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I'm adding to this page to reflect the last combat on April 12th.
The CONTEST DIRECTOR is just that - the Director. He directs you to start the round, he directs you to land. If he says wait 15 minutes, you will wait the 15 minutes before the combat round starts. You guys need to get that through your thick skulls. Show Mark just a little bit of respect. He's the reason you're flying.
If you don't have a streamer, LAND!!! Last round, there were 2 of us left with streamers. I couldn't get a kill (neither could the other pilot) because there were SIX PLANES IN THE AIR. 6 planes and 2 streamers? The round can't possibly be productive. I can't believe how dumb you guys really are.
If you lose your streamer during the round, you cannot land to put a new one back on!!! When you're dead, you're dead. Combat rounds are 5 minutes. Get over it and fly again when Mark calls the next round. It's not tough.
When you land, don't aim towards the pits!!! A plane lands at another pilot's feet while he's trying to continue his combat round. That's rediculous and stupid. You could have at least given him warning that a plane was headed his way. Fly safe. Fly smart. Or don't fly at this field.
The flying box is 50 feet past the pits. Mark makes this clear at every pilots' meeting, and it's printed below in all kinds of official rules. Your airplane shouldn't be ANYWHERE near the pits. Keep your planes away from other pilots until it's landing time.
When the round is still going, DON'T GET YOUR AIRPLANE!!! Wait until the round is OVER before running out to retrieve the damage or turn off the battery. A plane could drop out of the sky at any moment where you are. Pilots could be landing. Even better - pilots could be deadsticked, and they can't get around you.
Likewise - if the round is over, LAND YOUR PLANE! One round was called over, and 2 planes (which had started 3 minutes late into the 5 minute round) were still going at it, leaving broken plane parts and draining batteries on the field waiting for you idiots to land so we can get them. When the DIRECTOR DIRECTS you to land, DO IT!!! I hope that's not too much to ask.
I'm getting really sick of people being dumb. Remember back when this was fun for all? If you can't handle the rules, fly in Tucson. Go crash into tombstones again. I'd prefer to have half the number of planes in the air if it will provide a fun, safe environment.
The Dirt Patch Fliers follow the NSCC guidelines, and these rules are taken directly off of their website.
I. Safety
Pilot and spectator safety is a top priority. The use of protective head gear is encouraged for pilots and helpers. All spectators must stay behind the pits.
The CD and pilot's stations (flight line) will be at the center of the flying site. The flight line shall be located 200 ft away from the designated spectator line. The flight box will be no less than 400 ft wide. No airplanes are to be retrieved until ALL airplanes have landed. The CD has the authority to "ground" anyone, at anytime, for any reason, relating to rules or safety violations.
II. Combat Classes
Sportsman's Class:
Any aircraft up to .46 cuin displacement
III. The Planes
Any plane is allowed in Sportsman's Class as long as it is safe to fly. The CD at any combat meet will have the authority to determine if a plane is airworthy and safe. Any radical or unconventional designs will be allowed by group consensus. Knife edge leading edges, cutting edges other than the propeller and protrusions past the leading edge are not permitted. If you have any questions regarding the acceptability of an airframe that you are thinking of entering in combat, e-mail Mark Jennings at azspadman@juno.com.
IV. The Engine
The engine must meet the following requirements:
A) Maximum allowable displacement is .46 cid for the Sportsman's Class.
B) Engine must be an R/C engine with front rotor induction and carburetor specifically cataloged for the engine by the engine manufacturer. The throttle must be operable and capable of shutting down the engine.
C) Engine must be a side exhaust.All tuned mufflers or pipes are legal.
D) No pressurized fuel systems, except muffler pressure, are allowed.
E) Engine must be commercially available through normal retail outlets.
V. The Contest (Mission)
The following guidelines were adopted for the combat meet:
A) There will be no score keeping besides the recording of cuts and kills.
B) Each round shall consist of a maximum of 4 heats. The number of combatants per heat shall be determined by the number of participants in the contest. Melee missions may be flown at the discretion of the CD. Melee missions have as many combatants as possible flying at one time. Participation in a melee mission is optional.
C) All combat missions will be 5 minutes long. The length of the melee mission may be longer at the discretion of the CD. Each heat will start 60 seconds from the CD's signal to start engines, late entries into the heat will be allowed.
[NOTE] The Dirt Patch Fliers only fly Melee missions.
D) A kill is a cut that removes the entire streamer. A cut that leaves approximately 12" or less of streamer is also considered a kill. If both streamers are removed at the same time, a kill will be awarded to both pilots. The determination of a kill will be made by the CD during a fly-by of the combatants. The decision of the CD is final! If the CD rules that there is greater than 12" left of the streamer, the round will continue. If a kill is awarded, the mission is over for the "downed" pilot. Also, shredding of the streamer to less than 12" due to excessive speed may also "down" a pilot at the discretion of the CD.
E) The pilot of a surviving plane in a mid-air will be awarded a kill. To be the surviving plane in a mid-air, the plane must continue to fly in a controlled manner. The determination of controllability will be made by the CD, typically having the combatant perform some basic maneuvers. The pilot of a non-surviving plane shall be awarded a cut.
F) A cut occurs when one combatant removes part of another combatant's streamer, but not enough to be considered a kill. In the case of a cut, the mission shall continue.
G) There will be no restarts during any combat mission.
H) The streamers will consist of 10 ft. of dark colored crepe paper attached to the aircraft with 30 ft. of string leader. The string leader shall be no more than 12 lb. test cotton. The crepe paper shall be at least 3/4" wide. Combatants are allowed one swivel per streamer. This swivel must be located at the aircraft attach point.
VI. Top Squadron
All pilots within a club or squadron will add their cuts and kills together separately to come up with one total of cuts and one total of kills for the Squadron per each event. Scores will be accumulative through out the season. The year's Top Squadron will be determined after the last meet of the year.
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