IMAA Chapter 31 - Flying Pilgrims R/C Club

James H Repp - IMAA 5408
Canton, MI 48187
imaa@flyingpilgrims.com

For more information, see the IMAA Web Site.

The IMAA...What's it All About

Hello! Welcome to the IMAA. I know you’ve heard of us, and our "Big is Better" motto has been around for 25+ years. What exactly is our organization about these days? Well, let’s start with the basic premise of why the IMAA exists. The IMAA is nothing more than a "club" of folks interested in the building and flying of Giant Scale (GS) model airplanes. Anybody who has an interest is welcome! Most of us are average builders and flyers just like you. Our sanctioned Fly Ins are fun, casual affairs strictly for fun, no competitive stress. Planes vary from Cubs, to Warbirds, to Scale... and the latest high performance 3D aircraft. The IMAA is also the largest Special Interest Group (SIG) within the AMA with an IMAA membership of "around" 8,000.

The IMAA organization is a venue for: information sharing, making friends, GS aircraft set up, safety guidelines for GS, GS building techniques and latest equipment, and last but not least, dedicated Fly Ins for Giant Scale aircraft. We also publish a quarterly magazine called High Flight. This magazine is 100% dedicated to Giant Scale and is included with IMAA membership. All of the articles, advertising, Chapter Reports (Fly Ins), and event schedules are totally about Big Birds and the people who fly them. Most chapter reports feature 10 to 20 pictures of members and their airplanes, generally with a brief equipment summary of the plane shown. (I really enjoy looking at the large variety of aircraft our members build and fly!) Each edition of High Flightis about 128 pages long.

Here’s some background ( history) of the IMAA: The International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA) was "founded" at the Toledo Weak Signals conference in 1980. At that time, Giant Scale R/C models were in their infancy... just becoming popular. No one knew much about the big birds (a ¼ scale cub was "giant" back then)... how to build them or how to equip them. Heavy duty hardware and equipment for Giant Scale was not yet available. We made it ourselves, or learned how to from somebody who had already done it. A small group of dedicated giant scale modelers came together to form an organization that could represent large scale issues to the AMA. This became the IMAA. Also this provided a structured organization for sharing information about newly created technologies so all pilots could benefit from each others experiences. (Remember, back then, a 35 cc gasoline engine was "HUGE" and high output servos were basically non-existent)

In 1980, there was a lot of misinformation about Giant Scale. Many modelers were finding that the building techniques and materials that worked fine for .60 size models, just wouldn’t stand up to the rigors of the larger gas powered engines and airplanes that were just becoming available.

In the 25+ years since, the IMAA organization has affiliate chapters all across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and even parts of Europe. Throughout the IMAA membership, individual Chapters have been formed.. These are usually exist as a branch within a local AMA host club. All AMA rules apply to IMAA aircraft, just like any other model airplane activities. These chapters put on a variety of Fly Ins and get togethers. Some of these with as few a half a dozen flyers, and others with several hundred (i.e. The Joe Nall). Each year, with a lot of help from a local chapter or two, the IMAA puts on the annual "Rally of the Giants." This is a national level event for IMAA members to come share their aircraft with many others. This is a really large and fun event! Hundreds of planes of all types and sizes. You see the cutting edge of Giant Scale aircraft at this event, vendors galore, and a huge feast is always part of the event.

The IMAA is "managed" by 12 volunteer District Directors who make all the policies related to the IMAA (the District structure follows the AMA). These directors are guided by a President and Vice President. Probably the most important, and toughest job in the IMAA is the Secretary/Treasurer. This guy is the backbone of the organization! The IMAA website (fly-imaa.org) and High Flight magazine are managed by competent, contracted personnel, who build and fly Giant Scale models themselves.

One of the strongest IMAA assets are it’s members who take the time and effort to organize a fly in. This becomes an open invitation for members to come visit in a safe and known environment. I am always amazed at the turnouts at these events. Geez... a full day of flying Giant Scale with other pilots who enjoy large scale aircraft. I love watching all kinds of big planes fly, It just doesn't get any better than this! Our true roots lie in these events... fun and flying with friends, some old, some new... These are truly enjoyable days!

On a personal note, the most enjoyment I have gained from being an IMAA member is meeting the fellow pilots. I have literally made friends from all over the country by attending various IMAA Fly Ins. I love to go somewhere new to fly and see new/different planes. I also like meeting and talking with the pilots of said aircraft. Funny, I might forget your name, but I’ll remember your plane next year and know we've met before!

So, what does it take to become part of the fun? just twenty dollars and a current AMA membership. You will receive four issues of the High Flight magazine, and will be welcomed at any IMAA event. You do not have to fly a Giant Scale plane to belong to the IMAA. However, since we are all about "Big," to fly at an IMAA event, you must fly an IMAA legal aircraft. This is any monoplane that is at least 80 inches in wingspan, or any biplane that is at least 60 inches in span. Any Scale aircraft that is at least ¼ scale or larger and jets of a combined fuse / wingspan length of a minimum of 140 inches are also welcome. All kinds of planes are welcome, ARFs, fun fly, or true scale and a scratch built masterpiece. (Actually, there are a lot of scratch and kit builders in the IMAA. This almost ensures you are bound to see some unique aircraft at our events.)

Please consider this your "engraved invitation" to come and enjoy the fun and fellowship that the IMAA has become famous for. The IMAA would love to welcome you to our flying events and the world of Giant Scale. We want to share what has been learned, and see what kind of plane you fly. We will actively represent your GS concerns to the AMA, and you will become a member of the largest SIG in the AMA. Most important though is the fun! As we’ve said for 25+ years: "Bigger is Better"

Created on 12/31/2007 07:30 AM by flying11
Updated on 12/31/2007 07:35 AM by flying11

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