International Miniature Aerobatic Club
" While the following is an exact copy of the AMA rules for aerobatics the only recognized official source of AMA rules is the AMA Competition Regulations Rule Book published by the AMA "
Reprinted with permission
For AMA event 411, 412, 413, 414
Check here for Rule Update
1. Objective. To duplicate full scale sport aerobatics with miniature radio controlled aircraft in a realistic manner that is challenging for the contestants as well as interesting for the spectators.
2. General. All AMA regulations and FCC regulations covering the RC flier, his plane and equipment, shall be applicable to this event, except as noted herein. There shall be no limitation to the type of equipment fitted to the aircraft, nor the number of controls.
2.1 Consideration of safety for spectators, contest personnel, and other contestants is of the utmost importance in this event. Any unsportsmanlike conduct or hazardous flying over a controlled spectator area will be cause for immediate disqualification of that flight.
3. Open Events.
3.1 Events. The events accommodate aerobatic monoplanes and biplanes which are replicas of types known to be capable of aerobatic competition within the airframe known as the "Box".
3.2 The model may weigh no more than 55 pounds, with fuel (per Safety Code). No minimums are specified.
3.3 The maneuver sequences will be those used in full scale International Aerobatic Competition (IAC) and adapted for the event by the International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) annually.
4. Model Aircraft Specifications.
4.1 Only one (1) engine of the reciprocating internal combustion type or electric shall be allowed:
a. Formula I specifies a .50 cid 2-cycle; .65 cid 4-cycle displacement limit for models in this class.
b. Formula II is comprised of models using engines of greater displacement which may not exceed the AMA limits specified in Paragraph 3.2. Typically 30% scale or larger models.
c. Formula I and II may be combined or kept separated in two (2) categories at the option of the Contest Director and number of entries anticipated or pre-registered.
4.2 An effective silencer shall be used in accordance with AMA and club standards of noise reduction.
4.3 The Builder-of-the-Model (BOM) rule shall not apply. Several contestants may fly the same aircraft as is frequently done in full scale competitions. Sport Aerobatics is a measure of piloting ability! - Utilizing realistic RC miniature aircraft.
5. Proof of Scale.
5.1 To prove that the model resembles a particular aircraft some proof of scale is required.
5.2 Proof of scale is the responsibility of the contestant.
5.3 The general outlines of the model shall approximate the full size outlines of the subject aircraft. Exact scale is not required nor intended. The model shall be judged for likeness at a distance of approximately 10 feet.
5.4 If no proof of scale material is presented with the model by the contestant and the CD can determine himself that the aircraft is a replica of a full-size aircraft, then the contestant will be allowed to have his entry to be considered for scale entry.
5.5 Scale shall be determined by the wingspan and variations should not exceed 10 percent. Fuselage width and height may be reduced up to 20 percent.
5.6 A realistic pilot and instrument panel shall be appropriately installed in all Scale Aerobatic aircraft. (A one (1) percent flight score penalty will be assessed for non-compliance.)
6. Achievement Award Patches. Achievement award patches may be earned in each category by scoring five (5) or better on each maneuver in a Basic, Sportsman, Advanced or Unlimited sequence.
The Sport Aerobatics Newsletter, patches, pins and decals are also available through the IMAC secretary. The International Miniature Aerobatic Club is the Special Interest group (SIG) sponsoring the miniature counterpart of full scale sport aerobatic competition.
7. Material and Workmanship. Workmanship must be of satisfactory standards. Contest committees are empowered to refuse permission to fly, or to disqualify any aircraft which, in their opinion, is not up to reasonably safe standards in materials, workmanship, radio installation or condition as a result of damage.
8. Competition Classes.
8.1 The event shall be divided into four (4) classes; in order of increasing difficulty, the classes are Basic, Sportsman, Advanced, and Unlimited.
8.2 Optional Three (3) Minute Freestyles and/or F3A sequences may also be offered as separate events.
8.3 Contest Directors and/or the sponsors of a sanctioned meet shall determine which of the classes and events will be flown. Such information must accompany all advance notices pertaining to the contest, including any planned deviation from standard rules, 30 days prior to the date of the contest.
9. Contestant Classification.
9.1 A contestant may enter any one competition class at his own option. Advancement to the next higher class shall be mandatory at the start of the next contest season after winning first place four (4) times in any 24 month period.
9.2 There shall be at least four (4) entries making official flights before the first place victory is counted towards advancement.
9.3 Contest Directors and/or the sponsors of a sanctioned meet shall determine which of the classes and events will be flown. Such information must accompany all advance notices pertaining to the contest, including any planned deviation from standard rules 30 days prior to date of contest.
10. Official Flight. Contestants shall have have one attempt to make an official flight sequence. An attempt is made when the pilot calls the box or rocks the wings at entry.
10.1 At the contest directors discretion, one (1) or two (2) sequences may be flown during the flight. Landing between sequences is permitted for throttle and minor adjustments to the aircraft if two (2) sequences are flown.
10.2 An attempt may be repeated at the judges discretion only if, for some unforseen reason, the model fails to make a start (i.e. safety delay due to other aircraft traffic, etc.). Similarly, an attempt may be repeated at the discretion of the Contest Director if it has been interruped due to circumstances beyond the control of the competitor, but only the maneuver affected and the unscored maneuvers that follow will be
scored.
11. Number of Flights. There shall be no limit on the number of flights (other than that imposed by time available). The contest official shall make every reasonable effort to insure that all contestants receive equal opportunity to fly.
12. Aerobatic Zone.
12.1 All maneuvers shall be flown in an area in front of the judges 60 degrees on either side to the rear corners of the box and 75 degrees to the front corners. No higher than 60 degrees. Minimum altitude shall be 20 feet.
12.2 The aircraft will rock its wings back and forth prior to entering and just after leaving the aerobatic zone thus showing the judges the beginning and end of the sequence or pilots may announce the beginning and ending of sequences to alert the judges.
13. Time Limits.
13.1 Start engine and become airborne – two (2) minutes.
13.2 To enter the aerobatic zone upon command of appropriate official – one (1) minute.
13.3 No time limit while in the aerobatic zone.
13.4 Between leaving the aerobatic zone and touchdown for landing – two (2) minutes unless required to hold upon command of appropriate official.
14. Point System.
14.1 All classes shall have the scheduled maneuvers scored on a scale of 10-0. Half (.5) points may be used in judging. Points are deducted for imperfections in positioning, heading, track and attitude observed. Excessive or unrealistic speed and "G" forces are additional cause for down-grades.
Modified via rules change proposal Jan, 2000
14.2 Degree of difficulty factor (K-factor) values shall be assigned to individual maneuvers based upon the current FAI catalog of maneuvers with modifications as required by the International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC). When calculating contestant scores each individual maneuver score shall be multiplied by its K-factor. The flight score shall be the result of summing the 'K-factored' ( maneuver score multiplied by
K-factor) scores.
15. Determining the Winner. In all classes, the winner shall be the only sequence score when only one (1) round is flown; the highest total of the best two (2) sequences scores when two (2) or three (3) sequences are flown; the highest total of the best three (3) sequence scores when four (4) sequences are flown; the highest total of the best four (4) sequence scores when five (5) or six (6) sequences are
flown; and the highest total of the best scores after the two (2) lowest scores are dropped for seven (7) or more sequences are flown. The unknown shall be flown once (1) with the score added to the above total from the known sequences to determine the winner.
15.1 The total score including knowns and unknown as calculated per section 15 above, shall be divided by the total possible points and the winner shall be ranked by the resulting percentage.
15.2 In the case of ties, the best nonscored sequence of the contestant shall be used to determine the winner.
15.3 Each sequence shall be judged with the same judges.
16. Flight Pattern.
16.1 The contestant must fly his entire flight according to the established flight schedule for his particular class and in the sequence listed. Maneuvers performed out of order will be scored 0.
16.2 Takeoff and landing are not to be considered judged maneuvers. It is not necessary for the judges to see the aircraft take off or land. The aircraft may be carried to the takeoff point, and carried from the landing area, if so desired.
16.3 No flybys are allowed during an aerobatic sequence. If a flyby or break in the sequence occurs, any omitted maneuvers and the next prescribed maneuver in the sequence will receive zero (0) points as a penalty.
16.4 Boundary Infringements. Whenever "The Complete Aircraft" is observed to fly past any boundary or marker, a boundary infringement penalty will be noted by the maneuver score being circled and a point penalty assessed when scores are tabulated.
- Penalty points assessed on each score sheet shall be; Basic, two (2) points; Sportsman, four (4) points; Advanced, eight (8) points; Unlimited, 10 points. Points are deducted from total K-factored scores.
- Incorrectly flown maneuvers and maneuvers flown entirely out of the "Box" shall be scored zero (0).
- Maneuvers shall receive a one (1) point penalty for every 10 degrees off-heading on each segment of the maneuver.
16.5 Three (3) Minute Freestyle. The Three (3) Minute Freestyle is "Show Time" and a separate event. It is an unrestricted, individually created sequence in which "Anything safe goes!". It is graded on four (4) criteria and should have separate awards when offered.
- Originality – Creating new figures, novel combinations of old figures, novel utilization of the aircraft, element of surprise, and good use of the full aerobatic zone.
- Versatility – Displaying a wide variety of maneuvers.
- Harmony and Rhythm – Choreographic characteristics of sequence.
- Execution – The quality of flying and the ability of the pilot to hold attention.
16.6 Judging the Three (3) Minute Free. Four (4) judges will evaluate the first contestant on each of the four (4) criteria separately at approximately midway on a scale of 0.1 to 10.0 (to the nearest tenth of a point), 40 points possible. (Example; "6" is Good) Each successive contestant will then be scored relative to the first: better, similar, or not as good. (Example: Better – 6.5 to 8; Similar -
5.8; Not as good – 4). The four (4) scores are totaled for each contestant to determine the winners.
16.7 Two (2) freestyle judges may be used instead of four (4), with one judging (a and b) and the other (c and d) together.
16.8 Multiply the Free scores by 10 (move the decimal over one) for recording the final scores of the Three (3) Minute Free. Example: 28.5 becomes 285.
16.9 Unknown Sequences. Separate Sportsman, Advanced and Unlimited sequences, consisting of 12 to 15 maneuvers are designed for contestants to fly without prior practice. They should be reasonably flyable and without high K-factor complexity. (Note 16.1.)
a. Distribute the Unknowns the day of the contest or the night before to allow pilots to mentally fly and visualize them.
b. Flight order for the Unknowns should be established by drawing.
17. Known Compulsory Maneuver Sequences. Similar to IAC except modified by IMAC to provide better cohesion with miniature aircraft capabilities and pilot skill level. Sequences will change annually and be printed in the Competition Newsletter each spring, along with updated rule changes which become official upon publication in Model Aviation.
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Updated January 24, 2001 |
