Our 4th 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.)  and is an AMA-sanctioned event, AMA #8500.  Follow the discussion and latest information on RCGroups.

Dates:  August 24th-25, 2019

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.
Water and refreshments will be provided on both days (included in registration fee). Lunch may be ordered for an additional fee on contest mornings. 

Registration:  Fill out the form below to register (or fill out and mail in attached PDF form.  Registration closes August 22, 2019 at 11:59 pm. MDT 

Entry Fee and Requirements:  $75 (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. 
‘Woody’ Class:  To encourage participation by pilots owning inexpensive models, an award for the highest scoring ‘Woody’ class of electric sailplanes, 3 meters and under wingspan with built-up wing (composite spar and composite fuse ok, no composite D-box). 
Other awards TBA
Contest DIrector:  Greg McGill glidermang@gmail.com
Phone:  (575) 642-7679 (m)
Contest Manager/Registrar:  Richard Shagam RNShagam@gmail.com
Phone:  (505) 298-2163 (h), or (505) 980-3513 (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 23, 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 after lunch break.

 

General Rules Summary 
The contest rules will be in accordance with the F5J USA Tour as posted here and as modified here. The following rules shall also be in effect:

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/changes/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.  Rounds flown as “Woody” should be marked on the score sheets.  The pilot receiving the highest point total for ‘Woody Class’ flights shall be the winner of that class.
Altitude Recording Devices:  Must be FAI-approved.  The most widely used altitude recording devices are 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/signal strength) 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. 



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Total Price: $75.00  
1st channel choice:  
2nd channel choice:  

If you want to pay by PayPal just hit submit. This will take you to the the PayPal login page.

If you want to pay by check click on "Check", then Submit. (This will bypass the PayPal login page.) Make the check out to:

Albuquerque Soaring Association
Mail to:
Richard Shagam
Registrar, ABQ 2019 F5J
1337 Camino Cerrito SE Albuquerque 87123-4452

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