FFTC News 32

Results Service

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.

Team Trials Venues

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:

1^st         Trials 12 and 13 September at Sculthorpe
2^nd         Trials 26 and 27 September at Salisbury Plain
3^rd         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.

Nicad Batteries

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.

Stonehenge Cup rules

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.

Technology Paper and Stonehenge Cup rules

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.