Field etiquette for contest day

[Paul Taylor]

Would like to know what people's thoughts are on how things should flow on contest day. Some do's and don'ts.

I will start with one.

Things to do:
Be ready to fly by starting to fuel up when you are due up in two. Reason is the guy in front of you might pass or take an attempt now your up.


Things not to do:
Don't fuel up on the circle. Judges are waiting and now there is a delay. If everyone did this it would be a long day.


Please don't call anyone out. 

[Perry Rose]

Un twist the lines before moving to the circle.

[Dan McEntee]

  Hey Paul!
   Some where in my great collection of junk is a sheet with suggested field etiquette for contests, that I think Allen Brickhaus gave me years ago. I'll have to see if I can find that. As for your suggestion, I think you should be ready to fuel, but some set up do not lend to having fuel sit in them while handling them and such. Sometimes some fuel could siphon out and you could end up short for the flight or even flood the engine. I believe in being ready to fly when called, including a syringe or syringes of fuel required for the flight. It only take a few seconds to push in a syringe of fuel. I think at the NATS you have a working time after you are called to fly in which to prepare the model and signal for start, and I think that's 3.5 minutes?? That's not very long but still plenty of time to fuel a model and get a bump for start up.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Dave_Trible]

Don't trip on anyone's lines but your own.

Dave

[NED-088]

Never test run your engine where models are lined up in starting order.
Take it out of the line and proceed where you don't disturb someone's concentration just before a flight or where you don't spread an oil film on another man's model.
Especially the guy lined up behind you will appreciate that.

When it's not your turn to fly next, look around and offer help where needed.

But both points are so obvious, I almost hesitated to mention these.

[Trostle]

Our AMA rules allow 5 minutes "to give the hand signal to begin starting their engine(s)" from the time they are called to the circle.  The start of the 5 minute period is normally meant to start at the time the previous flyer has vacated the circle.  The 5 minute limit is "loosely enforced" because at most contests, with experienced pilots, the next pilot will enter the circle almost immediately after the previous pilot has left.  So, that next pilot has 5 minutes to do whatever he wants to do before he gives the signal to start.  Now, "circle etiquette" sort of dictates that the next pilot proceed with all "deliberate haste" to enter the circle and start the next flight so that there are no unnecessary delays.  That is a courtesy to the judges and the rest of the pilots waiting for their turn.  Some pilots opt to fill their tanks after entering the circle because of the way their tank is plumbed and vented.  This is essentially an accepted practice and has already been noted, only takes a few seconds from that 5 minute limit.  Some of our top pilots do this.

After entering the circle, it is not unusual to see a pilot check to see his lines are not twisted which also allows him to check the wind, check the at landmarks/markers relative to the wind, and to position of the judges.  The process can be done within the 5 minute limit but should be done efficiently and quickly.  

The Open/Expert pilots normally show the courtesy of being ready to enter the circle as many as two flights down the flight order.  It is the less experienced Intermediate and Advanced pilots who sometimes, for no reason, have to be found somewhere on the field to be called for their flight.  That is one way NOT to impress the judges.  That has been my experience as a judge at local contests as well as at the Nats.

Keith

[Fredvon4]

NON competitor note

I do not fly in competitions and on a few occasions... the pace and situation was such that it seemed obvious to me someone needed help that was NOT present...so I offered to hold and launch

rarely but it does happen...the harried pilot us stressed because his "regular helper" is not readily present

This is just not with me but observed with other volunteer helpers

The stressed out pilot is in a BAD mood.. ( I get that) and is CURT (I get that too) and for some insane reason expects the "Helper to read his mind" .. ( Ok I can relate)... BUT what I can not tolerate is being berated and chastised if I am NOT in total sync with the pilots starting procedure and holding demands....sheesh...note to self...yadda yadda

ON the totally opposite side...

One of the reasons I enjoy going to contests and learning and watching...

I have helped launch a few guys who were calm...not harried, patient, grinned at them selves and the situation, asked me if I had done it before, and calmly told me how they preferred me to hold the plane and what angle, let them tweak the needle and only touch it if it went wonky as they went to the handle...and to feel free to pinch the fuel to shut it down if it ran away....

And the best ever...the guys that had no clue who I was and later found me and we chatted as they thanked me for the impromptu assist

I totally get it that some few folks are focused and high strung stressed for the competition and to this day I have forgave all that ate by butt.... But secretly vowed to let someone else help THAT GUY

Jest sayin

[Fred Cronenwett]

Every event is different but in CL scale at the Nats you are only given a certain amount of time to get airborne. pilots have shown up in the circle only to have a bad glow plug, loose prop or the motor does not start.  Test run the motor/engine before you get you get into the circle for an official flight. The time and place to find out that that you have a engine or mechanical problem is not when it's time for an official flight.

My models are electric but I still make sure all of the electronics is up and running and the lines check out. Get all of the judging forms before you walk out there. Your goal is to put the model into the circle, give the judges the forms, start the engine/motor without any problems and get airborne. you shouldn't have to explain anything to your pit man on what to do or what not to do. When I assisted Grant with his Spacewalker if you blinked he would have the motor started and have started the take off roll if you were not paying attention.

Practice at home before you leave for a contest and make sure you have everything you need. I have seen pilots arrive only to find out they left something at home that prevented them from flying!

You will need a pit man that knows what to do before and after the flight, especially with electric airplanes.

Fred

[john e. holliday]

If you volunteer to help some one be there and ready with what ever instructions you get.  I remember seeing a fellow that I helped that was going to return the favor.   Flyer ahead of me was entering circle as I watch the individual that was going to help me leave the field.  Sure glad we have others ready and willing to help plus I can never thank them enough.

[Howard Rush]

Be ready to fly by starting to fuel up when you are due up in two. Reason is the guy in front of you might pass or take an attempt now your up.

Things not to do:
Don't fuel up on the circle. Judges are waiting and now there is a delay. If everyone did this it would be a long day.

Yup.  Being ready to go when you walk out to the circle also gives the impression that you know what you're doing.   (edited to remove ambiguity)

[Steve Helmick]

I launched for Tim (that guy) three flights today, 1 practice, followed by 2 officials.  

Tim should have saved the practice flight for an official.

Tim did not signal the judges for official #1.

Tim should have picked up his plane differently for official #1, so he would not have to walk backwards for 200'.

Tim should have wiped the plane down after each flight, because it was one greasy SOB for official #1. The muffler outlet needs to be turned outboard to help this situation.

Tim should have had an electric finger handy for official #2, because he didn't get the engine running and launched in an expedient manner, resulting in a total flight time within a second or so of the 8 minute maximum.

Tim set the plane on the pavement (started inverted for all 3), and didn't get it set square to the pilot, relying on the pitman to turn the plane so it was straight (I sight down the flap hingeline at the pilot's circle, but I could have just launched it...which may have been exciting).  

Tim didn't check the line clips/leadouts for being snafu except on official #1, after being suitably chastised.

Tim really didn't fly badly at all with the ex-PW "Atlantis", which was labelled as being built to fly on the '88 WC team...Kiev, I think. Someplace they speak Russian.

But Tim did place 5th (corrected) out of 5 in Expert IIRC, without AP's.

Some good stunt was flown, in spite of Tim.     Steve

Edit: Fixed Tim's final placing.

PS: Since Tim, Mark, and (of course) Paul all flew PW designed and built planes in Expert, I think it would be cool if everybody just flew PW planes. Maybe a mix of Impacts, Predators and a smattering of B-17's? 

[Howard Rush]

If you volunteer to help some one be there and ready with what ever instructions you get.  I remember seeing a fellow that I helped that was going to return the favor.   Flyer ahead of me was entering circle as I watch the individual that was going to help me leave the field. 

I do that all the time.

[Tim Wescott]

I launched for Tim (that guy) three flights today, 1 practice, followed by 2 officials. 

Hey!  I was nice!

But Tim did place 4th out of 5 in Expert IIRC, without AP's.

Some good stunt was flown, in spite of Tim.    Steve

5th out of 5 -- I beat Mark in the first round, but he did better on his second flight and I didn't.

[Mike Scholtes]

There is a lot of good material in Ted Fancher's article "Fly Like A Champion" from probably 30 years ago. Detailed down to "wear sturdy shoes"  and dress like a champion, not someone headed to a rummage sale. The impression of being "together" and not rushing without purpose is subtle but real. My daughter the gymnast says you are being judged every moment you are in the gym on event day. The judges see you and note if you are serious and prepared at all times, not just on the balance beam. I think the same applies to our sport. And always say "Thank you!" to the judges standing out in the heat for hours on end just so you can enjoy your hobby.

[Air Ministry .]

 

[Brett Buck]

Never test run your engine where models are lined up in starting order.
Take it out of the line and proceed where you don't disturb someone's concentration just before a flight or where you don't spread an oil film on another man's model.
Especially the guy lined up behind you will appreciate that.

When it's not your turn to fly next, look around and offer help where needed.

But both points are so obvious, I almost hesitated to mention these.

     You would think so, but unfortunately, it isn't obvious at all. Our former west-coast version of the AMA was called WAM (Western Associated Modelers), and they required the models to be lined up in the pits and moved to the front as your turn approached - due to the *hundreds* of entries they had to get through in a day. It was *very common* for people to test-run their engines right there in line, blowing oil and every thing else around.

     Then there was the 97 NATs where Bob Baron decided to break his engine in while standing in the *pull test lane* in the middle of Top 20 day. But he was a special case, no aspect of human interaction was obvious to him due to his condition. 

      Brett