[NSRCA-discussion] FAI flight time rule

[adriancwong at earthlink.net]

As you've mentioned, it is a shorter sequence. In addition, T/O and landing is not scored, also, no more mandatory procedure turn after T/O, it saves a lot of time.

As for us glow guys, one trick I've learned is if you're the next to fly, prime your engine early, turn your Tx on, and hook up your glow driver to the engine. As soon as the timer gives you the signal, get your engine started. Also, do not waste time by warming up the engine during start up, you can do it during sound check, since the clock will stop. Have your caller carry your plane out as quickly as possible and you can warm up your engine again.

Of course, it's totally a different story if you flooded your engine.

Adrian


-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeff Hill <jh102649 at speakeasy.net>
>Sent: May 14, 2008 11:32 PM
>To: NSRCA Mailing List <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] FAI flight time rule
>
>While reading up on the new FAI rules I came upon the following  
>paragraphs regarding flight time:
>
>from Section 5.1.11
>If there is a frequency conflict, the competitor must be allowed a  
>maximum of one
>minute for a radio check before the start of the 3 minute starting  
>time. The timer will audibly notify
>the competitor when the minute is finished and immediately start  
>timing the 3-minutes starting time.
>
>The starting time ceases when the model aircraft commences its take- 
>off roll. The timing device is re-started when
>the model aircraft commences its take-off roll, and time will stop  
>when the model aircraft first
>touches the runway after completion of the flight. The total flight  
>time allowed is 8 minutes.
>
>from Section 5.1.12
>  The competitor has eight minutes to complete the flight; timing to  
>start when the flight line
>official gives the signal to the competitor to start his model  
>aircraft  and ending when the model
>aircraft first touches the runway after completing the flight.
>
>5.1.11 seems to say that the competitor gets 8 minutes from the time  
>the TO roll starts. 5.1.12 says the competitor gets 8 minutes from the  
>time s/he is told to start the model aircraft.
>
>If it is 8 minutes total that seems short to me because someone could  
>spend 3 minutes of the time getting the engine started and only have 5  
>for the flight. I know sequences are shorter now, but, we've had  
>pilots exceed 10 minutes at the Nats so I would think 2 fewer minutes  
>would make even the shortest sequences tough to do.
>
>Any rules gurus out there want to comment? Perhaps electric fliers are  
>getting a break after losing out on the batteries-as-fuel issue.
>
>Jeff Hill
>