Model Aeroplane Notes

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 264, 7 November 1931, Page 3 (Supplement)

Model Aeroplane Notes

By propular

So many clubs are being formed now that I think an article setting out the rules and regulations will be of' very great interest to readers in outside centres. These rules are based on those governing the Auckland and Christchurch clubs, and may be altered to suit local conditions.

MODEL AERO CLUB RULES. 1. The ...... Model Aeroplane Cluin, hereinafter termed the club, shall 1)e conducted for the purpose of the advancement of model flying and development of air sense in general. 2. The Club shall be affiliated with the New Zealand Model Aeroplane Association, which is recognised as the body governing the sport of model aeroplane flying in New Zealand.

3. The ....... Club shall have a president, vice-president (if so required), club captain, secretary and treasurer and three committeemen, who shall act as timekeeper, record-keeper and act as markers at competitions.

4. The annual general meeting shall be held in the latter part of February of each year, at which meeting officers shall be elected, and the general business of the club dealt with.

5. The annual subscription shall be as follows:-—Junior members, under 18. 5/; senior members, 18 and over, 10/. (Half fees shall be charged any entrants during the last six months of the club's year.)

6. Competitions shall be held regularly and a strict account of all results kept by the record-keeper.

7. Displays and other matters pertaining to the function of the club shall be dealt with as deemed expedient by the committee.

8. The club shall be formed into squadrons of six members each, which number shall include a squadron leader who shall be posted to that position by the club captain. 9. The Club captain shall be in charge at all competitions and shall take the place of the president in his absence at general and committee meetings.

10. A banner shall be provided by the club for monthly competition between the squadrons. The squadron whose member's gain the highest marks for the month .Shall retain the banner and be deemed the champion squadron.

11. A cup shall be provided for the member gaining the highest aggregate points for each year* 12. Marks shall be awarded as follows: — Each member in attendance at each meeting, 1; each elitry for a competition, 2; a win, 15; a second, 10; a third, 5; each new member gained, 15; each record broken, 15. 13. Records shall only be deemed official when the flight is timed with a stop-watch in the presence of a member of the committee and two other members. Or with two ordinary watches timed by two members of the committee and two other members.

14. A record broken in a particular class will not be counted should it be eclipsed again on the same date.

15. In the event of a record being gained, the member So gaining it must within seven days have a certificate to that effect signed by the club president or captain.

16. The committee shall from time to time revise the rules governing competitions and have the power to add to, ; or delete, or issue fresh rules as they deem fit.

17. Competitions shall be held indoors and outdoors and shall be in the form of duration contests —speed contests, workmanship, or other contests that shall be deemed consistent with the objects of this club.

18. Any member during any competition that also breaks a record which. is not beaten again on that date shall receive the marks due to him in the contest, and the record marks as well.

19. A member shall be deemed a jjilot member when he has flown a model over 30 seconds in. competition.

20. A member shall be deemed an "ace" when lie has flown a model over 00 seconds in competition.

21. A squadron shall take 15 marks for every new pilot member and 25 marks for every new "ace."

22. No member shall compete or receive any marks unless he be financial.

23. No entrance fee in competitions is chargeable to junior members unless upon special occasion, when the committee shall have the power to impose such entrance fee at their discretion. Anyone wishing to join the club shall be proposed by a member and sign the entrance form agreeing to abide by the rules of the club. The committee shall have the power to refuse membership at its discretion.

24. Any member violating the rules of the club or acting in a manner prejudicial to the well-being of the club may be suspended by the club captain and the case dealt with by the committee within one week of such offence. The decision of the committee shall be final. The committee shall have the power to suspend or dxpel any member for the above offences.

25. Any member expelled from any other affiliated club shall not be given membership.

2G. A sub-committee shall determine whether the weather is fit for flying, and its decision shall be final. —

COMPETITION RULES. (a) All members must be on the location stipulated by the committee at the appointed time, when marks for attendance shall be given. (b) All squadron leaders Shall hand in the names of their members entering for any competition during the meeting. (c) M-embers shall be allqwed 15 minutes to tune up their models and wind in preparation for the event. (d) Members shall come forward in order of squadrons, and any member not ready to launch, his 'plane Vlthin GO seconds of his name being called shall miss that round. (e) Competitions shall consist of three rounds of one flight each. There shall 'be five minutes for tuning, up between rounds and 15 minutes for tuning up between competitions.

(f) The club captain or his deputy shall be the judge. (g) Any protest shall be lodged in writing within 48 hours of the contest With a committeer member. The "decision of the committee shall be final.

. (h) Members entering competitions shall fly one model- only in each event, and all models shall be constructed by the competing member. Members shall be deemed to have constructed a model if they have assembled it from any kitset of materials, but must do all the assembling unaided. No member shall use a ready-made model. (A ready-made model is deemed to be one that has the wing and/or fuselage already fabricated.)

(i) A piece of linoleum or board or other such surface may be used for R.O.G. competitions, but it shall be held or fixed in a horizontal position.

(j) A machine shall not be pushed or otherwise helped to rise in an R.O.G. competition. It may be steadied by hand only and released, the hand not to follow the movement forward of the model.

(k) In all competitions the models must not be released from any box, tree or eminence unless the committee have stipulated such.

' (1) All records shall be taken on a flat or undulating venue. The use of a long down-slope is not to be taken as a record. The committee shall have discretionary powers, but the object of this rule is to avoid using the slope of the land to lengthen the flying time.

(m) Any 'plane hitting a spectator or member during competition shall be deemed "no flight" unless the competitor shall decree that the time be taken.

(n) Any 'plane passing out of sight or lodging in a tree or on any other object ]above the ground level for over live seconds shall be clocked down and the flight deemed terminated.

(o) In the event of the timekeeper missing the timing of a flight, or his watch failing, the competitor shall have another flight snbstltuted.

(p) A flight shall be deemed terminated when any portion of the model shall touch the ground or floor after having oflce been launched, or when any portion or the whole shall remain in any obstacle above the ground for over five seconds.

(q) Competitions shall be held in grades: A grade—Not having previously flown over 30 seconds in competition. B grade—Having flown over 30 seconds in competition. Open senior. . Open junior.

(r) Any member that shall fly his machine whilst another member is competing, or about to compete, shall be disqualified from that round. (s) A member coming late shall enter the round in progress if his name has not already been called in that round. (t) All twin-pusher machines shall have a protection device in front. 3 Such device shall be passed by the club captain before flights. At the club captain's discretion such device may be removed for the purpose of record-breaking.