Hi Dennis,

The short answer is:  The CD was WRONG!

Longer Answer:

There is no CLPA rule that states the pilot must be involved in the starting of the engine/motor. Yes, many pilots do it so they can "fiddle" with their NV's, (usually to their detriment?  ), but it is not a rule.

I am almost always the only ECL flyer at the field or at the contest, so I do push my own button (I'm used to flying alone with a stooge so I keep up the same routine at a contest ;-). Like you, and most ECL pilots, I have my JMP and Kas timers set to "Zero" power for 30 seconds after button push/start. This allows me plenty of time to wander out to the handle, get set up, take a breath, etc., before TO. :-)

BTW: I push my talking timer (thanks Alan :-) start button immediately after pushing my start button, and include this 30 sec. wait time in my total 6 min time period on my timer. (5 min. 30 sec. flight time).

I have flown at the Cal State Champs with several Nats, and world champions, and there were many pilots who stood in the center of the circle while someone else started their engines. And these guys REALLY know the rules, so I don't think it would have been allowed if it was breaking any AMA rule! ;-)

My guess is that your CD is remembering some very old rule, or more likely a rule from some other CL event.

RE: Your last question about the "when is the ECL motor actually started, and the spinning prop issue". The only place in the rules that this would apply is in the section that states: "..... the engine (motor) must be started within 3 min. of giving the judges the hand signal for starting....".
       Since I live in an area where CL people are extremely conservative and there is a great bias against any change, especially against ECL, (I have been protested twice about ECL issues, and denied entry in one major contest), I do expect someone to bring up this issue.
       They may say that the "start" is only when the prop starts rotating after our 30 sec delay. The good news is that it does not matter to us. This issue is moot. We have 3 min. to get started after giving the hand signal. We can give them the 30 seconds if they demand it. By the time 3 minutes after our hand signal has passed, we will already have done 50% of the pattern! :-) .... Many of these extreme conservative reactionaries will still be flipping their props when we are already 50% done on the other circle. ;-)

If you are still in doubt about this rule, you may want to email Keith for the expert answer on this. Not only is Keith a very nice guy, but he is a walking encyclopedia on the history of our rules, past and present. :-)

Regards, 
AMA 1667  CD

Hi Dennis,

I'm glad I could help. 

   I admit to being a rules "wonk". ...... (nerd is more like it. ;-). Like most active CD's, I feel it is part of my responsibility to be current on all the rules that pertain to our event. The reason I mention this is that I am surprised that some CL CDs, and/or oldtimers still put out misinformation like your friend experienced. I have heard CL "experts" even say that electric starters are not legal in any CL events. My guess is that they heard about it in CL Combat, and without reading the CLPA rules they just blurt out the wrong information. .... Sadly, the misinformation on ECL stuff is the norm, not the exception. I have seen some CDs in our SW area make serious errors. Many do not even know about the current BOM rule, and have not read the rules in the past several years. I find this to be strange, and sad.  

Regards

I had actually checked the rules over and came to the same conclusion---you don't have to start the engine as a pilot, just signal the judges to start the time.

My interest was basically whether I had to actually push my JMP-2 start button or not. The main reason is that if I didn't, I would get an extra time slot and throttle position to play with. Right now I push the button and the motor blips but goes back to 0 rpm. Then 20 seconds later it comes back to life (usually the judges start laughing--unfortunately that often continues during the flight, one of the curses of electric--you can hear the judges laughing and commenting! ).

I haven't actually implemented having launcher pushing the button. I guess because it makes flying with a stooge problematic, and I already have implemented my dual throttle scenario by using the new firmware capabilities of the Castle Creations Phoenix RPM mode. Anything less than 50% runs at 7500 rpm (good for takeoff and first two laps), and then anything above 50% runs at "normal" rpm ~7900 rpm. I set my Jmp-2 first throttle at ~48% and first flight time=20s, second throttle at 100%, and the JMP-2 crosses the 50% threshold on the 4th lap, one lap before the wingover. Works nice!

This weekend at FCM Archie & I used similar routines with our electrics.  Signaled judges, I even announced "Ready to start" then bent over and flipped the prop (signal to judge to start the watch) and started walking down the lines. 

That is certainly a safe way to do it, Dennis.     There is nothing wrong with your procedure.

But, for the record (and everybody reading this), your FCM Judges (Randi and myself) started the clock the moment you signaled and simultaneously announced you were ready to start.  As Keith said most clearly, your eight minute flight time (including your three minute engine start and take off time) begins with the pilot's hand signal to the judges for both gas and electric.  There is no difference.

If you have not attended FCM, it is a really great contest.  This past weekend had some of the very best flying I have ever seen, top to bottom.  It was a real joy to work and to watch such high quality flying across the board.

If you have not had the pleasure of the company of the Adamisin Clan, you have missed something.  To listen to Big Art Adamisin's running commentary on a flight is like Graduate School in Stunt.

regards,
bill marvel



   

both times I few in the SIG contest (I was around 10 years old) they made the flier participate in the starting process.  either flipping the prop or holding the airplane.