The sky over Centre Air Park in Potter Township was busy on Aug. 27 with airplanes performing precision aerobatics. But, no pilots were risking their lives doing the daredevil maneuvers: The planes were radio-controlled models competing in an International Miniature Aerobatic Club contest hosted by the State College Radio Control Club.
This was the club’s second IMAC event, having hosted a successful inaugural event a year ago.
In a previous interview, Brad Davy, the northeast regional director for IMAC, explained the goal of the IMAC organization: “Our objective is to duplicate full-scale aerobatics with miniature radio-controlled aircraft in a realistic manner that is challenging for contestants, as well as interesting for spectators.”
IMAC competitors fly their models through a prescribed sequence of aerobatic maneuvers, which vary in difficulty in the different classes. Each maneuver is judged on its precision and smooth, realistic performance on a zero to 10 point scoring scale.
The pilots are judges by contestants in classes other than the one being judged. The pilots are given the sequence of maneuvers for their class in advance, and can practice before coming to the competition, but in the “unknown” event, they are given different sequence diagrams at the contest, which they can study for a short time, but cannot practice.
Using the word “miniature” to describe these models is a bit misleading, as the planes flown in these events are not small or toy-like. They have wingspans of six to 10 feet, and are powered by gasoline engines similar to large chain saws and small motorcycles. In all but the basic class, the models must be scale models of actual planes used in full-size aerobatic contests. Pilot figures must be installed under the planes’ canopies for added realism.
Safety is very important in IMAC events. All flying must be done beyond a line 100 feet away from judges and spectators, and the planes are equipped with redundant radio systems using multiple receivers and servos, which move the control surfaces, for safety in the event of an equipment failure.
IMAC competition originated in America, and quickly spread to many foreign countries. The first world competition was held in September 2014 in Muncie, Ind.
Contestants at the SCRC event came from several locations in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Canada. Skip Messick came from Cambridge, Md., to fly his Extra 330 SC model in the intermediate class. Messick has flown in 11 IMAC contests over a three-year period.
Dwight Macdonald drove down from Montreal to compete. His wife, Sharon, served as his caller, the person who announces each maneuver during the contest flights.
Closer to home was 14-year-old Kevin Ziegmann Jr., of Williamsport, competing in the basic category with a model of a Russian YAK 54 plane. His father, Kevin Sr., called the maneuvers. The youger Ziegmann is the third generation of R/C modelers in his family. His grandfather, Werner Ziegmann, has flown R/C planes since the 1970s with clubs in Lock Haven and Williamsport. The Ziegmanns are members of the Wings of Williamsport R/C Club.
SCRC president Jon Guizar and fellow club member Jack Erickson also competed in the contest. Guizar was pleased with the turnout of pilots and the efforts of his fellow SCRC members in organizing and running the event.
