General
Rules
Definition |
| 1. |
Definition of a Radio Controlled
Glider: An aeromodel without any propulsion device and which
generates lift solely through aerodynamic forces acting on
surfaces remaining fixed. Models with variable geometry or
area must comply with the specification when the surfaces
are in maximum and minimum mode. The model must be controlled
by the pilot on the ground using radio control connection.
Any variation of geometry or area must be actuated at distance
by radio. |
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| Model |
| 2. |
Characteristics of Radio controlled Gliders; |
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a) |
The mass of a model shall not exceed 5 kg. |
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b) |
The wing area of a model shall not exceed 150
dm2. |
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c) |
The wing-loading of a model shall not be outside
the range 12-75 g/dm2. |
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d) |
Minimum radius of fuselage nose 7,5 mm. |
| 3 |
A competitor may add or remove ballast during
a competition, but the total mass and the wing-loading of
the model, including the ballast, shall not exceed the limits
given above. All ballast must be carried internally and fastened
securely within the airframe. |
| 4 |
The competitor may use three models in a contest,
unless otherwise stated for a particular event. |
| 5 |
The competitor may combine the parts of the
models during the contest, provided the resulting model used
for flight, conforms to the rules and that the parts have
been checked before the start of the contest. |
| 6 |
No fixed or retractable arresting device (eg.
bolt or saw-tooth-like protruberance) is allowed to slow down
the model during landing. The towhook may not be wider than
5 mm, nor may it protrude more than 15 mm below the fuselage. |
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| Radio |
| 10. |
Models must be controlled by means of a radio
that operates on one of the frequencies specified by SAMAA.
(See SAMAA Approved Frequencies). |
| 11. |
The radio shall be able to operate simultaneously
with other equipment at 10kHz spacing. Where the radio does
not meet this requirement, the working bandwidth (max. 50
kHz), shall be specified by the competitor. |
| 12. |
Any device for transmission of information from
the model to the pilot is prohibited, except in F3H or Cross-Country
flying. |
| 13. |
Competitor (pilot), must operate his radio equipment
personally. The competitor is disqualified if the model is
controlled by anyone other than the competitor. |
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| Site |
| 14. |
Thermal contests shall be held on a site having
reasonable level terrain which will minimise the possibility
of slope and wave soaring. |
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| Competition Director |
| 16. |
Every competition shall be under the control
of a Competition Director (CD). For a National competition
the CD shall be approved by the Model Gliding Association
committee, and should have a good working knowledge of the
rules. He shall have a copy of the official rules of the competition
immediately available. |
| 17. |
The CD is responsible for ensuring that all
matters relating to the competition are arranged and carried
out in accordance with the relevant rules, and he shall adjudicate
all disputes except for official protests, which shall be
adjudicated by the jury. (See Disputes And Jury below). |
| 18. |
The CD may delegate his responsibilities and
authority in respect of any specific matter to another official. |
| 19. |
The CD may, at his sole discretion, stop or
suspend flying because of adverse conditions. e.g weather. |
| 20. |
It is recommended that the CD establish in advance
limits on wind speed for all usable wind directions and for
each type of competition, based on knowledge of local conditions. |
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| Safety |
| 21 |
Models should be scrutinized by organizers before
being allowed to make an official flight (and after any crash
or heavy landing) and if, in opinion of the CD a model is
not safe (for example, because of structural weakness or poor
control linkages), it may be barred from flying until acceptable
repairs or modifications have been completed. |
| 22. |
If in the opinion of the CD, any competitor
flies his model in a dangerous manner, the CD may order the
competitor to land and disqualify him from the competition. |
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Index |
| Launching |
| 24. |
The launch of the glider may be by one of the
following means: |
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a) |
Hand towing — Line must not exceed
150m when tested under a tension of 2kg. |
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b) |
Electrical Powered Winch — The line
length must not exceed 400m, except for the F3H and F4C events
in which case the line length must not exceed 600m. (See Winch
Specifications). |
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c) |
Hand Operated Pulleys — Must not
exceed 150m when tested under a tension of 2kg. One end of
the towline must be attached to the ground during launch. |
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d) |
Bungee — 150m bungee unstretched
and with maximum 50m extensible section. (eg surgical tubing) |
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e) |
By hand — For Hand Launched Glider
class. |
| 25. |
Parachute/Pennant. The towline must be equipped
with a pennant having a minimum area of 5dm2. A parachute
5 dm2 (minimum area), may be substituted for the pennant provided
it is not attached to the model and remains inactive until
the release of the cable. |
| 26. |
All launching shall take place in an area as
designated by the CD with provisions made for launching into
the wind. Unless otherwise specified, all launches will be
made with equipment approved by the organiser or CD. |
| 27. |
Any model launched prior to the start of the
group’s working time must be landed as soon as possible
and relaunched within the working time. Failure to comply
will result in cancellation of the competitor’s score
for that round. |
| 28. |
After release of the model from the towline,
the tow-ring must be retrieved without delay by hand to the
winch. |
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| Power Winches |
| 29. |
Winches shall be set up and remain in a launching
area designated by the organizer. |
| 30. |
Winches may be supplied by the organizer or
may be supplied by the team. |
| 31. |
Each team will provide and is responsible for
its own line retrieval. |
| 32. |
To prevent lines from fouling on the ground,
immediately after release from the model, every towline must
be wound down to turnaround. Failure to do so will allow the
Contest Director to add/subtract a time penalty to the flight
time, typically 5 minutes. |
| 33. |
More than one team may share the use of the
same winch |
| 34. |
A power winch must not be operated when its
towline is lying on the ground and across other towlines. |
| 35. |
During complete rewinding of the line on the
winch, the parachute must be removed or deactivated. |
| 36. |
Upwind turn-around devices, which must be used,
are limited to a maximum height of 500 mm, measured from the
ground to the centre of the pulley. The distance to the turnaround
shall not exceed the line lengths stipulated under Electrical
Powered Winch, 24b above. |
| 37. |
Release of the model must occur within approximately
3 m of the winch. |
| 38. |
Overall construction of the winch shall be such
as to guarantee that no part can detach during operation.
The projection of any part of the winch during operation,
leads to cancellation of the flight and no further attempt
is permitted. |
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| Landing |
| 39. |
Before the contest commences, the CD shall allocate
a landing circle to each competitor, normally decided by his/her
flying order. It is the competitors responsibility to ensure
that he/she always uses the correct circle for landing. The
centre of the designated landing circle is referred to as
the “spot”. |
| 40. |
During the landing process only the pilot and
his time keeper are allowed in the landing circle, with the
exception of the following paragraph. |
| 41. |
After landing, competitors may retrieve their
models before the end of their working time providing that
they do not impede other competitors or models in their group. |
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| Scoring |
| Thermal Scoring |
| 42. |
There are five types of scoring, depending on
the event being flown — the exact calculations are discussed
under the different disciplines. Scores are allocated as follows
— |
| |
a) |
Duration — One point is awarded
for each full second from the time the model is free to the
time the model comes to rest, up to a specified maximum. Points
are deducted for each full second flown over the specified
maximum. |
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b) |
Landings — Points are awarded for
landing, depending on the distance from the spot. The distance
is measured from the model’s nose to the spot. Landing
within a 1m radius awards 100 points and every additional
metre decreases the total by 5 points up to 15m which is equal
to 30 points. |
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c) |
Distance — The pilot with the most
laps wins and is awarded 1000 points. The rest of the group
receive scores in proportion to their distances. |
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d) |
Speed — The pilot returning the
fastest time receives 1000 points, the remainder in (inverse)
proportion to their times. |
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e) |
Scale — A pilot is awarded two scores,
one for static display and the other for his flying skill.
The scoring is based on K-factors, a weighted number, which
is allocated depending on the complexity and skill required
to perform a given task. |
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Note: By definition, the Distance and
Speed course is demarcated by two bases, A and B, set at a
distance of 150m apart. Flying from A to B or B to A is referred
to as a lap. |
| Slope Soaring |
| 43. |
Slope Soaring has four main events which require
scoring and are scored according to the last two methods discussed
above with minor modifications to suit the slope. They are |
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a) |
Aerobatics |
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b) |
Scale (PSS and Glider) |
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c) |
Speed (Time Trials) |
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d) |
Pylon Racing |
| 44. |
The order of priority of the events at a National
Slope Championship will be decided by the Contest Director.
The organizers should make every effort to ensure that, if
the weather conditions should deteriorate and the time available
seems likely to be insufficient to complete the full schedule
of rounds for each event, the use of the available time is
progressively shifted toward the higher priority events. |
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| Definition of an Attempt
and an Official Flight |
| 45. |
An attempt starts when the model is released
from the hands of the competitor or his helper(s), under the
tension of the tow line or if F3E, with motor running. |
| 46. |
The competitor is entitled to a new working
time period at the end of the task if |
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a) |
His model or launching cable, whilst attached
to the model, collides with another model in flight, with
a person while being launched or strikes another launching
cable. Should the flight continue in a normal manner, the
competitor may demand that the flight be accepted as official,
even if the demand is made at the end of the flight. |
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b) |
The flight has not been judged by the fault
of judges or time-keepers. |
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c) |
In the case of an unexpected event (outside
of competitor’s control) duly witnessed by the official
judges or time keepers, the flight has been hindered or aborted. |
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d) |
The pilot can prove that he was unable to perform
a flight due to outside interference. |
| 47. |
In such cases the flight may be repeated at
any time decided by the CD. |
| 48. |
A midair collision entitles a pilot to a reflight.
A different model may be used. |
| 49. |
Official flight. The official flight is the
last flight performed during the working time. |
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| Cancellation of a Flight
and/or Disqualification |
| 50. |
The flight is cancelled and a zero score recorded
if the competitor used a model or a line or launching device
not conforming with above specifications. In case of intentional
or flagrant violation of the rules, in the judgment of the
CD, the competitor may be disqualified. |
| 51. |
The flight in progress is annulled and a zero
score ercorded if the model loses any part during the launch
or the flight, except where this occurs as the result of a
mid-air collision with another model or tow line. The losing
of a part during landing (i.e. in the contact with the ground),
is not taken into account. |
| 52. |
If the model touches either the pilot or his
helpers during landing manoeuvres, no landing points will
be given. |
| 53. |
The flight is cancelled and recorded as zero
score if, during the landing, some part of the model does
not come to rest within 100 m measured from the centre of
the competitor’s designated landing circle. |
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| Disputes and Jury |
| 54. |
A jury of three independent and competent persons
shall be appointed for a National competition. |
| 55. |
Any competitor may lodge a protest, which must
be accompanied by the deposit specified by the organizing
body for the event. |
| 56. |
The jury shall adjudicate the dispute, and if
the protest is upheld, the deposit shall be returned. If the
protest is rejected, the deposit shall be paid to the organizing
body. |
| 57. |
Any protest must be lodged within an hour of
the completion of the round of competition to which it relates,
but if the round is the last event of that day, and if the
competition is due to continue on the next day, the protest
may be lodged within one hour of the official starting time
on the following day. |
| 58. |
The decision of the jury on any matter shall
be final. |
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| Organisation of Contests |
| Transmitter Control |
| 59. |
The CD will not start the contest until all
competitors have handed over ALL transmitters to the organisers. |
| 60. |
All transmitters to be used during the contest
must be checked and placed in a compound kept under observation
of a special official. The official will issue the transmitter
to the competitors only at the beginning of their preparation
time. |
| 61. |
During the whole preparation time the officials
will watch the competitors to prevent their switching on the
transmitters before the preceding competitors have finished
their flights. As soon as the flight has ended the competitor
must immediately return his transmitter to the official at
the transmitter compound. |
| 62. |
All unauthorized transmissions during the contest
will result in automatic disqualification of the offender
from the entire contest, and render him liable to further
penalties. |
| 63. |
The organiser must endeavor to provide a radio
monitor for the purpose of detecting possible interferences. |
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| Obstacles |
| 64. |
Sighting apparatus, winches or any device constituting
an obstacle, should be placed on base A and base B, a minimum
distance of 3 metres from the safety line for Task C, and
a minimum distance of 13 metres from the centre line for Task
B. Apparatus for judging the safety line in Task C shall be
placed a minimum distance of 5 metres from base A or B outside
the course. |
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| Organisation of the Flying |
| Flying Order |
| 65. |
The flying order for the qualifying rounds shall
be arranged by the organizing body in accordance with the
transmitter frequencies in use to permit as many simultaneous
flights as possible. The draw is organised in such a way that,
as far as possible, there are no competitors of the same Nation/Club
in the same group. |
| 66. |
The flying order shall be determined by a matrix
system which minimizes situations where competitors fly together
more than once. |
| 67. |
Late entry to the contest shall only be accepted
if a vacant position is available in the matrix. |
| 68. |
A contest number, derived from the matrix, shall
be allocated to each competitor and shall be retained throughout
the qualifying rounds. |
| 69. |
A minimum of 4 and preferably 8 or 10 competitors
should be scheduled in each group. |
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| Flying in Groups |
| 70. |
Competitors are entitled to a preparation time
period before the starter gives the order to count off the
working time. |
| 71. |
The working time allowed to each competitor
in a group is as determined in the discipline being flown. |
| 72. |
The CD shall indicate very positively the start
of the group’s working time, both audibly and visibly. |
| 73. |
A warning of impending end of working time will
be given. This should be a audible and/or visible signal. |
| 74. |
The end of the group’s working time shall
be very positively indicated by the CD both audibly and visibly,
as for the start. |
| 75. |
Any model airborne at the end of the working
time must land as soon as possible. |
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| Organizer Responsibility |
| 76. |
It is the responsibility of the organisers to; |
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a) |
Provide sufficient personnel to ensure that all rules are
observed and that the correct distances are measured. |
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b) |
Control all frequencies assigned to the competing teams
to ensure that each team has a clear frequency. |
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c) |
Ensure that contest notices contain a description of the
launching equipment to be available and its general capabilities. |
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d) |
For F3H events, provide at least one month prior to the
start of the event, a map to each team describing the course
area and pertinent features. |
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| Advisory Information |
| Organisational Requirements |
| 77. |
The organisers should ensure that each competitor
has no doubt about the precise second that the group’s
working time starts and finishes. |
| 78. |
Visual indication may be by the raising of a
flag, coloured board or flashing lights situated near the
contest control. |
| 79. |
Audible indication may be by automobile horn,
bell or by public address system etc. It should be remembered
that sound does not travel far against the wind, therefore
the positioning of the noise source should be given some thought. |
| 80. |
To be a fair contest, the minimum number of
flyers in any one group is three. As the contest proceeds,
some competitors may be obliged to drop out for various reasons.
When a group occurs with three (or fewer), competitors in
it, the organisers should move up a competitor from a later
group, ensuring, if possible, that he/she has not flown against
any of the others in previous round and of course that his/her
transmitter frequency is compatible. |
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| Time-keepers’ Duties |
| 81. |
Organisers should make sure that all who are
to act as time-keepers are fully aware of just how important
their duties are and to make certain that they are conversant
with the rules, particularly those that require quick positive
action in order not to jeopardize a competitor’s chances
in the contest. |
| 82. |
Each Pilot shall be responsible for returning
his the transmitter to transmitter control, and for handing
in his score sheet, as soon as possible after the end of the
flight. |
| 83. |
The organisers should ensure that an official
is nominated to note any competitor who overflies the end
of the group’s working time and to time his/her excess
flight time. |
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| General |
| Model Gliding Association (MGA) |
| 84. |
Model Gliding in South Africa is managed under
the auspices of SAMAA by the Model Gliding Association which
has a representative for each discipline. All queries regarding
gliding should be addressed to the Chairman or Secretary of
the MGA. |
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| SA Records |
| 85. |
All SA gliding records are registered by the
MGA. |
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| National Contests |
| 86. |
For a contest to be adjudged a National Contest,
there must be a minimum of 5 competitors in a particular class.
In the year preceding the National Contest there will be at
least 3 contests held to a similar format, each with a minimum
of 5 entries. |
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