Focus on Competition - 2009/12

160 MODEL AVIATION
surrounding the class “C” event. The
easiest way to start is to throw in some
history, which really starts this discussion.
In the early days of AMA, model
aviation was built around competition of
all types; it was not considered a Sunday
afternoon social affair. Model aviation was
created as a mirror of full-scale aviation,
where pushing the envelope was the name
of the game and, in reality, many of the
early theories of flight and improvements
were first tested as models.
Two world wars and several other highlevel
conflicts later, there’s not much of an
envelope left for aviation to push. Granted,
there’s always something new to be
learned, but the environment now is very
different from what it was back in the
1940s and ’50s.
The past 20 years have seen model
aviation turn from a contest-dominated
endeavor to a Sunday-flyer social event.
This transition has given rise for the need
of the C event classification, or “non-rule
book”-type event.
This doesn’t mean that a C event can’t
be a contest of some sort, but it truly
means that the event will not be run
according to the official AMA rule book.
In the sanctioning process, the decision of
RECENTLY I’VE fielded several
questions from participants and new CDs
regarding the exact meaning and rules
Technically Speaking ...
Greg Hahn
Technical Director
[email protected]
event class is spelled out pretty well; you
either use the AMA rule book or you
don’t.
If you do sanction a rule book event,
there’s still room to transgress from the
rule book. But the changes must be listed
on the sanction form and be approved by
the technical director (me) prior to the
meet, and the deviations must be
advertised early so that all who plan to
attend are aware of the changes and can be
prepared.
The class C event is an entirely
different animal. Where most are social
gatherings, some can also be contests such
as “fun-flys,” or mock scale, combat, and
also club pylon racing has become popular.
These events obviously have rules, and
some may come from the AMA rule book
but are not required to. The CDs of these
events are urged to advertise or post the
rules they will be using well in advance of
the event, but they are not required to.
So keep in mind the next time you
attend a C contest that you’re going to a
social gathering that just happens to
include a little friendly competition, and
realize that the rules might very well be
quite arbitrary. Keep it all in perspective
and have fun! MA
Focus on Competition
National Record Updates
OUTDOOR FREE FLIGHT
A/B Gas (102-103)
Open 28:32 Bob Hanford 09/07/09
F1A A2 Glider (150)
Open 83:31 Mike McKeever 03/14/09
F1J 1/2A Class Power (155)
Open 41:05 Austin Gunder 07/30/09
Electric A (160)
Open 17:56 Richard Ivers 07/27/09
CONTROL LINE
1/2A Speed (301)
Senior 96.28 Ashley Wilk 06/13/09
1/2A Speed (301)
Senior 95.47 Ashley Wilk 07/06/09
A Speed (302)
Senior 136.68 James Van Sant 07/09/09
21 Proto (306)
Open 145.10 Jerry Rocha 08/08/09
Formula 40 (308)
Open 164.27 Mark/Montagino team 08/22/09
Slow Rat Racing (312)
Open 3:05.19 (70 laps) John Russell Green 07/07/09
Slow Rat Racing (312)
Open 6:17.59 (140 laps) John Russell Green 07/07/09
F2C Team Race (318)
Open 3:19.45 (100 laps) Lambert/Fluker 07/08/09
Open 6:56.61 (200 laps) Lambert/Fluker 07/08/09
F2C Team Race (318)
Open 3:16.47 (100 laps) Lambert/Fluker 07/12/09
INDOOR AMA CEILING CATEGORY I
Ornithopter (210)
Open 10:47 Ray Harlan 08/01/09
INDOOR AMA CEILING CATEGORY I1
ROG Stick (214)
Open 22:04 Lawrence Coslick 06/04/09
INDOOR AMA CEILING CATEGORY IV
FF Electric Powered (221)
Open 30:56 Ray Harlan 05/31/09
FF Electric Powered (221)
Open 35:08 Ray Harlan 06/20/09
PYLON RACING
F3D Pylon (427)
Open 0:57.33 Richard Verano 07/26/09
As of October 2009
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