Competition Newsletter
Academy of Model Aeronautics, 1810 Samuel Morse Drive, Reston, VA 22090
Competition Newsletter edited by Ross B. McMullen, AMA
A Note From the Technical Director
Bob Underwood
This month's column was born of a seldom-experienced problem — too much material. The source of the problem was the marvelous keyboarded instrument, the computer. After feeding it a quantity of information, its chip brain spewed forth all sorts of interesting stuff. Before I regale you with that material, let's first explain what we put into the computer.
Toward the end of September all of the sanctioned event reports returned to Headquarters. Reports by the Contest Directors were pulled from the files. One person (in this case, yours truly) reviewed them and made copies of all those that represented meets which ran rule-book events only. Actually, the copies were of the registration forms where the participants' names and AMA numbers should be found. We made certain that only one person separated the forms to try to retain some consistency relative to determining whether the events represented were rule-book type or not.
Once the event reports were separated and copied, the AMA numbers found in the reports were fed into the computer. Each set of AMA numbers was accompanied by a two-letter code indicating the type of competition the member had engaged in. For instance, Free Flight was coded FF, Control Line CL, and so on. Some of the codes we used are a tad oblique, since we had to steer clear of items already in the computer indicated by certain letters.
If a person entered more than one sanctioned rule-book event of a particular type for the year, he showed up only once under that type. If he flew in two or more types of events for the year (in both CL and FF, for example), his AMA number appeared in the listing for each one of the types. For example: if you flew in Free Flight and Indoor, your AMA number would appear under both FF and IN.
So far it sounds great, doesn't it? However, the phrase "garbage in — garbage out" now plays a part. Please understand that the following comments are meant to be informative, not as a slam toward any of the Contest Directors, but in some cases what we had to work with on the reports made the task of recording accurate AMA numbers not just difficult but at times impossible. The material was simply not readable. It must be stated that in most cases this problem was not the result of poor penmanship by the CD, but rather the result of the participant who scratched his name and AMA number in a hurry during the registration process. We did the best we could to figure out what the numbers were, but . . .
The computer base we have established has another form of garbage built into it that couldn't be avoided. At this point the only form we could work from was the general registration form returned with the sanction report. If a contest contained both rule-book and non-rule-book events there was no way to separate the AMA numbers of persons that flew the rule-book events from those that flew non-rule-book events. When the report was pulled out of the files to copy, the judgment was to err on the side of including more rather than less. Therefore, if the event included even just one little, lone rule-book event, it was included. Also, if the event was kind of rule-book but was mostly local rules, it still was included. The same goes for record trials and team trials.
In other words there will be persons who may have never flown an AMA rule-book event who will show up in the competitor lists under a rule-book designation. This problem results in the numbers for some designations being artificially high.
Without question the designation that created the most inaccurate numbers due to these concerns was Free Flight. Most Free Flight contests, while they may have three or four rule-book events, will also contain a half dozen non-rule-book items (SAM, FAI, home brew, etc.).
The opposite problem surfaces with several other designations. Scale, Electric, and Special Events will reflect lower than expected numbers because they are very often held as only part of a contest. In RC you may find a Pattern (Aerobatics) and Scale combination. In Indoor, Scale will be two events out of the six or eight held at the contest. With our present forms there was no way to separate these from the total entry for the contest.
So much for the prologue. On to the numbers and then a few observations and generalizations. Remember that these figures are for rule-book events only! They also only reflect the results obtained from processing sanction reports received for events held between January 1, 1989 and October 6, 1989. A year-end report will be prepared.
Number of Persons by Age Classification
- Open: 6,966
- Senior Citizen: 514
- Senior: 291
- Junior: 276
- Total: 8,047
Number of Persons by AMA District
- I: 367
- II: 537
- III: 590
- IV: 480
- V: 829
- VI: 736
- VII: 640
- VIII: 838
- IX: 399
- X: 1,868
- XI: 602
- 00 (Foreign): 128
- Total: 8,059
Number of Persons by Event Designations
- Free Flight (FF): 1,503
- Indoor (IN): 450
- Control Line (CL): 888
- RC Aerobatics (RA): 1,891
- RC Pylon (RP): 986
- RC Helicopter (RH): 255
- RC Soaring (RS): 1,988
- Scale (SA): 699
- Electric (EL): 77
- Special Events (SP): 26
- Total: 8,763
Number Flying More Than One Designation
- Two designations: 644
- Three designations: 55
- Four designations: 5
- More than four designations: 0
If you are the type of person who is into making certain that your checkbook balances, you will discover that some of the above listings appear not to reconcile as far as the totals are concerned. The actual total of persons who competed, up to October 6, is 8,059.
The difference of 12 that can be noted between the list by districts and the list by age results from a computer classification used to store Booster and nonmember information. Actually, the discovery of that information was most interesting: when we ran a check on those persons we discovered that in 1989 we had one person who holds a Rocketry license and 11 who are listed as Boosters (a nonmember classification that allows a person to hold his AMA number for a $5-per-year fee) who flew in sanctioned events.
While the Rocketry classification carries some degree of insurance coverage, it does not allow entry into, or insurance coverage for, flying model airplanes in sanctioned events. The Booster classification carries no insurance coverage (or, for that matter, any other member benefits). The person who flew, the CD who allowed him to fly, and the club that sponsored the event all placed themselves in a position of jeopardy regarding insurance coverage.
Since the Booster card issued contains the words "No Insurance," it seems logical to assume that several CDs did not check membership cards at the time these individuals entered the contests. Even if they were not aware of the Booster classification, one would think that if they saw a card that said "No Insurance" they would question entry by that person. The information indicating the insurance status is printed in the lower right-hand corner of the card. A person holding that card should not be allowed to enter a sanctioned event or fly at a club field. It is our strong recommendation that CDs perform — or have a knowledgeable person perform — this task.
It is possible to reconcile the number of persons shown for event classification by adding the number of persons by districts to the number that entered more than one designation. (Example: if you flew both Free Flight and Indoor, you would show up as part of the 644 and the 8,763 totals.)
There are many other combinations of data that can be extracted from the listing. Certainly you understand that a zillion inferences and generalizations can be arrived at as a result of the data. I can only hope that you know that developing postulations in this manner can sometimes be dangerous or misleading.
Has the exercise I've described simply been one that occupies time and computer space? Not necessarily. AMA is going to be using the information in a number of ways that will help us not only streamline how we handle mailing and communicating, but in policing various activities. For instance:
- The Competition Regulations (rule book) will be distributed to individuals based on their participation in a rule-book event for 1989. Granted, the listing will be somewhat inaccurate due to the report problems mentioned earlier. I hope that the CD for your event sent his report to us! Incidentally, if you would like additional copies of the rule book or you are someone who did not fly in a rule-book event last year, the new 1990–91 book is available for a postage and handling fee of $2.
- We now have a means of contacting rule-book fliers for special needs such as rule interpretations or other mailings.
- With the new report forms that are being designed, we will be able to track the numbers of individuals that fly in specific events. This will tell us what events are not being flown.
- Rather than addressing the numbers of persons involved in competition by the "speculate" method we've been forced to use for years, even though there is a degree of inaccuracy due to the forms returned by CDs, at this point we now have some hard information. Those of us involved in rule making and sanctioning have heard or read some fairly interesting numbers based on activity in certain events. The numbers we have now accumulated actually support some of these guesstimates while suggesting others were a tad off.
And now: some other related facts, observations and generalizations for 1989 (at least up to October 1):
- There were 1,218 CDs who were credited with sanctioning an event (includes primary CD and any assistants involved for larger events — does not include credit for events between October 1 and December 31).
- Sanctions in the number of 2,295 were issued. By count, more than 50% of these were non-rule-book events. It's difficult to tell what the event really was at times due to the CD's description. I never did figure out even what category the event listed as "1-2-3" actually was! Over 50% of the non-rule-book sanctions were for nonflying events (these included such diverse events as fish fries, picnics, club meetings, mall shows, seminars, etc.).
- The membership system currently lists 4,414 CDs. Combine that with number one above and you discover that 3,196 CDs were inactive in that capacity during 1989! (Remember that this report is being done in October.)
Some final thoughts. Using the numbers above and combining them with some observed items I noted as I was reviewing the reports, the following generalizations come to mind:
- The average CD sanctions two-plus events each year.
- The average number of contestants in a rule-book contest is 30. Using that figure, combined with 8,059 persons competing and 609 events, the average contestant attended three contests in 1989.
While participation in rule-book and general sanctioned event activity appears to involve a very small percentage of the membership (roughly 5.5% per rule book or 12% overall), one important factor — which cannot be proved in numbers — must be kept in mind. In any activity where competition is involved, the number of individuals actually participating in the role of competitor is always quite small compared to the numbers that participate by organizing, running, or attending the event.
Only 33 people climb into the cars at Indianapolis on Memorial Day, but thousands upon thousands make the event happen, and millions more participate vicariously.
On a smaller scale, the same thing happens with our activities. No one stands with a gun at their heads and forces club members to work at or attend a rule-book contest — fun, for flyers, is in it. Large numbers do so because they enjoy it. More often than not there are side benefits in the form of income, notoriety, and publicity for the club and its individual members.
Additionally, as much as some persons are loath to admit it, competitive activity, whether it be rule book or fun fly, results in improvement in equipment. One of the areas of modeling where this is most evident is with powerplants. Another is the constantly improving breed of Scale models. And yet another is certain types of support equipment.
In conclusion, while a cursory glance at my data suggests that the numbers of members actually participating in contests or sanctioned events represent only a small percentage of the membership, the numbers are misleading. Those activities would be sorely missed if they disappeared. Obviously, the Academy must carefully monitor its activities in order to maintain a proper balance. Now we are beginning to develop the means to do just that!
Perpetual SAM Award
Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) trustee perpetual award donated by Philip Lehmberg in 1981. The award is known as the Feather Merchant Award and is given annually to the SAM Championships winner of either SAM Fuel Allotment (Antique Free Flight, rule Texaco) or RC Assist rule events. Modelers eligible for the award must be members in good standing of both SAM and the AMA. The basic purpose of the award is to provide competition between FF and RC model aircraft powered by original ignition gasoline engines running a gasoline/oil mixture fuel. However, provision is made in the Deed of Gift for the advent of possible future changes in competition rules. Interested modelers should note the award is entirely under the jurisdiction of the Society of Antique Modelers, Academy of Model Aeronautics. The Feather Merchant Award was first won in 1981 by Ross Thomas, Santa Ana, CA.
National Records
The following new National Records have been processed during the month October 1989:
- Indoor — Category: Novice Pennyplane, Open 9:17, Jim Clem, 9/22/89
- Indoor — Category III Manhattan Cabin, Open 10:56, Larry Loucka, 10/6/89
- Control Line — FAI Speed, Open 184.33 mph, Carl Dodge, 9/30/89
- Control Line — Formula 40, Open 168.47 mph, Bill Rick Wisniewski, 10/14/89
- Free Flight — Category II Gas, Open 5:34.5, Kenneth E. Oliver, 9/23/89
1990 AMA Nats
- Indoor FF Nats — June, Johnson City, TN
- RC/CL Nats — July
- Outdoor EF Championships — dates/locations to be announced
FAI Competitor Requirements
- In order to represent the USA in World Championships or FAI competition, an individual must meet the criteria set forth in the FAI Sporting Code, Section 3, General Section, "Right to represent a country in international sporting events," specifically:
- 314.11 A national of a country may represent that country in international sporting events.
- 314.12 A national of a country who has been resident in another country for at least three consecutive years may represent the country of residence. However, if he has represented another country, he may represent the country of residence only after at least three years have elapsed since he last represented the other country.
- 314.13 A person without nationality may represent a country provided he has resided in that country for one year. Thereafter, a person may represent another country unless he can prove he has officially applied for nationality.
Indoor Contest Board
Board member Clarence Mather wants to bring the following information to the attention of FF indoor contestants: national record indoor record applications must include a model three-view drawing. When a drawing is received at AMA HQ, copies are made and sent to the responsible checker to verify that the model conforms to the event specifications. Therefore, a model's dimensions, materials, structures, weights, etc., as listed in the rules, must be included.
Some record application materials have a complete, lucid drawing; however, a large percentage have omissions, errors or unclear drawings. In order to expedite record processing and avoid disapproving the application and returning it to AMA HQ, the modeler must supply the necessary data. A model three-view does not have to be a work of art nor does it have to be to scale. However, the purpose of such a drawing is that an observer can obtain a good idea of the model's general arrangement, proportions, shape and dimensions. Using a straightedge so straight lines are represented helps clarity. Dimensional lines need to be carefully drawn so there is no doubt what is being measured.
Attention Indoor FF Record Applicants
See above regarding required three-view drawings and complete model data.
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Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
