[SteveD]

Haveing just returned from my first scale contest I must say I had a very enjoyable time and learned a great deal .The only disapointing area is this 10 minute rule.When did this rule come into existence anyways ,when everyone was flying .60 size models?How can for example 1/4 scale Jenny fly eleven maneuvers at "scale speed" flying in a "realistic manner"through a "realistic traffic pattern"? I would say as the rules are written it can't be done,you'd get zero'd every time.Sure an Extra 300 can do it,but what about WW1 types.The guys at Top Gun have addressed this problem and gives each competetor "15 MINUTES" to accomplish their flight.Come on guys lets get with it and change this rule to 15 minutes.Its not going to make much difference in the length of each round and its going to lead to much more "scale flying" and not this racing and half circuits inbetween "maneuver starting now" and "maneuver complete"...Steve

[JimMcIntyre]

I'm not aware of the original reason for the 10 min. limitation but, I can only guess that this was as a result of many dead passes at an event where there were many participants....

Why not make a suggestion to the committee to extend this limit to 15 minutes? I will support it for the same reasons you suggest.

[SteveD]

I will do that Jim,we have a guy here Kevin McGrath on the committe I do believe.It would take a lot of stress of the pilot and make it a more scale like flying instead of air racing ...thanks for any support..Steve

[craigk]

wellllll - my flights were only 5 minutes each - but like Steve said you can't compare a Fokker DR1 to a Sukhoi 26 for flight characteristics.

One option to speed the time up os to allow ganging or combining manoeuvers

ie-
you have take off
you also have straight flight out and procedure turn.

so - a lot of time could be saved by combining these three into one activity by the contestant.

do the judges really need a dead pass between elements?

now don't get me wrong I know this isn't aerobatics, but for a few of the elements, the judges shouldn't need a the two minutes between elements to discuss the merits of it.
think about it - straight flight out -
procedure turn
one horrible, er horizontal roll

but the experience at the NOOSE was great
and it did give me a better feel for SCALE events

but this documentation thing : :

[JimMcIntyre]

I'm on the committee as well, and will vote in favor provided no sound rebuttal is submitted (I can;t foresee one) ... I just think these suggestions have more merit if heard directly from the competitors affected.
Personlly, I've never needed the entire 10 minutes for my routines butcna recall situations where I would have liked the flexibility of a few more dead passes to work out a trim situation.

[JimMcIntyre]

Originally Posted by craigk

but this documentation thing : :

What's your issue with documentation? :

[craigk]

What's your issue with documentation?

I have no issue just being a PITA to the cd that's all

- I need to spend the time to just do it

pretty hard to find a full size purples& silver Su 26 with a blue and yellow flame job on the cowl

[JimMcIntyre]

Originally Posted by craigk

pretty hard to find a full size purples& silver Su 26 with a blue and yellow flame job on the cowl

Ah... the old "cart before the horse issue".

Best practice is to gather documentation, then build/finish to match.

This can be a very rewarding part of the "journey". I've met some very interesting people and uncovered some very interesting facts and history including some mysteries in my attempts to gather documentation. Every aircraft has a story and, when you're forced to recover the documentation, you often uncover much much more.

[nony]

I have watched quite a few scale contests, and judged in one...I never saw anyone come even close to using up their allotted time and this includes everything from Sopwiths to F-15's.. As mentioned above, it may be a matter of making your flight sequence as efficient as possible.

You also have to consider if judges will be able to maintain the same level of attention in the 14th minute. Like it or not, they are all human.

[SteveD]

Your right Wayne,a lot of us were new to this type of event and hence were not in much of a hurry after engine start.My first time I took over 2 minutes from startup to takeoff.I know it can be done in under 10 minutes but in my opinion its not scale like and you have to watch the clock while concentrating on flying.Why not have it 15 or even 12 minutes?It would take the pressure off to rush manuvres and fly short traffic patterns.I think it would improve the quality off the flying.