National Free Flight Society

SEN 2815

  1. Do we really need to watch the winder?
  2. 7 is tight
  3. Fly-off in shifts – no need to re-invent the wheel

Do we really need to watch the winder?

From: Alex Andriukov

Was it a problem lately that the competitor does not wind the motor
him/herself? I do not know any serious flier who would allow somebody else
to wind his motor. The only problem is that the timekeepers must watch the
winding procedure for no reason. By the way, this is very problematic in
the day rounds at the World Championships. Here is the best solution: do
not limit winding the motors in any way. This will remove all the problems.
Does anybody see anything wrong with it?

Alex Andriukov


 

7 is tight

From:Jim Lueken

I’m so happy I don’t fly B anymore. Or any other FAI event. Now, take that to heart people…the rules are getting out of hand. 7 minute fly off rounds bring way to much luck into play. You guys spend how much money on models and equipment? And then it comes down to luck! Not so sure the rules are headed in the right direction. But that’s your problem.

Have fun, Jim


Jim, We do, have fun that is.  But as Alex suggests a simpler approach is probably the best


Fly-off in shifts – no need to re-invent the wheel

From:Tapio Linkosalo

In SEN 2814, Aram suggested splitting the fly-off into two shifts, to avoid
the problems with too few timekeepers. As a matter of fact, this suggestion
is similar to the group flyoff, that was in the FAI/CIAM rules for a few
years, but was lifted three years ago.

Before the proposal was made to CIAM, we had tested the procedure in
Finnish competitions on several occasions, and had polished the rules so
that they fulfilled their purpose really well. We still face the situation
on a regular basis that there are too many F1A fliers in the fly-off that
there would be a sufficient number of timekeepers, and in these situations
we apply the rule in our domestic competitions. The lack of timekeepers may
happen also on World Cup competitions, and therefore the option for group
flyoff would be a welcome addition to the rules, to ensure a fair outcome
of the competition.

I would like to emphasize the part “8” of the group fly-off rules. Despite
the outcome of the grouped round, there is always a minimum of 4 fliers in
the final decisive round, so the podium places would be determined with all
pilots flying in the same air, against each other.

The group fly-off rules, as they were in 2016 rules edition, read as
follows:

If the number of competitors in a flyoff is 12 or more and is greater than
25% of the number of competitors in the competition, then the flyoff maybe
split into two groups:

1) The number of competitors in each group will be as closely as possible
equal

2) Competitors are allocated a group and starting position by a single draw

3) A flyoff is flown for each group according to the other regulations of
3.1.8

4) The second group flyoff must be flown as soon as possible after the
first group.

5) From both groups all flyers who achieve the maximum duration proceed to
the next round

6) An  equal  number  of  flyers  from  each  group  may  proceed  to  the
next  round  by  including competitors from one group those with the best
flights below the maximum time, providing the flight times are at least 75%
of the maximum.

7) If the selections (5) and (6) result in fewer than 4 competitors
proceeding to the next round, then the two competitors with the highest
flight times in each of the groups will proceed to the next round.

8)Competitors eliminated in group flyoffs will be classified with final
placing according to time achieved in the group flyoff.