stunthanger.com
Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: Matt Piatkowski on October 10, 2017, 04:23:47 AM
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Hello,
The AMA rules governing model aviation competition in the United States, Safety Provisions, 3.2, state the following:
"All aircraft that use electric propulsion shall have a positive arming device
that, that when disarmed, mechanically prevents battery power from being
applied to the motor. This may be (but is not limited to) a switch, the
existing battery plug, or arming plug, but must be in series with the main
power line(s) from the battery and mechanically disconnect the battery
from the motor. Relying on the timer, timer start switch, flight
programmer, or any other low-level logic signal for this function is
specifically excluded. The model shall be restrained at all times while the
system is armed, either by the pilot (including holding the handle before,
during, or after an official flight), an assistant, or mechanical restraint
device (e.g. stooge). The device must be disarmed after flight before the
airplane is left unrestrained. Failing to restrain the model while still armed
during an official flight attempt shall result in official flight with a score of
0. The system may be armed in the pits as long as it is restrained at all
times."
The "or" above means for me that the switch ONLY (no arming plug) is ok.
Also, the arming plug ONLY (no switch) is ok.
I will be competing in the USA next season and would like to know for sure WHAT is required.
Thank you,
Matt
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Hi Motorman,
Good point!
I missed the meaning of "but must be in series with the main
power line(s) from the battery and mechanically disconnect the battery
from the motor..
I will have the arming plug using the Deans pair in series with the main power line from the battery.
Thank you,
Matt
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All the full-fuse planes I've seen use arming plugs. The profiles are split between arming plugs and just unplugging the battery. The idea is that we don't want an unattended plane taking off, and we don't want to depend on either the ESC or the timer to do it, because they're not designed with that sort of safety considerations in mind.
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Now when a pilot is flying by his self using a stooge, does that mean he has to keep a hold on the handle while he disarms his plane?
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Now when a pilot is flying by his self using a stooge, does that mean he has to keep a hold on the handle while he disarms his plane?
The rule is for contests. But Motorman's solution would work. If I'm flying alone I usually stake my handle anyway, to walk the plane back to my flight box -- so if I were to switch to electric, my procedure wouldn't change.
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One thing to keep in mind. The model must be properly restrained at all times , if you remove your safety thong before model is disarmed and model is not restrained , you will get 0 score ,
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In FAI you only lose landing points if you let go of the handle after landing before the aircraft is restrained.
Not sure about AMA.
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A zero score is as bad as a DQ. So I would suggest staking the handle with full down control after removing the safety thong. My thoughts.