Competition Rules

BATS Thermal and Electric Glider Competition Rules 2019

General Rules – applicable to all competitions.

1) The decision of the Contest Director for the evening on any dispute will be final and binding.

2) 3 competitors is the minimum number to constitute a competition.

3) Pilots and timers will stand at the designated pilot’s box when flying, moving to the landing circle when ready to land.

4) Pilots will not enter the landing circle to retrieve models until it is checked clear and no other models are waiting to land. Models will be retrieved and the pilot will clear the circle without delay.

5) No flying zones i.e. over the houses, low over the tennis courts and car park will be observed.

6) For Thermal Competitions the first arrivals at the field should collect the bungees from the Recreation Centre and set them depending on the prevailing wind direction.

7) Competition flights have precedence over Sport flights on competition evenings. Sport fliers using the “Park Fly” area should be aware of glider activity and avoid conflict with gliders landing or using a bungee launch.

8) A peg board will be used for ALL pilots flying on 35 MHz frequencies and competition pilots will have precedence in the use of any frequency. 2.4 GHz users do not need to use the pegboard.

9) In any one event you may use more than one model, so you can choose a model best suited to the prevailing conditions, or if you happen to damage a model, you may use a reserve.

Scoring – Open Glider and Open Electric Soaring:

A score sheet will be provided for each competition. Competitors must check that their name is entered and frequency number. Competitors are responsible for the completion of their part of the score sheet: Flight time in minutes and seconds, and landing bonus if applicable.

No penalty for over flying. Sums will be done later by the League Controller.

Top scorer for each competition will receive 100 points towards the League Championship. Other competitors’ scores will be divided by the top score and multiplied by 100.

Contest Director:

At the discretion of the CD the number of flights to count may be adjusted, due to weather changes or the onset of darkness.

If the wind and/or weather are not conducive to flying on the night a decision will be made on the Seal Road field at 6.30pm in consultation with competitors and at the discretion of the CD the contest will be abandoned.

Open Glider Competition  (Tony Roland Mid-WeekCup)

 1) Four flights allowed, with best three times to count. Eight minute maximum. Landing points 50 all in, 25 part of model in circle. No overfly penalty.

2) Launch by hand tow or bungee tensioned to a max. of 20 lbs. No winch launch permitted.

3) Self-timing permitted. Timing starts when line is released from the model and stops when the model touches anything on the ground. If the model comes into contact with the pilot before touching the ground, the score for that flight is zero. No restriction on model type, construction or control.

Attempts – Glider

Only two launch attempts permitted for each official flight.

An attempt is ‘official’ when a competitor has declared the flight is a competition flight and the model has left the hands of the competitor or helper under the pull of the launching apparatus.

Discard – Glider

A competitor may DISCARD his FIRST ATTEMPT should the model not achieve a proper launch. He must declare “Discard” as soon as the model has left the tow line. Flight time for a second launch will count.

Open Electric Soaring

1) Five flights allowed with best four times to count. Eight minute maximum. Timing starts when the model is launched power on and stops when the model touches anything on the ground.

2) 25 points for all or part of model in landing circle. Self-timing at discretion of CD.

3) No restriction on model type or construction except as contained in the Bats Rules of Flying at Seal Road and of battery power as below.

4) Maximum of 3S LiPo batteries allowed. No limit on number of batteries that may be recharged between flights.

 Motor times:

NB. All competitors must submit details of their electric soaring models in writing to the Thermal Secretary in advance of the season start. This should be done using the form below (or by email containing the same information), not later than Wednesday 24th April 2019. Members who join the competitions after the season starts should submit their model details at least a week in advance of competing.

As a starting point the following general handicap rules will apply:

·           Direct Drive Brushed Speed 400 models: 50 secs. (2S LiPo)

·           Direct Drive BEE600 models: 45 secs.

·           Geared 400 models 40 secs (2S LiPo)

·           Brushless motor models: 30 secs. (3S LiPo)

Brushless motor models may be further restricted in run time depending on individual model type or performance, at the discretion of the Thermal Secretary. Such restrictions will be applied before any competition commences and may be adjusted in subsequent competitions. Competitors who believe their model handicap to be unreasonable shall submit their concerns to the Competition Director AFTER the competition, for a review in time for the following week.                

Timing:

The stop watch is started when the model leaves the hands of the launcher, motor on. The watch is stopped when the model touches anything in contact with the ground. If the model comes into contact with the pilot before touching the ground, the score for that flight is zero.

Batteries:

BEE400 models and Geared BEE400 models will be 7 cell Nickel Cadmium or Nickel Metal Hydride or equivalent (2S LiPo).

All others: Not to exceed 3S LiPo or equivalent.

Attempts:

A flight is official when the competitor has declared a competition flight and the model has left the hands of the competitor or helper.

Addendum

Allowing for a participant to take holiday and not be disadvantaged, a number(s) of discards may be factored in to the year-end calculations. This will also be dependent on the number of season’s weather cancellations.

 Electric Soaring Model Declaration form:

Note; in Construction please give a brief description of the model. E.g. Balsa / Ply fuse / traditional wing. Balsa / ply / glass fuse, foam core wing. All foam. Fully composite etc.

The end column is for completion by the Competition Secretary. 

Participants Name:
Model name Construction type Motor type Battery type Wing span Time
1.
2.
3.