RADIO CONTROL JETS
Delmar Ellis, 8877 Meadowview Drive, West Chester, OH 45069
JET PILOTS ORGANIZATION (JPO)
Jet modeling has grown as a sport and hobby interest ever since the mid-1970s. It now has a recognized national organization to support it; in October 1993, AMA formally approved JPO as the Special Interest Group (SIG) for jets.
JPO was founded to promote and advance ducted-fan and turbine-powered technology, and for the sport, recreation, and fellowship of all interested individuals.
It set the goal of becoming recognized by national authorities in areas of competition, safety, and technology development. It achieved that recognition from AMA after strong growth, representation in every state (and several countries), formalization of a constitution, and initiating a national election of officers.
What does this mean for those who fly jets? It means as much as we choose to make of it.
First, we have AMA recognition as a specific sport category. Second, we have the voice, support, and protection of recognized representation. To date, JPO has worked to develop safety procedures at meets, has provided a standard for sanctioning, has developed an outstanding quarterly newsletter with information and schedules for meets, and has grown into an international fellowship for sharing interests and camaraderie.
Recently JPO supported AMA investigation of gas turbines, worked toward definition of international competition, and provided a safer speed trap and safety controls. JPO president George Leu has focused attention on strong support for and recognition of the beginning jet modeler's needs.
Jet modelers and manufacturers who may not yet be current JPO members are urged to join now. Get involved, contribute, and help JPO focus on your concerns and objectives, whatever they may be. Let us put our collective strength into the entire spectrum of jet interests.
FAI JET COMPETITION
European modelers have been working hard to institute jet model competition. They have coordinated with JPO and AMA to gain U.S. support and cooperation.
A plenary committee was formed and approved by FAI to study this issue. In March 1994, FAI approved committee recommendations granting provisional status for a new competition category, Jet Scale. This action was a critical step to initiate jet special interest groups in the various national modeling organizations—similar to JPO's position within AMA.
More importantly, it initiates international recognition of jet modeling and establishes a competition format. Many of us have already had the opportunity to fly with some of our European counterparts and initiate friendships at the Jet Over Deland meets. Their talents and proficiencies are equal to ours. International competition will be quite challenging.
The format for Jet Scale is somewhat different from the AMA Scale events popular in the United States. In the U.S., jets compete on equal footing with warbirds and commercial scale propeller models. Recent examples are first-place finishes at the 1993 AMA Nationals by Terry Nitsch with an F-86, and at Scalemasters 1993 by Dennis Crooks with a Learjet.
In Europe, FAI Scale rules are used, and jets have been less competitive, arguably due to weight limits, types of maneuvers required, and other restrictions.
The FAI Jet Scale format is optimized for jets. The basic scoring distribution is: static points 40%; flying points 50%; noise points 10%.
Size limits: weight 15 kg (approx. 33 lb); engine size: fan 80 cc (4.88 cu. in.), turbine 15 kg thrust.
Static judging is similar to U.S. Scale, with documentation required and certification that the contestant is the builder. Judging will be conducted at three meters for scale accuracy; color and markings at zero distance for finish, craftsmanship, and detail.
Flight competition entails nine maneuvers with weighting or K factors similar to AMA Pattern. Maneuvers include several options, divided into aerobatic or non-aerobatic, depending on the type of aircraft modeled. The maneuvers can be chosen to represent the full-scale aircraft and show off the jet's performance.
Noise levels are a major issue at European flying sites. Their modelers are quite advanced in suppression methods and may incorporate more than 10 ounces of sound-suppression materials. Competition noise measurements will be taken over pavement, from the aircraft side, at seven meters distance (with the microphone 30 cm above the ground). Noise levels below 80 dBA have been recorded at European meets. Our ducted fans in the United States are typically believed to operate at more than 90 dBA. We will undertake a detailed study of our existing noise levels at meets early this year, and will report in detail soon.
Competition points will be awarded based on rating between highest and lowest noise levels at each meet. U.S. competitors will have to get smart quick to avoid forfeit of noise points.
The first international championship meet will take place in Germany in May 1995. Local provisional meets and team selections are anticipated in each country prior to the championship meet.
This competition is not expected to detract from the popular AMA Scale competition. It may offer an added attraction to some of our jet meets.
SCHEDULED JET MEETS
If you are exploring your potential interest in jet modeling or just getting started in jets, check out the jet meets. You will have a chance to evaluate a wide range of available models, see them fly, talk to the fliers, and get ideas on how to enhance the excitement.
If a jet model at your local flying field attracted your interest, wait until you go to a meet. The adrenaline rush of several jets in the air simultaneously is impossible to describe. The numerous events and types of models offer variety as well. You can see it all—whether your interest is sport jets with blazing speed, custom paint jobs, and infinite vertical performance; scale models with remarkably scale speed and great presence; or the special aerobatic performances provided only by jet models.
Detailed information and listings of jet meets are provided in AMA's Contest Calendar and JPO's Contrails newsletter. A brief outline of known, scheduled jet meets:
- Scottsdale, AZ — April 9-10
- Columbus, OH — May 21-22
- Winona, MS — May 21-22
- Chesapeake, VA — May 28-29
- Ankeny, IA — June 3-5
- Denver, CO — June 4-5
- Toledo, OH — June 11-12
- Austin, TX — June 11-12
- Belleville, Ontario — June 11-12
- Cincinnati, OH — June 18-19
- Waco, TX — June 25-26
- Bowling Green, KY — June 25-26
- Mt. Pleasant, TX — June 25-26
- Broken Arrow, OK — July 30-31
- Columbus, OH — August 25-26
- Manvel, TX — September 9-10
- Metropolis, IL — October 7-9
- Mesa, AZ — November 19-20
- Deland, FL — January 26-29
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
