Man-on-Man Slope Racing Rules
1.
Objective. To provide slope racing for sportsman, advanced
competitors and builders. Make it enjoyable, safe
competition that will be interesting for spectators and
challenging for the contestants yet provide classes where costs
and protests over materials and construction can be minimized.
2.
General. All safety rules and regulations governing the R/C
flier generally apply. There shall be no limitation on the number
of controls. The contestant shall be allowed only one (1) model
per round, but may switch to an alternate model of his/her choice
for any following rounds. All models flown must be safety
inspected by the Contest Director or a CD appointed representative
prior to competition.
2.1
Consideration of safety for spectators, contest personnel, and
contestants is of the utmost importance for this event. Any
conduct by a contestant deemed by the CD to be hazardous will be
cause for immediate disqualification of the contestant from the
event at the discretion of the CD.
3. Model
Aircraft Requirements.
3.1
48 Inch Foamie Class
3.1.1
The model must be an all foam slope glider with exceptions listed
below. This should be considered a sport flyers class, a
place for someone to get started in slope racing without spending
a lot of money. Gliders are commercially available for this
class, and the spirit of low cost and simplicity shall not be
violated. Gliders may be disqualified at the CD’s
discretion for building material violations. Experienced
pilots are encouraged to fly in this class so long as they are
helpful to those less experienced. Pilots may be
disqualified from this class at the CD’s discretion.
3.1.2
Wings shall have a shock absorbing foam leading edge at least 1.0
inch wide, measured chord wise, at the root, and no less than 0.5
inches at the wing tip. The wing leading edges may be covered with
film covering material, (such as Ultracoat, Coverite, Solartex, or
similar), vinyl tape, fiber reinforced vinyl tape or any
combination of the three. Wood, metal, solid plastic, carbon
fiber, Kevlar or any resin impregnated fiber material on or in the
wing leading edges will not be permitted. Batteries must be no
closer than 1 inch from the leading edge at any point. Lead
used for balancing the aircraft must be no closer than 1/2 inch to
the leading edge at any point and must be within 1 inch of the
centerline of the aircraft measured side to side. The
balancing lead must be no closer than 0.25 inches to the surface
of the wing at any point measured top to bottom.
3.1.3
Wing spars of any material are permitted provided they do not
violate the provisions of item 3.1.2 above (not less than 1.0
inches away from leading edge at any point along the span).
Maximum total cross sectional area for spars shall not exceed 1
sq.in. Moveable control surfaces at the wing trailing edge
(ailerons) are not considered part of the total spar cross
section.
3.1.4
Control surfaces, tail and winglets shall be constructed of balsa
or coroplast type material. They may be covered with film
covering material, vinyl tape, fiber reinforced vinyl tape or any
combination of the three. Metal, solid plastic, carbon
fiber, fiberglass cloth, Kevlar or any resin or resin impregnated
fiber covering material on the control surfaces will not be
permitted, except for the saddle area of v-tail designs.
Control rods and control horns can be made from any material so
long as they are rounded with no sharp edges.
3.1.5
The fuselage may have longerons provided their total
cross-sectional area does not exceed 1/2 sq.in. area. The fuselage
may be covered with film covering material, vinyl tape, fiber
reinforced vinyl tape or any combination of the three. Wood,
metal, solid plastic, carbon fiber, Kevlar or any resin
impregnated fiber covering material on the fuselage will not be
permitted, except as follows: Any (fuselage) structure
extending aft of the wing trailing edge for the purpose of
locating one or more tail surfaces may be made of any materials so
long as a tail surface conforming to section 3.1.4 is the aft-most
component by a minimum of one inch behind the extension, and no
sharp or pointed ends are exposed. Gliders not pre-approved by
ASRO may be disqualified at the CD’s discretion for safety
hazard reasons.
3.1.6
No plane shall posses any form of thrust power. Engines, electric
motors, compressed gas or chemical propellants are prohibited.
3.1.7
The maximum allowable wing span shall be 48 inches, unless
otherwise allowed by the CD.
3.1.8
A maximum flying weight of 3 pounds (48 ounces), including
ballast, shall apply.3.1.9 If a glider is damaged in this
class, the pilot may fly any other model that meets the
specifications of this class, including a borrowed one that is
another pilot’s primary entry. Once the pilots’ primary glider
is repaired, that glider may be used again so long as deemed safe
by the contest director.
3.2
Sportsman 60 inch class
3.2.1 Maximum
60 inch wing span, minimum 50”.
3.2.2 Leading
edge of entire wing must be made of shock absorbing foam material.
Width of this foam shall be 20% of cord, measured from the leading
edge back, at any point over the entire wing span except that
portion of the wing that is over, under or in the fuselage.
Maximum width of this foam does not have to exceed 1.5 inches.
Example 1: Cord at wing root measures 5 inches, leading edge must
be at least 1 inch shock absorbing foam at wing root. Wing tip is
3 inches, shock absorbing foam must be at least 0.6 inches at the
wing tip. Example 2: Cord is 10 inches, leading edge must at least
be 1.5 inches (even though 20% of 10 is 2 inches, 1.5 is max
required). The foam leading edge portion shall be covered as
described in Section 3.1.2. The remaining portions of the
wing behind the leading edge, may be of any material(s), including
the control surfaces.
3.2.3 The
fuselage may be made of any material, except the forward 1.5
inches (minimum), which shall be of resilient foam with a
compressibility
equal to or less than 3.0 LB EPP,
(including EPE or similar materials).
There must be at least 1.5 solid inches of this foam forward of
any balance weight, battery, longeron or any other hard items or
materials.
3.2.4 No
spar restrictions
3.2.5 No
control surface area or control surface material restrictions,
other than listed above for this class.
3.2.6 Ballast
and balance weight must be mounted internally.
3.4
Conventional 60 inch class
3.4.1 No
shock absorbing foam gliders are allowed in this class. Foam
leading edges or nose are not allowed. Only wood or
composite construction allowed.
3.4.2 Maximum
wing span is 60 inches, minimum 50”.
3.5
Conventional Unlimited Class
3.5.1 No
shock absorbing foam gliders are allowed in this class. Foam
leading edges or nose are not allowed. Only wood or
composite construction allowed.
3.5.2 Minimum
wingspan shall be 72 inches.
4.
Contest Rules
4.1
Pilot duties – All pilots or designated replacements
shall work as base B judge during the event. Exact
assignments will be posted prior to the start of the first round.
Generally after a pilot completes a heat race and lands, the pilot
or designated replacement reports to base B to judge for the 2nd
heat after the one flown. For example, pilots in heat one
judge for heat three. Pilots in the next to the last heat
judge for the first heat. So if there are six heats, the pilots in
heat five judge for the heat one. The number of pilots in
each heat may differ. The CD shall modify the assignments to
fit the situation. If a pilot or designated replacement is
late for a base judge assignment, the pilot receives TWO (2)
penalty points.
4.2
Heat Race – Pilots will be given the signal to launch.
The race will use a flying start, similar to a sailing start in
yachting. After the First Time Mark (FTM), any pilot may enter the
course to signify the beginning of the heat race. FTM times will
be set by the CD prior to the first round, but may be changed
throughout the competition between heats to accommodate various
changing conditions. General guidelines for FTM are 30
seconds. For Unlimited class, 60 seconds for FTM is typical.
4.2.1
Pilots shall fly the heat race that all turns shall be away
from the slope except during landing. The flying pattern is a
figure 8, i.e., turn away from the slope, stay outside and cross
to the inside around the half way point, traffic permitting.
Stay inside during the approach to the turn and again, turn away
from the slope.
4.2.2
Starter and Lap Counters shall stand at the pylon
designated as Base A. The Starter is responsible for keeping track
of the leader. If the leader is passed, the Lap Counter of
the passing plane may be asked if his plane is passing for the
lead, or just making up a lap.
4.2.3
Judges shall stand at the pylon designated as Base B.
4.2.4
There shall be 8 laps per heat race, that’s 16 legs with 15
turns. Winner is the first to complete the 8 laps. MoM is not a
timed event. The accuracy of the lap count is critical.
4.2.5
A pilot may not re-launch or retrieve a downed glider once the
countdown has started. The pilot must wait until the heat is
over and the CD signifies the course is clear before retrieving a
downed glider. This shall be considered a DNF.
4.2.6
If a pilot does not launch at the start of the heat the pilot will
receive a DNS.
4.2.7
If a pilot started the heat and drops out of the heat for any
reason including a collision, the pilot will a DNF. This
includes if a pilot launches, but crashes before crossing the
start line at the first time mark, this pilot will receive a DNF.
4.2.8 If all
planes go down prior to or during the heat race for lack of wind
or lift, the heat race will be restarted when conditions are
correct.
4.2.9
The Contest Director, Safety Officer or Starter can abort the heat
race at any time when safety is an issue. Examples are: a)
Glider disrupting pilots, judges, or bystanders. b) Another
flying object, including wild life enters the course or its close
proximity.
4.2.10
If a racer cuts (i.e. turns more than 90 degrees before the Base
and does not complete the full lap), he is penalized and has to do
an extra lap. If a racer cuts twice on the same heat race, he is
scored as a DNF. A racer can be disqualified for erratic movement,
poor sportsmanship, or if he is deemed to be dangerous (i.e.
flying over the pits, over the Judges, Pilots, Lap Counters, or
bystanders). Any pilot who is disqualified will no longer continue
in the contest.
5.
Race Course - The race course shall generally be 80 meters for
48” Foam and 60” Sportsman, and 100 meters for 60” Composite
from Base A to Base B. When possible, Unlimited Class Base A and
Base B shall be at least 120 meters but no longer than 200 meters
apart.
6.
Contest Officials
6.1
Contest Director
6.2
Alternate Contest Director
6.3
Safety Officer(s)
6.4
Base B Judges – Are Assigned.
6.5
Lap Counters – Lap counters shall be volunteers.
7.
Scoring – Heat race points are awarded as follows:
-
First
Place – One (1) point
-
Second
Place – Two (2) points
-
Third
Place – Three (3) points
-
Fourth
Place – Four (4) points
-
Did
Not Finish (DNF) –Max Number of Pilots in a Round per Class
+ One, not to exceed Five (5) points
-
Did
Not Start (DNS) –Max Number of Pilots in a Round per Class +
Two, not to exceed Six (6) points.
(Did not launch)
Example:
There are two rounds of 48” Foam, Round One with 4 pilots and
Round Two with 3 pilots. If a pilot in Round 2 gets a DNF
(crashes on course), he will receive 5 points (4+1).
Winner
of a class is the pilot who receives the least amount of points.
8. The
Racing Matrix:
8.1 A
racing matrix will be defined and it will assign pilot numbers
into flight groups so that each pilot will eventually fly against
each other.
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