Competition Newsletter

Competition Newsletter

A Note From the Technical Director

Bob Underwood

July has passed into the past! It felt like I was living the production of a poorly made movie called "The Attack of the Killer Motels!" or a sequel, "The Suitcase That Never Ends." The Underwood van departed the Washington area on July 11 and once again breathed the rarefied air of D.C. on August 3. In between were the Nats, the EAA event at Oshkosh, and 3,770 miles on the van. It was good.

I hesitate to suggest that it was hard work. Those of us with an aviation orientation might question such a remark. After all, being associated with hundreds of friendly modelers, competing and then being surrounded by a zillion full-scale aircraft — from Cubs to stealth fighters — does provide an airplane "fix" of the first order.

An interesting incident or two occurred that should be noted. One evening at the Nats, just prior to flying Quickie 500, Bob Brown, District III VP, was programming one of our brand-new hand-held scanners in his hotel room. Lo and behold, a steady signal on channel 40 excited the little gadget for well over an hour. On another evening, a trip to the ice cream place across the street from the Holiday Inn produced the same steady signal — it became the evening entertainment. Kinda like the really old days when everyone sat around and watched the little round-glass Bendix washing machine!

Acting on a hunch, I brought out the little RC Channel Analyzer I reported on in this column two months ago. Using it as a field-strength device with the antenna held horizontal, three of us — Bob Brown, former AMA President John Grigg, and I — started roaming around the area. We finally narrowed the search to a four-room suite and began knocking on doors.

The first room was that of Bill Baker, the AMA Assistant Marketing Director. He did not have a channel 40 radio turned on. When we knocked on the next door, however, we found a modeler with a gaggle of Q-500 models scattered about the room. The occupant was understandably shocked to see three strangers with an electronic whatever at his door. When asked if he had any channel 40 radios and whether any were turned on, he walked to a table, looked down, looked back puzzled, and turned off a channel 40 radio. We suggested his brother was watching; we assume he charged that radio before he flew the next day. Score one for Dr. Hauser's little gadget!

I am certain you can envision a variety of situations that might further extend the value of the RC Channel Analyzer. Paired with the hand-held scanner we realized we had given "eyes" to the "ears." Dr. Hauser is refining the device and is also investigating production and marketing aspects.

You will find individual reports of the various events elsewhere in the magazine. There were a few site problems that had to be overcome and a few glitches in meeting schedules and places. Chip Smith, leader of the pack, kept things in hand quite nicely. This is not an easy task, especially when you consider it was his first shot at the job and he inherited it midstream.

The EAA event at Oshkosh was grand in every respect. The AMA display was moved from the Fly Market to the regular aircraft display area, which suited us much better. We tried a different approach to the booth this year by displaying more model items and having small "how-to" projects that could be demonstrated to interested parties — and there were many! Bob and Dolly Wischer, my wife Rae, and daughter Anne are to be commended for their unflagging zeal in working the booth. The days are long, the weather often is a bear, and the pay is nonexistent. To stand for eight days, answer the same questions, and do the same demos attests to their dedication, endurance, and patience. A great big vote of thanks to the AMA's Oshkosh volunteer crew.

Once again we presented a seminar in the forum tents at Oshkosh. Some 120 persons attended at 8:30 on a Monday morning. Modelers, EAAers, and people interested in becoming modelers turned out in equal numbers. We talked about getting started in modeling and moved into the design/scratchbuild area. Bob Wischer provided the greatest laugh of the morning when I asked the audience for their definition of "scratch-building." Answers ranged from "using a lousy kit" to "drawing your own plans." As an aside I asked Bob for his definition; he responded tongue-in-cheek, "Grow your own balsa!"

We also spent an evening with the young people of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) who serve as volunteer policemen to guard the flight line. Many of them were modelers and we had a great sharing experience.

A few pieces of business for this month:

• Small Parts, Inc. sells a fine selection of screws, nuts, bolts, rack-and-pinion sets, metal strips, etc., including small sizes such as 000-120 and 0-80 Phillips. Contact: P.O. Box 381966, Miami, FL 33238-1966; tel. 1-305-751-0856.
• Industrial Arts Supply Co., 5724 W. 36th St., Minneapolis, MN (tel. 1-612-922-7393), carries mold and fiberglass materials that are difficult to find through normal model channels.
• Stock Drive Products, 2101 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park, NY 11040 (tel. 1-516-328-3300), has many kinds of gears, bearings, etc.; obtaining small quantities may be a problem.

See you next month!

National Records — Monthly Update

The following new National Records were processed during August 1990:

• Indoor — Category I, Easy B — Senior: 1220 — Andrew R. Tagliafico — 7/7/90
• Indoor — Category II, Easy B — Senior: 1421 — Andrew R. Tagliafico — 7/7/90
• Control Line — 21 Sport Speed — Open: 149.44 mph — Robert Yuarte, Joey Mathison — 7/17/90
• Rat Racing — Open: 437.35 / 210.92 — Howard Shahan — 7/20/90
• Slow Rat Racing — Open: 524.945 — Mike Greb — 7/19/90
• 1/2A Mouse Race — Junior: 608.49 — Bobby Fogg — 7/18/90
• 1/2A Mouse Race — Senior: 616.8 — Daniel Gallego — 7/18/90
• 1/2A Mouse Race — Open: 448.2236 — Victor L. Garner — 7/18/90
• Scale Racing — Junior: 1113.43 — Jason Kegel — 7/17/90
• Scale Racing — Senior: 948.525 — Charles D. Barnes — 7/17/90
• Scale Racing — Open: 5480.05 / 245.73 — Richard R. Lambert — 7/17/90
• F2C Team Race — Open: 1030.365 — Mike Greb — 7/18/90
• Outdoor Free Flight — F1G Coupe d'Hiver — Open: 2227 — Fred Pearce Jr. — 7/8/90
• Free Flight — Category III Gas — Junior: 933 — James E. Troutman — 7/8/90

World Championships Results

A telephone call from the president of the Austrian Aero Club to AMA Headquarters provided a bare outline of the F3E World Championships results.

Individual Placings:

• 1. Freudenthaler, Austria
• 2. Jason Perrin, USA
• 3. Weissgerber, FRG

Team Standings:

• 1. Austria
• 2. United States of America
• 3. Federal Republic of Germany

Complete reports will be printed in a forthcoming issue; official results are available from the appropriate sources.

1992-93 Rules Proposals List Begins

Information/synopsis of Competition Regulation rule proposals received at AMA Headquarters through July 1, 1990 and released for Contest Boards' consideration. A brief description of each proposal is included; modelers interested in studying a proposal in detail can request copies of the original from AMA Headquarters.

RC Racing

• RCR-92-1: 1/2A Pylon (Provisional), Event 423, para. 3.2.1 (p. 82). Delete the last sentence and replace with: "Straight exhaust extensions will be allowed." Submitted by John Hunton.
• RCR-92-2: Quickie 500, Event 428. Establish two classes, Expert and Standard. Advancement to higher class occurs when two heat times below 1:30 are recorded. Submitted by Mark Brown.
• RCR-92-3: Quickie 500, Event 428, para. 8 (p. 81). Require expansion-type, non-flow-through mufflers or one-piece muffled tuned pipes with header pipe; units must be commercially available, unmodified except for pressure fittings; muffled tuned pipes may be shortened at the inlet and headers may be shortened at the outlet for tuning. Submitted by Mark Brown.
• RCR-92-4: Quickie 500, Event 428, para. 10 (p. 82). Change to read: "Fuel containing 15% nitromethane, 20% Castor Oil, and the rest methanol shall be furnished by the contest organizers." Submitted by Bud Kilnoski.
• RCR-92-5: Quickie 500, Event 428, para. 10 (p. 82). Alternate change to read: "Fuel containing 15% nitromethane, 20% lubrication, and the rest methanol shall be furnished by the contest organizers." Submitted by Bud Kilnoski.

Control Line

• CL-92-1: Combat, Event 328, para. 12.i (p. 55). Move para. 12.i from the Definition heading and create 3.2 under Equipment (p. 52). Submitted by William Bischoff.
• CL-92-2: Endurance, Event 332, para. 6 (p. 56). Replace the second sentence with: "Fuel tank(s) must remain attached to the model throughout the entire flight." Submitted by William Bischoff.
• CL-92-3: Racing Unified Rules, Events 311–317, para. 4 (p. 34). Change to read: "...not less than 20% [text unclear] castor oil..." Submitted by George Lieb. (Note: original contains typographical errors.)
• CL-92-4: V/A Combat, Event 330, para. 4 (p. 24). Change first sentence to: "...except all Racing events, Precision Aerobatics, and V/A Combat." Submitted by Gary Frost.
• CL-92-6: V/A Combat, Event 330 (p. 56). Add new section: "4—Section 12.1 of the IL Combat rules concerning an engine restraining cable shall not apply in this event." Submitted by Gary Frost. (Relates to CL-92-1.)
• CL-92-7: Slow Combat, Event 329 (p. 55). Add new section: "2G—Section 12.i of the Control Line Combat rules concerning an engine restraining cable shall not apply in this event." Submitted by Gary Frost. (Relates to CL-92-1.)
• CL-92-8: Combat, Event 328, para. 12 (p. 55). Change to read: "...restraining cable, minimum .027 stranded wire." Submitted by Gary Frost.
• CL-92-9: Slow Combat, Event 329, para. 2d (p. 55). Delete. Submitted by Gary Frost.
• CL-92-10: Combat, Event 328, para. 11.2 (p. 55). Change last sentence to read: "Disqualification may result..." Add to 11.2.a: "Unless the model has been restrained by a safety thong." Submitted by Gary Frost.
• CL-92-11: Combat, Event 328. Add new paragraph: "3.2. Supporting test data is required for proposals changing present equipment." Submitted by Gary Frost.
• CL-92-12: Combat, Event 328 (p. 53–55). Add to 8.2.2: "This shall also apply when the second pilot has left the pilot's circle to land his aircraft in accordance with 8.2." Add to 8.2.3: "Combat shall cease when either pilot leaves the pilot's circle to land his aircraft and the engine quits." Add 11.1(g) (p. 55): "Attacking after combat has ceased." Submitted by William Bischoff.
• CL-92-13: Combat, Event 328, para. 8.3.1 (p. 54). Add: "Damaged stabilizers or elevators may be replaced, provided the attachment (hinging) method is at least as strong as the original installation." Submitted by William Bischoff.
• CL-92-14: Control Line General, para. 4 (p. 24). Delete all references to Precision Aerobatics as being exempt from safety thongs or safety requirements. Also delete last sentence of para. 3 (p. 41) regarding the safety thong. Submitted by William Bischoff.
• CL-92-15: Speed, chart (p. 28). Increase certain pull test requirements (values from/to): 1/2A Open 32/44; A Open 40/48; B Open 48/64; C Open 48/56; Jr./Sr. 48/52; Jet Open 48/56. Submitted by William Bischoff.
• CL-92-16: Racing Unified Rules, Events 311–317, para. 9.1–9.6 (p. 35). Delete sentence "The engine must be stopped..." and add new paragraph(s) regarding engine stop requirements for refueling with two choice options about how a fuel stop is considered complete. Present paragraphs 9.1–9.6 to be renumbered. Submitted by William Bischoff.
• CL-92-17: Slow Rat, Event 312, para. 22 (p. 37). Change to read: "Pressure fuel systems are allowed." Submitted by George Lieb.
• CL-92-18: Slow Combat, Event 329, para. 32 (p. 55). Change to read: "The aircraft shall have a profile fuselage. The aircraft must fly counterclockwise in upright flight." Submitted by Larry Driskill.
• CL-92-19: Combat/Slow Combat, Events 328, 329, para. 4 (p. 52). Change last sentence to specify string leader material and marking: "The string leader shall be 16 to 20 pounds test cotton, shall be marked with ink 120 inches from the knot, and shall extend beyond the ink mark 18 inches." Submitted by Larry Driskill.
• CL-92-20: Combat/Slow Combat/V/A Combat, Events 328–330, para. 5 (p. 53). Change para. 5.1 to read: "Each Combat circle shall be laid out using two concentric circles to provide a 30-foot radius pilot's circle and a 75-foot radius safety circle." Submitted by Larry Driskill.
• CL-92-21: Combat/Slow Combat/V/A Combat, Events 328–330, para. 7.1 (p. 53). Change to require a safety check during pull test prior to each match including inspection of lines, control mechanism, handle, and engine attachment; unsafe equipment shall not be allowed. Submitted by Larry Driskill.
• CL-92-22: Not associated with an active proposal.
• CL-92-23: Combat/Slow Combat/V/A Combat, Events 328–330, para. 11.1(d) (p. 54). Change to emphasize remaining in the pilot's circle except during takeoff and landing; running out of the circle to attack or evade will result in forfeiture. Submitted by Larry Driskill.
• CL-92-24: Combat/Slow Combat/V/A Combat, Events 328–330, para. 11.1(k) (p. 55). Change to address jerking the handle, stepping back, or separating from the other pilot during a tangle and require judges to remove pilots or equipment promptly during a tangle. Submitted by Larry Driskill.
• CL-92-25: Combat/Slow Combat/V/A Combat, Events 328–330, para. 11.2(b) (p. 55). Change to read: "Any of the specific rules violations listed in 11.1 and especially 11.1(k), and depending on the judgment of the Event Director." Submitted by Larry Driskill.
• CL-92-26: Precision Aerobatics, Events 322–326 (pp. 42–43). Retain sentences 1 and 2 of para. 7; delete remaining text so para. 7 reads: "Number of Flights. Contestants shall be allowed three attempts to make two official flights. Each attempt period shall be of three minutes' duration." Change para. 12 to read: "Official flight. The flight will become official when the aircraft becomes airborne." Submitted by James Renkar.

Electric

• Ele-92-1: Class A and B, Events 604 & 605 (p. 124). Remove events 604 and 605 from the Competition Regulations (Electric A and B events exist within Free Flight). Submitted by Robert Beecroft.
• Ele-92-2: Create a new event, Electric ROW Seaplane (Provisional). Basic rules included. Submitted by Mitchell Poling.
• Ele-92-3: Create a new event, Electric Six-Cell Sport Pylon Racing (Provisional). Basic rules included. Submitted by Mitchell Poling.
• Ele-92-4: Create a new event, Electric Indoor RC Duration (Provisional). Basic rules included. Submitted by Mitchell Poling.
• Ele-92-5: Electric Radio Control Sport Scale, Event 627. Delete item 4.20 (Event 627) from the Competition Regulations. Submitted by Don Lindley.

1992 FAI Indoor Team Selection Program

Schedule:

• 1990: Unlimited Local contests; one Regional contest in each zone; one At-Large Regional contest (combined USIC and Nats).
• 1991: Unlimited Local contests; one Regional contest in each zone; two At-Large Regional contests (USIC and Nats); single-site Finals (site to be chosen by Team Selection Committee).

Program entry:

• a. Current AMA license with $18 FAI stamp required.
• b. Enter by sending a $5 Local entry fee to AMA HQ c/o Michelle Madison, who will send a Local meet entry form (pre-paid).
• c. Program may be entered at any Local or Regional meet.
• d. No date restriction; the program can be accomplished entirely in 1991 if desired.
• Note: A prior finalist living more than 500 miles from a Regional may petition the Team Selection Committee to enter at the Finals (penalty fees apply).

ALL CONTESTS SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FAI SPORTING CODE AND THE AMA RULE BOOK, EXCEPT AS OUTLINED IN THIS DOCUMENT.

Model specifications:

• Wingspan: 20 in. minimum, 25.6 in. (65 cm) maximum.
• Weight without motor: 1 gram minimum, 2 grams maximum.
• No Pennyplanes, no Easy Bs.
• All models must be processed prior to official flights (weight and wingspan).

Local contests:

• a. At least 3 entrants required to hold a contest.
• b. No limit on number of Local contests entered.
• c. No qualification level needed to go on to a Regional contest.
• d. Scoring: Total of best 2 flights out of 6. Top score gets 10 points. Other scores receive a percentage based on contestant's 2-flight total divided by the winning 2-flight total. Only best Local score is counted.
• e. The present team (excluding the manager) may pass the Local contests and receive 10 points toward this program. The current World Champion, if participating in the program and competing in the World Championships as an individual, may also pass the Local contests and receive 10 points.
• f. Entry fees: $5 for Open members into each Local. Juniors and Seniors free entry.
• g. If a contestant flies in multiple Regional contests, the second best Regional will also count as a Local by dividing the Regional score by 10.
• Any AMA-sanctioned contest where FAI Indoor is flown may be counted as a Local, provided at least 3 entrants have FAI stamps and pay the Local entry fee prior to flying. The same flights count for both the contest and the Local.

Regional contests:

b. Seven Regional contest sites plus two At-Large Regionals (USIC and Nats): East (NJ), Southeast (FL), Midwest (OH, IN), Southwest (OK or TX), Mountain (CO), West (CA), Northwest (ID).

c. 75% of the top score required to qualify for the Finals.

d. The best single Regional score is counted.

e. No restriction on number of Regionals entered or cross-zone flying.

f. Scoring: Best 2 out of 6 flights. Top score counts 100 points. Other scores are a percentage based on contestant's 2-flight total divided by the winning 2-flight total. At the USIC & Nats, the top finisher among those not going to the World Champs will receive the 100 points even if he does not actually win the contest (to account for non-U.S. winners).

g. Entry fees: $15 for Open members into each Regional. Juniors and Seniors free entry.

Regional contests must be approved by the Team Selection Committee Chairman in advance.

Final Contest:

• a. Single-site Team Selection Final Competition conducted over a 3-day period.
• b. Flying by rounds, 3 rounds per day.
• c. Scoring: Total best 2 out of 9 flights. Top score counts 1,000 points. Other scores are a percentage based on contestant's 2-flight total divided by the winning 2-flight total.
• d. Entry fees: $25 for all age classes. $50 penalty fee additional if no Regional was entered; must have prior approval of Team Selection Committee.
• e. Certificates of performance will be awarded to all who place at the Finals; the Chairman is responsible for arranging these.
• f. Finals will use a three-man jury unless waived by the Executive Council in accordance with current AMA policies and standing rules.

Team Selection:

• The team is selected by adding each competitor's best Local score, best Regional score, and Finals score. The maximum attainable score is 1,110 points. The top 3 places form the team.
• The team manager shall be appointed in accordance with current AMA policies. It is highly desirable that the manager be able to stay with the World Championships if needed. The manager should be selected by vote of the Team Selection Committee.

Travel Funds:

• Travel assistance to the Finals will be awarded only to those scoring 100 points in a Regional contest. The Indoor Team Selection Committee will determine amounts based on funds available and award assistance as a percentage of travel funds based on straight-line distance from the competitor's home to the Finals site.

Stopwatches:

• Electronic stopwatches (battery-powered) will be mandatory for all flight times. Mechanical stopwatches will be allowed for accumulating prop-stop times during steering.

Contingency in case of Cancellation of Finals:

• Every effort will be made to provide a backup Finals site. If the primary site is lost, the Finals will be rescheduled at an alternate site as soon as practical following the original dates.

Technical Director (continued)

A reminder: starting the first of the year we will no longer be sanctioning nonflying events in the usual way. A new form is available to list nonflying events in the "Nonflying Events Calendar" section of the Competition Newsletter.

Details of the program:

• Application to list a nonflying event is open to any AMA member; the applicant need not be a Contest Director.
• The application is mailed directly to AMA Headquarters where the information will be processed and placed in a special listing organized by month.
• The application must be received 90 days in advance of the event to assure placement in the calendar for at least one month.
• Each listing can contain up to 300 characters (including punctuation and spaces), roughly six or seven lines of printed magazine text.
• Cost per listing: $10.

If an additional certificate of insurance is required for the site owner, obtain it by contacting the Club Section of the Membership Department at Headquarters. Cost per certificate: $10.

Additional advertisement space may be purchased at the same rates as used for sanctioned event listings (rates appear at the end of the sanction listings in the magazine). No reports will be required to be filed by the event manager at the conclusion of a nonflying event.

Requests for sanctioning 1991 nonflying events already at Headquarters will be honored even if submitted on the old sanction form. Beginning the first of the year, the new form will be required. Watch Model Aviation for a reproduction of the new form.

See you next month!

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.