2014 IMAC World Championship
INAUGURAL EVENT DRAWS PILOTS FROM 13 COUNTRIES
by Joe Cutright
Can you believe that the International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) celebrated its 40th anniversary during the first week of September 2014? It's hard to believe the organization has been around that long, and what better way to celebrate than by holding the first IMAC World Championship at the home of the AMA in Muncie, Indiana.
The idea began when current IMAC President Wayne Matthews made the announcement at the 2012 US Scale Aerobatic National Championship. Wayne would be the event organizer and chief judge, and Curtis Cozier would direct the event. Both men are well known throughout the IMAC community, and there was no doubt the 2014 IMAC World Championship was going to be nothing short of spectacular. With the date set for September 2–6, 2014, we couldn't get here fast enough!
The US team was formed by utilizing the 2013 Regional Points Series in all six IMAC regions. The top four pilots in each region progressed to a zone qualifier. These zone events paired regions: Southeast vs. Northeast, South Central vs. North Central, and Southwest vs. Northwest.
The top three pilots in each class—Sportsman, Intermediate, Advanced, and Unlimited—from these regional qualification contests earned positions on the US team. This resulted in nine pilots in each class representing the US. Each country competing in the event formulated its own team-selection criteria.
By the end of 2013 the US team had been formed, and I had earned a spot on the Unlimited team. Kent Porter was named team manager and Kurt Koelling the team captain. The IMAC website provided a place for team members to discuss practice regimes, tips on flying sequences, aircraft setup, and how to practice with purpose. The 2014 Known sequences were announced and the team pilots were on a mission to master them and be prepared for the event.
By contest week, Wayne had assembled 89 pilots from 13 countries and 22 judges from 10 countries to meet in Muncie for the weeklong competition. The week before the event, weather forecasters predicted cool temperatures and mild wind conditions—and that is exactly what we got!
On Tuesday we settled into the contest routine. After breakfast we headed to the field to sign in and receive our welcome packages. The event team greeted us with smiling faces and open arms. Everything was well organized and laid out for the pilots.
During check-in we encountered several US team members as well as many international competitors—all excited and eager for a few last-minute practice flights. The flightlines had no fewer than 20 aircraft cued up at each flight station.
We were on a tight schedule because at 1:30 p.m. we had to report for a mandatory pilots’ and judges’ meeting. The pilots’ meeting was followed by the opening ceremonies at 3:30, which included a march with the nations’ flags, national anthems, a presentation by the event staff, and team pictures.
When I had a chance to sit down and take it all in, I was overwhelmed that the event was finally about to happen. It was truly remarkable to see everyone gathered with their teammates and countries and to stand together and listen to each other’s national anthems with flags waving in the air.
We finished the ceremonies by drawing for Wednesday’s flight order and picking up Wednesday’s Unknown sequence. Pilots were to report to the field the next day ready to fly at 8 a.m.
What beautiful weather for the first day of competition! Winds were no more than 8 mph and there was not a cloud in the sky. People settled in after their first two single rounds of Known sequences.
The two Known rounds were followed by the Unknowns. I learned a lesson the hard way by having my idle set too low for a spin. The resulting flameout earned me zeros for each figure remaining in the sequence—not quite the way I had envisioned finishing day one of the competition.
Throughout the day competition moved along nicely with no delays. The flightline bosses did a fantastic job of ensuring that competitors were lined up at least four deep. The curtain came down on the first day as we drew a new flight order and collected our Unknowns for the next morning.
Thursday, September 4, was another beautiful day with temperatures in the upper 80s and winds lifting to roughly 12 mph. The first order of the day was the Unknown sequences, followed by three more Known sequences. Unfortunately, I fell apart on my Unknown sequence, but I flew some solid Known sequences.
In Unlimited, more often than not, it is the Unknown sequences that make or break a pilot. I came into this contest aware of that, but for whatever reason just couldn't seem to focus on the Unknowns as I should have. After the day's flights concluded, we completed the draw for Friday's flight order and the third Unknown sequence was handed out.
Had the weather forecasters been right, Friday would have been a complete washout. Fortunately, the bad weather never materialized and we got in the full complement of flying. Friday's schedule also included the event's first Freestyle flights.
Throughout the day the winds were blowing out 90° to the runway at nearly 15 mph. The Freestyle competition had 15 pilots and all of them put on a great show considering the wind greatly affected timing and placement of maneuvers.
Despite the conditions, Nicolas Pinzon, Spencer Nordquist, and Cody Wojcik had the crowd on its feet and cheering. They made their aircraft dance to every beat of the music and brought their models low to the ground for all to see.
After Saturday's flight order was drawn and the Unknown sequence distributed, we headed for some food and relaxation—or as much as possible with the final day yet to come.
Saturday, the final day of the contest, consisted of flying the last Unknown sequence, a single Known sequence, and another round of Freestyle. The anticipated bad weather had finally rolled in overnight with winds gusting to 50 mph, rain, and even some hail. We awoke to an overcast day with temperatures in the low 60s and winds at roughly 10 to 15 mph, blowing into our faces as opposed to our backs as it had for the first three days. This wreaked havoc for some pilots, while others still flew as if they were on rails.
I finally flew a good Unknown sequence, finishing fifth in the round. The Freestyle round was another fantastic show with pilots laying it all on the table—and a couple of them going over the edge.
With flying completed, pilots, helpers, family members, and event staff reconvened at the Horizon Convention Center in downtown Muncie for the closing ceremonies and banquet. The food was delicious, conversations were stimulating, and the friendships—new and rekindled—created memories that will last a lifetime.
Wayne and his team set the bar high in this inaugural event. Awards were handed out, along with some nice merchandise courtesy of the many event sponsors.
One award in particular deserves special mention. Wayne received the inaugural Visionary Award that was created by the recipients of the IMAC President’s Award. The Visionary Award is IMAC’s highest possible service award and is only issued to those who demonstrate an unmatched level of dedication and commitment to IMAC.
Wayne has been involved with IMAC for many years in positions that include seven years as a national judging instructor, six years as chairman of the sequence committee, two years as IMAC secretary, and four years as IMAC president.
Wayne’s involvement with other prestigious events, including the Clover Creek Invitational, Tucson Aerobatic Shootout, and the Electric Tournament of Champions, demonstrates his passion for aeromodeling. The successful 2014 IMAC World Championship may be the crowning achievement in his impressive résumé.
If there is a more deserving first recipient of IMAC’s Visionary Award, I can’t imagine who it would be. Without Wayne’s vision that there would one day be an IMAC World Championship—and without his persistence and great sacrifices—we wouldn’t have had the pleasure to enjoy and celebrate IMAC’s 40th anniversary as we did.
IMAC, all of its members, and scale aerobatics enthusiasts everywhere extend to Wayne a heartfelt thank-you!
—Joe Cutright [email protected]
SOURCES
- IMAC World Championship: www.imacworlds.com
- IMAC: www.mini-iac.com
- IMAC World Championship results: www.imacworlds.com/contest-results.html
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
