[NSRCA-discussion] Judges' Positioning, Zero Lines, and Box Definition

[Tony Stillman]

Matt:
This is something I have spoken about several times.  The poles are there
for the JUDGES.  The lines are for the PILOTS.  If the poles cannot be place
on their proper location, THEY SHOULD NOT BE USED!  This if because of the
very thing that you are talking about.  If the poles are at the 150 meter
out location, the difference between the view of the pilot and the judges,
even if they are 25 feet behind the pilot, are virtually the same.  The
closer you bring in the poles, but more of an error you will create.  

 

Tony Stillman, President

Radio South

3702 N. Pace Blvd

Pensacola, FL 32505

1-800-962-7802

www.radiosouthrc.com

 

  _____  

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Matthew
Frederick
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 1:29 PM
To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Judges' Positioning, Zero Lines,and Box
Definition

 

OK, this forum has been too quiet lately, so let's get some controversy
going! This comment/question is mainly directed to Don Ramsey, but I would
appreciate everyone's opinion. The good thing is, Don was at the contest
where what I'm about to describe happened. What I'm talking about here is
the positioning of judges behind the pilot. Under most circumstances the
judges are positioned maybe 3-5 feet behind the pilot with each judge's seat
placed on (or very close to) one of the 60-degree lines. Now, at a contest I
attended last week the judges apparently decided it was too hot out there on
the actual flight line, and they moved their chairs about 15-20 feet behind
the pilot in the shade of the shed at this particular field. My question is,
should this be something that is allowed since the judges' chairs define the
zero line of the flight line (and moving it back this far puts spectators in
danger), and also because it gives the judges an even more skewed view of
the 60-degree lines than they already have? I bring this up partly because
of what Don wrote in this month's K-Factor, but also because I was gigged
for busting the box by these "displaced" (in Louisiana we call them
refugees) judges when in fact, I knew I was close to the edge, but since I
was actually standing on the line, I knew I didn't bust it. As a pilot I
should not have to adjust the size of the box that I'm permitted to fly in
just so the judges can be more comfortable (granted, comfort in the heat and
humidity of Louisiana is relative). I didn't bring it up at the contest
because by the time it bit me, it was too late to complain. In the future,
however, I think there need to be rules regarding the positioning of judges
if there aren't already, and if there are rules, let's bring them to light
and enforce them, and you can bet I'll refuse to fly before judges that are
that far behind me. Then again, I also think the close edge of the runway
should be the zero line on maneuvers, not the judges' chairs. I did a little
(ok, a lot) of math to figure out how much box a pilot would be missing out
on with the judges postitioned 15 feet behind him. Using approximated
numbers from the contest in question I calculated that if the poles are 40
feet out from the pilot, and the judges are 15 feet behind the pilot, the
box size at 150 meters (which is 259.81m) based on the judges' point of view
is reduced by 232.61 feet (70.9 m), or 25.2%! This would have been even
greater if the poles were closer in or the judges were further back.

 

Matt

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