[NSRCA-discussion] How I became an expert Snap Judge (TIC)

Budd Engineering jerry at buddengineering.com
Tue Oct 13 18:43:50 AKDT 2009


The Answer:  No, not even close...

Jerry

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 13, 2009, at 7:26 PM, "Vicente \"Vince\" Bortone" <vicenterc at comcast.net 
 > wrote:

> Chris,
>
>
>
> I am copying from the first sentence FAI rule book: " A snap-roll  
> (or flick roll/rudder roll) is a rapid autorotative roll where the  
> model aircraft is in a stalled attitude, with a continuous high  
> angle of attack"  The question: Is 1-2 degrees consider a good  
> amount to define a high angle of attack?
>
>
>
> Vicente "Vince" Bortone
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Moon" <cjm767driver at hotmail.com>
> To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:07:01 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada  
> Central
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] How I became an expert Snap Judge  
> (TIC)
>
> I think what this goes back to is the erroneous belief that you need  
> to see an exaggerated pitch departure or it should be severely  
> downgraded.  Keep reading the maneuver description.  It needs "A"  
> pitch break, and depending on the current aoa (angle of attack) that  
> can be a difference of just a degree or 2 if you are near the  
> critical aoa.  Please don't tell me guys, you are looking for MORE  
> than a simple exceeding of the critical aoa and resulting stall.  An  
> exaggerated pitch break just to prove to naysayers that you make a  
> break is wrong, wrong, wrong.  It says it needs "A" break.  Please  
> keep re-reading it.  Same for spin entry.  It needs to stall, not go  
> 30 degrees nose up to "prove" a stall.  We are getting wound up over  
> a misunderstanding of the mechanics of a stalled condition.  As Don  
> and Verne are alluding to, it really is not that complicated.
>
> Chris
>
> verne at twmi.rr.com wrote:
>
> Or you could just write in "DNO".... I always seem to see the break  
> as in, nose up, tail down, and my 56 year old eyes are lousy. Verne  
> ---- "Vicente "Vince" Bortone" <vicenterc at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Verne, Following AMA description: if we don't see the break is 5  
> points downgrade.  That is 1/2 of the snap roll maneuver.   
> Therefore, if we see the snap roll but don't see the break the judge  
> has the right to write down 5 points score assuming that all other  
> components are perfect.  Therefore, base on the rule book the snap  
> roll without a break has a value of 5 points.  Vicente "Vince"  
> Bortone ----- Original Message ----- From: verne @ twmi . rr .com  
> To: "General pattern discussion" < nsrca -discussion at lists.  
> nsrca .org> Cc: "Don Ramsey" <don. ramsey @ suddenlink .net> Sent:  
> Tuesday, October 13, 2009 2:14:02 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central  
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] How I became an expert Snap Judge  
> (TIC) Is there anybody involved in this discussion that honestly  
> can't recognize a snap when they see one? I'm just asking..... Verne  
> ---- Don Ramsey <don. ramsey @ suddenlink .net> wrote:
>
> Vince,   What about the next sentence in the FAI definition, “If the 
>  stall/break does not occur and the model aircraft barrel rolls arou 
> nd, the manoeuvre must be severely downgraded (more than 5 points).” 
>    How about if the break does not show and the model does NOT barre 
> l roll around.  Do you still downgrade by 5 or more points?  I don’t 
>  know what the intent of the rule was but I can tell you for a fact  
> that the judges that only score FAI in Europe do not downgrade it by 
>  5 or more points.  I believe they use the “If it’s not a barrel  
> and not an axial roll then it’s probably a snap, so judge it that wa 
> y” because they have been instructed in the past to do it that way.  
>     Don     rom: nsrca -discussion-bounces at lists. nsrca .org [mailto 
> : nsrca -discussion-bounces at lists. nsrca .org] On Behalf Of Vicente  
> "Vince" Bortone Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 12:10 PM To: General 
>  pattern discussion Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] How I became an  
> expert Snap Judge (TIC)   Matt,   I am copying the snap description  
> from the current FAI and AMA manuals.  I don't see the AND you menti 
> on in the FAI rule book.   See the important portion in bold.  I see 
>  that the AMA description is better in this respect.  You are correc 
> t in regard the downgrade in FAI .  5 or more points if you don't se 
> e the break and the model barrel rolls. Therefore, what is the downg 
> rade in FAI if the judge does not see the break and there is autorot 
> ation?  I will say 5 points since it says 5 or more points if the mo 
> del barrel rolls.  Again, it appears that AMA down grad descriptions 
>  are better.     FAI : SNAP-ROLLS A snap-roll (or flick roll/rudder  
> roll) is a rapid autorotative roll where the model aircraft is in a  
> stalled attitude, with a continuous high angle of attack Snap-rolls  
> have the same judging criteria as axial rolls as far as start and st 
> op of the rotation, and constant flight path through the manoeuvre i 
> s concerned. At the start of a snap-roll, the fuselage attitude must 
>  show a definite break and separation from the flight path, before t 
> he rotation is started, since the model aircraft is supposed to be i 
> n a stalled condition throughout the manoeuvre, If the stall/break d 
> oes not occur and the model aircraft barrelrolls around, the manoeuv 
> re must be severely downgraded (more than 5 points). Similarly, axia 
> l rolls disguised as snap-rolls must be severely downgraded (more th 
> an 5 points). Snap-rolls can be flown both positive and negative, an 
> d the same criteria apply. The attitude (positive or negative) is at 
>  the competitor’s discretion. If the model aircraft returns to an un 
> stalled condition during the snap-roll, the manoeuvre is severely do 
> wngraded using the 1 point/15 degree rule.   AMA: Snaps: A Snap roll 
>  is a simultaneous, rapid autorotation in the pitch, yaw and roll ax 
> es of flight in a stalled wing attitude. The following criteria appl 
> y: 1. Since the maneuver is defined as a stalled maneuver, initiated 
>  by a stall of the wing induced by a rapid change in pitch attitude, 
>  the nose of the fuselage must show a definite break in pitch attitu 
> de from the flight path in the direction of the snap (positive or ne 
> gative) while the track closely maintains the flight path. The lack  
> of a discernable pitch break is downgraded by 5 points. Large deviat 
> ions from the flight path, indicative of a delayed stall, are to be  
> downgraded using the 1 point per 15-degree rule for each axis of the 
>  excursion before stall. For example, it the model pitches 15 degree 
> s nose up and the wings rotate 15 degrees before the stall, the mane 
> uver should be downgraded 1 point for pitch and 1 point for roll. 2. 
>  The track visualized as the path of the Center of Gravity (CG) shou 
> ld closely follow the geometric flight path of the maneuver while th 
> e nose and tail auto rotate through opposite helical arcs around the 
>  flight path. Lack of these helical arcs (or coning) is indicative o 
> f an axial roll and is scored zero. 3. If a stall does not occur and 
>  the model barrel rolls, the score is zero. A barrel roll can be ide 
> ntified when the CG, the nose, and tails scribe the same helical pat 
> h through the required rotation of the maneuver 4. Snap rolls have t 
> he same judging criteria as axial rolls as far as start and stop of  
> rotation, constant flight path through the maneuver and centering on 
>  lines. 5. If the model returns to an unstalled condition during the 
>  maneuver, such that the autorotation is not visible and the model r 
> olls or barrel rolls to complete the maneuver, it would be downgrade 
> d using the 1 point per 15 degree rule. 6. Airspeed is not a criteri 
> a which should be used to judge this maneuver. The wing of the model 
>  is stalled during this maneuver; therefore a significant decrease i 
> n speed may occur and is not a cause for downgrade. Vicente "Vince"  
> Bortone ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matthew Frederick" <mjfrederick at cox.net 
> >
> To: "General pattern discussion" < nsrca -discussion at lists.  
> nsrca .org> Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:47:30 AM GMT -06:00 US/ 
> Canada Central Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] How I became an  
> expert Snap Judge (TIC) ? While speaking with Don Ramsey about the  
> nuances of judging snaps at a recent contest I found that he agreed  
> with my interpretation of the FAI snap rule. The severe downgrade  
> should only be applied if there is no break AND there is no  
> autorotation (this is exactly what the rule says). Basically, lack  
> of a break is not substantial grounds for the severe downgrade in  
> FAI . If the break is not seen and autorotation still occurs at some  
> point during the roll the one point per 15 degree rule applies.  
> Since the snaps happen so fast, for me it's usually not more than 1  
> or 2 points unless it was blatantly obvious that the plane rotated a  
> while before the snap truly began. It's the same as if you stop the  
> snap before completing the rotation and do an axial roll to finish.  
> This nonsense of people being so quick to apply a severe downgrade  
> has gone too far. One element of a maneuver (because I can't think  
> of any sequence that has just a snap roll) should not ruin a whole  
> flight, or eve n that one maneuver unless it just wasn't a snap. I  
> like the idea of "if it's not a barrell roll and not an axial roll,  
> it's probably a snap."   Matt ----- Original Message ----- From:  
> Vicente  <mailto:vicenterc at comcast.net> "Vince" Bortone To: General  
> pattern discussion <mailto: nsrca -discussion at lists. nsrca .org>    
> Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 5:12 PM Subject: Re: [NSRCA- 
> discussion] How I became an expert Snap Judge (TIC)   I believe that  
> the current downgrade is severe.  AMA 5 points.   FAI 5 or more  
> points if my memory is correct.     In local contest I have been  
> using 3 points downgrade.  I know that is wrong but it has been my  
> best way for me to take into account the break issue.  It used to be  
> zero and it was changed to 5 points (IMAC still a 10 points  
> downgrade or nada).  Therefore, Ron is correct.  Probably makes  
> sense to go 2-3 points downgrade if the judge can not see the break  
> before rotation.     Vicente "Vince" Bortone ----- Original Message  
> ----- From: "John Fuqua" <johnfuqua at embarqmail.com>
> To: "General pattern discussion" < nsrca -discussion at lists.  
> nsrca .org> Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 1:51:00 PM GMT -06:00 US/ 
> Canada Central Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] How I became an  
> expert Snap Judge (TIC) Ron makes valid observation which I came to  
> many years ago at the TOC when Mr. Bill graciously funded for full  
> scale pilots like Patty Wagstaff do demo flights to entertain us.    
> The one thing that I came away with in comparing full scale to our  
> airplanes is the speed of the snap/rotation.  In the full size  
> aerobatics types that I observed there was plenty of time to see the  
> nose pitch and then after somewhat of a hesitation yaw and rotate.   
> In our pattern planes, especially when using a snap switch, it all  
> gets to be a blur due to sheer speed.  I have no solution to this  
> issue but to MAKE the pilots show a break by having severe  
> downgrades.  Otherwise the concept of a snap will be ignored.  Yes  
> it's hard to see which makes it incumbent on the pilot to present it  
> to the judges.   -----Original Message----- From: nsrca -discussion- 
> bounces at lists. nsrca .org [mailto: nsrca -discussion-bounces at lists.  
> nsrca .org] On Behalf Of
> ronlock at comcast.net
> Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 1:26 PM To: General pattern  
> discussion Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] How I became an expert  
> Snap Judge (TIC) Here is a description that shows technically  
> correct snap execution, and valid, consistent judging is possible.    
> (Half of the District One guy need not read this, they have already  
> heard it)   <G>   At a small airport airshow, one of demos was an in- 
> trail formation of four full scale AT-6 Texans.   As each plane got  
> to stage center, it did a single positive snap roll. Spectators saw  
> four snap rolls in a row, about 5 seconds apart.   The flight of  
> four went around, and repeated the maneuver.  Some spectators are  
> getting bored - even a pattern guy could get bored with a string of  
> 8 nearly identical maneuvers.   And then, they did it yet again!!    
> What's in this for us?   The snap maneuver by each AT-6 appeared to  
> take a second or so, from initiation to completion. By the time the  
> fourth plane did a snap, you could start seeing.... -  there is a  
> nose pitch up,   -  then a yaw, -  then plane rolled in direction of  
> yaw, -  plane returned to straight and level flight.   By the time  
> the flight came around for another four snaps, you could see more  
> details.. -  there is a nose pitch up,  (somewhat sudden, at least  
> sudden for an AT-6) -  then a large amount of yaw, -  then rapid  
> roll in direction of yaw, (rolling faster than it could with  
> ailerons) -  plane returned to fairly close straight and level, nose  
> slightly high.   By the time the flight positioned for yet another  
> four snaps, (Yawn, spectators headed for cotton candy) the four  
> distinct elements of the snap roll maneuver were easy to see, and  
> there was time to evaluate (judge) each element. 1.    there is a  
> nose pitch up,  (somewhat sudden, at least sudden for an AT-6, with  
> little rise in altitude) 2.   then large amount of yaw, (the yaw  
> proceeds the upcoming roll) 3.   then autorotation at rate faster  
> than it could do an aileron roll) 4.   plane returns to level flight  
> track, with nose lowering to level flight attitude.   We can all be  
> expert Snap Roll Judges!   Ahhh, at least for AT-6 snaps.   What I  
> take from all of this-   The problem is not snap descriptions.    
> It's the application of them; observation, discrimination and  
> judging of elements in the split second observation time we have.   
> Is the task beyond reasonable expectations of most of us as a  
> judging community?   I suppose we will continue work started over 10  
> years ago to improve in these areas.   In the meantime, shall we  
> reduce the impact of inconsistent judging of snaps by limiting the  
> downgrade of the snap portion of a maneuver to say..two points2?    
> Ron Lockhart   _______________________________________________ NSRCA- 
> discussion mailing list NSRCA-discussion at lists. nsrca .org
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