Q) Are official timers required for qualification contests?
A) Rule 5.7.1.1 states that official timekeepers are suggested, but not required.
Q) What is the minimum flight group size?
A) 5.7.9.1 states that flight groups must have at least 5 pilots. For smaller contests it is OK to have 2 flight groups of as close to equal pilots as possible. For example a 9 pilot contest can have a group of 5 and a group of 4. But not a group of 3, a group of 3, and a group of 3.
Q) What if a pilot has to drop out early or has an equipment failure and can’t finish the contest?
A) 5.7.10 states that a competitor must fly at least 3 rounds to receive a score. We are interpreting this to mean that if a contestant does not put up at least a flight in at least 3 rounds then this pilot can’t be counted in the total contestants equation that decides how many pilots receive qualification from that contest. Example if a contest has 11 pilots, typically the top 2 would receive Team Selection qualification consideration. But if at this contest one of the pilot breaks his plane after round 1 and does not fix it and attempt to fly 2 more rounds, that contest would only have 10 official contestants and only the winner would receiver Team Selection qualification consideration.
Q) There has been a lot of confusion about when a plane lands if it is in bounds or out of bounds. What is the real answer?
A) 2010 revision of the F3K rules states:
Landing is considered valid, if:
(a) At least one part of the model glider at rest
touches the start and landing field or overlaps
the start and landing field when viewed
from directly above (this provision includes any
ground based object within the starting
and landing field, as well as the tape marking the
boundary of the landing field)..
(b)
The competitor (or his helper) touches the airborne model glider for the first time,
while
standing on the ground with both feet inside the starting and landing field.
Q) What about Juniors?
A) Juniors are required to compete at either a two day contest or two single day
qualification contests that are registered on the f3k.us website. There are no requirements
being made on their placing at the qualification contests. It should be noted that
there is plenty of reason to believe that there will be a Junior classification at
the 2011 F3K World Championship but if information is released to the contrary the
process for selecting the Junior team will be null and void. Depending on how many
Junior pilots attend the Team Selection there may be a separate flight group for
them or they may be mixed with seniors.
Q) With all the international pilots that
are planning to attend the larger F3K events this season how does it affect qualifying
if they place in the top 10?
A) No special consideration will be made for non US pilots. If a non US pilot takes
one of the qualifying spots at a contest then that contest will in effect qualify
one less pilot.
