In these days I receive following e-mail from USA:

Hello Palo,

I don't have our F5J rules documented anywhere, but I can tell you about them.

The rules we were using allowed for 3 classes. SP400, 7-cell, and unlimited. The task was to fly in a 10 minute time slot, including the climb. Motor run times were specified at 20 seconds for unlimited, 40 seconds for 7-cell, and 60 seconds for SP400. The motor could only be run at the start of the flight. There was no benefit for using a shorter motor run, so everybody used the full amount of motor time and the better performing models were mere specks in the sky. Thus, a perfect flight for a unlimited model would be 9:40 minutes duration.

The "new" rules we are now using encourage more reasonable climb heights, and also align the competition more closely with F3J rules, which are already known world wide.

Our new rules still use a 10 minute time slot. A horn signals the beginning and end of the slot. There is no longer any specified motor run times. When the slot begins, the models are launched and each pilot runs his motor as long or as short as he decides. Only one motor run is permitted. The duration time starts counting when the motor is shut off. This is exactly the same as starting duration time when an F3J model is released from the towline. The plane must land before the 10 minute slot ends to score landing points. A normal F3J landing tape is used. We still fly the same 3 classes of planes. A group of SP400 models will fly together, a group of 7-cell models will fly next, etc.

With these rules, there can be no "perfect" flight since some motor run time will always be used. When conditions suggest that thermals will be likely, a daring pilot may decide to climb for only a very short time in hopes of increasing his duration time. Of course, if he made that decision in error he will land early and have a very poor score. These rules also tend to benefit the beginner pilots who have relatively weak power setups. They are able to climb for a minute or longer if needed so they can fly out the time slot. It is not likely that they will win the competition like this, but it will help them not to lose as badly.


Lenny