2010 Clover Creek Invitational Event Rules
Sanctioned by the Academy of Model Aeronautics, # 010-2000
We will be flying five classes: Sportsman, Intermediate, Advanced, Unlimited and Invitational.
*** The Advanced and Unlimited Class will be flying the 2010 ALTERNATE sequences ***
The contest will be conducted using 2009-2010 AMA RC Scale Aerobatics rules, with clarifications as noted below. Rules are available on the AMA website.
Sequences
Sportsman through Unlimited will fly the 2010 IMAC Known Sequences, available on the IMAC website. Figures for Unknowns will be drawn from the IMAC Unknown Catalogs, available on the ARESTI website and written by the IMAC Sequence Committee.
The Invitational class will fly Known and Unknown sequences prepared specifically for the Clover Creek event by members of the IMAC Sequence Committee. Known Sequences will be published on Monday, May 31st 2010.
Figures for Known and Unknown sequences will be drawn from the 2010 Edition of the Aresti System (Condensed) and conform to the Aresti System sequence construction rules. The catalog is available on the ARESTI website.
Starting Procedures
Pilots must be "ready" at least four deep at all times. Your wheels must leave the runway before the pilot ahead of you finishes their sequence. Intentional or repeated violation will result in a score of zero for the round. A Line-Boss will indicate when to start & when to take-off.
Judging
We will have at least three judges on each flight line. Judges will not need to confer on zeros as per IMAC rules.
Do not question the judges or the scorekeepers. If you have a question or concern, please contact the CD (Joe Cutright).
Only pilots preparing to fly (and their callers) are allowed on the judge’s side of the flight line fence. This applies at all times, including during the Four-Minute Freestyle. Please do not stand near the fence behind the judges. Conversations in this location are distracting to the judges.
Pilot Order of Flight
The pilot order for Thursday will be drawn at the Judges meeting on Wednesday afternoon. The same list will apply to both Knowns, and Unknowns. The first four pilots to fly their Known on Thursday will be moved down to the bottom of the flight order to fly that Unknown on the same day. Subsequently on each following round, the pilot order will be moved down by four pilots. This ensures that a pilot will not have to fly in the first spot more than once.
IMAC pilots meeting will be held on Thursday evening after Invitational flying has been completed. Pilot flight order will be drawn at the conclusion of the meeting and will rotate the pilots in similar fashion as done for the Invite class. Number of pilots to move to the bottom of the list regarding rotation, will be determined that day.
On Sunday, in the FINALS for the Invitational pilots ONLY (after the new draw on Saturday night), pilots will be moved in 2 spot increments since there will be a total of seven pilots at that time.
For promotional and media reasons, all Invitational pilots will be required to have their planes and themselves in their designated pit no later than 10:00 a.m., setup and ready to fly. This applies for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Thursday flying for the Invitational Class will be begin at 8:00 AM. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a zero for the first round of the day.
Field Closed
The field will be closed to all non-contests flying on contest days. Exceptions may include demo flights arranged by contest management. If for some reason you feel a trim flight is necessary, contact the CD for approval.
Aircraft
All aircraft shall comply with all AMA Safety Codes and also comply with IMAC's Model Aircraft Specifications listed in Rule 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 & 4.4 (General Rules)
The Invitational pilots may use different aircraft for the sequences and Free-Style as long as they are IMAC legal and have a minimum engine displacement of 80c.c.'s. There is no limit to the number of planes a pilot may use.
Pilot and Instrument Panel
A realistic pilot figure and instrument panel are required as per IMAC rule. Aircraft lacking these items will be penalized the stated 1%. Rule # 6.6 (General Rules)
Sound Rules
We will be assigning sound scores on each sequence. We will be waiving the ground sound test per IMAC rules. We expect good throttle management throughout all sequence flights. Listed are the relevant Sound Scores for each class:
Sportsman – 2K
Intermediate – 3K
Advanced – 4K
Unlimited – 5K
Invitational – 6K
Airspace Control Score
We will be assigning an Airspace Control Score to ALL classes, including the Invitational. Rules pertaining to the Airspace control can be found in the IMAC Flying & Judging Guide, page 5 (Rule # 4.3). ASC values are:
Sportsman 6K
Intermediate 9K
Advanced 12K
Unlimited 15K
Invitational 19K
Four-Minute Freestyle
We will be using the 2009-2010 AMA RC Scale Aerobatics judging criteria for the Four-Minute Freestyle program, available HERE. Rule # 17 (General Rules)
No portion of the aircraft shall touch the ground, except (the wheels) during landing. An aircraft will be deemed to have touched the ground if the majority of scoring judges believe it to have touched.
The aircraft shall not fly behind the dead-line except during takeoff and landing. Additionally, all personnel shall remain behind the dead-line. A pilot and his/her caller are allowed to go out to the dead-line if so desired. A violation of this rule will be deemed to have occurred if the deadline judges believe it has.
Safety
Any willful violation of a safety related rule will result in disqualification from the entire event.
Scoring
Normalized scoring will be used for all rounds, including Known's, Unknowns and Four-Minute Freestyle. Normalization will be performed before scores are dropped.
Scoring will be cumulative for IMAC Sportsman through Unlimited classes. That is, scores from all rounds (beginning with Friday through Sunday) will be used to determine the winner.
The Invitational Pilots will fly Known "A" three days (Thursday, Friday & Saturday) and two separate Unknowns (A and B) and two freestyles on Friday and Saturday. Pilots will keep the best of each score to determine their position at the end of Saturday. At the pilots dinner Saturday evening we will award places 8 through ?.
The TOP 7 pilots will then move forward to the FINALS and a new flight order will be drawn for Sunday.
The Finals schedule will be comprised of Known "B" flown twice along with two more Unknowns (C & D) and two freestyles. Again, they will keep the best of each to determine the winner. The tie-breaker will be how they finished in the first two days.
Score Normalization Process
For Sportsman thru Unlimited score normalization & weighting will be calculated as per the IMAC Contest Guide.
For Invitational score weighting will be calculated:
KNOWN'S.....40%
UNKNOWNS 50%
FREESTYLE..10%
Dropped Scores Schedule
IMAC Known's
Less than 3 sequences - 0 dropped score
From 3 to 5 sequences - 1 dropped score
6 or more sequences - 2 dropped scores
IMAC Unknowns
Less than 2 sequences - 0 dropped score
2 or more sequences - 1 dropped score
INVITATIONAL Known's
2 or more sequences - 1 dropped score
INVITATIONAL Unknowns
2 or more sequences - 1 dropped score
Four-Minute Freestyle
2 or more sequences - 1 dropped score
Invitational Judges Dress Code
Judges will wear appropriate Clover Creek apparel with tan pant/shorts when they are at the Judging stations. "Team wear" will not be allowed on the Judging line, as this could give the appearance of undue bias