October 2007 189
Focus on Competition
TYPES OF EVENTS
*See Current FAI Sporting
Code
OUTDOOR FREE
FLIGHT
Category I, II, or III only if
event is marked with . . . . .+
101 1/2A Gas . . . . . . . . . . .+
102-103 A/B Gas . . . . . . . .+
104-105 C/D Gas . . . . . . . .+
101C 1/2A Classic Gas . . . .+
102-103C AB Classic Gas .+
104-105C CD Classic Gas .+
106 Payload
107 Cargo
120 Mulvihill . . . . . . . . . . . .+
121 Big E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .+
122 Dawn Unlimited . . . . .+
124 P-30
125 Ornithopter
126 Autogiro
127 Helicopter
128 Moffett
129 Bostonian
130 Rubber Speed
140 HL Glider
142 Catapult Glider
150 F1A-A2 Glider . . . . . . .*
151 F1B Wakefield . . . . . . . *
152 F1C Power . . . . . . . . . .*
153 F1G Coupe d’Hiver . . .*
154 F1H A1 Glider . . . . . . .*
155 F1J 1/2A Class Power . .*
156 F1K CO2 . . . . . . . . . . .*
157 F1E Slp. Srg. Glider . . .*
158 F1P Power . . . . . . . . . .*
160 Electric A . . . . . . . . . . .+
161 Electric B . . . . . . . . . . .+
162 Rocket . . . . . . . . . . . . .+
163 CO2
164 Large CO2
501 Peanut Scale
503 Flying Rubber Scale
504 Gas Scale
INDOOR FREE FLIGHT
Categories I, II, III, and IV
201 HL Stick
202 Immediate Stick
203 F1D Rubber . . . . . . . . .*
204 Cabin
205 Manhattan
206 Easy B
207 Pennyplane
208 Limited Pennyplane
209 Helicopter
210 Ornithopter
211 Autogiro
212 HL Glider
213 Kit Plan Scale
214 ROG Stick
215 Bostonian
216 Experimental Autogiro
217 F1L EZ B . . . . . . . . . . . .*
218 Std Class Cat. Glider
219 Unlimited Class .
Catapult Glider
220 Mini Stick
221 FF Electric Power
505 Peanut Scale
507 Flying Rubber Scale
519 Power Scale
CONTROL LINE
301 1/2A Speed
302 A Speed
303 B Speed
304 D Speed
305 1/2A Profile Proto
306 .21 Proto
307 21 Sport Speed
308 Formula 40
309 Jet
310 F2A Speed . . . . . . . . . .*
311 Rat Racing
312 Slow Rat
313 1/2A Mouse-I
314 1/2A Mouse-II
315 1/2A Scale-I
316 1/2A Scale-II
317 Scale Racing
318 F2C Team Race . . . . . .*
319 Navy Carrier-I
320 Navy Carrier-II
321 Navy Carrier (Profile)
322 Precision Aerobatics
323 Beginner Skill Class
324 Intermediate Skill Class
325 Advanced Skill Class
326 Expert Skill Class
327 F2B Aerobatics . . . . . . .*
328 Combat
329 Slow Combat
330 1/2A Combat
331 F2D Combat . . . . . . . .*
332 Endurance
333 Dive Bombing & Strafing
RC AEROBATICS
401 Sportsman Pattern
402 Intermediate Pattern
403 Advanced Pattern
404 Masters Pattern
406 F3A Pattern . . . . . . . . .*
411 Scale Aerobatics/Basic
412 Scale Aerobatics/
Sportsman
415 Scale Aerobatics/
Intermediate
413 Scale Aerobatics/
Advanced
414 Scale Aerobatics/
Unlimited
RC PYLON RACING
421 F1 Sport Pylon
422 Q-40 Pylon
423 1/2A Pylon
424 Sport Quickie
427 F3D Pylon . . . . . . . . . . .*
428 Q-500
RC HELICOPTER
431 Class I
432 Class II
433 Class III
434 F3C Helicopter . . . . . .*
518 Helicopter Scale
RC SAILPLANE
441 Thermal Soaring-HL (A)
442 Thermal Soaring-2-Mtr. (B)
443 Thermal Soaring-Std. (C)
444 Thermal. Soaring-Unltd. (D)
445 F3B Thermal Soaring . .*
446 F3H Cross Country . . .*
451 Slope Soaring-HL (A)
452 Slope Soaring-2-Mtr. (B)
453 Slope Soaring-Std. (C)
454 Slope Soaring-Unltd. (D)
455 F3F Slope Soaring . . . . .*
456 F3J Thermal Duration
Gliders
460 RES Sailplane
461 Nostalgia Sailplane
SCALE
508 CL AMA Precision
509 CL Sport Scale
510 F4B CL Scale . . . . . . . .*
511 RC Sportsman
Sport Scale
512 RC Expert Sport Scale
513 RC Sportsman/
Expert Combined
515 RC Designer Scale
516 F4 RC Scale . . . . . . . . .*
517 RC Sport Scale Soaring
518 RC Helicopter
520 RC Fun Scale
521 CL Profile
522 RC Team Scale
524 CL Designer Scale
526 CL Fun Scale
ELECTRIC
601 F5B RC Soaring . . . . . .*
602 F5A RC Aerobatics . . .*
603 F5D RC Pylon . . . . . . .*
604 1/2A Sailplane
606 Class A-CL Speed
607 Class B-CL Speed
609 RC Class A Sailplane
610 RC Class A
Sailplane (LMR)
611 RC Class B Sailplane
612 RC Class B
Sailplane(LMR)
613 RC Class B Sailplane
Endurance
614 RC Class A Pylon
615 RC Class B Pylon
616 RC Old-Timer Texaco
617 RC Class A Old-Timer
618 RC Class A
Old-Timer (LMR)
619 RC Class B Old-Timer
620 RC Class B
Old-Timer (LMR)
621 RC “Oldie Texaco’’
622 RC Class A “Oldie’’
623 RC Class A “Oldie’’ (LMR)
624 RC Class B “Oldie’’
625 RC Cl. B “Oldie’’ (LMR)
626 RC Precision Aerobatics
627 Indoor Electric Duration
628 Elec. ROW RC
Seaplane
629 Open Class Electric
Indoor RC Duration
630 Elexaco
SPECIAL EVENTS
701 AMA Vintage
702 RC Duration
703 Climb and Glide
705 RC Competition Fun Fly
RC COMBAT
750 Scale RC Combat
(all classes)
755 Open RC Combat
(all classes)
INTERPRETATION OF EVENT LISTINGS: 101-104 means that events numbered 101, 102, 103, and 104 are to
be flown separately. (101-104) means that events numbered 101, 102, 103, and 104 are combined. 101, 104 means
only events 101 and 104 are flown, and that they are flown separately. (101, 104) means only events 101 and 104 are
flown, but that they are combined for competition.
NOTE: To assure quick response, be certain to send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the listed Contest
Director along with your request for information about an event.
The letters in parentheses (A, B, AA, etc.) immediately following the date and location of an event refer to sanction
classification, as explained in the AMA rule book. ``B’’ indicates a restriction of entry in some fashion, and the event’s
contact person should be queried to obtain more details and to possibly avoid misunderstanding or disappointment by
the intended participant, particularly if considerable travel may be involved.
(T) indicates a traditional event (one which has occurred for a number of years at the same date and place and
with the same sponsor).
C o n t e s t C a l e n d a r
Revised 2007 Sanction List
Class Abbreviations
(A) Class A Contest: A contest with unrestricted entry (to AMA members)
that contains at least one rule book event.
(AA) Class AA Contest: A contest with unrestricted entry (to AMA
members) and provides at least four sets of important awards through two or
more places. It must include at least two events listed in current model aircraft
regulations. Separate age classes will not be counted as separate events.
(AAA) Class AAA Contest: State or regional championships in which entry
is unrestricted (to AMA members) and that provides at least 12 sets of
important awards through 3 or more places in each event, with at least two
events having separate Junior and/or Senior categories.
(AAAA) Class AAAA Contest: A national championship event in which
entry is unrestricted (to AMA members), designated for a contest within its
primary area of activity, on a once per year basis.
(B) Class B Contest: Entry is restricted to, or preference priority is given to,
members of a club or clubs; or to an organization affiliated with the AMA; or to
residents of a confined area such as a city or country.
(C) Class C Non-rule Book Events: An event with unrestricted entry to
AMA members that may or may not offer awards, or an organized get-together
of modelers for fellowship, mutual interests and/or good will, and may or may
not offer a formal flying competition.
(D) Class D Demonstration: Flight activity performed by a small group of
fliers before a crowd of spectators, primarily for purposes of instruction and/or
publicity.
(E) Class E: Non-flying event.
I’VE BEEN HIDING
the past two months and
did not produce a
column. I’m sorry about
that, but sometimes you
just reach a point where
there is not much to say
and too much to do;
that’s where I was.
This is being written in
early August and just
days away from one of
my favorite events of the
whole year: the IRCHA
[International Radio
Controlled Helicopter Association] Jamboree.
Soon, more than 500 helicopter pilots from all over the world will
converge on the International Aeromodeling Center for a fun-filled
week of helicopter flying, learning, and camaraderie. They may also
spend a little money, as more than 50 vendors are expected.
The Jamboree is one of those events that you just have to attend,
even if you are not a helicopter pilot. Spectators can walk behind
each pit area and see what goes on and have free access to the
vendors.
This event turns the area of the AMA site it uses into a small city
with a flightline that is more than 3,000 feet long. Some people arrive
on Tuesday and never leave the site until the following Monday
morning.
For me this is a time to relax and enjoy being around other
modelers who are as passionate about the sport as I am. I take a
week’s worth of vacation so I can fully immerse myself in the
experience.
I also take the time at the Jamboree to learn more and more about
helicopters and the systems involved in controlling them. We have
seen so many innovations in our hobby over the last five years that it
is great fun to attempt to stay current with them.
Because of the sheer size of this event, we will see a very large
number of spread spectrum systems in operation. I’m very hopeful
and fully expect that we are going to find that the operation of these
systems is totally seamless and without any issues at all. We do hope
to conduct a few controlled tests of the various systems in operation
while in this environment.
I’ve been flying a great deal of electric in the past year. This has
ranged from five different helicopters to three different smaller fixedwing
aircraft. I have to admit I’m really enjoying it.
Don’t misread this to think I’m not flying engine-powered aircraft
anymore; that’s not the case. I enjoy them all. My point is that I’ve
done this without incident. (Yes, I’m knocking on wood.)
My Li-Poly batteries range in size from 300 mAh to 5000 mAh
and from 1S to 6S. I feel my lack of issues is totally because of my
careful handling of the packs and because I follow, to the letter, the
instructions that come with the packs, chargers, and balancers.
I also use charging equipment that is designed for the packs I’m
charging as well as balancers to keep the cells at basically the same
voltage. And I do not charge above the 1C rate. So, yes, I’m careful,
perhaps overly so, but there is a significant investment in these
batteries, not to mention that a failure could have severe
consequences.
As a reminder, the first phase of this two-year rules-change cycle is
about to come to a close (as you read this). The final cutoff date for
proposal submission is September 30, 2007. All proposals must have
been received or postmarked by that date. Proposals that have been
submitted are posted on a regular basis at modelaircraft.org/events/
rulesproposals.aspx. MA
Steve Kaluf
Technical Director
Technical Update
10sig6.QXD 8/22/07 12:13 PM Page 189
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/10
Page Numbers: 189