Our 3rd Annual BAM F5J Soaring Classic honors our long-time founding club member, leader, soaring expert, and all-around great guy, Buzz Averill (see tributes here.)  This event is part of the 2018 F5J USA Tour and is an AMA-sanctioned event, AMA #18/551.  Follow the discussion and latest information on RCGroups.  And check out our inspirational YouTube video at https://youtu.be/53wUnDpn6FE

Dates:  August 25th-26, 2018

Contest Site:  Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque, NM   (GPS Coord:  35.1978839,-106.5974739)
The Park is home to the world famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and features acres of lush grass and thermals.  It is convenient to lodging, restaurants, and other necessities.
Lunch, water and refreshments will be provided on both days (included in registration fee). 

Registration: Click Here (last page), or by mail. With online registration you can pay your entry fee by PayPal or mail in a check.  If you would prefer to print an entry form and mail it with payment, please use the Mail-In Registration form .  Registration closes Aug 22- No registrations accepted at contest site.

Entry Fee and Requirements:  $70 (non-refundable).  ALL PILOTS MUST BE AMA MEMBERS.  This is an AMA-sanctioned event--Membership cards will be checked.  Non-US pilots may sign up as an AMA Affiliate Member for $36 at check-in.

Awards:  Open Class:  Top three places—all pilots eligible:  Airframes per FAI F5J rules. 
Special Classes:  To encourage participation by pilots owning inexpensive models, there will be awards for the following highest scoring qualifying classes of electric sailplanes:
     ‘Woody’ Class:  3 meters and under wingspan with built-up wing (composite spar and/or composite fuse ok, no composite D-box). 
     ‘Beer Cooler’ Class:  Highest scoring ‘Radian’ class of electric sailplanes manufactured principally from EPP or similar materials. 
All classes will be flown together.   Other awards TBA

Contest DIrector:  Richard Shagam  2018F5Jcd@soarabq.org
Phone:  (505) 298-2163 (h), or (505) 980-3513 (m)

Contest Manager:  Greg McGill  2018F5Jcm@soarabq.org
Phone:  (575) 642-7679 (m)

Contest Schedule:

·        Friday: Registration and optional test flying day starting around 9AM.  A frequency board will be available and must be used.  Morning flying will be conducted on grass panel D4 (Note:  Please enquire regarding safety rules enforced on this panel.)

·        Friday Evening August 24, pilots welcome get together (Venue TBD)

·        Saturday:  Registration/Check in time is 8:00 AM. 
Pilots’ meeting is at 8:30 AM. 
First group will fly at 9:00 AM.  Flying will be in groups of not more than 12 pilots with a 10 minute working time/5-6 minute prep time between groups.
We will stop flying as near to 5:00 PM as possible.  If we can complete 6 rounds, we can have a throw-out round. 

·        Saturday Evening:  Dine together, venue TBD (Pay as you go)

·        Sunday:   Pilots’ meeting 8:30 AM.  First group will fly at 9:00 AM. We will stop flying as near 1 PM as possible. Fly-off rounds to follow.

General Rules Summary 

The contest rules will be in accordance with the FAI 2018 F5J rules, as posted here and with rules deviations as allowed by the F5J USA Tour, as posted here.

Significantly, the following exceptions to the FAI F5J rules shall be in force:

·        The Flight is cancelled and recorded as a zero score if any part of the model lands or extends ‘off-panel’. (This replaces FAI Rule 5.5.11.7.d).  Off-panel is defined as off of the immediate grass panel (nominally D6) upon where the contest is being flown.  However, landing within any declared ‘no-fly’/safety zones within that panel will be subject to scoring penalties. 

·        Due to the fenced-in environment at Balloon Fiesta Park, emergency motor restarts are allowed, but will result in a zero score for the Flight Round.  Otherwise, a ‘very significant’ delay could be encountered in attempting to recover the model after an out-of-park landing.  Pilots whose models land within the boundaries of the Golf Center at Balloon Fiesta Park will be required to report to the Golf Center Office to arrange for retrieval of their models. 

Penalties:  Safety violation penalties will be assessed, per FAI rules . including, but not limited to low flying over, or landing in ‘pit’ areas, the access corridor, the Golf Center, and other zones declared as safety or ‘no-fly’ zones by the CD.

The CD will announce additional rules/restrictions as field conditions may warrant.

Scoring:  The program GliderScore will be used to score the event per the F5J rules.  Scores will be entered by pilot/helper using the smartphone-based GliderScore eScoring Interface.  Please install a QR code reading program on your phone.  Paper score sheets will be available for use by pilots without smartphone access.  Scores shall also be entered on the score sheets provided, for verification/backup

Altitude Recording Devices:  Must be FAI-approved.  The most widely used altitude recording devices include the Aerobtec Altis V4+: http://aerobtec.com/altis-v4/and the Soaring Circuits CamF5J: http://www.soaringcircuits.com/.  Altitude recording devices must have any altitude limiting switches disabled and may be programmed to allow emergency motor restart—in which case the display should indicate a null altitude.  Real-time telemetry (other than on-board battery voltage or RSSI) broadcasting altitude or position back to the pilot must be disabled.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Lodging:  Representative motels near the park can be found here:  Lodging Near Balloon Park

RV Parking:  Sorry, No overnight parking in Balloon Fiesta Park.

Directions to Balloon Fiesta Park:  Balloon Fiesta Park is off of I-25 near Roy/Tramway Road on the north edge of Albuquerque.  Set your GPS to Balloon Fiesta Pkwy NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113 and enter through Gate 3.  A club official will be present from 7 – 8 AM contest mornings to open the automatic gate and present to you a gate pass and parking instructions.  Other days/hours are TBD.  Absolutely no parking or driving on grass surfaces. 

© 2016 Albuquerque Journal/Greg Sorber, photographer/used with permission