AIRMASTERS R/C CLUB

SONIC PYLON RACING

08/01/2008

RACING CONTEST DIRECTOR: Jerry Davis

CONTACTS:

Roger Gagnon

Tom MacLean

PYLON COURSE:

1. This is a two-pylon course. In compliance with AMA guidelines, pylons are 450 feet apart on a line parallel with the flight stations and 225 feet from the flight stations. Pilots will stand near the center point, the Start/Finish line, of the event course. Spectators will be advised that safety regulations require them to stand at least 112.5 feet behind the pilot stations.

AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS:

1. Phoenix Models Sonic low wing

2. No modifications allowed except to facilitate the assembly of the wing to the fuselage.

3. Any spinner is ok

4. Original landing gear and wheels only or similar. No racing wheels or landing gear allowed.

1. Identification: No two aircraft may have the same color scheme. Each aircraft’s color scheme is registered to its pilot. Both the top and bottom of the wing must have the same color scheme. You must clear your color scheme choice with the Race Committee before it is authorized.

 

Frequency Control: No two entered aircraft may be on the same frequency.

Engine: Stock OS Max .25FX. bearing change out is allowed.  Also, the OS max 25 AX will be allowed due to the shortage of available FX's

Muffler: stock muffler must be used. It is ok to remove the baffle.

Propeller: Any

Fuel Tank: Standard style with muffler pressure only.

Fuel: Supplied by the club on race day.

GLOW PLUG: Any glow plug allowed

PILOTS AND CREW REQUIREMENTS

2. Pilots must qualify by flying 5 pylon laps with the approved aircraft. Any flying instructor or Pylon racing committee member or judge allowed to qualify pilots.

1. Pilots must have a turn-caller and/or lap-counter while flying.

2. Pilots must be current AMA members.

3. Pilots must demonstrate awareness of other aircraft on the course and on the ground. They must be willing to yield to dangerous situations in support of safety, even at the expense of their aircraft.

4. Pilots and Crew Members must conduct themselves in a manner displaying a high standard of good sportsmanship.

SAFETY INSPECTION

1. All aircraft to be entered in an event, including backup aircrafts, must be inspected for safety before the pilot is eligible to compete.

 

TRANSMITTER IMPOUND

1. Prior to any flying, each pilot must turn in his transmitter to the Transmitter Impound area.

2. Immediately prior to your heat, while in the Ready Area, you may retrieve your Transmitter from the Transmitter Impound and keep it until your heat is finished. Immediately return your transmitter to the Impound when you are finished with your heat.

ENGINE START AND TAKEOFF

3. Once in the Ready Area your transmitter and aircraft receiver should be on and your starter positioned to start the engine. Check your flight controls now!

4. The Starter will signal all crews for engine start. You will have two minutes from that signal to start your engine and launch the aircraft.

5. All planes may taxi onto the field at the same time and prepare for takeoff. Only one plane may take off at a time. Fly to the start staging area, which is West of the field above the woods. Prior to and during the start countdown you must fly in a predictable manner in the start staging area and avoid interfering with other aircraft.

THE START

1. At the end of the two-minute start window, all the aircraft should be airborne. As soon as all aircraft are circling in the staging area, the Starter will say, "Ready to Start" and then begin a ten-second countdown. Your goal is to plan your start so that your aircraft arrives at (or just behind) the Start Line when the countdown reaches ZERO.

THE RACE

2. You must complete ten laps of the course around the pylons, starting at the Start/Finish Line and ending at the Start/Finish Line.

3. The minimum altitude for flying is the height of the pylons. Continued flying below the height of the pylons shall be cause for disqualification from the heat.

4. Fly safely and courteously and do not perform any aerobatics. Fly predictably.

5. Any pilot may be disqualified by the Starter for unsafe flying.

6. While you are flying, the turn-caller/lap-counter will count laps for their respective pilots. The counter must count OUT LOUD so the pilot can clearly hear the count.

1. Pylon Judges will record pylon cuts by radio to the scorekeeper, and the Starter will report other violations to the scorekeeper.

2. When you have completed the ten laps, your Caller/Lap-Counter must immediately raise his hand and shout, "Finish". The pilot must pull up and away from the course after the finish and wait for all other aircraft to complete the course.

3. When each aircraft in your heat has completed the event, prepare your aircraft to land. Set up your aircraft in a standard rectangular landing pattern and land.

 

4. Event officials will advise you of dead sticks or other landing priorities. If you are on final and are made aware of a priority landing, go around.

 

5. Once your aircraft is on the ground, allow your crew to retrieve the aircraft, and return your transmitter to the Impound area.

SAFETY

1. Consideration of safety for spectators, event personnel, and others is of the utmost importance in this event. Any unsportsmanlike conduct or hazardous flying over a controlled spectator area will be cause for disqualification from that heat, and may be cause for disqualification from the event.

2. Walking across the event course during the event is strictly forbidden. If an

aircraft crashes during the event, no one shall be allowed to investigate the site

until the event is over and all pilots have landed.

1. If radio problems or flutter are being experienced, the pilot must land the aircraft

immediately.

6. Any aircraft involved in a midair collision or hit by debris from any midair collision will be immediately grounded and receive a zero for that event. If the aircraft are repaired, they must be inspected before flying again.

2. Pilots, Turn-Callers, Starter, Scorekeeper, Pylon Judges and Helpers will all wear protective helmets as prescribed by the AMA.

SCORING

1. Heats of up to four airplanes, with points awarded after each heat as follows:

4 points for first place,

3 points for second place,

2 points for third place,

1 point for fourth place.

PYLON JUDGES

2. Each pylon judge will watch to see that each aircraft goes the distance past the pylon pole before turning back. The aircraft does not have to go around the pylon if it has gone the distance. Report any cuts immediately to the scorekeeper.

PENALTIES

1. Dead Line Violation - At no time may you fly across the Dead Line… the near edge of the runway or its extension to the right and left.

One Dead Line Violation = Loss of one finish position.

Second Dead Line Violation = Disqualification

 

1. Pylon Cut – You must fly around the pylons. If you do not completely pass a pylon before turning, you will be assessed a Pylon Cut.

One Pylon Cut = Loss of one finish position.

Two Pylon Cuts = Disqualification.

2. Gross Pylon Cut – When, during a heat, you turn to the opposite side of the course a long way from the immediate vicinity of a pylon (intentional cut).

Gross Pylon Cut = Disqualification.

3. Start Cut – You must fly a relatively straight line from the flying-start staging area to the Start line at the start of the heat. A Start Cut penalty will be incurred (1) if an aircraft makes any sudden turns or aerobatic maneuvers on its way to the Start line during the 10-second countdown or (2) if the aircraft passes the Start line ahead of the official start signal. The only legal way to keep from passing the Start line too soon is to throttle back and slow down.

Start Cut = Loss of one finish position. 

4. Gross Start Cut – A Gross Start Cut occurs when you reach the first pylon prior to the start signal.

Gross Start Cut = Disqualification

3. Place points remain the same regardless of the actual number of airplanes flying in the heat. In a two-airplane heat, first place is still 4 points and second place is 3 points. If only one airplane remains in the air at the end of ten laps, the pilot receives 4 points.

4. The winner of the event is the contestant who has accumulated the most points after the conclusion of all heats. If there is a tie, the place will be given to the pilot with fewest penalties for the three heats. If there is still a tie, the pilots have a fly off to determine the winner.

TROPHY EVENT OPTION

1. At the discretion of the Starter, a Trophy Event may be held after the completion of the Heat Events.

The four aircraft with the most points at the end of the heat flying will be eligible to advance to the Trophy Event. If any of the top four aircraft are unable to participate in the Trophy Event, their points standing will be skipped and the next eligible point winner will be substituted.

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