4. Some pilots think judges do a poor job. True or false?

5. False! All judges try to deliver their best – some are just more experienced than others

6. Some judges think fliers do a poor job. True or false?

7. False! All fliers try to deliver their best – some are just more experienced than others

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Precision Accuracy Size Positioning Smoothness & Gracefulness

11. 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

12. Each manoeuver is downgraded according to: Type of defect Severity of defect Number of times any defect occurs Size of manoeuver relative to others GIVE TOP SCORE ONLY IF NO DEFECTS OBSERVED!

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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!

20. 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”

21. 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”

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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!

27. 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!

28. 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!

29. 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!

30. ENJOY YOUR FLYING