Academy of Model Aeronautics - RC Aerobatics Proposals

RC Aerobatics

RCA-09-1 – Change to class advancement.

8.2 […] A flier must move out of Sportsman class at the end of the calendar year of his/her second or subsequent year of participation if he/she places first or second and above at least 4 other fliers (having recorded an official flight) in any sanctioned pattern contest.

8.2.1 A flier accumulating or exceeding 100 points and at least 2 years in Intermediate or Advanced class will automatically be advanced.

Logic:
8.2 – The sportsman class at any contest might contain a collection of new or first time pilots that do not fly competitively at the contest. This can lead to pilots flying only at their local contest or just entering their first contest – not yet sure about pattern – to end up placing very high and be forced up too soon, scaring them to quit just as they start. Some pilots may want only to compete at their local contests until such time as they want to get deeper into the hobby but his rule can scare them away. I know specific examples. This rule change provides a reasonable period for occasional pilots or new pilots to have enough space to enjoy the hobby before having to move up.

8.2.1 – Active pilots that are mediocre can accumulate points fast in a large district and be forced up too son. The current system is disproportionate in that it moves pilots in large districts up faster than those in sparse districts. Allowing a 2 year minimum before forcing advancement relieves some of this pressure.

Submitted by: Lance Van Nostrand, AMA #541964

RCA-09-2 – Modify noise requirements for RC Aerobatics aircraft to be compatible with the 2008 FAI Sporting Code.

In paragraph 4.2, change third sentence to read: “All measurements will be taken perpendicular to the fuselage centerline on the right hand side of the model, with the nose of the model aircraft pointed into the wind, with motor running at …..

Logic:
Maintain compatibility with the 2008 FAI Sporting Code. Draft showed 94.9 but final made no change at all.

Submitted by: John Fuqua, AMA #5955

RCA-09-3 – Modify criteria for radii of loops and part loops to align with FAI rules.

Change Judges Guide paragraph E, page RCA-19, delete paragraph beginning with the 3rd sentence and replace with the following:
“The radius of the first loop or part-loop, determines the radii of subsequent loops or part-loops within a maneuver”.

Logic:
To avoid confusion in judging criteria and to simplify the training of judges, this proposal aligns the AMA criteria with that of the FAI criteria on judging radii on loops and part loops.

Submitted by: John Fuqua, AMA #5955

RCA-09-4 – Specify propulsion/engine requirements for RC Aerobatic electric powered aircraft for compatibility with the 2008 FAI Sporting Code.

Change paragraph 4.1 to read: Propulsion source limitations: Any suitable propulsion source may be used except those requiring solid expendable propellants, gaseous fuels (at room temperature and atmospheric pressure), or liquefied gaseous fuels. Electrically-powered model aircraft are limited to a maximum of 42.56 volts for the propulsion circuit, measured prior to flight while the competitor is in the ready box.

Logic:
Maintain compatibility with the 2008 FAI Sporting Code. Draft showed 42.99 but final revised the number to 42.56.

Submitted by: John Fuqua, AMA #5955

RCA-09-5- Reword the landing section of the regulations to conform to the intent of the rule.

14.1.1. The pilot or helper may request a different landing direction to that used for takeoff without penalty to avoid downwind landings. This option may only be used if the wind direction changes after the takeoff has started. If this option is used, a maximum of two (2) passes in front of the judges may be used to position the model for landing. However, any turns used for positioning the aircraft may not be made at center.

Logic:
Proposal to comply with the original intent of the landing rule to allow a change of landing if the wind direction changes after the takeoff has begun.

Submitted by:
Donald Ramsey, AMA #6096

RCA-09-6 – Proposed sequence change for 404 “Masters” class.

Replace 18. Masters Pattern Maneuvers on page RCA-14 with the attachment and also insert the new maneuver descriptions into the relevant areas in the rule book.

18. Masters Pattern Maneuvers
404 Masters

1. Takeoff (U)	K=1
2. Half Clover with 2/4 pt. Roll Up, ½ Roll Down (U)	K=4
3. Humpty Bump (pull, pull, pull) 2/4 pt. Roll Up	K=2
4. Eight Point Roll (D)	K=4
5. Half Cuban Eight, 2/2 pt. Roll Down, Exit Inverted	K=2
6. Avalanche with 1 ½ Snap (from bottom) (U)	K=4
7. Half Square Loop on Corner with ½ Rolls, Exit Inverted	K=2
8. Eight Sided Loop (from top), Exit Inverted (D)	K=4
9. Reverse Humpty Bump with 1/2 or 1/4 Rolls Down and Up, Exit Upright	K=3
10. 45 Degree Down, 1 ½ Positive Snap Roll, Exit Inverted (U)	K=3
11. Stall Turn with ½ Rolls Up and Down, Exit Inverted	K=2
12. Inverted Four Point Roll (D)	K=4
13. Humpty Bump (push, pull, pull), 2/4 pt Roll Up, ½ Roll Down, Exit Upright	K=3
14. Figure M with ¾ Rolls (U)	K=5
15. Top Hat with ¼ Rolls	K=2
16. Two 2/2 pt. Rolls Reversed (D)	K=4
17. Immelman Turn	K=2
18. Hour Glass with 2/4 pt. Roll Down (mid entry, top first), Exit Inverted (U)	K=5
19. Mid-Entry Figure 9 (top first)	K=1
20. Double Immelman with Full Rolls (D)	K=3
21. Half Square Loop with 2/2 pt. Roll Up, Exit Inverted	K=2
22. 2 ½ Turn Inverted Spin (U)	K=3
23. Landing (U)	K=1

Total 66

Add new maneuver descriptions for the following maneuvers (starting on page RCA-22):

Half Clover with 2/4 pt. Roll Up, ½ Roll Down – From level flight model pulls through one-quarter (1/4) loop to a vertical track, hesitates and then performs two points of a four-point roll, hesitates, pushes into a three-quarter (3/4) outside loop. Fly inverted and then pushes into a second three-quarter (3/4) outside loop to a vertical down track. Hesitates and then performs a half roll in the vertical down track, hesitates and then pulls through a one-quarter (1/4) loop to recover in level flight. Up-line track and down-line track must coincide. Downgrades:

1. Track of up and down lines not vertical.
2. Loop segments not round with same size and radius.
3. Change in heading in loop segments or rolls.
4. Roll not centered in vertical lines.
5. Up-line track and down-line track do not coincide.

Pull-Pull-Pull Humpty Bump with 2/4 pt. Roll Up – From level flight model pulls through one-quarter (1/4) loop to a vertical track, hesitates and then performs two points of a four-point roll, hesitates, pulls through a half inside loop to a vertical down track, hesitates, and then pulls through a one-quarter (1/4) loop to recover in level upright flight on a heading opposite that of entry. Downgrades:

1. Model not vertical at start and finish of point rolls.
2. Radius of inside loop not constant.
3. Radii of loop segments not equal.
4. Rolls not centered on line segments.
5. Over or under rotation of rolls – one point per 15-Degree rule.

Eight Point Roll – From upright or inverted level flight, model rolls through 360 degrees with hesitations at each 45 degree point. Center is the middle of the inverted level flight if entered upright, and the center is the middle of the upright level flight if entered inverted. Length of hesitations is not a reason to downgrade as long as all hesitations are the same length. Downgrades:

1. Over or under rotation of rolls – one point per 15-Degree rule.
2. Model does not hesitate after each one-eighth roll.
3. Roll rate not constant.
4. Changes in altitude.
5. Changes in heading.
6. More than or less than eight points performed.

Half Square Loop on Corner with or without Rolls – From level flight model pushes or pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to a 45 degree climb or dive, hesitates, performs the prescribed roll, hesitates, pushes or pulls through a one-quarter (1/4) loop to a 45 degree climb or dive, hesitates, performs the prescribed roll, hesitates, pushes or pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to recover in level flight on a heading opposite that of entry. Downgrades:

1. Climbing and descending paths not 45 degrees.
2. Climbing and descending paths not of equal length.
3. Rolls not centered on corresponding lines.
4. Loop segments not round or of equal radius.
5. Model does not execute prescribed roll.
6. Changes in heading in loop segments or during roll.
7. Roll rates not constant.
8. Hesitations in point roll required roll elements not equal length.
9. Over or under rotation of rolls – one point per 15-Degree rule.

Eight Sided Loop - From level flight model pushes or pulls to complete an eight sided loop. Each angle of the climbing or diving angled lines is 45 degrees. The model pushes or pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to a 45 degree climb or dive, hesitates, pushes or pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to a vertical track, hesitates, pushes or pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to a 45 degree climb or dive, hesitates, pushes or pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to level flight, hesitates, pushes or pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to a 45 degree climb or dive, hesitates, pushes or pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to a vertical track, hesitates, pushes or pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to a 45 degree climb or dive, hesitates, pushes or pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to level flight. Downgrades:

1. Climbing and descending angled paths not 45 degrees.
2. Vertical line segments not exactly vertical.
3. Climbing and descending paths not of equal length.
4. Loop segments not round or of equal radius.
5. Model changes heading.
6. Model does not start and finish the loop at the same altitude.
7. All eight sides of the loop not same length.

Reverse Humpty Bump with One-Half (1/2) or One-Quarter (1/4) Rolls Down and Up - From upright or inverted flight, model pushes or pulls a one-quarter (1/4) loop to a vertical down line, then performs one-half (1/2) roll or one-quarter (1/4) roll on the down line, model then pushes or pulls through one-half (1/2) loop to a vertical line, then performs one-half (1/2) or one-quarter (1/4) roll on the up line. The model then recovers with one-quarter (1/4) loop to level upright or inverted flight in the opposite direction of entry. Entry and exit orientation are defined by the sequence.

1. Track not vertical in climb and dive.
2. Rolls not centered in vertical lines.
3. Over or under rotation on roll, one point per 15-Degree rule.
4. Loop segments not round with equal radius.
5. If one-quarter (1/4) rolls are used, one-half (1/2) loop not 90 degrees to the flight line, one point per 15-Degree rule.

Click here to view the Aresti Diagram

Two of Two Point Rolls Reversed – From level upright or inverted flight, model performs one-half (1/2) roll to level inverted/upright flight, hesitates, performs another one-half (1/2) roll in the same direction to level upright/inverted flight. Immediately the model performs one-half (1/2) roll to level inverted/upright flight in the opposite direction to the 1st two half rolls, hesitates, performs another one-half (1/2) roll in the same direction to level upright/inverted flight. Center of maneuver is the upright/inverted roll reversal. Downgrades:

1. Model does not hesitate at inverted.
2. Roll rate not constant.
3. Over or under rotation of rolls, one point per 15-Degree Rule.
4. Change in altitude.
5. Change in heading.
6. Roll reversal between the two opposite half rolls is not immediate.
7. Second set of two point rolls is not in the opposite direction to the first set of two point rolls.
8. Inverted/upright hesitations not the same on both sets of the two point roll.

Hourglass with 2/4 pt. Roll Down (mid-entry, top first), Exit Inverted – From level flight, model pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to a 45 degree climb, pauses, pulls through three-eighths (3/8) loop to level inverted flight, pauses, pulls through three-eights (3/8) loop to a 45 degree dive, hesitates, performs two points of a four-point
roll, hesitates, pulls through three-eighths (3/8) loop to level upright flight, pauses, pulls through three-eights (3/8) loop to a 45 degree climb, pauses, and then pulls through a one-eighth (1/8) loop to level inverted flight on the same level as that of entry. Downgrades:

1. Climbing and diving paths not 45 degrees.
2. Climbing and diving paths not of equal length.
3. Loop segments not round and of equal size and radius.
4. Wings not level during loop.
5. Changes in altitude during inverted/upright flight.
6. Changes in heading during loop segments.
7. Roll not centered on line segments.
8. Over or under rotation of rolls – one point per 15-Degree rule.

Mid-Entry Figure Nine (top first) – From level flight, model pushes through a three-quarter (3/4) loop to a vertical down track, pauses and then pulls one-quarter (1/4) loop to recover in level flight in a heading opposite that of entry. Downgrades:

1. Loop components not round or of equal radius.
2. Changes in heading during loop segments.
3. Track not vertical in dive.

Logic:
Over the last year the NSRCA board has received a number of calls/emails from our members with concerns about the Masters schedule that was selected in the 2005 rules cycle process for use starting in 2009. The concerns were all valid – too many snaps, errors in the sequence and the sequence increased the difficulty level between 403 Advanced and the new 404 Masters schedules. The NSRCA board asked the committee that developed the sequence to revisit the sequence to either correct/modify it or develop a new one. They preferred to develop a new sequence which has been test flown. It has also been given to the NSRCA membership to review in our current K-Factor magazine as well as online at various websites. The NSRCA board has received an overwhelming number of positive comments that this new sequence is far better than the previously selected one. With that in mind, the NSRCA board elected to submit the proposed schedule.

Submitted by: Derek Koopowitz, AMA #174391