5.2.1. Definition of Radio Control Pylon Racing Model aircraft:

Model aircraft in which the propulsion energy is provided by a piston type motor and in which the lift

is obtained by aerodynamic forces acting on the supporting surfaces, which except for the control

areas must remain, fixed in flight.

The model aircraft must be of conventional design with forward wing and an aft empennage with the

general lines of a full size aircraft. Unusual or unconventional features must be justified with three

view drawings or photographs of similar features used on full size aircraft.

Para B.3.1. of Section 4b (Builder of the Model aircraft) is not applicable to class F3D.

A pylon team shall consist of a pilot and a mechanic/caller.

All pilots must be accompanied by a caller/mechanic for reasons of safety. The caller can be the

team manager, another competitor from the same team or a third party. In all cases the caller must

be the holder of an FAI licence not necessarily issued by the NAC of the pilot, and must have paid an

entry fee.

Each pilot and mechanic/caller shall be registered as a team from the beginning of the competition

through to its end.

5.2.2. Motor(s)

Propeller(s) must rotate at the speed of the crankshaft. Air intake into the engine is limited to a total

5.2.3. Shut-off

The pilot must be able to shut off his engine by radio control, on the ground, or in the air, within five

seconds of command, irrespective of aircraft altitude. The radio system used to control the aircraft

must be equipped with a fail safe. This fail safe shall be set to shut off the engine if radio signal is

lost.

5.2.3.1. Silencer

The motor(s) shall be fitted with a silencer. Within its length there shall be an expansion chamber of

not less than 30 mm diameter and 100 mm length; the exhaust outlet's total area shall not be more

5.2.4. Propeller

Only fixed propellers may be used. Two-bladed wooden or two or more blade composite resin

continuous fibre construction propellers may be used.

5.2.5. Propeller Spinner

A rounded nose spinner of at least 25 mm diameter must be fitted.

5.2.6. Fuselage

5.2.6.1. Cross-section

The fuselage shall have a minimum height of 175 mm and a minimum width of 85 mm, the

measurements to be of the fuselage body and are to exclude any fins, attachments or spacers. Both

minimum dimensions must occur at the same cross-section location. The fuselage at this point will

provide templates to prove this. Fillets are not considered part of the fuselage or lifting surfaces.

5.2.6.2. Cowls

The motor or motor(s) must be enclosed, with the exception of the silencer, cylinder head and

controls that must be manipulated during operation of the motor. The cylinder head for this purpose

is defined as the top (or outer) 1 centimetre of the motor, excluding ignition plug or compression

screw.

5.2.6.3. Landing Gear

The landing gear may have two or three wheel design with the main wheels having a minimum track

of 150 mm. The minimum diameter of the main wheels shall be 57 mm. The competitor must give

the organiser the possibility to check that measurement. A tail skid may be used in lieu of a tail

wheel. A positive means of steering on the ground shall be provided, rudder control acceptable.

Retracting gears are allowed.

5.2.6.4. Cockpit

A cockpit or canopy profile must be evident and capable of enclosing a pilot's head 50 mm from the

chin to the top of the head. The canopy need not be transparent and a pilot need not be fitted.

5.2.7. Lifting Surfaces

5.2.7.1. Area of Surfaces

Total projected area of the lifting surfaces (wing and horizontal tail combined) shall be a minimum of

wing. No delta or flying wing type aircraft are allowed.

5.2.7.2. Wing Span

Minimum wing span shall be 1150 mm for a monoplane and 750 mm for the largest wing of a

biplane. The maximum wing span shall be 1800mm.

5.2.7.3. Wing Thickness

Wing thickness of the root shall be at least 22 mm for a monoplane, and 18 mm for a biplane. On a

biplane with different size wings, the smaller wing must be at least 13 mm thick at the root. Wing

thickness may decrease in a straight line taper from root to tip as viewed from the leading or trailing

edge.

Note: Root shall be defined as the innermost wing section, not counting fillets that may be measured

without removing wing from fuselage.

On a completely exposed wing, such as on a parasol monoplane or the top wing of most biplanes,

the root is that section of the wing that is intersected by a projection of the outline of the fuselage as

seen in the top view, i.e. the root section would be 50 mm from the centreline of an exposed wing on

a model aircraft with a 100 mm wide fuselage.

5.2.8. Weight

Weight less fuel, but including all equipment necessary for flight shall be at least 2200 g and not

more than 3000 g. If ballast is used it must be permanently and safely affixed.

5.2.9. Fuel

The organisers will supply fuel to a standard formula for glow plug and spark ignition motors. Its

composition shall be 80% methanol, 20% castor oil.

5.2.10. Racing Course Specification

The triangular course will be laid out as follows: The course is 10 laps with individual length of 400 m.

Total distance travelled is 4 km. The race starts at the start-finish line. All take-offs will be ROG, no

mechanical device will be used to assist the aircraft, but hand pushing is permitted. The race is

terminated at the start-finish line 10 full laps later. The racecourse specification may be modified in

the interest of safety or to suit existing field conditions if safety is not compromised. The pylons

should have a minimum height of 4 m and should not exceed 5 m height. Pylons shall be made of a

rigid material at least 70mm in diameter at any point. The pylon must be finished in a bright colour in

order to enhance visibility.

5.2.11. Organisation for Radio Controlled Pylon Racing Contests

For transmitter and frequency control see Section 4b, Para. B.10.4.

No alcohol may be consumed by any pilot, mechanic/caller or official during the official published

times of practice and the contest.

All officials on the racecourse and all competitors must wear a crash helmet with a chin strap.

Helmets must be worn during practice and during the official event.

Heats shall be arranged in accordance with the radio frequencies in use to permit simultaneous

flights. Each competitor has to introduce two different frequencies, distant of a minimum of 20 kHz,

which he must be able to use on all the model aircraft entered in the contest.

During practice, no more than three aircraft and seven people (pilots, callers, starter) may be on the

course before or during the event.

A safety inspection of all aircraft before or during registration shall be conducted by the contestant

under the supervision of a contest official. This list should include the following:

a. Push/pull rods or cables, control horns, and servo leads shall be installed in such a way that they

will not become disconnected in flight. Clevises shall be physically held closed by short pieces of

fuel tubing or similar material. Metal clevises shall be protected from deterioration of the threads

similar method. Ball links shall be tight.

b. All screws holding the engine to the mount and the mount to the firewall shall be in place and

secure.

c. The radio receiver and battery pack shall be surrounded by soft foam rubber or other vibration

dampening material and adequately protected against contamination by engine exhaust, raw fuel,

or fuel residue.

d. Batteries shall be of adequate capacity for the size and number of servos used. Minimum battery

capacity shall be 500 milliamp-hours (mah).

e. Servos controlling the pitch and roll functions shall be of adequate strength for the weight and

speed of the aircraft. Whenever a single servo is used to control one of these functions, it shall

be designed and built to accommodate at least four mounting screws. When two or more servos

are used together to control the same function, as in the case of dual aileron servos or the

movable tail surfaces on a “v” tailed aircraft, each of such servos may be of the two-screw variety.

f. Control surfaces shall be firm on the hinge line without excessive play. Safety inspectors shall be

alert to the danger of excessive play whenever electronic servo throw reduction is used in

combination with a mechanically inefficient linkage.

g. All screws holding the servos to the servo rails or trays and holding any trays to the airframe shall

be in place and secure. Rubber grommets shall be used on all servos designed to accept them.

If the heads of the servo mounting screws are small enough to pull through the grommets,

washers shall be used to prevent this.

h. Pushrods shall have only one threaded end that is free to turn. The other end shall consist of a “z”

bend, an “I” bend with a keeper or collar, a metal clevis that is soldered on, or a threaded ball-link

that is glued or otherwise secured so that it cannot turn.

i. Wings, if removable, shall be securely attached to the fuselage with bolts or screws.

j. Wheels shall be securely attached and shall turn freely.

k. The aircraft shall be free of stress cracks and any other indication of structural damage.

5.2.12.1. Flight timers and lap counters: Each competitor shall be assigned one official during each heat. This

official will time the competitor's aircraft for the required ten laps. In doing so he will count the laps

flown and advise the pilot when he has completed the necessary 10 laps. He will keep the recorded

time on his timing device until he has entered the time on the score sheet under the supervision of

the starter. On the start/finish line an electronic activated signal will be provided for each competitor.

The number 1pylon judges will operate these signals. These judges shall signal the competitor when

the competitor’s aircraft has passed the number 1 pylon. The pylon judges will be located from the

course as described in the course specification drawing (5.2.10). Each signaller will have a

distinctive colour allocated, and the Contest Director will arrange for each model to be identified by

one signaller before the start of every heat.

5.2.12.2. The judges will have their signals off as the aircraft reach midcourse between No. 3 and No. 1

pylons, or earlier. At the instant the model draws level with the No. 1 pylon the signaller will switch

his signal on. There will be no pilot’s helpers at any of the pylons.

5.2.12.3. At the No. 2 and No. 3 pylons, the Official Judges will place themselves in a position in accordance

with the course layout (5.2.10) to the pylon they are judging.

5.2.12.4. A sideline judge will be posted in the front on the pit area on the spectator side of the racing course.

The sideline judge will record as an infringement, any over flight of the pit or spectator areas.

Two sideline judges will be posted near the No. 1 pylon judges on the spectator side of the racing

course. The sideline judges will record as an infringement any over flight of the sideline and any

flight below the height of the pylon as stated in rule 5.2.12.11.

The judges at No. 2 and No. 3 pylons will record a cut pylon infringement. At the end of each race

the sideline and pylon judges will inform the Race Starter of any infringement by any competitor.

5.2.12.5. A maximum of 3 model aircraft per heat will be allowed.

5.2.12.6. The Race Starter is in charge of each heat, the starter will ensure that all competitors and Race

Officials are ready to commence. Each signaller will have a signal of a distinctive colour, the starter

will arrange for each model aircraft to be identified by one signaller before the start of any heat. A

radio operation check from each competitor will be made prior to starting motor(s).

A maximum of 1 minute will be allowed for starting and adjusting the motor(s), at which point the race

will commence. A competitor whose engine is not running at the end of the 1-minute period will be

disqualified from the heat. No competitor shall be permitted to take off once the first model aircraft

has passed the start/finish line heading from No. 1 to No. 2 pylon on the first lap, and no time shall

be given him for that heat.

5.2.12.7. All laps are to be flown counter-clockwise with turns to the left.

5.2.12.8. At the completion of the 10 laps the Starter must immediately instruct the competitor to remove his

aircraft from the course.

5.2.12.9. A penalty will be incurred if the competitor releases the model aircraft before the drop of the starter's

flag or starting signal, cuts a pylon or flies outside the Sideline Judge. Two infringements constitute

disqualification for that flight.

5.2.12.10 Starting positions in all races will be determined by draw with the No.1 position being closest to No. 2

pylon. Model aircraft will be released from the starting line on the starting signal (flag drop or light

signal) at one-second intervals with timing commencing at the starting signal for that particular model

aircraft. The main wheels of each model aircraft landing gear must remain behind the starting line

until the starting signal.

5.2.12.11 The Contest Director has the right to request any competitor to make a flight to demonstrate the

airworthiness of his model aircraft and/or ability to fly the aircraft around the course. If during the

race, the Contest Director considers any model aircraft to be flying erratically, dangerously, or so low

as to endanger Course Officials, he may disqualify the competitor from that heat or from all heats

and require the model aircraft to be landed immediately. Persistent flying below the top of the pylons

shall be considered dangerous. After passing the first pylon on the first lap of the race, flying below

the top of the pylon will result as one infringement. Two or more infringements during the same heat

shall cancel the flight.

5.2.12.12 In each race, the caller must release the model aircraft at the start and give the pilot verbal

information regarding the flying course of his model aircraft and official signals. Electronic

communication with the pilot shall be prohibited.

The pilot or mechanic of one team may act as the mechanic/helper in one or more other teams.

However, any one model aircraft may not be used by more than one team, nor may roles be

interchanged in a team.

5.2.12.13 After the starting signal (flag drop or light signal) is given, any contact between model aircraft shall be

considered a collision and the model aircraft involved must land immediately. The Contest Director

is required to give such competitors a second opportunity to record a score in that round, provided

that in his opinion the aircraft is still airworthy or the competitor has an airworthy reserve model

aircraft.

In the event of a malfunction of the timing, lap counting, signalling or other such equipment which is

the responsibility of the organisers, the competitor(s) affected by such malfunction shall be given the

opportunity to record a score for that round.

5.2.12.14 The loss of any part of the model aircraft after the starting signal (flag drop or light signal) and before

the engine stops disqualifies the model aircraft for that flight except as a result of a collision where

Para. 5.2.12.13 applies.

5.2.12.15 At the completion of a heat, all aircraft must be landed in an area designated by the contest director.

All pilots and callers must not enter the designated landing area until all aircraft have completed

landing to a full stop.

5.2.13. Scoring

5.2.13.1. The flight of each model aircraft shall be timed with a timing device measuring to at least 1/100th of a

second) by a lap counter/timekeeper. Timing shall start when the starting signal is given to the

individual competitor.

The lap counter/timekeeper stops his timing device after ten laps have been completed by the

competitor and, supervised by the starter, records the elapsed time from the timing device on the

competitor's score sheet.

At the completion of each heat, the pylon and side-line judges notify the starter as to which model

aircraft have infringed. The starter then advises the lap counters/timekeepers of those who will

record the total number of infringements for each competitor on his score sheet.

The score sheets are then processed by a scorer who will: a) if one infringement was incurred, add

1/10th of the flyer's time for ten laps to give the corrected time; b) if two or more infringements were

incurred, cancel the flight.

5.2.13.2. Points shall be awarded after each race as follows: The competitor's score is his corrected time in

seconds and hundredths of a second. If the competitor fails to complete his flight or is disqualified

the score shall be 200.

5.2.13.3. The winner of the event is the competitor who has accumulated the lowest score after the conclusion

of all heats. If four or more rounds are flown, each competitor's worst score shall be discarded. If

nine or more rounds are flown, each competitor's worst (highest) two scores shall be discarded. If

twelve or more rounds are flown, each competitor’s worst (highest) three scores shall be discarded.

5.2.13.4. If the time permits and there is no frequency conflict, ties shall be broken by a fly off race.

Otherwise, the best single race score shall be considered in resolving a tie.

5.2.13.5. Team classification

To establish the national team scores for the team classification, add the individual scores of the

members of the team. Teams are ranked according to the lowest numerical score to the highest;

with complete three competitor teams ahead of two competitor teams which in turn are ranked ahead

of one competitor teams. In a case of a team tie, the team with the lower sum of place numbers,

given in order from the top, wins. If still equal, the best individual placing decides.

At the prize giving, a medal and a diploma will be awarded to the pilots and a diploma to the callers

classified first, second, and third, as well as a medal and a diploma to the pilots and team managers,

and a diploma to the callers of the teams classified first, second, and third.

The Organisers may award further prizes at their discretion.