When do I execute the maneuver?

[ShawnK]

I was out practicing yesterday, and a couple questions came to mind.

For the Class 1 upstairs maneuvers (2007 Schedule), when do I begin the Procedure Turn? Does the caller announce the maneuver as soon as I leave the box (making the Procedure Turn the very next thing that happens), or do I fly outbound, make my turnaround, and proceed back inbound and then the caller announces the move?

Also, the next maneuver is the stall turn. I assume that I complete the Procedure Turn, fly outbound, turn around, then fly inbound and execute the stall turn?

I also assume that there's no regulation as to which direction I exit the box for my first maneuver, right? I can do the first move whichever direction I prefer?

[DavidH]

In Class I, II and III you don't have to do a maneuver every pass. You can do them all from the same direction if that is what you prefer.

29.1.4 Straight Flight Out, Procedure Turn, Straight Flight Back. Maintaining constant altitude, the model flies straight and level past the midline, executes a 90 degree turn away from the judges and then an immediate 270 degree turn in the opposite direction, and flies straight in the opposite direction down the original line of flight.


My understand of the above.
The pilot would leave the central heli pad after the last hover maneuver.
He then would fly out of the box the direction he would want to start the above maneuver from. Then he would fly back in straight and level towards the midline.
Once the model was approx 10 meters from the midline the caller would call the maneuver. The model would would then fly past the midline straight and level. Make a 90 deg turn away from the judges. Then a 270 deg turn in the opposite direction. Then the model would be coming back straight and level headed in the opposite direction which it started the manuever. The caller would call complete when the model crossed the midline.

As for the next maneuver the Stall Turn.
The pilot can enter the maneuver from the direction he feels comfortable doing it.
Same with the maneuver after that.

If the pilot wants to do all the aerobatics from left to right. That is not a problem.
The manuever starts when the caller says Now, not when he announces what the maneuver will be. And is finished when the caller says complete or finish.

The judging of the maneuver is done between those two commands by the caller.

David

[ShawnK]

Does the Procedure Turn have to be done within the 120 degree window, or can it be done farther out, like if I were doing a normal turnaround?

In other words, does the 90 degree turn begin immediately after crossing the midline?

[DavidH]

All the maneuvers have to be executed within the 120 deg flight area. The turn arounds can be done outside the flight area. The maneuver must start and finish inside the flight area.

As for the above maneuver.
I would interpet it to mean that the model flies straight and level after crossing the midline ( point where pilot is standing). Then I would say the model has to fly at least 10-20 meters (after crossing midline) straight and level before executing the 90 deg. If the pilot wants to fly more distance that would be fine. But in contest flying it is always best to keep the actual judged part of the flight to a minimum.

Also realise the flight path for that manuever is going to be 15-20 meters at least out beyond the far edge of the contest box. So when the 270 deg turn is being made, the model should be out a fair distance from the original flight path.

David

[ShawnK]

Yeah, that makes sense. I was more concerned about where the Procedure Turn starts... right around the midline (or so), or out at the far outbound end, like I'm doing a normal turnaround.

Thanks for the clarification!

[GM1]

As David says, there is no specific direction for any maneuver, you get to pick the direction you want for each maneuver BUT remember there is a time limit so if you make a free pass after every maneuver, you may run out of time and every maneuver after that scores a zero.
The maneuver that you mentioned begins when the caller says "Now!" but no later that the midline. It also ends after the model crosses the midline and the caller says "Complete!"
Gordie

[Baron]

Should there be a pause between the 90 and 270 turns at level? Or do you roll from one bank to the other continuously?

Thanks,
Baron

[Baron]

^^^ Bump :D

[DavidH]

Nope no pause. You should make the 90 deg turn and then continue on with the 270 turn .

David

[Baron]

Thanks David!