Sailplane Contest Rules for 1999
by Tom Hunt
NEAC is trying out a new class of LMR (limited motor run)
electric sailplane contest this year at the AMA National
Championships. It is called Sport Electric Sailplane. The basic
idea behind it is to offer a class which does not require lots of
$$$$ to enter. A certain amount of skill will still be required
to win ... but skill does not always accompany deep pockets, and
vice versa.
The event will be run similar to the existing Class A
sailplane (event # 610). The cell count is limted to 7 cells, and
the event is a precision duration event with an optional spot
landing. The changes that make this event different are as
follows:
-- Models limted to 100" span or less.
-- Control: RES(rudder/elevator/spoiler) only in addition to
motor cotrol.
-- Ailerons can be used as spoilers (both "up"), however they
cannot be used as ailerons.
-- Motor run time: 2 minutes.
-- Flight time: 10 minutes (includes motor run time).
Although not the way I wanted to see it, the motor can be
turned on or off at the modeler's discretion during the first 2
minutes only, after that point if the motor is run, the round is
"zeroed". A gliding flight of 8 minutes follows.
Intent: The original Class A even was originally conceived
many years ago when electric power systems were rather feeble. 45
seconds was deemed a sufficient amount of time to launch the
model to "winch" height. With the advent of Cobalt brush and
brushless motors, 45 secs puts these models nearly into orbit.
Giving everyone a chace to get their models to the limit of
their vision was the only way to "normalize" the competition.
Shortening the motor run time would only cause the competitor to
spend more money on better motors that could take even higher
currents. A run-time handicap based on motor type was deemed to
be too difficult to institute because of the wide variety of
motors avaiable.
As propsed by NEAC the open window of 2 minutes does nothing
to separate the "wimpy" systems fromt the big $$ ones. It still
will get everyone to the limit of their vision, but there is no
handicap avaialbe for inexpensive systems.
If one was to only let the motor be turned "on" once and
"off" once (at full throttle) in the 2 minute window ... then
some "handicap" would be avaiable. An "expensive" high current
motor would be at a disadvantage as the competitor would be
forced to turn off the motor, say, at the 30 second mark and be
required then to make a 9:30 flight, whereas the "wimpy" ferrite
system could plod along, using up the entire 2 minutes to achieve
an "uncomfortable altitude" and then only make an 8 minute
flight.
Obviously these contests are more of an "eyesight" and energy
management event than a thermal duration contest, however that's
just semantics ... maybe we'll just call it 7 cell "CAG" (climb
and glide).
I will be running the first LMR sailplane event at Calverton
by the NEAC rules (2 minute discretionary run time). The second
contest will be by my "modified rules" (only one ON and one OFF
in 2 minutes). We will then alternate these rules throughout the
series.
I look forward to your comments, AFTER we run at least one of
each.