F3K (DLG) Rules

[sherchoo]

In light of the upcoming DLG competition, I thought it was appropriate to share some F3K rules for everyone's benefit, especially to the newcomers. Do bear in mind that the rules can be a bit overwhelming but during the contest, the main rules are usually explained so that everyone is clear to facilitate a safe and enjoyable contest.

General

This event is a multitasking contest where RC gliders must be hand-launched and accomplish specific tasks. In principle the contest should consist of at least five rounds. The organiser may announce more rounds to be flown before the start of the contest. In certain situations (for example bad weather conditions) the jury may decide that fewer rounds than initially announced will be flown. In these cases, the number of rounds may be fewer than five and all the rounds shall be considered as the final result.

Specifications
Model gliders are gliders with the following limitations:
Wingspan maximum 1500 mm
Weight maximum 600 g
Radius of the nose must be a minimum of 5 mm in all orientations. (See F3B nose definition for measurement technique.)
The model glider must be launched by hand and is controlled by radio equipment acting on an unlimited number of surfaces.
The use of gyros and variometers onboard the model glider is not allowed.
The model glider may be equipped with holes, pegs or reinforcements, which allow a better grip of the model glider by hand. The pegs must be stiff and an integral part of the model glider within the half-span of the wing, and be neither extendable nor retractable. Devices, which do not remain a part of the model glider during and after the launch, are not allowed.

[sherchoo]

Definition of landing

Landing
The model glider is considered to have landed (and thereby terminated its flight) if:
(a) The model glider comes to a rest anywhere
(b) The competitor touches the airborne model glider for the first time by hand or any part of his body (or if the competitor is disabled, the same applies for his start helper).

Valid landing
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 start and landing field, as well as the tape marking the boundary of the landing field).
(b) The competitor (or his start helper) touches the airborne model glider for the first time, while standing on the ground with both feet inside the starting and landing field.

[sherchoo]

Safety

Contact with person
In order to guarantee the highest level of safety, any contact between a flying model glider and any other person (except the competitor or start helper) either in or outside the start and landing field has to be avoided. If such contact happens during either the working or preparation time, the competitor will receive a penalty of 100 points on the total score. In addition, if the contact happens during the working time at the launch of the model glider, this will result in a zero score for the whole round.

Mid air collision
In cases of mid-air collisions of two or more model gliders the competitors will not be granted re-flights nor will penalties be levied.

Safety area
The organiser may define safety areas. The organiser must ensure that the safety areas are permanently controlled by well-trained personnel. A competitor will receive a penalty of 100 points, if:
(a) His model glider lands inside the safety area or touches any ground based object like e.g. car or building,
(b) The model glider flies below 3 metres over the safety area (measured from the ground).

[sherchoo]

Definitions of tasks

Detailed specifications including the tasks to be flown for the day must be announced by the organiser before the start of the contest. The tasks of the program are defined below. Depending on the weather conditions and the number of competitors, the tasks and the related working time may be reduced by a decision of the organiser as defined in the task description.

Task A (Last flight):
Each competitor has an unlimited number of flights, but only the last flight is taken into account to determine the final result. The maximum length of the flight is limited to 300 seconds. Any subsequent launch of the model glider in the start and landing field annuls the previous time.

Working time: min 7 minutes, max 10 minutes

Task B (Next to last and last flight)
Each competitor has an unlimited number of flights, but only the next to last and the last flight will be scored.

Maximum time per flight is 240 seconds for 10 minutes working time. If the number of competitors is large, the maximum flight time may be reduced to 180 seconds and 7 minutes working time.

Example:
1st flight 65s
2nd flight 45s
3rd flight 55s
4th flight 85s

Total score: 55s + 85s = 140s

[sherchoo]

Task C (All up, seconds)
All competitors of a group must launch their model gliders simultaneously, within 3 seconds of the organiser's acoustic signal. The maximum measured flight time is 180 seconds. The official timekeeper takes the individual flight time of the competitor according to 5.7.6 and 5.7.7 from the release of the model glider and not from the acoustic signal. Launching a model glider more than 3 seconds after the acoustic signal will result in a zero score for the flight.

The number of launches (3 to 5) must be announced by the organiser before the contest begins.

The preparation time between attempts is limited to 60 seconds after the 30 seconds landing window. During this time the competitor may retrieve or change his model glider or do repairs. If a competitors model glider lands outside the start and landing field, the competitor may change his model glider without retrieving and bringing back the one which has landed outside the start and landing field. This is an explicit exception to 5.7.2.3 and only valid for this particular Task C.

The flight times of all attempts of each competitor will be added together and will be normalised to calculate the final score for this task.

No working time is necessary.

Example:
Competitor A: 45s + 50s + 35s = 130s = 812.50 points
Competitor B: 50s + 50s + 60s = 160s = 1000.00 points
Competitor C: 30s + 80s + 40s = 150s = 937.50 points

Task D (Increasing time by 15 seconds):
Each competitor has an unlimited number of flights for each target flight time. Each competitor must try to complete the first flight of 30 seconds or more. Once this is accomplished, each of the next target flight times must be incremented by 15 seconds therefore flight times should be equal to or more than: 30s; 45s; 60s; 75s; 90s; 105s; 120s. The longest target flight time is 120 seconds. The time of all the achieved target flight times is taken into account for scoring.

Working time is 10 minutes.

Example:
1st flight 32s; target time of 30 seconds is achieved; flight score is 30 seconds. The next target flight is 45 seconds.
2nd flight 38s; 45 seconds not reached; score 0.
3rd flight 42s; 45 seconds not reached; score 0.
4th flight 47s; target time of 45 seconds is achieved; flight score is 45 seconds. Partial score is: 30 + 45 seconds. The next target flight is 60 seconds.
5th flight 81s; target time of 60 seconds is achieved; flight score is 60 seconds. The next target flight should be 75 seconds but the remaining working time is only 65 seconds therefore the next target flight cannot take place.

The total score for the task is: 30s + 45s + 60s = 135 seconds

[sherchoo]

Task E (Poker - variable target time)
Before the first launch, each competitor announces a target time to the official timekeeper. He can perform an unlimited number of launches to reach or exceed, this time. If the target is reached or exceeded, then the target time is credited and the competitor can announce the next target time, which may be lower, equal or higher, before he releases the model glider during the launch. If the target time is not reached, the announced target flight time can not be changed. The competitor may try to reach the announced target flight time until the end of the working time. Towards the end of the working time, the competitor must still announce a real time specified in minutes and/or seconds. Calling only 'until the end of the working time' is not permitted.

The announcement may be repeated 5 times. The 5 flights with achieved targets are scored. The achieved target times are added together.

This task may be included in the competition program only if the organiser provides a sufficient number of official timekeepers, so that each competitor in the round is accompanied by one official timekeeper.

Working time is 10 minutes.

Example:
Announced time - Flight time - Scored time
45s - 1st flight 46s - 45s
50s - 1st flight 48s - 0s, 2nd flight 52s - 50s
47s - 1st flight 49s 47s
60s - 1st flight 57s - 0s, 2nd flight 63s - 60s
60s - 1st flight 65s - 60s

Total score is 262s

Task F (3 out of 6)
During the working time, the competitor may launch his model glider a maximum of 6 times. The maximum accounted single flight time is 180 seconds. The sum of the three longest flights up to the maximum of 180 seconds for each flight is taken for the final score.

Working time is 10 minutes.

Task G (Five longest flights or 5 X 2mins )
Each competitor has an unlimited number of flights. Only the best five flights will be added together. The maximum accounted single flight time is 120 seconds.

Working time is 10 minutes.

[sherchoo]

Task H (One, two, three and four minute flights, any order)
During the working time, each competitor has an unlimited number of flights. He has to achieve four flights each of a different target duration. The target flight times are 60, 120, 180 and 240 seconds in any order. Thus the competitor's four longest flights flown in the working time are assigned to the four target times, so that his longest flight is assigned to the 240 seconds target, his 2nd longest flight to the 180 seconds target, his 3rd longest flight to the 120 seconds target and his 4th longest flight to the 60 seconds target. Flight seconds longer than the target seconds are not taken into account.

Working time is 10 minutes.

Example:
Flight time - Scored time
1st flight - 63s - 60s
2nd flight - 239s - 239s
3rd flight - 182s - 180s
4th flight - 90s - 90s

Total score of this task would be 60s + 239s + 180s + 90s = 569s

Task I (Three longest flights)
During the working time, each competitor has an unlimited number of flights. Only the best three flights will be added together. The maximum accounted single flight time is 200 seconds.

Working time is 10 minutes.

Task J (Last three flights)
During the working time, each competitor has an unlimited number of flights, but only the last three flights will be scored.

Maximum time per flight is 180 seconds for 10 minutes working time.

Example:
1st flight 150s
2nd flight 45s
3rd flight 180s
4th flight 150s

Total score: 45s + 180s + 155s = 375s