Club Competition Rules

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Free Flight Scale (Rubber powered).
Object: Duration.
Any rubber powered scale model.
No size limit.
The models are not judged for scale appearance.
Best three timed flights from five to count.

Hand Launched Glider.
Object: Duration.
Any size of hand launched glider.
Hand launched without the use of ‘mechanical’ devices.
Best five timed flights from nine to count.
An attempt (re-flight) may be claimed if the flight is less than 11 seconds.

Control Line Aerobatics ( Bill Draper Trophy ).
Object: Precision.
Any control line model.
The BMFA F2B aerobatic schedule shall be flown.
Fliers using I/C engines may use electric starters.
Two rounds flown – best flight to count.

Trainer Race.

 Object: Speed.
.Small stunt models and own designs strictly meeting the spirit of the word " Trainer" are allowed.
The engine capacity limit is 0.099 cu in, or 1.62cc for glow, or 1.5cc diesel.
Engines must be hand started.
Fuel Tank size: 15cc maximum.
No pressurised filling systems.
Line length: 42 feet from handle grip to the centre of the model.
90 laps (2.25 miles) required (timed).
Pit stops :- As and when required to complete the 90 laps.
Take-off ~ Models must Rise Off Ground, no hand launches
In the event of a shortage of friends able to fly the model, the owner, who must be in charge of starting and running the model, may also pilot it if desired.
The fastest time for the completion of 90 laps wins.
While flying, the pilot should pivot or walk forwards 'on the spot', any means used to falsely increase the models speed is not allowed  ie; whipping.

Stunt Race.
Object: Precision and Speed
Any control line model. Any size engine and/or span.
Engines must be hand started. (No electric powered models).
No pressurised filling systems. The pilot (competitor) must start and pit his own model.
Distance flown = 5 miles. The number of laps required to complete the distance are calculated according to line length used. (Declared to the competitor before their flight)
2 pit stops are mandatory.
Take-off ~ Models must Rise Off Ground, no hand launches.

Aerobatic manoeuvres required…..
 
a) 2 loops
b) 1 lap inverted
c) 2 bunts
d) 1 horizontal eight
e) 1 vertical eight
f) 1 overhead eight

The required manoeuvres may be performed at any point during the required number of laps, flown in the order listed here.
The judge will award points for manoeuvres 0, 10 or 20. These points will be deducted, as seconds, from finishing time.
30 penalty seconds will be added to the flight time if any manoeuvre is missed. If a Pit Stop is missed then 120 seconds are added as a penalty.
Two rounds flown, best flight to count, the winner is the model with the fastest calculated time, i.e.; The time taken to complete 5 miles, minus bonus seconds, plus penalty seconds.

Open Glider.
Object: Duration
Any size of towline free flight glider may be entered.
Towline shall be 50 metres in length (max).
Straight tow or circle tow allowed. The owner of the model shall tow the model.
Models are timed to a 2 minute Max.
The total of three flights to count.
An attempt (re-flight) is allowed if the flight is less than 20 seconds.
If there are two or more competitors with the same time it is usual for a fly-off to take place to determine the winner.

51" Glider.
Object: Duration.
Any towline free flight glider with a maximum wingspan of 51 inches (measured tip to tip on the completed model, so a 52" design may qualify).
The towline shall be 50 metres in length (max).
Straight tow or circle tow allowed. The owner of the model shall tow the model.
Models are timed to a 2 minute Max.
The total of three flights to count.
An attempt (re-flight) is allowed if the flight is less than 20 seconds.
If there are two or more competitors with the same time it is usual for a fly-off to take place to determine the winner.

 

BMFA rules on Free Flight Gliders and Power models.
The entrant must be the owner of the model before the start of the contest. Your BMFA number (at least 3/4" high) to be displayed on the model.
A contestant may use 2 models for a 3 flight competition.
To facilitate observing the release of the towline a pennant with a minimum area of 39 sq in must be fitted near the model end of the towline.
Winches must be detached from the towline for towing [failing to do so results in a cancelled flight - zero score] - towlines to be wound up quickly after launch.
The use of binoculars by the timekeeper is allowed (maximum magnification x8).

Open Power.
Object: Duration
Any Diesel or Glow engine powered free flight model or any Rubber powered free flight model.
10 second engine run for the diesels and glow engines.
Models are timed to a 2 minute Max.
The total of three flights to count.
An attempt (re-flight) is allowed if the flight is less than 20 seconds
If there are two or more competitors with the same time it is usual for a fly-off to take place to determine the winner.

No rules have been devised for the timing of Co2 powered models, therefore they are not currently eligible to enter.
Electric powered models: As sophisticated electronic timers are now available, electric powered models are allowed in the Open Power event.
Competitors must demonstrate - before launch - that the motor timer will stop at 10 seconds, visual observation of the propeller in the air is also required.


Hangar Rat.
Object: Duration.
A Hanger Rat model purchased ready built or built from a plan is acceptable.
Any propeller may be used and any amount of rubber.
The total of the best three flights out of ten to count. Self timing allowed.
All flights are ROG (Rise off Ground). Hand launches are not allowed.
Timing stops when the wheels touch the floor.
If the model gets caught in the roof - the timing stops.
If the model hits a wall and slides down, the timing stops as the model touches the floor.

Dumelow Trophy.
A competition the find the most admired model on the night.
Any model built by the entrant may be entered.
Score sheets are given out and the models are judged by their fellow entrants.
Entrants are not allowed to score their own model.
Score sheets are gathered, scores tallied and the model awarded the most points wins the Dumelow Trophy (Rose Bowl).

Our former club member Graham Dumelow (A watchmaker by profession) built some fine models, this trophy is awarded in his name.

Grain Trophy.
All competitions (excluding the Dumelow Trophy) are awarded points down to fourth place ie; 4,3,2,1. These points count towards finding a club champion.

At the end of the year the person with the most accumulated points will be awarded the prestigious Grain Trophy.

Ken Oliver Trophy.
An additional trophy awarded to the person accumulating the most Grain Trophy points in the club Free Flight competitions :-
Hangar Rat, Rubber Scale, Hand Launched Glider, Open Power, Open Glider and  51" Glider.

Our former club member Ken Oliver was a keen free flight enthusiast, this trophy is awarded in his name.

Bill Draper Trophy.

Bill was a stalwart of the club and was probably one of the UK's most successful control line aerobatics fliers.

Our aerobatics trophy was renamed in his memory.

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In general we fly to the BMFA rule book.
These rules may be modified on the day at the discretion of the Competition Secretary or general consensus of the other competitors.

All trophies are presented at the club's Annual Dinner.