IMAC - International Minature Aerobatic Club
International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) is a member supported, non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of RC scale aerobatic competition. IMAC is recognized as the scale aerobatics special interest group (SIG) of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), the official national body for model aviation in the United States. IMAC is also the largest scale aerobatic group in the world with members in all 50 US States and over 12 other countries (and growing).
IMAC competitions range from beginner (BASIC) to expert level pilots (UNLIMITED). When competing in the competition you will fly what is referred to as a "Known" pattern of maneuvers. In the Sportsman, Intermediate, Advanced and Unlimited classes, you will also fly what is referred to as an "Unknown" pattern. The Unknown is challenging because it is a different pattern for each event. The pattern is unknown to all of the pilots and thus everyone would fly this pattern for the first time during the competition.
Check out the IMAC Website to get a better feel for the enthusiasm this organization can bring to your RC flying experience. Come on. Be challenged!
2014 KNOWNS:
Example: 2013 IMAC BASIC KNOWN Pattern
The maneuvers shown to the right are drawn using the ARESTI system.
In 1960, Mr. Jose Luis Aresti created an Aerocriptografic Dictionary for Acrobatic Flight, known world wide as βAresti Systemβ, used to evaluate each acrobatic maneuver, fostered by the International Federation and worth its gold medal to the creator.
The filled in circles with the numbers are the start of each maneuver. The short vertical bar marks the end of the maneuver. Once a maneuver is completed the next maneuver is started. Notice that there is no takeoff or landing maneuver.
These diagrams can be a little difficult to read at first. So a picture is worth a 1000 words...
Follow along with this video to see how the maneuvers fit together.