GDSHS F5J Contest Rules

CLUB OBJECTIVE:

·        To introduce electric motor launched sailplane events (contest) to the GDS&HS club. This is being done to see if a motor launched sailplane event is an acceptable alternative to a “winch-launched” system.

·        It is hoped that this event will increase interest in sailplane flying by those that do not compete now because of the high cost and necessary piloting skill needed for modern competition sailplanes as well as the learning curve required to master our steroid enhanced winch systems.

·        If successful, it should help the club obtain new members and increase the scope of activity within the club. This in turn will improve our position with Oakland County Parks to help keep our great flying field.

OBJECT OF THIS EVENT:

·        To attain the highest possible flight score within the allotted flight window.
(Landing points will be added to the flight score, more later)

CLASSES FOR 2009:

Limited Class (Formerly 7 cell Class)

·        Batteries are restricted to a maximum of 7 NiCd / NiMh cells or 2 lithium polymer cells in series

·        No restrictions on motors, airframes or plan form

Unlimited Class

·        No restrictions on number or type of battery cells

·        No restrictions on airframes

·        No restrictions on motors

FLIGHT EVENT:

·        The contest will be MOM with flight groups of four to twelve contestants except for the “Fly-Off” where the minimum could be two.

·        Scoring will be done within a 10-minute window for the qualification rounds (three rounds minimum to establish a contest).

·        The Event Director will announce the start and end of the of the flight window, using a 10 second countdown. (If possible an electronic timer and PA system will call the flight window)

·        There will be a ‘Fly-Off’ and it will use a 15-minute window.

• For 1 to 10 contestants, the top two flyers will be in the “Fly-Off”
• For 11-20 contestants, two more flyers will be added to the “Fly-Off”
• Etc.

·        Flight score will be 1 point per second of flight after the motor is shut off.

·        The model may not be launched before the start of the flight window.

·        Scoring starts when the motor is shut off and ends when the model touches any ground based object or the end of the window.

·        Competitors will be allowed two scoring attempts per 10-minute window, but must land and re-launch to begin the second attempt; the first attempt will be voided.

No re-launches will be allowed in the 15-minute “Fly-Off”.

·        One motor run per attempt.

·        Pilot must notify the timer when he shuts off the motor so timing may start. (If we can figure out a way to self-timing, we will do so for club contests to allow for maximum flexibility in managing the contest)

·        Landing points will be awarded in 1 meter increments from the landing spot, as follows:

• A maximum of 60 points will be added if the model comes to rest within 1 meter of the spot, decreasing in 5 point increments for each additional meter from the landing spot, to 25 points added if the model comes to rest within 8 meters of the spot.

·        If the model is still airborne after the flight window closes, a 30-point penalty will be assessed for the round and no landing points will be awarded.

Scoring:

·        The contestant with the highest score (flight plus landing) in each flight group will be awarded 1000 points;

·        All other (flight plus landing) scores will be normalized to this round leaders score.

·        The top “X” flyers will proceed to the Fly-Off’s where the “Winner Of The Day” will be decided. At this time, this is only a bragging-rights award and the scores in the Fly-Off’s are not used in the club yearly position database if we have one for electric launched sailplanes (not decided as yet).