2009 SWR Carlo contest

Southwest Regionals Eloy, Arizona,

CARLO GODEL MEMORIAL FREE FLIGHT ROCKET POWER MODEL AIRPLANE EVENT RULES

For the Rapier L-1 motor / R-20 event.

Southwest Regionals

Eloy, Arizona,

January 18, 2009

1. General. An R-20 Outdoor Rocket Powered Free Flight model shall be propelled by a single (1) reaction motor of the Rapier L-1 type, with a assembled wingspan and fuselage length not exceeding 20” for either dimension. Maximum unloaded weight (i.e.: minus a live motor) shall not exceed 20 grams. All models shall be of the fixed wing type (no unfolding, deploying and/or rotating wing panels.) Beyond this, all fixed wing formats (delta, tail-less, canard,etc) are permitted. The model does not have to be built by the contestant, hence, the AMA Free Flight “builder of the modeler” rule does not apply. All other standard Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) Free Flight Contest Rules shall be applicable unless otherwise specified.

2. Contestants. The contest is open to all who pay a registration fee of $15 US (or the equivalent in non-US currency) per model. Contestants may either attend the Southwest Regionals in person to fly their model or mail their model in advance to have it flown by a proxy flier. All contestants who will be flying their model in person at the Eloy field - and proxy fliers, who will be flying mailed entries - shall be Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) members in good standing. AMA membership is not required for contestants who will mailing in their entries.

2.1. The registration fee for this particular event is in addition to annual AMA membership dues and all other registration fees that may be imposed upon 2008 Southwest Regionals contestants for other events or general registration. Contestants who are mailing their models MUST include payment and a registration form with their model (if they haven’t already been mailed in advance). Contestants who will be attending the 2008 Southwest Regionals to fly their model in person may pay and register upon arrival. It IS recommended to preregister, however, as motor availability may dictate how many “walk-up” participants can be accommodated.

2.2 The registration fee is non-refundable but may be applied to next years contest if the applicant is unable to send a model after registering or if the model is damaged beyond repair in the shipping process. Unpaid models will NOT be flown. The Event Organizer (Benjamin Nead) is not liable or responsible for financial reimbursement of any model that is damaged while flying or lost if it flies out of sight.

2.3. The registration fee pays for the price of motors used for the timed flights and does not include the price of packaging and postage for returning the model to the owner and/or builder following the contest. Individual accommodations will be made with all participants in weeks subsequent to the contest in regards to decisions pertaining to the returning of models by mail.

3. Flight Day. The scheduled flight day for this event is Sunday, January 18, 2009. If weather forecasts appear to be unsuitable for good flying on that day, the Event Organizer shall consult with the Contest Director (Al Lidberg) to move the flying activities to another day during the 2008 Southwest Regionals (Friday, January 16, 2008 through Monday, January 19, 2008.)

4. Categories. The following category have been established for this year’s contest:

Rapier L-1 motor / R-20:

One (1) flight = Two (2) minutes maximum

Three (3) official flights = Six (6) minutes maximum

Six (6) timed flight attempts used to obtain the three (3) official flights

4.1. A qualified tie-breaking flight may be flown by each of the contestants or proxy fliers who’s models obtains maximum flight times for the three (3) qualifying flights. No maximum time limits will be imposed on these tie-breaking flights.

5. Power Unit Types. Rocket-powered Free Flight models are fitted with one (1) rocket engine of the Rapier L-1 type. All motors shall be provided by the Event Organizer and, for flight-to-flight consistency, sourced from a single production batch provided by a single vendor.No user-provided motors are permitted for this contest.

5.1. Motors for the 2009 event will be 80mN thrust rated Rapier L-1 types manufactured by Dr. Jan Zigmund of Pardubice, Czech Republic, in late summer 2008 and provided by Shorty’s Basement of Marion, Ohio, USA.

6. Power Unit Modifications. The Rapier L-1 motors cannot be modified or altered in any way to produce more power or endurance than provided for in the manufacturer’s standard operating instructions. The Event Organizer and/or proxy fliers will inspect all motors to ensure accurate nozzle alignment prior to ignition.

7. Power Unit Mounting. For safety, all Rapier L-1 motors shall be inserted into a paper and/or cardboard motor mounting tube which will be securely attached to the model. Additionally, a wire retaining clip shall be affixed to the paper/cardboard tube to prevent the motor from slipping out while in flight, effectively preventing the power unit from separating from the model. Violation of this regulation shall be cause for disqualification from the event.

8. Power Unit Ignition. For safety, all Rapier L-1 motors shall be ignited by an electronic igniting wand. Fuses and any ignition methods that involves open flame shall not be permitted.

9. Violations. The Contest Director (CD) may call for a spot check immediately before or after an official flight to determine if the motor is legal and if the model meets the contest rules safety criteria. If it is not in accordance with these rules, that flight will be voided and lost. Any motor/model considered dangerous by the CD may be impounded by the CD until the close of the contest.

10. Launching. Hand launching shall be as specified for all flights. No catapult assisted launching is permitted.

11. Official Flight. An official flight occurs when the model remains in the air for 40 seconds or more. Flights of less than 40 seconds may be declared official at the option of contestant or proxy flier. The contestant’s or proxy flyer’s decision is to be made immediately and cannot be reversed later.

12. Unofficial Flight. An unofficial flight occurs when the flight is of less than 40 seconds duration and if the contestant’s option described in the preceding paragraph is not exercised. When the model collides with another model after timing begins, the contestant or proxy flier shall have the option of declaring the flight to be unofficial. The contestant’s or proxy flier’s decision is to be made immediately and cannot be reversed later. The time of unofficial flights is not recorded. Flights during which parts are dropped are automatically unofficial, as are flights during the official portion of which the model is aided by the flier or by artificial means.

13. Number of Flights. Each contestant shall be allowed a total of six (6) attempts to make three (3) official flights.

13.1. If the contestant’s three (3) official flights total the maximum (ie: two (2) minutes per flight,) each of these contestants shall be allowed one (1) additional attempt to make an official flight of unlimited duration in order to break the tie.

14. Scoring of Flights. Scoring time shall be the total elapsed time of the best three (3) official flight times of the six (6) timed attempts. Additional time breaking flights will be of unlimited duration. Flight duration shall be recorded in seconds, with all fractions of a second dropped. An unofficial flight is scored as zero (0).

15. Safety. Contestants and proxy fliers are required to wear safety goggles, safety glasses, or some sort of suitable eye protective device during the igniting of the motor and the launching of the model.