FÉDÉRATION
AÉRONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE
SPORTING CODE
SECTION IV
2003 Edition
Effective
VOLUME F3BJ – R.C.
SOARING,
R.C. GLIDERS
What follows are pages 34 to 38 of the above document, which is available from:-
http://www.fai.org/aeromodelling/documents/sc4.asp
The intention is to provide just the F3K rules, which were
copied, with thanks, from the full document, this set
of F3K rules is NOT an official version.
CLASS F3K - HAND
LAUNCH R.C.-GLIDERS (PROVISIONAL)
5K.1 General
A
multitasking contest where RC gliders must be hand-launched and accomplish
specific tasks. The contest should
consist of at least five rounds. The organiser must provide a sufficient number
of timekeepers in order to allow enough simultaneous flights at all time. In
principle, each competitor is allowed one helper who should not become
physically involved in the flight. Handicapped persons may ask for assistance
at launching and retrieving (catching) their model aircraft. During a
competition with only one class, the competitors of less than 1.5 m height may
be assisted for launching-catching. If junior and senior classes are scored
separately, the limit is 15 years of age for juniors.
The organiser should
provide a transmitter impound where all transmitters are kept in custody while
not in use during a flight or the corresponding preparation time. Competitors
not involved in flying or helping another competitor may be asked by the
organiser to operate as timekeepers.
5.K.2. Definition of model aircraft.
Model aircraft are
gliders, with the following limitations.
Wingspan max. ............... 1500 mm
Weight max.
.................... 600 g
Radius of the nose,
minimum 5 mm in all orientations (see F3B nose definition for measurement technique).The
model aircraft must be launched by hand and are controlled by radio equipment
acting on an unlimited number of surfaces.
The model aircraft can
be equipped with holes, pegs or reinforcements, which allow better grip of the
model aircraft by hand. The pegs must be stiff and remain a firm part of the
model, neither extensible nor retractable. Devices, which do not remain a part
of the model during and after the launch, are not allowed.
The competitor may at
any times change his model aircraft as long as they confirm to the
specifications and are operated at the assigned frequency.
Each competitor must
provide two frequencies on which his model aircraft may be operated,
and the organisermay assign any of these frequencies for the duration of any
round or the complete contest.
Para B3.1 of section 4 b (builder of the model
aircraft) is not applicable to class F3K.
Any ballast must be inside of the model and must be
fixed safe.
5.K.3. Definition
of the flying field:
The flying field should
be reasonably level and large enough to allow several model aircraft to fly
simultaneously. The main source of lift should not be slope lift. The organiser
must define the launching and landing area before the start of the contest and
all launching and landings should happen within this area. Any launch or
landing outside this area is scored zero for the flight.
A typical launching and
landing area could be a rectangle 100m x 50m oriented with longer side
perpendicular to the wind direction.
5.K.4. Definition
of landing: A
landing is considered valid if:
- the model aircraft
comes to rest and at least one part of it touches the launching and landing
area ,
- the competitor
catches the model aircraft by hand (or if competitor is handicapped, his
helper, if launching was
- made bythis person), while standing
with both feet inside the launching and landing area.
5.K.5. Flight
time:
The flight time is
measured from the moment the model aircraft leaves the hands of the competitor
(or his helper, see above) to the moment the model aircraft comes to rest on
the ground or ground based object or the competitor catches the model aircraft
by hand (or his helper, see above) or the working time expires.
The flight time is
official if:
- the launching
happens from inside the launching and landing area and the landing happens
inside this area
- the launching
happens within the working time of the task
5.K.6. Definition of round:
The contest is organised
in rounds, each of which allocates a competitor a working time identified in
the task list. The start and end of the working time are announced with a
sound-signalling device. The competitors are arranged in as few groups as
possible. A group should be a minimum of 5 pilots. The results are normalised
within each group, 1000 points being the basis for the winner of the group.
For each round, the
competitors receive at least 2 minutes preparation time, as announced by the
organiser. Alternatively, the working time of the preceding group may be
declared the preparation time for the next group. During the preparation time,
the competitor is allowed to turn on and check his radio, but is not allowed
any launch of his model aircraft, either outside or inside the launching and
landing area.
5.K.7. Final score:
In case of more than 4
flown tasks the least score is crossed out, in case of more than 8 flown tasks
the least two scores are crossed out. In case of a tie break the crossed out
scores are taken into consideration to get a clear ranking.
5.K.8. Definition of tasks:
Detailed specifications
including the tasks to be flown for the day must be announced by the organiser
before beginning of the contest. The tasks of the program are defined below.
Depending on the weather conditions and the number of competitors, the working
time may be reduced by decision of the organiser. No points are deducted for
flying over the maximum flight time or for flying after the end of working
time. All competitors must land as soon, as their flight or task has been
completed. If the model aircraft does not landwithin 30 s after the end of
working time (acoustic signal) the last flight has to be scored with 0 points.
TASK LIST
5.K.8.1. Task A (30 seconds or a multiple of 30 seconds):
During the working time,
the competitor must try to accomplish the greatest number of flights, lasting
30seconds or multiples of 30 seconds. Each completed 30 seconds increment is
scored 1 point.
Examples: 1st flight is 15 s - 0 points
2nd flight is 63 s - 2
points
3rd flight is 48 s - 1
point
etc.
Minimum
working time - 5 minutes.
5.K.8.2. Task B (Last flight):
During the working time,
the competitor may launch the model aircraft an undefined number of times, but
only the last flight is taken into account to determine the final result. The
length of the flight is limited to 5 minutes.
Any additional re lease of the model aircraft annuls the proceeding
timing. When the competitor announces that he has completed his last flight
(his official flight for this task), he must leave the launching and landing
area, together with his timekeeper.
Minimum
working time - 7 minutes.
5.K.8.3. Task C (Next to last and last flight)
Each competitor has
unlimited number of flights, but only the next to last and the last flight will
be added up. The last flight has to be announced after the end of this flight
to the timekeeper. The pilot and helper have to leave the flying field
immediately after this announcement. Max time is 180 s.
Minimum
working time - 10 minutes.
Example: 1st flight
65 s
2nd flight 45 s
3rd flight 55 s
4th flight 85 s
Total
140 s
5.K.8.4. Task D (All up, last down, points):
All competitors of a
group must launch their model aircraft simultaneously, within 3 seconds after
the signal of the organiser. Maximum measured flight time is 3 minutes. The
model aircraft that lands first gets 1 point, all successive
model aircraft get an additional point. The last landing model aircraft gets an
additional point. Two model aircraft landing within the same second, according
to the official timing, get the same score. The next model aircraft gets two
points more. All model aircraft still flying at the end of the 3 minutes slot
time get the same number of points (previous + 2), provided they land inside
the launching and landing area. This procedure of mass launch is repeated up to
3 flights in total during a 10 minutes working time. The new launch may be
ordered after all model aircraft from the previous launch have landed. The
scores of all three flights are added to obtain the final score for this task.
Time of a slot may be
reduced to 2 minutes if the numb er of competitors is large. The number of
launches may be increased to five (5).
Minimum
working time - 7 minutes.
5.K.8.5. Task E(All up, last down, seconds):
All competitors of a
group must launch their model aircraft simultaneously, within 3 seconds after
the signal of the organiser. Maximum measured flight time is 3 minutes. Each
flight time of the 3 attempts of each competitor is to be added up and will be
normalised to obtain the final score for this task.
Time of a slot may be
reduced to 2 minutes if the number of competitors is large. The number of
launches may be increased to five (5).
Minimum
working time - 7 minutes.
Example: Competitor A: 45+50+35 s = 130 s
= 812.50 points
Competitor
B: 50+50+60 s = 160 s = 1000 points
Competitor
C: 30+80+40 s = 150 s = 937.50 points
5.K.8.6. Task F (Increasing time)
Each flight has to be at
least 1 second longer then the previous counted flight. Number of throws is
unlimited. Maximum for the first flight is 3 min. The score is counted by
addition of all successful flights.
Minimum
working time - 10 minutes.
Example: 1st
flight
40 s
2nd flight 26 s not counted
3rd flight 29 s not counted
4th flight 42 s
5th flight 60 s
Total
142 s
5.K.8.7. Task G (Increasing time by 5 s)
Each pilot has unlimited
number of flights. The first flight has to be 10 s, the second 15 s, the third
20 s and so on up to 70 s.
Minimum
working time - 8 minutes.
Example: 1st
flight
11 s l0 s
2nd flight 17 s 15 s
3rd flight 21 s 20
s
4th flight 28 s 25
s
5th flight 20 s 0 s
6th flight 32 s 30
s
7th flight 37 s 35
s
8th flight 38 s 0 s
9th flight 45 s 40
s
Total 175 s
5.K.8.8. Task H (Increasing time by 15 s):
During the working time,
the competitor may accomplish as many launches as he likes. Each competitor
must try to complete a flight of 30 seconds. Once this is accomplished, the
next two flight times must be incremented by 15 seconds. So flight times should
be: 30 s - 45 s – 60 s - 75 s - 90 s The longest
flight time is 90 seconds. To reach any specific flight time, the number of
launches is unlimited. The time of the last flight is taken into account. In
adverse weather conditions, the organiser may reduce the increment to 10
seconds (30 s - 40 s, etc. up to 70 s). Flight score are given 1 point per comp
leted second of flight. For each second of flying the competitor will get 1
point but only to the max. time of this flight - see
following example).
Minimum
working time - 7 minutes.
Example: (increment 15
seconds)
1st
flight 32 s the max of 30 s is reached. Next flight should reach 45
seconds. Partial score is 30 points
2nd
flight 38 s 45 s not reached, score 0
3rd
flight 42 s 45 s not reached, score 0
4th flight 47 s the
max of 45 s is reached. Next flight should reach 60 seconds. Partial score is
30 + 45 =
75 pts
5th
flight 81
s the max of 60 s is reached. Next
flight should reach 75 seconds. But the remaining working time is only 65
seconds.
Total score of the task
is 30 + 45 + 60 = 135 points
5.K.8.9. Task I (Poker - variable target time)
Before the first launch,
each competitor announces a target time to his timekeeper. He than can perform
an unlimited number of launches to reach this time. If the target is reached,
the target time is credited and he can announce the next target time, which can
be lower, equal or higher. The announcement can be repeated 5 times. 5 flights
with a reached target can be credited. The reached target times are added up.
Minimum
working time - 10 minutes.
Example: Announced time Flight time Scored
time
45 s 1st flight 46 s 45
s
50 s 1st flight 48 s 0 s
2nd flight 52 s 50 s
47 s 1st flight 49 s 47
s
60 s 1st flight 57 s 0 s
2nd flight 63 s 60 s
60 s 1st flight 65 s 60
s
Total 262 s
5.K.8.10. Task J (3 out of 6):
During the working time,
the competitor may launch his model aircraft not more than 6 times. The maximum
measured flight time is 3 minutes. This time may be reduced to 2 minutes if the
number of competitors is large. The sum of the three longest flights is taken
for the final score. For this task the CD may decide the duration of the
working time, the number of launches, the number of credited flights and the
max single flight time.
Minimum
working time - 7 minutes.
5.K.8.11 Task K (Three longest flights - three minutes max time per flight)
Each pilot has unlimited
number of flights. Only the best five flights will be added up.
Minimum
working time - 8 minutes.
5.K.8.12 Task L (Four longest flights - two minutes max time per flight)
Each pilot has unlimited
number of flights. Only the best five flights will be added up.
Minimum
working time - 8 minutes.
5.K.8.13. Task M (Five longest flights- two minutes max time per flight))
Each pilot has unlimited
number of flights. Only the best five flights will be added up.
Maximum for one flight
is 120 s.
Minimum
working time - 10 minutes.
5.K.8.14. Task N (Five longest flights - one minute max time per flight)
Each pilot has 6 throws
(flights). Only the best five flights will be added up.
Maximum for one flight
is 60 s.
Minimum
working time - 10 minutes.
5.K.8.15. Task O (Eight longest flights)
Each pilot has unlimited
number of flights. Only the best eight flights will be added up.
Maximum for one flight
is 60 s.
Minimum
working time - 10 minutes.
5.K.8.16. Task P (A one, two, three and four minute flight, any order)
Each pilot has unlimited
number of flights.
Minimum
working time - 10 minutes.
5.K.8.17. Task Q (Total time - two minutes max time per flight)
Each pilot has eight throws
(flights).
Minimum
working time - 8 minutes.
5.K.8.18. Task R (Total time - three minutes max time per flight)
Each pilot has eight
throws (flights).
Minimum
working time - 10 minutes.