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AEFA Rules Library

Contest Rules

Competitions need a set of conventions or rules so they are fair for all participants and are conducted safely.  Electric Flight is no exception.  Through experience and experimentation a collection of rules has evolved that are listed here.  Some apply to contests at the elite level while others are geared towards fun events held at local clubs or rallies.

A wise man once said that “rules are for the blind obedience of fools or the guidance of wise men”.  The choice is yours.

3D Aerobatics

Open to any model; A minimum of 3 judges with each compulsory manoeuvre scored out of 10. 
Three Compulsory includes:

A: Loop with snap roll at top;
B: Upright Harrier approach
C: Hover (10 seconds minimum)
D: Waterfall (3 rotations)

Optional manoeuvres (each competitor to nominate 3 in advance) 15 points each.

1. torque roll;
2. blender;
3. Inverted harrier
4. Rolling circle
5. Flat spin
6. Inverted flat spin

All-up-last-down 

– a fun event in which everybody launches together and has a 10 second motor run. The last person to land wins. Heats will be run if necessary.

Electric Old Timer 

To get to the AEFA practice for EOT contests, click Guide.  Highlights are:

Duration – 7 minute flight.  Motor can be stopped and restarted up to a maximum of 25 sec. Battery capacity is based on aircraft wing area.  
Texaco – 10 minute flight.  Motor can be stopped and restarted. Battery allowance is based on aircraft weight. 
1/2A Texaco – same as for Texaco (10 minutes flight) but for smaller aircraft (less than 450 sq in wing area) with 2S 460 or 3S 310 mAhr LiPo battery. These are maximum capacities.
Height Limited OT – 7 minute flight.  Single motor run with an electronic plug-in device limiting motor run time and aircraft height under power.
Vintage Glider - 7 minute flight. Single motor run with an electronic plug-in device limiting motor run time and aircraft height under power.

MAAA's National rules are on their website.

Electric Scramble

any type of model, using any type of motor, with any type of cells can be flown. The aim is to achieve as much time in the air in a 45 minute period with each flight being no more than 2 minutes long. Each launch must be with the motor running and made from the same spot. The model must land on the ground and not be caught at the end of each flight. Flights of less than 30 seconds do not count. The time of all flights will be added together to decide the winner. This is a fun event – give it a go!

E-RES Rules from 2022

There is a new competition E-RES (Electric Rudder Elevator Spoiler) being developed. Click here to see the rules. 

F5J and ERS postal rules.  Click here

F5J

You no longer need a high-powered electric glider to compete in a thermal flying competition. The F5J rules that have  been accepted  by our international governing body shift the emphasis away from a fast climb. The key to the event is to fly for 10 minutes in a 10 minute window by climbing for up to 30 seconds under power and starting from as low a height as possible. See the full F5J Information page here.

F5J 3 meter

This category of glider addresses

a) A glider that is substantially cheaper than fully moulded gliders

b) A glider which one can build from plans or kit parts

c) Performance greater than eRES, but not as good as fully moulded glider

d) The possibility of more control functions than eRES

e) An entry level of gliders to encourage pilots to participate in F5J competition

f) A glider with simplified controls, allowing the pilot to focus on flight rather than adjusting the transmitter controls

g) A category where gliders with ailerons and without ailerons can compete equally

h) A category to limit the costs of the power train

To see the rules click here

Foamy Plyon

a fun event for off-the-shelf foam models with a pusher configuration.  The event runs in heats, each race runs for 3 or 4 minutes (at Contest Director's discretion). Scores based on completed laps.  Format for AEFA_GMAC event click here (Note: CD permits Multiplex Funjet or equivalent & 4 minute races).

Fun Scale

a somewhat relaxed and low-key approach to scale where modellers with

ARF aircraft and those own-built models are encouraged to participate. The main goal is to get scale models in the air and for pilots and spectators to have a good time.

The scoring in the event will be based on equal weighting being given to appearance (judged statically) and scale flight performance.
Formal documentation is not required. However, before the judges can award a high static score they will need something to judge model against. Photographs and/or drawings of the full-sized aircraft will help here.

A series of five pilot nominated manoeuvres will be scored during a single flight. Takeoff can be nominated as one of the manoeuvres, as can circuit and landing (provided that the model is fitted with a functioning undercarriage). Appropriate manoeuvres for the prototype can be discussed with the judges prior to flying.

Limited Electric Glider

Basically a 5 minute flight using as little motor run as possible, with a spot landing on the five minute mark. Bonus points for landing accuracy.  Penalties apply for motor run time and landing early or late.  A full description of the rules are available. Click here.

Millenium Cup (Electric)

a power assisted launch followed by a thermal flight against time. Click here for full rules.

Open Electric Glider

A 10 minute flight using as little motor run as possible, with bonus points for landing accuracy.  A full description of the rules are  AEFA_OEG_2012.pdf.

Pusher Foamy Combat 

This event is open to all models that are predominately foam with a pusher motor – preferably a flying wing. The LE must be foam and the motor can be a 400 size brushed or brushless with a maximum of 10 cells or 3S. The objective is to cut the streamer of your opponent or knock them out of the sky. The winner will be the competitor with the most streamer cuts – streamers will be supplied.

Radian Glider 

an easy to fly electric soaring event. Launch a Radian glider and climb for the permitted time (typically 15 – 20 seconds). Now try to soar the model for a total flight time of at least 5 minutes. Your raw score is the number of seconds that the model flies for, up to a maximum of 300 points. Now land the aircraft somewhere on the field before 7 minutes have expired. How easy is that? Full rules here.

Countdown Audio Clips 

right click to download and save an audio file that can be used to manage the start of an event that has a timed motor run, eg for a Radian event.

Countdown(5mins).mp3  (~7MB)   

Countdown(F5J).m4a  (4.10MB)   

CountDown10Up20.wma (697KB)   

CountDown10Up20.m4a  (1.08MB).   

For F5J   F5J Countdown (3.2 MB) 

 

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