. The venue was fantastic, a massive equestrian polo pitch apparently well manicured (more of this anon) We just had time pitch our tents and renew some acquaintances before turning in for the night
Friday dawned with a stiff breeze, which was to be with us from slightly varying directions for most of the weekend, we breakfasted and prepared for an intensive days practice as the weeks before had not permitted much due to the weather. Richie had two deadstick landings almost immediately the second of which led to him catching a wheel in divot left by the polo ponies from the previous evening which due to the unforgiving nature of the Comparf Yak's undercarriage led to some fuselage damage. Sadly the rest of Richie's day was spent in stripping out and repairing the Yak after our hosts the Poots family had organised some glass cloth and resin supplies. I squeezed in three or four practice flights during the day. By evening Richie's Yak was ready for test flights but we had to wait for some polo matches to be played. Finally with darkness looming Rich managed about three flights and with some engine tuning everything seemed OK although he still hadn't had any schedule practice
I interrupt the repair with camera Trev and Rich hard at it
Saturday dawned overcast and even more windy with low cloud level, our travelling companion Dave Lucas was elected to do a cloud level test flight and as his model soon disappeared from sight the start was postponed for about an hour. Soon the comp was under way and I got my first nervous flights in Sportsmans out of the way. Shortly it was time for Rich to step up to the plate and he was immediately hit by two more deadsticks on his usually 100% reliable motor, any way long story short as he had not attempted any manoeuvres I suggested he use my Extra and the judges gave him the green light, so basically we used my model for the whole comp as the workload on pilots is so high for the whole weekend with Knowns, Unknowns, calling, scribing and calling for the judges just leaves little or no time for fettling models. Saturdays weather was very squally, one squall actually lifting our two 1/3 scale models a couple of feet off the ground. The weather did relent slightly late in the afternoon in time for Saturday's optional freestyle.
DA Dave Lucas prepares his Unknowns (how he stayed in shorts I know not)
Yours truly scribing and calling for for judge Dave Nolan (and jammy winner of the DA85 mind he did buy a fistful of tickets) in the Unlimited class the garb gives you some idea of the weather
I think I've got more layers on than I wear slope soaring on the Orme in winter
Sunday dawned sunny but equally windy, crosswind on the back of your neck and believe it or not colder than under the cloud on Saturday, just two more Knowns and yet another Unknown for Rich and I. Rich flew his Knowns well but struggled with his Unknown, probably some of the figures a little much in the power stakes for my Extra. I on the other hand wasn't happy with my knowns picking up a couple of nervous zeros, however I made a good fist of my Unknown and finished my weekends flying on a high note.
There were public raffles one both days with a pilot's draw on Sunday with over £4000 worth of prizes The first prize on Saturday was a 7channel Spektrum set of gear 1st prize on Sunday's public draw was a DA 85 engine and 1st in the pilot's draw was a DA 100 twin. During this brief report I have moaned about the weather a little but in reality it had little effect on us because the event was so fantastic that it outshone everything the weather could throw at us. The venue right alongside the mountains of Mourn with it's back to the beach, what a place to fly model aeroplanes and finally but by no means least the hospitality we received was fantastic The Poots family Matt Mum and Dad Trevor the Mc Neil family and all the members of Tyrella MFC who kept us fed and watered for the duration what more can we say but thank you, sometimes words just aren't enough. I finished fourth in Sportsmans and Rich 3rd in Intermediate, which all things considered flying someone else's model in windy conditions ain't too damn shabby. We made many new friends over there and I'm sure God and finances willing we will return.
Finally just a mad dash for the ferry, but that's "another story"
Rich receiving his pot for third in Intermediate.
Brian Colclough.
I.M.A.C. Jackets
A word from Dave Lucas Hello All ,
If any one is planning on having a IMAC Jacket this year to let me know please
. The Guy who sells them to me has said that his supplier is discontinuing them
. So if any of you want one then contact me with size . The chap who supplies me
will get them in stock before his supplier runs out .
Cheers Dave
First ever Event in Northern Ireland
Results Now Posted
More details of this event are now available for this first time event in Northern Ireland they are on Matt Poot's own website and rather than duplicate them here I'll give you a link, sounds like plans are afoot for a great event, there are also details of ferry crossing choices etc all good stuff. Here's a link to Matt's website enjoy your browse if you've not been there before http://www.aerobaticsni.com/jml/index.php
IMAC UK Training Weekend
April 18/19th 2009
Right, a bit more info on the weekend, the turnout
of new pilots was good many had travelled quite long distances to be with us at
Sudbury on the edge of the Derbyshire peak district. The weather was cold on
Saturday but warmed up around midday on Sunday, the wind was not easy being
across the flight line in the pilots faces but this added to the experience for
the new pilots as many were not used to flying crosswind. The models brought
along ranged from an Acrowot all the way to a 3 metre Comparf Extra 260.
Four of the guys took and passed their BMFA "B" tests over the weekend the
examiners being Dave Lucas and Richie Badham, congratulations to them all. The
Tedds family were present Alan giving the new guys the judges take on what he's
looking for at a comp, and also in the process of training a new judge whose
name I sadly didn't collect
On Sunday an informal comp was organised for the newcomers complete with judging
slips judges comments and certificates for first second and third etc.
The hospitality and facilities at the Boars Head were excellent as usual there
being considerable merriment on Saturday evening and on into the early hours of
Sunday
Click on the photo of the Boars Head below to take you to their website
Post AGM News
Dave Lucas will continue his roll as competition secretary that is receiving all your entries prior to the events in 2009 and setting up the events what he will not now be doing is acting as Contest Director at each comp this will be handled locally at each comp. Dave has expressed his wish that wherever possible entries be submitted before all comps as this vastly helps with the workload on the day, to this end there is now a financial incentive to pre-enter i.e. you will save money, never a bad thing. There are changes to the entry and membership forms to be found elsewhere on this site just follow the joining and entries link above. The only change on committee this year is that Jeff Reed has been elected P.R.O well done Jeff. All schedules are now posted for the coming year and Dave tells me he hopes to have all the 2009 Tour dates ready for posting in the next few weeks. 16/12/08 B.C.
Our very own Matthew Poots is out in Tucson getting ready for this prestigious event and I'm sure we all wish him well in his endeavours and he's sending back daily blogs to his website if you want to read Matthew's blogs click on the banner above
Boars Head Sudbury
Sunday 28th September 2008 saw the first IMAC gathering at the Boars Head hotel in Sudbury the weather on the Saturday practice day was brilliant but sadly on the Sunday we were plagued by heavy showers we did however get through the comp and the results are posted. Brilliant hospitality at the hotel with excellent food and camping onsite for those who needed it, hope we get to go there again, sadly this was the last comp of the season so here's looking forward to 2009 and hopefully better weather
After presentations on Sunday Dave Lucas presented Win Bull with a trophy to thank her for her efforts in number crunching and compiling the results at the comps, well done Win and thanks on behalf of us all.
If you click on the above banner it will link you to the 3drc forum where there is a section dedicated to IMAC U.K. and you can
discuss IMAC issues with fellow flyers.
Steve Mallinder successfully defended his title in 2008, he's seen here atop the Unlimited rostrum at the 2007 Nats in second is Mathew Poots and third is
Tony Robinson. (photo courtesy of Trevor Poots)
Again at the Nats a special award was made to Win Bull for outstanding services to I.M.A.C. U.K., well done Win.
Three nice flying shots from the Nats 2005 courtesy of Rhyl chairman John Bowman as well as the above group shot many thanks John
Click on the thumbnails for full photo.
First group photo of the 2006 season from the Rhyl comp on Sunday 7th May a great weekend was had by all good weather food and above all company. Results below and a report and photos to follow well done all and a special thanks to Judge Alan Tedds and family helpers Anne and Becky.
Rhyl Report 2006
The first round of the 2006 tour was held at the Rhyl field on the weekend 6th and 7th of May judge for the day was Alan Tedds ably assisted by Anne and Becky. There were several new faces namely Mats Akesson Oliver Staples Jeff Reed and Nathan Farrel Jones, Mats and Ollie were in basic Jeff in Sportsmans and Nathan who is well known to many UK flyers jumped straight in to Advanced. I won't go into the results here as they're posted above but suffice to say they all acquitted themselves well. The weather for the whole weekend was superb and most turned up for practice on the Saturday and stayed locally overnight including the Irish contingent of Poots Poots and Mc Neill. It was good to see Nathan flying IMAC and he put on a stunning freestyle performance as expected, I certainly hope this may lead to other "3D" pilots crossing the boundary and flying IMAC finally abig thanks to the Rhyl club for the use of the site and providing a super lunchtime barbeque, below are a few photos of the event to capture the spirit of the day. B.C.
Venues
If anyone knows of any potential competition venues for I.M.A.C. comps please contact Dave Lucas
A couple of photos of full size Aerobats
This is basically the Giles 202 now built under license in Europe and now called a CAP 222 I Photographed this one at a full size competition at Welshpool.
This is another photo of a Giles 202 I found on the internet I kept the photo because I very much like the color scheme, hope you do too.
This is an Ultimate 200 . Belongs to Daryl Grounds in the U.S.A.
A good looking full size Yak 54
Webmaster B.Colclough.
