Competition Newsletter
FAI-Approved World Championships 1986
- Scale RC/CL — Norway, July 14–20
- Control Line F2A, B, C, D — Hungary, July 30–August 4
- Indoor F1D — England, August 22–26
- Electric F3E — Belgium, August 22–30
FAI Approves International Contests 1986
The full list of International contests approved by FAI for 1986 is available from AMA HQ. Of particular interest: an Open International F3B RC soaring contest will be held in Israel, August 17–24. Entry fee, food and lodging: $350. Details are available from AMA HQ. That contest will be held only if a sufficient number of contestants express interest; notify AMA HQ before the end of January 1986 if you would like to attend.
Electric World Champs Coming to US
AMA has submitted a proposal to FAI to hold the 1988 Electric World Championships in St. Louis, MO. The successful bidder (if the U.S. is selected) will be announced sometime in 1987.
AMA Organizes to Meet the Challenge of Reducing Model Noise
Just before going to press, AMA President John C. Grigg indicated that the committee designated to address concerns about model sound (the "Noise Committee") has undergone changes in membership. The committee chairman, Ed Izzo, has been replaced by Howard Crispin, AMA District IV Vice President. Crispin reports you will soon be seeing regular articles in this magazine from the "Sound" Committee.
Other committee members include:
- Pete Waters (District VII VP)
- Dave Peltz (District X VP)
- Ed McCullough (District XI VP)
Vince Mankowski, AMA HQ staffer and Nats Manager, will serve as the AMA HQ liaison and will work with Howard at the Nats level this year to gather data that may be used to develop standards and guidelines applicable to competition and to the average club field. Let's all pitch in and help them... quietly!
1986 Electroflight World Champs News
The FAI has confirmed that the forthcoming Electric World Championships will be for class F3E (Soaring) only. Open International competitions will be held at the same time for Electric Aerobatics and Pylon Racing. For Pylon Racing, maximum battery power is limited to seven cells with a maximum rating of 1.2 Ah.
The difference between the World Championships and the Open International contests is that an International meet places no limitation on how many entries a nation may have, whereas the World Championships are limited to a single three‑member team from each nation.
A Note From the Technical Director
Bob Underwood
One of the interesting aspects of the Technical Director's position is that the tasks require working with virtually every department at AMA HQ. Many questions or problems fall outside the strict confines of the Competition Department and require interpretation, information, or coordination to solve. One such area has been characteristically referred to as "noise" — personally, I wish we would rename it "sound."
Let's Discuss Sound
The sound problem is largely connected with acquiring and keeping flying sites. There have also been inquiries about techniques used by the FAI to monitor sound. At international RC aerobatic contests (FAI), sound testing for each model is required. Such testing has been done in the United States at the Nats for the RC aerobatics class covered by the FAI rules and at the FAI RC aerobatics team finals (Masters Tournament).
The testing process is relatively simple and the basic method is described on page 98 of the 1986–87 AMA Rule Book under the heading "General Characteristics of Radio Controlled Aerobatic Power Models." The method does not require complicated equipment; generally a tripod device is used to hold the sound meter to standardize readings between aircraft. Important caution: read the entire section in the Rule Book before proceeding. In practice, the third paragraph (beginning with "Note") describes the first step; the testing described in the second paragraph is only performed if the model fails the third‑paragraph testing.
Clubs can use the same basic technique to assess the relative sound level of any type of model. Although there are few standardized comparisons for locally obtained tests, clubs can develop their own standards.
A more pressing concern than a sound level measured one meter (39 in.) from a model is the sound level that escapes from the field. The DCRC club in the Washington, D.C. area (Montgomery County, MD) has been required to address this issue. The county has informed them that sound at the neighbor's property line may not exceed 55 dB.
Under club president Chuck Achern, DCRC has done extensive research to maintain sound under this limit using the FAI technique and extensive neighborhood measurements. Their work has shown that sound is a function of many elements — not only quantity but also quality of sound. The use of some very expensive, loaned equipment has helped them develop guidelines.
Research to date suggests that, in addition to the exhaust pressure note, we must be concerned with the frequency of that note and, in particular, prop‑tip speed. Work in this area was reported by chairman Ed Izzo in the July 1983 issue of Model Aviation (page 118), with graphs presenting the data. Additional information will be forthcoming from the Sound Committee.
Many modelers who have used four‑stroke engines attest to a more pleasant "whirr" produced by lower RPM, which helps reduce the problem.
New AMA Technical Award
Nomination forms are ready for the new Technical Award. The Council of Past Vice Presidents, a newly formed group chaired by Chuck Foreman, will review applications and make award recommendations. The award is designed to recognize technical achievement in the modeling field.
ModelNet Update
AMA's computer network, ModelNet, is growing rapidly. With over 900 people now online, the computer conference system is lively and informative.
ModelNet runs on CompuServe. To use ModelNet you need a personal computer, a modem, and a subscription to CompuServe. Dial CompuServe's phone number, connect your computer, and type GO MODELNET to enter AMA's area of CompuServe. ModelNet will tell you if you have any messages waiting. You can read and respond to message boards covering all aspects of aeromodeling, plus model railroading and static models. There's also a Swap Shop for buying and selling.
ModelNet's Data Libraries contain hundreds of files: computer programs that calculate performance and plot airfoils, review articles and notes on engine runnings, trimming and modifying current planes, and complete lists of AMA‑chartered clubs to help you locate nearby flying fields.
ModelNet maintains a complete Contest Calendar in Data Library 1, updated at least twice a month from the AMA computer. Every Friday night, ModelNet hosts an online conference (the CO area) where the SysOp moderates and everyone speaks in turn; transcripts are stored in the Data Library.
Newsletter editors use ModelNet to share articles by uploading files to the Data Library; others download and print with acknowledgments to the original author — saving a lot of typing.
Several AMA officials are online on ModelNet. To contact them, address notes to their UserID numbers:
- John Grigg, AMA President: 765662375
- Pete Waters, District 7 VP: 70047,2462
- Dave Peltz, District 10 VP: 74674,104
- Doug Pratt, AMA Special Projects Director and ModelNet SysOp: 76703,3041
- Chip Smith, Assistant Editor of Model Aviation and Assistant SysOp of ModelNet: 70020,224
If you want to get on ModelNet but aren't sure how, call Doug Pratt at AMA HQ: (703) 435‑0750.
1986 NATS NOTES
1986 NATS Entry Forms Available!!!
Official entry forms for the 1986 National Model Airplane Championships are now available. To obtain one, send a stamped, self‑addressed No. 10 envelope to AMA HQ, attention: NATS.
Each contestant and each mechanic must submit a separate entry. Two forms will fit in a single No. 10 envelope. For requests of more than two forms, please include 10¢ per additional form to cover postage.
Entry forms will be sent automatically to contestants who participated in the 1984 and 1985 NATS (Reno and Chicopee). Forms will also be mailed to AMA clubs in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. AMA will begin mailing entry forms in mid‑January 1986.
Travel to Lake Charles
Most attendees will travel by car, but many will fly into Houston or New Orleans and drive to Lake Charles; there are also connecting flights to Lake Charles.
Dorms will again be available from AMA to contestants and mechanics entered in the NATS. Hotel and motel information for Lake Charles is available from:
Lake Charles Tourism & Conventions P.O. Box 1912 1211 North Lakeshore Drive Lake Charles, LA 70601 Telephone: (318) 436‑9588
Volunteers and officials are needed for the NATS. To sign up as a NATS volunteer or official, contact Lou Ward at AMA HQ; information will be sent to you promptly. Good help — lots of it — is the single most important ingredient to having a great NATS. If you have an event you wish to work, let Lou know and AMA will forward your name to the appropriate event director.
Erect‑A‑Thon: At this year's NATS, everyone is invited to bring a piece of their hobby (aircraft fragments) and glue it to what is expected to become the largest towering collection (pile?) monument to model aviation ever erected.
Next Month: The Official Schedule
NAME ________________________________________
ADDRESS _____________________________________
CITY ______________________ STATE _____ ZIP _______
Event ____________________ Administration __________ Manpower __________
Clip and send for NATS worker information
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS 1810 Samuel Morse Drive Reston, VA 22090
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
