Some pilots think judgesdo a poor job.

True or false?

False!All judges try to deliver

their best – some are just more experienced than others

Some judges think fliersdo a poor job.

True or false?

False!All fliers try to deliver

their best – some are just moreexperienced than others

Hopefully this forum will bridge the gap between judges and fliers. In the far-off days of acrobatic flying, the judges

were almost untouchable. Slowly this changed to the

present where judges became accessible to all fliers.

But, with this détente came a new problem: fliers were

openly attacking certain judges and their opinions. This is

partly as a result of ignorance, the fliers not realising exactly where they are losing points.

PrecisionAccuracy

Size

Positioning

Smoothness&

Gracefulness

• Consistency: establish standard & maintain

• Accurancy: fair reflection. Use downgrades for specific defects

• Close agreement: on a par with fellow judges

• Impartiality: totally neutral and unbiased, no matter who flies

• Objectivity: try and forget personal opinions

Each manoeuver is downgraded according to:

• Type of defect• Severity of defect• Number of times any defect occurs• Size of manoeuver relative to othersGIVE TOP SCORE ONLY IF NO

DEFECTS OBSERVED!

• Attitude: direction of fuselage in relation to flight path

• Flight Path: trajectory of centre of gravity• All manoeuvers wind: corrected for flight

path to bo geometrically OK

ALL JUDGING BASED ON FLIGHT PATH

• Each manoeuver scored between 10 and 0 (inclusive)

• Centre manoeuveres in centre of “box”• Turnaround manoeuveres not past 60º marks• All maoeuveres done on parallel line, 150m

from pilot• Infractions downgraded proportionally to

degree of being out

• General guide for downgrading deviations from defined geometry• One point subtracted for each 15º

deviation• So, 45º off (1/8) is a 3 point downgrade, and 90º (1/4) is minus 6!• Up to 15º off heading is 1 point downgrade• Up to 15º off vertical is 1 point downgrade

• All manoeuveres start & finish with horizontal lines• Total length of line not graded. Only

where given relationship exist, like square loop, etc• Minor misrelation = 1 point downgrade. More for greater defects• No line flown between to manoeuveres

• Must be perfectly horizontal, vertical or angled as required• With any type of roll, lines before & after roll must be equal• One point downgrade for minor misrelation. More for greater defects• Complete absense of line before or after roll

• Constant radius• Vertical plane• Well-defined entry / exits• Part-loops all same radii• Slight difference = 1 point downgrade. Severe = minus 2 or 3 points• No segmentation to circular flight path. Every seen segmentation = minus 1• Minor drift = minus 1 point. Severe drift = more points downgrade

• Roll rate constant. Small variation = minus 1 point. More severe = heavier downgrades

• Crisp & well-defined start and stop. Bad definition = minus 1 point

• Point rolls must have equal time for each point

• Missing or extra point =5 & MORE DOWNGRADED!

• Mainly about lines• Entry & exit part-loops must have equal

radii• Maximum pivot without downgrade is ½

span• More than 11/2 span, severely downgraded• Pendulum after stall = minus 1 point• Skid (low wing) before stall = minus 1 point• Torque-off: apply “1-pt/15º rule”

• Rapid autorotative roll, in stalled attitude (spin, but in forward flight)

• Definite break in attitude and flight path before rotation

• Barrel roll = ZERO!

• No snap = ZERO!

• Positive when negative required = ZERO! (or vice-versa)

• Over or undersnap – use “1-pt/15º rule”

• Begin & end horizontally

• Must be stalled

• Nose/wing drops, not lift

• Near-vertical downline projected after spin

• No stall …ZERO POINTS!

• Snap entry …ZERO!

• Spiral dive …ZERO!

• Over or underspin – use “1pt/15º rule” NOTE- 45º off already minus 6!

• Part-loops all same radii

• Ignore drift when stalled

• Most widely used

• Immelmann: roll is directly after half loop. Visible line = MINUS 2!

• Early roll: MINUS 2 POINTS!

• Humpty bump part-loops all same radii. Falling forward over top is severe downgrade

• Rolls always on middle of lines. Minor misrelation = minus 1 point

• All manoeuveres must be wind corrected

• Shape preserved in model’s flight path

• All judging on track of model, not attitude

• Pilot must make allowance for lines/angles and figures at “box” ends, or high vertical manoeuveres

• Entire flight within “box”

• Centre manoeuveres oppiste judges on CL

• Off-centre downgraded in range of minus 1 to 4

• Entire manoeuver out- ZERO POINTS!

• Far flying serverely downgraded. Visibility!

• Optimum distance 150m!

• Turnaround manoeuveres downgraded in proportion to being out

• FAI competition: take-off and landing 10 or 0 points

• SAMAA Competition: from 10 to 0 with downgrades

• Gear retracts on landing …ZERO!

• Only one attempt at each manoeuver

• Second attempt at take-off scores ZERO!

• Flopped stall tunr scores ZERO POINTS!

• Use DEDUCT method for judging – not impression!

• Balance with overall impression

• Enter N/O if manoeuver or part is missed

• Don’t guess a score!

• Use own judgment! Don’t copy scores!

• Don’t talk during flight!

• Be objective & impartial

• Be consistent & accurate

• GET MORE EXPERIENCE!

• Always be on time

• Supply your own admin

• Arrive well-rested!

• Use breaks wisely

• Get a comfortable chair

• Use a sunscreen & good hat & umbrella

• Look after your eyes!

• Don’t force your opinions onto others

• Command respect through good judging

• STUDY THE RULE BOOK!

• Always make sure your equipment is working

• Don’t keep judges waiting

• Always be polite

• Never argue a score – ask where you can improve

• Don’t’ mutter to your friends – protest formally if you feel strongly

• Learn to respect judges – just like fliers, they are fallible in their judgement

• STUDY THE RULE BOOK!

ENJOY

YOUR

FLYING