At 10:20 PM 6/17/2001 -0400, you wrote: >Chuck Anderson wrote: > >> 4. If necessary for someone else to take transmitter, time stops when pilot >> releases transmitter > >> 6. Time stops when model hits a ground based object that terminates >> flight. Brushing against tall weeds or grass does not stop the clock if >> the model continues in flight. > >1. Just some questions on these two. This just happened in a contest not >more than a month ago. Someone lost sight of their plane and the timer >had to take over. I thought they scored it a zero flight, as far as I >know. What are others opinions on this. I always thought it scored a >zero as soon as someone else took over the control of the model. The CD can modify the rule IF THE RULE DEVIATION IS SPELLED OUT BEFORE THE START OF THE CONTEST. I include this primarily to aid the novice flyer. Back in 1975, I was timing for another modeler's wife at the old SOAR Nats. She got too far downwind in a booming thermal and couldn't get back. Her husband was coaching her and didn't want to take the transmitter because it would give a zero flight. When he finally did take the transmitter, the model was too far away and the model was lost. I always though that this was a stupid rule that served no useful purpose. Since that time, I aways brief the deviation from that rule. A further refinement could be made by saying this deviation does not apply to Experts, however I haven't found this to be necessary. :-) > >2. When hitting a tree, wire etc. and continuing flying, I have always >been told you stop the time. Is there a distinction made for tall weeds >or the like. > The rule book does say this but often there are tall weeds and bushes near the landing zone. Technically, hitting the towline of another model constitutes hitting a ground based object and should stop the time but I allow the time to continue until the first piece hits the ground. Note that the model on tow when the towline is hit is entitled to a reflight if he wishes. I require that the modeler declare his intent to ask for a reflight within 30 seconds because I have seen cases where a modeler continues the flight and didn't ask for a reflight until he failed to get his max. And if a model can continue flying after hitting a tree, why not let the time continue. Then there are fields like the old one at Visalia that have high tension lines along the western edge of the field. Power lines are also ground based objects. >Then there is the 'ten second' rule. If the plane drops out of sight >behind a tree line, etc. you start to count 1,2,3 on up to 10 then stop >the clock if the plane never reappears. Take the time and deduct 10 >seconds for the official flight time. This is an obscure one and I only >became aware of it thru someone relating a story about it happening to >them and the very aware timer started a 10 second count as they were >trying to reacquire sight of the plane. The 10 second rule is a carryover from the free flight rules and really serves no useful place in soaring. As long as the timer sees the release from the towline and the touchdown, then he can get a good time. It isn't necessary to see the model being timed every second of the flight as long as the timer is sure he is timing the correct model. I first began flying free flight at contests over 50 years ago and have flown in many sailplane contests over the last 30 years and have never heard a timer counting 10 seconds to stop the clock when he loses sight of the model. Any deviations from the rule book must be briefed before the start of the contest. I left them in the CD Briefing I posted to RCSE to illustrate how deviations should be handled. Chuck Anderson RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
