<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Ken very interesting and valid points all.
<BR>
In particular, the great number of meets that IMAC enjoys now, reminds me of how pattern was about 20 years. As of last count, I think there were about a dozen IMAC events in Florida alone, or about twice as many Pattern events.<BR>
<BR>
The fact that the IMAC Nats only had 37 entries this year, I don't believe reflects the relative participation in this area of the hobby in general. Dare it be said that the AMA Nats appears to be less important to IMAC than the professional events are? The Nats isn't a money event like the other national events you mentioned. I have to think that the IMAC people would rather win some real money or substantial prizes when they do well. <BR>
<BR>
We in pattern would probably do the same if the opportunity ever presented itself. As far as I recall, Pattern has never had that kind of support from the Industry as IMAC is enjoying right now. It's also true that the Industry is considerably larger now than 20 years ago by a wide margin, so more marketing folks are willing to invest more up front for bigger returns later. The fact that the IMAC style planes seem to have proliferated every club in a big way, just makes this part of the pie very large, and affords that kind of support.<BR>
<BR>
When I see that some of the high level events you mention give away as much as 20,000$ worth of cash and prizes, it's small wonder they draw 70+ pilots.<BR>
<BR>
Right now, the Pattern Nats is the biggest event the Pattern folks have, and it means alot to those who compete to win trophies. If the same Marketing people supported some key Pattern events around the country in a similar way, would the Pattern Nats have the same meaning?? I haftawonder<BR>
<BR>
Matt K<BR>
<BR>
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<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Subj:<B>Re: Pattern & Imac 2003 Nationals articles in AMA Mag. </B><BR>
Date:10/29/2003 12:36:06 PM Eastern Standard Time<BR>
From:<A HREF="mailto:rcplanefan@yahoo.com">rcplanefan@yahoo.com</A><BR>
Reply-to:<A HREF="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A><BR>
To:<A HREF="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A><BR>
<I>Sent from the Internet </I><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
George and all,<BR>
<BR>
This is my first post on this forum as I've been<BR>
lurking for a while. I currently fly IMAC and have<BR>
for the past 3 years. I have never flown pattern,<BR>
though I am interested in getting started. I chose to<BR>
fly IMAC because I like the "scale looking" airplanes<BR>
and love competitive aerobatics. I just wanted to<BR>
make a couple of comments on your post.<BR>
<BR>
First of all, I didn't attend the NATS this year which<BR>
kind of sucks because I live in Cincinnati and would<BR>
have only had about a 2 or 3 hour drive. However,<BR>
there were 21 IMAC contests in my region (North<BR>
Central) during this past season. All of these<BR>
contests occur on weekends and, as a result, require<BR>
that I take no vacation from work to attend. The<BR>
average attendance was about 20 people--some had many<BR>
more than 30, a few had less than 20. So, at least in<BR>
my region, the competitive circuit is full. The NATS<BR>
would have required taking the better part of a week<BR>
away from work. Nah, for me I can compete in 15-20<BR>
contests during the spring, summer, and fall. No need<BR>
to skip a week of work for the NATS.<BR>
<BR>
Economic reasons? Well, this has been said many times<BR>
before, but the top-of-the-line IMAC plane really<BR>
doesn't cost any more that a top-of-the-line pattern<BR>
plane. I don't think that "most" IMAC guys have<BR>
planes worth >$7500. I personally know very few. <BR>
However, most of the competitive planes are large. <BR>
Ever tried to ship one of these via the airlines? <BR>
Can't be done. Which means you have to drive to the<BR>
contest--usually towing a trailer, or ship in a crate.<BR>
Not alot of guys in California who want to do either<BR>
(and I don't blame them).<BR>
<BR>
The IMAC NATS to me is really just another contest. <BR>
And I have so many to choose from that don't require a<BR>
week away, that I chose to skip. You are correct<BR>
about one thing--the article certainly won't help<BR>
future NATS attendence. But there are plenty of other<BR>
"national" level contests to attend--the Joe Nall<BR>
Masters, JR Challenge, and Tuscon Shootout to name a<BR>
few.<BR>
<BR>
Anyway, I hope you guys realize that IMAC is really<BR>
the same type of guys as pattern flying competitive<BR>
aerobatics with a different type of plane. Same goal<BR>
in mind, though--precision flight. Please don't get<BR>
an "us vs. them" thing going. This is supposed to be<BR>
fun--it sure a hell is for me!<BR>
<BR>
Ken McGuire<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
--- george kennie <geobet@gis.net> wrote:<BR>
> Boy, I had a similar reaction. After all the hype<BR>
> over the last several<BR>
> years about how Imac is the fastest growing venue of<BR>
> the sport, they had<BR>
> a total head count of 37??? C'mon, at a Nationals<BR>
> event??????????? As<BR>
> far as representatives of a SIG, it appears that<BR>
> they had absolutely<BR>
> zero support people. You can't feel that this is due<BR>
> to some economic<BR>
> condition, as all these guys seem to have airplanes<BR>
> in the >$7500<BR>
> category. It also sounds like they do not have a<BR>
> judging program to<BR>
> certify potential judges, as there were many<BR>
> complaints regarding unfair<BR>
> scoring awards, resulting in many pilots realizing<BR>
> that they had been<BR>
> unduly cheated.<BR>
> The overall tenor of the entire meet seemed to have<BR>
> a great black pall<BR>
> decend upon Muncie for the duration of their event<BR>
> with nobody leaving<BR>
> for home with a good feeling.<BR>
> This report certainly does not bode well as an<BR>
> encouraging carrot<BR>
> regarding future attendance.<BR>
> Their venue appears to require a super shot in the<BR>
> arm of administrative<BR>
> influx, if they are going to survive in a manner<BR>
> capable of sustaining<BR>
> any number base.<BR>
> It's very SAD!!!!!!!!<BR>
> Georgie</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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