“3D Maxi” is not the name of an official category. In competition, 3D is flown in Freestyle, while large (“maxi”) models are used in IMAC, F3A Maxi and F3M.
Freestyle
This is 3D in competition: a free 4-minute routine to music, judged like a show. It includes the 3D manoeuvres (hover, torque roll, harrier, waterfall) and classic aerobatics.
IMAC
Aerobatics for “maxi” models: replicas of real aerobatic aircraft (Extra, Edge, Yak, Sbach…) flying sequences in Aresti notation, a Known published in advance and an Unknown handed out at the contest.
F3A Maxi
A schedule of 17 classic manoeuvres (Immelmann, Cuban eight, stall turn, spin…) flown with large models. It's the schedule you'll find drawn below.
F3M
The FAI international category for aerobatics with large models, with sequences in Aresti notation. The Aero Club d'Italia describes it as “reserved for Maxi models”.
F3A
The “Formula 1” of aerobatics: precise manoeuvres in front of the judges, inside a box of 60° to the right and to the left. 2026-2027 schedules: P-27 (preliminary), F-27 (final), A-27 (Advanced).
F3P
Aerobatics indoors, in a sports hall, with FAI sequences in Aresti notation. The F3P-AFM variant is freestyle to music, also indoors.
8–15 August 2026, Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges (France)
Source: FAI ↗ (opens in a new window)
Palermo, Rome, Eurocup at Premariacco (UD), Grecciano
The full rankings of the other classes have not been published yet.
Latest full rankings published
After 3 contests: Ceriano Laghetto, Ghisalba, Oggiono
The Esordienti (beginners), Sportsman, IMAC Advanced and F3A Maxi classes close with the last contest at Casaleggio.
11Oct
Sunday, 11 October 2026 · Casaleggio Novara (NO)
Classes: Esordienti (beginners, IMAC Basic), Sportsman, IMAC Advanced, F3A Maxi
The 2027 calendars of the Cisalpino, IMAC Italia and FAI are not out yet: we'll add them as soon as they are published.
On 10 May 2026 the Campionato Cisalpino held a round with us, at the Cossato field.
The manoeuvres you see in freestyle routines and at the field, when the model hangs on the prop or flies stalled.
The model stays still, nose up, hanging on the prop: you hold it there with the throttle and small rudder and elevator inputs.
In a hover the model spins around its own axis, driven by the motor's torque, while it stays still or climbs slowly.
Slow, nose-high, almost stalled flight: the model moves forward slowly, held up by the motor, with the ailerons working to keep the wings level.
A harrier in which the model rolls continuously: elevator and rudder swap roles as it turns.
The model flips its nose forward several times in a row, rotating around the wing axis, barely moving forward.
The model flies with its wings vertical: the fuselage holds it up, with the rudder fully to one side.
A spin with the fuselage almost horizontal: the model turns flat and comes down slowly.
A rolling dive and, halfway down, the model suddenly “sits” into a flat spin that brakes it.
The 17 manoeuvres of the Campionato Cisalpino F3A Maxi schedule, in contest order. Between take-off and landing, each manoeuvre starts and ends in level flight.
How to read the diagrams: the dot is the entry, the short bar the exit; the cross marks are rolls, with their fraction; the solid triangle is the snap.
1K 3 · centre manoeuvre
Half loop up and half roll; level line; negative half loop and half roll. The two loops have the same diameter as the length of the middle line.
2K 2 · turnaround manoeuvre
45° climb with two hesitation quarter rolls in the middle, then a 5/8 loop back to level flight in the opposite direction.
3K 3 · centre manoeuvre
5/8 loop, 45° down line with a half roll in the middle, 3/4 loop, another 45° down line with a half roll, level exit.
4K 2 · turnaround manoeuvre
Quarter loop into a vertical climb with a half roll in the middle; at the top the model pivots in place and comes down vertically, with another half roll, then a level exit.
5K 3 · centre manoeuvre
Two consecutive loops of the same diameter, one on top of the other, with level entry and exit.
6K 2 · turnaround manoeuvre
Quarter loop into a vertical climb, half roll in the middle, half loop (positive or negative) into a vertical down line, quarter loop and level exit.
7K 1 · centre manoeuvre
Half roll, short inverted line, half roll at the same distance from the centre.
8K 2 · turnaround manoeuvre
Half loop up and, at the top, a half roll back to upright flight in the opposite direction.
9K 3 · centre manoeuvre
Two square loops side by side, entered from the top.
10K 2 · turnaround manoeuvre
Half roll and half loop downwards, back to level flight lower down and in the opposite direction.
11K 3 · centre manoeuvre
Three full rotations around the longitudinal axis at a constant rate, in about 4 seconds.
12K 2 · turnaround manoeuvre
5/8 loop into the 45° down line; two hesitation quarter rolls in the middle of the line; level exit.
13K 1 · centre manoeuvre
A full loop with a snap roll, positive or negative, at the top.
14K 2 · turnaround manoeuvre
Vertical climb with a roll, level line at the top, vertical down line with a half roll, level exit on the opposite side from the entry.
15K 3 · centre manoeuvre
One slow full rotation around the longitudinal axis, in about 4 seconds, holding altitude.
16K 2 · turnaround manoeuvre
Quarter loop into a vertical climb, half roll in the middle, negative quarter loop and exit at the top in level flight.
17K 1 · centre manoeuvre
At the centre the model slows down, stalls and does three turns of spin; it exits with a quarter loop into level flight, lower down.
Simplified diagrams drawn by us: in competition, the official Aresti diagrams below apply.
