Class 1 Rules 1998
- Applicability
The General AMA regulations/Control Line rules are replaced by their BMFA equivalents.- Carrier Deck
The AMA specification is replaced by the Basic Carrier Deck specification (see BCD rule 4 for details).- Aircraft Requirements
Models must have a fixed or retractable landing gear. If a retractable gear is used, it must be lowered for landing. The model must be equipped with an arresting hook which when extended may not be longer than a one-third (1/3) the length of the fuselage. The model wingspan shall be 44 inches maximum for Class 1. It is permissible to change the position of any control surface during flight. The model shall be rigged for counter-clockwise flight. Models shall not exceed four (4) pounds (1.82kg) weight in flight configuration, but without fuel.
3.1. Class 1 - Models having an engine displacement up to and including .4028 cubic inch.
3.2. In the case of the multi-engine models, the sum of the displacement of the engines must not exceed .4028 cubic inch. The model must have an effective silencer. Tuned pipe systems of any form are banned. The engines used must be of the internal combustion or jet type.- Control Line Requirements
4.1. Pull Test 25G
Line length to be between 60'0" and 60'6" (18.3 and 18.44 m).
Required Minimum Diameter of Each Line:
Single Strand Multi Strand 1 line 2 lines 3 lines 2 lines 3 lines .029" .020" .015" .020" .015" .737mm .508mm .381mm .508mm .381mm
4.2. The required minimum line sizes are determined by the number of lines which bear the load of the model in flight. A load bearing line is one which is tight during the pull test as determined by visual inspection, line plucking, or other means. Non-load bearing lines (lines which are not tight during pull test) may be any diameter.
4.3. All lines shall emerge from the model within the fore-and-aft range covered by the wing root chord. All lines other than the elevation control line(s) shall emerge either between the elevation control lines or, if not between, then within one (1) inch of the nearest elevation control line.- Official Flight
Flight is official when the aircraft crosses the stern of the deck as the contestant signals for the timed low speed run.- Attempts
Three (3) attempts will be allowed for two (2) official flights. Any of the following shall constitute an attempt:
6.1. Failure of the contestant's model to become airborne within five (5) minutes of being called to the deck.
6.2. Any endeavour to make a takeoff is an attempt.
6.3. Whipping or shortening the effective length of the control line(s) during high speed flight.
6.4. Exceeding an altitude of 20 feet for more than one half (1/2) lap during high speed flight.
6.5. Flight terminated for any reason prior to the signal for low speed flight.- Flight Termination
Any of the following shall result in the immediate termination of the flight:
7.1. Touching of the ground or any obstruction by any part of the model.
7.2. Touching of the protective ramp by any part of the model.
7.3. Touching the deck with any part of the model except during initial takeoff and during landing approaches following the signal for landing.
7.4. The model does not maintain forward counterclockwise motion with respect to the ground.- Bonus Points
8.1. A scale model of a carrier aircraft of any nation, provided it displays the national markings of the using nation, will receive bonus points. A carrier aircraft is any man-carrying aircraft which was successfully flown and which meets at least one (1) of the following requirements:
a. Aircraft made actual carrier-type takeoff and arrested landing on an actual or simulated carrier deck, or
b. Aircraft is designated as a carrier aircraft by an acceptable source (in cases where actual carrier-type takeoff and arrested landing are not documented).
8.1.1. Scale 3-view drawings of the full-scale aircraft and proof that the aircraft meets the above requirements must be submitted to be eligible for scale bonus points.
8.1.2.1. Class I models will receive 100 bonus points if the linear dimensions of the major components of the model are to the same scale, within plus or minus five (5) percent tolerance. Models which appear to comply with this tolerance upon rudimentary inspection need not be further checked except in case of dispute. 'Major components' are considered to be the fuselage (excl. surface markings) and air brakes, the side view profiles of the vertical stabiliser and rudder, and the top view profiles of the wing and horizontal tail surfaces, and all movable surfaces which are attached to or form part of these surfaces (flaps, ailerons, elevators, etc). Although complex motions of movable surfaces need not be duplicated (such as Fowler flaps), the general direction of movement must be the same as on the full-scale aircraft being modeled. Unless proven otherwise, ailerons shall be assumed to move simultaneously in opposite directions. Although landing gear need not be to scale, it must emerge from model in the same location as prototype.
8.1.2.2. If the engine or accessories protrude from the scale contours of the model, there may be openings in the skin sufficient to accomodate the protruding part with 1/4 inch maximum clearance at all points round the protruding part.
8.1.2.3. The model dihedral as viewed from the front must be similar (within two (2) or three (3) degrees by official's visual judgement) to the actual airplane as shown in the three-view drawing. Namely, it must have some positive or negative angle, as shown on the three-view drawing.
8.1.4. To receive bonus points:
a. The color of the model must be similar to any military type aircraft paint scheme.
b. If a clear canopy is not used the cockpit or canopy area must be defined with a contrasting color or color outline denoting the scale area.
8.2. Five (5) points shall be awarded for each engine above one (1) used to power the model, providing such engines contribute to the performance of the model from takeoff through at least the high speed phase of the flight (at completion of high speed timing, count number of engines running, subtract one (1), and multiply times five (5)).- Takeoff.
Model must successfully take off from free roll portion of deck. At the time of release, the nose of the model must be no more than 42 inches from the last arresting line.- High Speed Flight.
10.1. The first seven (7) laps after takeoff constitute the high speed phase of the event. Timing will start the instant the model is released for takeoff, and shall end when the model completes its seventh lap over the stern of the carrier.
10.2. High Speed Points. All high speeds will be calculated to the nearest 1/10 mph. High speed points shall be scored the same as speed in mph, and to the nearest 1/10.- Low Speed Flight.
11.1. When the contestant has decelerated the speed of his model to his satisfaction, he will signal the judges to start timing his low speed run by using a prearranged signal that is acceptable to the judges. This signal shall be given as the model crosses the stern of the deck, one (1) lap prior to the start of the low speed timing. The model will then be timed for seven (7) laps, using the stern of the carrier flight deck as the starting point. The start of the low speed run must be signaled for within three (3) minutes of the completion of the high speed run. Time for the seven (7) laps shall be used to calculate the average speed.
11.2. Low Speed Points. Low speed points will be scored as 10 times the ratio of high speed to low speed (10 x high speed divided by low speed). The score will be calculated to the nearest 1/10 point. Note: High speed divided by low speed is the same as low speed flight time divided by high speed flight time.
11.2.1. Models powered by two (2) or more engines must keep all engines running through low speed phase of flight to garner full points for speed differential, failure to do so will score only half of low speed points.
11.2.2. No low speed points will be awarded if any of the following infractions occur:
11.2.2.1. The flight radius of the model is lengthened by the contestant walking in a circle greater than three (3) feet in diameter. The contestant may step out of the three-foot circle to regain control of the model when lines go slack, but he is expected to return to the three-foot circle when control is established.
11.2.2.2. The model exceeds a 60 degree nose-high attitude except for momentary inadvertent deviations. When the 60 degree limit is exceeded, the contestant will be notified immediately and must correct model attitude immediately. Failure to do so will result in loss of low speed score. A maximum of three notifications will be given. The fourth notification shall result in loss of the low speed points.- Landing
All landings on the carrier deck shall be made at low speed only. The landing must be signaled within three (3) minutes of completion of the low speed run. After lining up with the deck upon completion of the low speed run, the pilot shall signal the judges that he is ready to land. The signal of the pilot's intent to land shall be given as the model crosses the deck beginning his lap prior to landing. If other than a hand signal is used, the pilot shall describe his signal to the official immediately prior to each of his flights (i.e., before he starts his engine).
12.1. Landing points. Landing (dead stick included) shall be scored as follows:
12.1.1. Arrested landing with plane in normal three-point attitude (takeoff attitude), 100 points.
12.1.2. Arrested landing with plane in other than normal three-point attitude, 50 points.
12.1.3. Arrested landing with plane coming to rest on its back or with one (1) wheel off the edge of the deck, 25 points.
12.1.4. All other landings, zero (0) points.
12.1.5. An arrested landing is any landing in which the model's forward motion is stopped primarily by the arresting hook engaging any arresting cable. The landing is scored at the point where the model's forward motion is first arrested, and the flight is terminated at that time. (Judges guide: A model which is arrested in a normal attitude will receive full points. If the hook subsequently becomes disengaged, or the model rolls or is pulled off the deck after forward motion has been arrested, the landing score is not affected. A model which stops on its nose and subsequently falls back into a normal attitude will receive 50 points for a landing other than a three-point attitude.)
12.2. From the above score, five (5) points will be deducted for each unsuccessful landing approach made after signaling. Each lap flown after signaling shall be considered a landing approach even if the contestant does not attempt a landing. The landing score will, in no instance, be less than zero (0).- Scoring
13.1. Competition and record scoring shall be based upon the contestant's best official flight score.
13.2. The score of an official flight shall be the sum of the high speed points, the low speed points, the landing points, and the bonus points (if applicable). If the flight is terminated after the low speed signal (see section 7), the score shall be bonus points (if applicable) plus points for all phases of flight completed prior to the termination.- Builder of the Model
The Builder-of-the-Model rule does not apply to the CL Navy Carrier events.- Model/Engine Use Restrictions
Once a model or engine has been used by a contestant to make an official attempt in an event, the same model or engine cannot be used by another contestant in that contest.- Stopwatches
Stopwatches with graduations of 1/10 second or finer shall be used for timing all CL Navy Carrier events.- Flying for record
The AMA regulations are replaced by their BMFA equivalents.(extracted from the AMA Competition Regulations 1996, with thanks)
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