Purpose: To have
a low cost fun form of Club Pylon Racing with minimum rules and expense to its
participants while meeting AMA distance setbacks and speed restrictions for this
type of racing.
Goal: To encourage sport fliers
to participate in an entry level sport pylon class with rules to keep cost down
and avoid wide differences in speed among contestants to make this a fun event
where a pilot's flying skills and how they fly the course should make the difference,
not an engine or other special equipment.
1.
Aircraft must be a single engine, single wing type with an integral landing gear.
All
aircraft must be able to ROG (rise off ground) from an idling start.
2.
AMA Event 424 legal Quickie 500 racers only: Viper 500, Dominator 500, Predator
I or II, Sonic 500, Scat Cat 500, etc. Aircraft can be ARF (aircraft must be stock
"Out Of The Box"), kit or scratch built (aircraft must be built per
plan or Event 424 dimensions), no airframe modifications allowed. Wing and tail
must be constructed of solid wood or wood over a solid foam core. No composite
material airframes, wings, or tail feathers are allowed. Minimum empty weight
(no fuel) of 52 oz. (3-1/4 lbs.) Supplied fuel tank can be replaced with any standard
molded type or a bubble-less fuel tank only. *** No pressure bladder fuel tanks
allowed.***
3. Flight Controls: All aircraft
must have all (4) radio flight controls operational these include: throttle, aileron,
elevator, and rudder (ruddervator if V-Tail). Each clevis on a pushrod must have
a safety (i.e. fuel tubing) to prevent accidental opening. If a clevis is used
on each end of a push rod, only (1) may be adjustable (i.e. 1 clevis must be soldered).
4. Engine must be a Non-Racing stock type
.25 displacement not to exceed $100.00 including the stock muffler. All engines
must be a front intake, side exhaust type using only the stock factory furnished
"Out Of The Box" expansion chamber muffler and fully functional throttled
type stock carburetor. All engines must be capable of sustained idle and be shut
down by radio. *** No engine or muffler modifications allowed except to remove
the baffle from the muffler. *** The OS 25 FX is the "Class Engine"
but for 2008 ONLY the following engines will be allowed: OS 25FSR, FS, & FX,
GMS-25, Magnum 25XL, and Thunder Tiger Pro-25 to encourage more participation
from pilots who may already have one of these engines and would like to trying
this class of racing. Buyer beware disclaimer: Only the OS .25FX or its OS .25
stock production replacement will be allowed in 2009.
5.
Spinner or Prop Nut: On all aircraft the front end of the engine crankshaft shall
be covered with a rounded spinner or safety nut. A spinner with a flat, oval,
Allen (Hex) of at least 3/16-inch in diameter on the front fulfills this requirement.
6. Fuel: Shall be commercially blended
fuel containing not more than fifteen (15) percent nitromethane.
7.
Propeller: Shall be commercially available APC or Master Airscrew (no carbon fiber
composite or wood) with a minimum diameter of eight (8) inches and a nominal pitch
of six (6) inches. ** No prop modifications except to sand/debur the sharp edges
for safety or balancing the prop (one side only). **
8.
Pylons will be set up by 11:45am for pre-race practice until 1:00pm. Pre-race
practice is optional for all race pilots. **** Flight line will be closed to all
race pilots at 1:00pm ****
9. Entry fee:
$5.oo per pilot.
10. Registration opens
at 12:00pm and closes at 1:00pm, pilots should arrive by 12:00pm to get registered
and have their aircraft and equipment inspected prior to the pilots meeting.
11.
Pilots meeting starts at 1:00pm for racing rule questions and pilot heat bracket
assignments.
12. First Heat Race begins
at 1:30pm sharp.
13. Heat Matrix: Pilots
will be placed in a color column / lane after registration for heat assignments.
All pilots on the same frequency will be placed in the same color lane to avoid
radio frequency conflicts. This means they never race against the pilots in their
color lane, but race against the other pilots and fly the same total number of
races. All pilots will remain in their assigned color lanes throughout the entire
event.
14. Wing Marking: All aircraft
will be assigned for identification purposes by the pylon judges a High / Low
color band after the pilot matrix is set. Color bands and attaching materials
will be supplied at event.
15. *** All
Pilots, Callers, Helpers, and Race Officials must wear an approved safety helmet
(hard hat) at all times when beyond the pit safety fence. ***
16.
Two 20' tall pylons, set 450' apart at the North/South ends of runway are used
for this class. Pilots must fly above the 20' high pylons at all times during
the race except for takeoff and landing. A warning for low flying will be given
to the pilot for flying below the pylons, after (2) warnings the pilot will be
black flagged and disqualified.
17. ALL
HEAT RACING/FLYING WILL BE EAST OF The Runway Proper. Runway edge is the start
of the DEAD LINE (No Fly Zone). Southbound leg must be flown East of the Runway
/ DEAD LINE (No Fly Zone). Northbound leg must be flown east of pylon course center
line.
18. Starting procedures: Aircraft
will be carried to their assigned starting positions on the start / finish line
when starter calls for the next heat race. Pilots and Callers will have (1) minute
to start their engine. Pilot must go to pilots box and get ready to takeoff. Starter
will motion the pilots to idle their engines. Starter will acknowledge each pilot's
readiness. Starter will indicate to callers to hold aircraft for throttle up.
Starter will call "Pilots Ready" and raise the flag, at which time all
pilots will go to full throttle. Starter will drop the flag down for positions
1 & 3 to launch first, then raise the flag up for positions 2 & 4 to launch.
This type of start allows separation of the aircraft. In odd numbered heats 1
& 3 launch first and in even numbered heats 2 & 4 positions launch first.
In a (4) round race each pilot should get (2) first launches and (2) second launches.
*** Pilots must be in the pilot box to takeoff ***.
19.
Any aircraft crossing the start/finish line before the start flag drops or is
raised will be penalized (1) finish position and (1) point. After start time has
expired, NO RESTART or TAKE OFFS WILL BE ALLOWED and pilot is disqualified for
that heat race, scored as DNS (Did Not Start) and (0) points will be scored.
20.
The Race Event will consist of four (4) ten-lap heats, a maximum of four (4) aircraft
per heat.
21. Racers must finish all (10)
laps to score a completed heat and receive heat position points.
22.
Points: 1st= 4, 2nd= 3, 3rd= 2, 4th= 1.
23.
The overall winner is determined by highest heat points total. Point Tie Breakers
will be determined by: (1) Total points for all Heat Races, (2) Fewest number
of cuts, or (3) Total number of Heat Races.
24.
All pilots must fly beyond (pass & around) both pylons for each lap of a heat
race. This means you must try not to cut any pylons. Any cuts will result in a
loss of one (1) finishing position and one (1) point will be deducted per cut.
A maximum of two (2) cuts for any ten (10) lap heat race. Any pilot with three
(3) or more cuts will forfeit his/her finishing position for that heat race and
zero (0) points will be awarded even if pilot finishes all ten (10) laps. Any
pilot deliberately cutting the course to gain a lead or advantage will be disqualified
for that heat race, possibly for the race series and zero (0) points will be awarded.
25. All pilots must cross the finish line
(on lap 10) and continue flying out pass the south pylon before pulling up off
the course. This lets the pylon judges know the pilot has completed 10 laps and
that this action is not to be scored as a pylon cut. *** No aerobatic flying or
extra laps on the race course after a pilot completes a (10) lap heat. *** Pilots
should land as soon as safely possible so the next heat can start.
26.
All protest, rules interpretations or violations will be reviewed by a selected
(5) member Q-25 pylon race committee made up of active sport pylon racers and
the Contest Director(s). Any violation of the Q-25 racing rules, including engine,
muffler and or airframe modifications will be grounds for dismissal from the Q-25
Pylon Racing Series. Any pilot found in violation of these rules by unanimous
vote of the race committee will be banned from participating in any Q-25 Pylon
Races. This is a "Zero Tolerance Rule" and Committee or Contest director's
decision is final.
*** These Q-25 rules
have been written as a guideline for this class of entry level sport pylon racing
and are based on the Event 424 rules listed in the AMA Competition Regulations
2007-2008 Rules Governing Model Aviation Competition in the United States.
***************
If the rules don't say you can do it, then you can't do it! ***************
