Contest Directors should note that Phil Ball is preparing a
standard sheet for the return of results by email. He will expect all
results to be submitted in the standard format in order to keep
collation straightforward and reduce the possibility of errors.
The team trials venues have had to be switched due to
military use of Salisbury Plain on the first trials date. Venues will
now be:
1st
Trials
12 and 13 September at Sculthorpe
2nd
Trials
26 and 27 September at Salisbury Plain
3rd
Trials
10 and 11 October at Barkston Heath
This year an entry form will be issued for trials entries and will be
available well in advance of the first trials.
Those who fly, or are intending to fly, the E30 electric
class may be aware that the only batteries available that fit the rule
specifications (50 mAh) are Nicad types. Recently suggestions have
arisen that these cells are now illegal to use and sell. This
suggestion is 'incorrect'. The Government/EU regulations that now cover
these products came into force in September 2008. They state that Nicad
batteries placed on the market after and including September 26th 2008
must comply to the stated limits on content of Cadmium – not greater
than 0.002%. Those placed on the market before the above date only have
to comply with the 1994 regulations.
In short, batteries complying with the 1994 regulations, in the
possession of importers/retailers before September the 26th 2008, are
legally permitted to be sold and used.
Notwithstanding the above the FFTC are aware that, despite the very low
numbers of cells required for use, the present supply will eventually
dry up and there will be no replacements. As a result they are now
looking at/testing different types of batteries (Nimh and Lithium) so
that the E30 rules can be altered to suit for the 2010 season.
Estimates suggest that there will be a sufficient supply of existing
Nicad types to last until at least the end of the 2009 season.
We recently published the rules for the “Experimental”
extra classes at this years Stonehenge Cup event. After receiving a lot
of comment on these – most of it very positive – we have realised that
some small changes need to be made to F1B-UK and F1C-UKclasses. F1A-UK
remains unaltered and is reprinted below for completeness, together
with the B and C changes.
F1A-UK Glider
Surface
Area………………………………………………….. 32 – 34 dm 2
Maximum
length of towline loaded by 5 kg ……….……………….. 60 m
There
is no minimum weight requirement.
Tow Hooks are restricted to permanently fixed, non-moving types that do
not permit any movement of the models surfaces, either while connected
to the towline or after launch. Models are restricted to fixed
non-moving surfaces – i.e. multiple-rudder movement, variable incidence
tails or wings, or any other 'moving trim functions' are not permitted.
A once-off rudder movement on launch is permitted, as is any form of DT.
The first change is to the F1B-UK rubber class. As first worded it
could be read as not allowing 'folding props' and permitting 'instant'
prop release systems; obviously this was not intended. As a consequence
it now reads:
F1B-UK Rubber
Surface
Area………………………………………………….. 17 – 19 dm 2
Maximum
weight of motor(s) lubricated…………… ……………….. 40 g
There is no minimum weight requirement.
Models are restricted to fixed non-moving surfaces and folding,
freewheel or feathering propeller blades. Auto-rudder, variable
incidence tails or wings, variable pitch or diameter props, delayed or
remote prop releases, or any another 'moving trim functions' are not
permitted. Any form of DT is permitted.
The second change is to the F1C-UK power class. As first worded the
area limit was smaller than intended. It now reads:
F1C-UK Power
Surface
Area 25 – 37.5 dm 2
Maximum
swept volume of motor(s) 2.5 cm 3
Maximum
duration of motor run 10 seconds from release of model
There
is no minimum weight requirement.
Motors are restricted to plain bearing types using fixed (non-folding
propellers) – fuel is not restricted and pressurised supply is
permitted. Models are restricted to fixed non-moving surfaces – i.e.
auto-rudder, variable incidence tails or wings, or any other 'moving
trim functions' are not permitted. Any form of DT is permitted.
The recently distributed paper titled “Technology and the
FAI”, contains proposed future FAI class rules. Versions of these rules
(detailed above) are also being used at this years Stonehenge Cup
additional “Experimental” event. The eagle eyed may notice that these
two sets of rules are not the same – this is intentional.
To explain: The rules contained in the Technology and the FAI paper are
loose examples of what 'might' be implemented to achieve the objectives
of the paper. They are not intended to be final rules. Secondly these
suggestions depend on reducing the performance of the current FAI class
models before adding equivalent 'low-tech' alternatives.
The FFTC are keen to see if such low-tech alternatives will work in
practice, hence the experimental introduction alongside the current
classes at the Stonehenge Cup. However, these Stonehenge Cup low-tech
rules are intended to be equivalent to the current full specification.
This, plus the fact that they are first 'real' implementation of
suggested proposals, is the reason that the two rules sets are
different. The important part of the experiment is to evaluate the
comparison, not to finalise any exact rules.
