PROLOGUE:
A
competition Finals (flyoffs) for juniors and seniors will be held at the Voice
of America Park, West Chester, Ohio, 29-31 July 2005 for the purpose of
selecting a US Spacemodeling Team for the 2006 World Championships. This event will determine the members of the
team that will represent the United States at the 17th World Spacemodeling
Championships to be held in Biakonor, Kazahkstan, September 2006. Senior AMA
members will participate in the following eight FAI Team Selection events: S1B Altitude,
S3A Parachute Duration, S4A Boost Glider, S5C Scale Altitude, S6A Streamer
Duration, S7 Scale, S8E/P Precision RC Rocket Glider and S9A Gyrocopter
Duration.
Junior Contestants (born after October 1, 1988) will
participate and compete in the following events: S1B Altitude, S3A
Parachute Duration, S4A Boost Glider, S5B Scale Altitude, S6A
Streamer Duration, S7 Scale, S8D RC Rocket Glider and S9A
Gyrocopter Duration. Please note there
are different events for different age classes. In addition, the “A” impulse classes must now conform to the new
40mm/500mm size constraint for both Juniors and Seniors.
GENERAL FINALS
RULES AND SCHEDULE:
To qualify for a position on the either the Senior
or Junior US Spacemodeling Team, all candidates must participate in the
Finals. Both the Senior and Junior team
selection is based on the Selection Procedures below. Ideally, 3 team members are selected for each event: S1, S3, S4,
S5, S6, S7, S8 and S9 for conceivably, a total of 24 Senior and 24 Junior team
members. Additionally, two Managers are
selected, one for each team, the Manager for the Senior team having
administrative control. Alternates for
Team positions must qualify under the selection procedures below.
In order to participate in the flyoffs and the World Championships, all contestants must be current AMA members. Proof will be necessary and contestants will be required to show their cards (photocopies are NOT acceptable) before flying.
The 2005 FAI Spacemodeling Sporting Code will be the
guide for the competition with approved changes noted in this document. Each event will be flown in three rounds
with one official flight made during each round. The general exception to FAI procedures is that the recovery of
models will not be required because timely recovery of models would be
difficult for individuals participating in the closely spaced round
system. Normally the recovery of models
is the responsibility of the members of the team not flying at the time, therefore,
the recovery rule is suspended for the flyoffs and a new model can be used for
each of the 3 initial and flyoff rounds. These models must be capable of more
than one flight. Should a tie occur
after three rounds, additional rounds would be used to determine the winner in
accordance with the latest FAI Sporting Code. In S8E/P the target time will
normally be six (6) minutes max in duration.
Specific event exceptions are as noted under selection procedures below.
In the event that there are not sufficient candidates for a full team that meet the above selection criteria, additional alternates may qualify to fill vacancies in a manner consistent with the procedures described herein and as determined by the Team Selection Committee.
In the interest of selecting the best possible team to represent the United States, members may or may not be required to fly multiple events. If necessary, cross event assignments to fill vacancies may be made by the Team Manager after the initial selection of the team by the selection committee, if no alternate member is available.
Commonly,
if timers are unavailable for the Finals, contestants will be required to time
their own flights. Contestants are
encouraged but not required to arrange their own timers for the Final. In the event that contestants are required
to time their own flights or those of other competitors, the Honor Code will be
in effect. Signing the Honor Code must
be completed before participating in the Finals. It is requested that contestant’s bring their own stopwatches, as
well as binoculars and launch equipment.
This AMA sanctioned Finals is being held concurrently with the NAR Nationals (NARAM) at the Nationals site. It is not an NAR sanctioned contest. Therefore, the use of any A through F impulse motor, currently “certified” by the NAR at the time of the Team Selection Finals is permitted.
Models must carry the contestant's FAI license
number as described in 2005 FAI Spacemodeling Sporting Code. The designation for the United States is:
"USA", acceptable coding for models is now USA (followed by
competitor's FAI (AMA) number.)
Example: either "USA - 000000" or "USA 000000".
EVENT SPECIFIC
RULES:
ALTITUDE - S1: (Seniors: S1B, Juniors: S1A – WSMC, S1B – Team Selection)
Contestants should be prepared to fly both single
and multi-staged models to demonstrate their ability to use different model
configurations in adapting to variable ceiling heights, which commonly occurs
at the WSMC. Due to unpredictable weather and the possibility of low cloud
cover, the Contest Director reserves the right to limit all altitude models to
single stage depending upon prevailing tracking conditions. While not required, contestants should be
prepared to fly single stage models or design their multistage model to fly
either way. Floating Head Piston model
designs are specifically NOT allowed.
Models, which separate into two or more parts during powered flight,
MUST contain an active motor in each section, constituting a model stage. Please Note:
S1B will be flown in both senior AND junior divisions due to limited
availability of 1/2A booster motors for S1A (juniors). Juniors will not fly the S1A event until
the World Spacemodeling Championship. Therefore, for
junior competitors, S1 will be flown with A impulse motors in each stage using
models conforming to the FAI class S1A dimensions and weight restrictions.
PARACHUTE
DURATION – S3: (Seniors: S3A,
Juniors: S3A)
Current availability of competitive 10.5mm A
impulse motors is limited. Therefore,
for all competitors, S3 will be flown with 13mm A impulse motors using models
conforming to the FAI class S3A dimensions and weight restrictions. Max Round times are 300sec.
BOOSTGLIDER
DURATION – S4: (Seniors: S4A,
Juniors: S4A)
Current
availability of competitive 10.5mm A impulse motors is limited. Therefore, for all competitors, S4 will be
flown with 13mm A impulse motors using models conforming to the FAI class S4A
dimensions and weight restrictions. Max
Round times are 180sec.
SCALE TEAM -
S5 SCALE ALTITUDE and S7 SCALE: (Seniors: S5C, Juniors: S5B)
Scale Altitude and Scale members will be selected based on resume, a sample of workmanship, a "boiler plate" flight at the Finals and interview by the Team Selection Committee. It is requested that competitors fly the prototype they plan on using in the WSMC. S7 flights should be reflective of as many of the special effects and motors planned for the WSMC flight profile.
Resumes of interested participants must be sent to:
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS
5161 East Memorial Drive
Muncie, Indiana 47302-9252 Attn.:
Lisa Johnson
Resumes to arrive
postmarked no later than July 1, 2005.
STREAMER
DURATION – S6: (Seniors: S6A,
Juniors: S6A)
Current
availability of competitive 10.5mm A impulse motors is limited. Therefore, for all competitors, S6 will be
flown with 13mm A impulse motors using models conforming to the FAI class S6A
dimensions and weight restrictions. Max
Round times are 180sec.
RADIO
CONTROLLED ROCKET GLIDER - S8: (Seniors: S8E/P, Juniors:
S8D)
There will be no transmitter impound pending
competitors frequency selection before the contest in an effort to
eliminate frequency conflicts. Round
times may be adjusted at contestant meeting.
4 full rounds will be flown.
Landing area for S8E/P to be determined the day of the event, as per
2005 FAI rules. Note: There will
be a separate S8E/P Pilots’ Meeting immediately following the contestant
briefing. Reloadable motors are
specifically allowed for S8 Finals competition. Max
Round times are S8D: 360sec, S8E/P: 360sec.
AUTOGYRO
DURATION – S9: (Seniors: S9A,
Juniors: S9A)
Current availability of competitive 10.5mm A
impulse motors is limited. Therefore,
for all competitors, S9 will be flown with 13mm A impulse motors using models
conforming to the FAI class S9A dimensions and weight restrictions. Max Round times are 180sec.
CONTEST
DIRECTOR and JURY:
The AMA must sanction the Finals. The Finals contest
director must be acceptable to the AMA Headquarters competition department
director. The Finals jury consists of three members, one of whom will be
appointed by FAI Executive Committee. The AMA appointed jurist is the highest
authority at the Finals contest. He is required to select two additional
jurors, on site, to resolve jury matters.
TEAM MANAGER
NOMINATIONS:
The Senior and Junior team managers will be selected
in accordance with the "World Championship Teams Procedures Governing the
Academy's Sponsorship of FAI Teams".
Interested individuals should request a copy of this document from AMA
Headquarters. A prospective team manager
need not have been a FAI competitor; however, he or she must be thoroughly
knowledgeable of all the rules governing Spacemodeling events.
Any person wishing to be considered for the position
of team manager must submit their name in writing to AMA Headquarters not later
than 1 month before the Finals (flyoffs).
It is highly recommended that candidates submit their resume at the time
of application. Nominations for team
manager will be accepted from the AMA membership community; groups that can be
involved in this process may include:
program participants, the presidents of AMA recognized special interest
groups; team members and helpers, AMA headquarters and the team selection
committee.
TEAM MANAGER’S
APPOINTMENT:
AMA headquarters and the FAI Executive Committee, in consultation with the Chairman of the Spacemodeling Team Selection Committee, shall make the actual appointment of each Team Manager. The FAI Executive Committee or AMA Headquarters may select someone of their own choosing if not satisfied with the nominations submitted. The AMA FAI Executive Committee has the authority to replace a team manager or team members.
In addition to those duties described in the
"World Championship Teams Procedures Governing the Academy's Sponsorship
of FAI Teams", the team manager must submit to the Team Selection
Committee a report documenting problem areas and recommendations for future
reference. The report is to be
independent of the World Championship report but should be sent to AMA
Headquarters for distribution within 60 days after the world championships.
FEES and
CONTRIBUTIONS:
To participate in the Finals (flyoffs) the fee of $25.00 for the first event and $10.00 for each additional event (S1, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9 FAI EVENTS) or $60.00 for all events is payable in advance to AMA, postmarked before 1 July 2005. Fees will be accepted at the field or after the deadline at a cost of $30 for the first event $15.00 for each additional event. If a previously entered participant is unable to attend, a refund may be granted if requested in writing to AMA Headquarters postmarked no later than 30 days after close of the
flyoffs.
If a refund is authorized, a deduction of $10 will be withheld to cover
administration costs.
The money received will be sent to AMA and shall be held in an account at AMA Headquarters under the control of the team selection committee. All entry fees, additional income, and donations shall be kept in this official Spacemodeling Team fund at AMA. All moneys collected or donated will be used for team requirements only. Up to 25% of the Finals entry fees can be used for Finals expenses.
FUNDING and
ALTERNATES:
AMA financial support is no longer available for team members. Team Members are expected to pay their own entry fees, travel, accommodations and meals. Some Junior Team subsidy may be available from external sources, but AMA does not currently support the Spacemodeling Team, financially.
In
the situation where an individual who has qualified for a position on the US
Team as one of the three members of an event team and does not desire to
compete in the specific event qualified for, the position will be filled by the
next most qualified Alternate in the event, according to the final standings at
the Flyoffs. If a team member must drop
off the team after being selected, the vacancy will be filled using the
designated alternates or by using 4th place and subsequent rankings if
necessary.
World Champions do not have to compete in the Finals but are expected to attend. They must confirm their status before the flyoffs in writing to the Contest Director.
Alternates, World Champions and Juniors will be considered as part of the Senior team and will receive the same communications and considerations on all team matters.
Questions concerning rules and general regulations
for the 2005 U.S. Spacemodeling Team Selection Finals may be directed to:
Dr.
Bob Kreutz, Chairman
US
Team Selection Committee
506 Hunters Road
Bricktown,
NJ 08724-4614