Free
Flight Competitions – A Proposal
Proposal
That
a new Free Flight Class be introduced from January 2008. The class will be a
Rubber Duration Class based upon “One Model Type” only.
This model will be the
Senator as originally designed by Albert Hatful in the late 1940’s.
Rationale
The
“Vince Redfern Memorial Trophy for Free Flight” has been well supported in
recent years and has lead to both renewed, and new, interest
in free flight. Although the competition is an “Open Free Flight” class
covering three disciplines, most entrants fly rubber duration models.
Furthermore most models entered in this class are Keil Kraft Senators. This
model was designed in the late 1940’s by Albert Hatfull and was later kitted by
Keil Kraft. It is widely accepted as one of the best models that KK ever
produced, has been copied by many manufacturers and is the subject of many
“Nostalgia Free Flight” competitions world wide.
“One
Model” competitions are becoming more popular, particularly in the
I
propose an additional free flight competition be adopted from next year to be
called “The Senator Rubber Duration Challenge”.
The
Vince Redfern Memorial Trophy should be retained with the current rules. This
will continue to promote interest in the free flight disciplines of:
Proposed
Rules
These
are intended to promote discussion within the club and should not be seen as
definitive.
1. Construction
1.1
The
BMFA builder of the model rule shall apply. The model must be built and flown
by the entrant.
1.2
The
model must be constructed from a commercially available kit or from scratch
according to the Albert Hatfull or KeilKraft plans. Any modifications to these
plans must be in accordance with published additions or modifications in the
Aeromodelling Press and legal in FAI competitions for this type of model and
shall be additions only. There must
be no reduction in sheet thickness
or omission of original parts except
as specified below.
1.3
The
propeller may be hand carved from wood and must not exceed 13” in diameter. It
may have a freewheel mechanism and thrust bearings of any kind. It must not be
of the folding type.
1.4
The
rubber motor must be fully enclosed in the body of the model and must drive the
propeller directly (no gearboxes).
2. Flying
2.1 The
model must be flown on the appointed day as published in the MHMAC competition
calendar. This date may be altered at the discretion of the Competition
Secretary if weather conditions dictate.
If the date and/or time are changed the changes must be notified to and
agreed by all entrants.
2.2
The
score will be the best aggregate time of 3 from 5 attempts.
2.3
An
attempt will be defined as:
2.3.1
A
flight that has been notified to the Timekeepers and accepted by them as an attempt.
2.3.2
A
score which is at least 10 seconds.
3. Timekeepers
There
will be at least two timekeepers appointed by the Competition Secretary at the
start of the competition.
An entrant in the competition is ineligible as a
timekeeper.
Timekeeping rules will be in accordance with BMFA regulations.
Appendix
Senator Plans/Kits
Plans
can be downloaded in pdf format here. CAD files in dxf format
can be downloaded here.
Kits with laser cut parts and plans are available from
many RC model shops including
"The Model Shop" Northampton. They are reasonably priced around £40.
Kits
are branded "Keil Kraft" and distributed by
Ripmax.
Hardware/Parts:
www.freeflightsupplies.co.uk
– a good source of rubber, tissue, thrust races etc.
Online and mail order supplies. 01603 457754
John Wood
updated Roger
Jayes 2022