COMPETITION NEWSLETTER
Academy of Model Aeronautics — 1810 Samuel Morse Drive, Reston, VA 22090
FAI'S CIAM TO CONSIDER NEW RULES CHANGES IN APRIL
The agenda for the next CIAM meeting in Paris includes many proposed rules changes, ranging from clarifications to major revisions and the addition of new events. The items below summarize the proposals likely to have the largest impact on prospective FAI contestants. (Some lengthy proposals are listed only in outline form.)
- Builder-of-the-model rule: Proposal to eliminate the rule, either in all classes (including Scale) or in all classes except Scale, on grounds that it cannot be enforced.
- Free Flight World Championships / International Contests: Change contest format to three rounds per day for three days, with flyoffs on the fourth day.
- CL Aerobatics: Require safety thong on handle (attach to wrist); allow all Finals competitors three flights instead of two, with one designated as a "throwaway" flight.
- CL Team Race: Require safety thong on handle (attach to wrist); increase number of contestants in the Semi-Finals from nine to 15.
- CL Combat:
- Require mufflers on engines.
- Require safety thong on handle.
- Allow contestants to share use of engines.
- Restrict model fuel systems (suction feed).
- Impose model restrictions: minimum weight less fuel 450 g (15.9 oz); maximum wingspan 1.0 m (39.37 in); maximum root chord 400 mm (15.75 in) — "root" defined as distance from the forward part of the wing leading edge to a line drawn through the elevator pivot points.
- Minimum propeller diameter 198 mm (7.8 in).
- Change streamer specifications to allow use of locally available material.
- Define the offense "Leaving the centre circle" as placing one foot completely outside the marked circle.
- RC Aerobatics: Require safety thong on handle (attach to wrist); allow all Finals competitors three flights instead of two; permit a "throwaway" flight.
- RC Pylon Racing: Allow three models per contestant; make the caller a mandatory part of the team; define standard fuel as using castor oil for lubricant.
- RC Soaring: Prohibit ballast; delete "weak link" in towline requirement; add electric winch specifications; reduce the Speed task to two laps (as a safety measure) to eliminate turnarounds at Base A.
- RC Helicopter:
- In the section dealing with prefabrication of the model, delete the existing "not permitted" clause.
- Redefine general characteristics affecting rotor blades to allow weighted blades.
- Redefine helper duties.
- Allow two models per contestant.
- Fine-tune maneuver descriptions.
- RC Electroflight: Restrict power to 12 volts (10 Ni-Cd cells in series or 20 cells in a series-parallel combination).
- Scale:
- Place a "cap" on the complexity bonus at either 15% or 20%.
- Delete wing configuration bonuses.
- Limit multi-engine bonus to 10% for two or more engines.
- CL Scale:
- Delete maximum surface area limitation of 150 dm^2.
- Require safety thong on handle.
- Redefine "Optional Demonstrations" to permit contestants to show options appropriate to the class of model being flown rather than to a specific prototype.
- RC Scale:
- Redefine "Optional Demonstrations" and fine-tune maneuver descriptions.
- Discuss addition of a provisional Giant Scale class.
More information and full reports on these items will be published after the April CIAM meeting in Paris, likely in the August or September issue.
3.7 Cu. In. ENGINES ARE LEGAL IN GIANT SCALE
By ballot in February 1986, the Scale Contest Board agreed that engines of 3.7 cu. in. displacement are allowed in Giant Scale competition. This is the maximum allowable displacement for single-engine, two-stroke powered models.
1986–87 RC AEROBATICS TEAM SELECTION PROGRAM
Selection of the three-member U.S. RC Aerobatics (F3A) team for the 1987 World Championships is underway. The program is basically the same as used for the previous team: local qualification followed by a single, one-site team selection contest.
A NOTE FROM THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
A lost event. Indoor almost suffered the loss of a family member when ROG Stick was accidentally omitted. While preparing the new event designation list (found on the inside cover of the 1986–87 rule book), ROG Stick was not included. Fortunately, before it could slip away completely, the oversight was called to my attention and we were able to add it as event No. 214 in the Indoor list. To the friends and relatives of the ROG Stick, please accept my apology for this error. I did suggest to several people that I may have created a "first." Certain fly-aways must be rare in Indoor—and then to consider a whole event flying away!
Giant Scale. A sudden flurry of phone calls besieged this office regarding maximum engine displacement in Giant Scale. The small dot next to item 2.1 on page 81 of the new rule book caused someone to recheck the rule. The actual change concerned allowable displacement for four-stroke engines; unfortunately, some assumed a change had been made to the maximum for two-stroke engines listed as 3.7 cu. in. The phrase "... but less than 3.7 cu. in." is used in the rule book, and it was feared that a 3.7 cu. in. engine might not be legal.
Immediate action was taken to clarify this section. The Scale Contest Board voted by ballot that the interpretation is — and always has been — to include 3.7 cu. in. as "legal." The rule book glossary uses terms such as "not more than" and "no greater than" to indicate that the upper limit listed is included. Scale Contest Board Chairman Dave Platt has indicated action will be taken during the current rule-change cycle to revise any ambiguous wording. In the meantime, if you operate a 3.7 cu. in. engine you may wish to copy this notice to carry to competitions during 1986–87 to ensure contest directors are aware of the interpretation. The Scale Contest Board's vote on this interpretation was 10 Yes, 1 No.
Technical Award. The forms used for nominating individuals for the new AMA Technical Award are available from the AMA office.
Bob Underwood
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
