Line size change proposal for 80mph Combat withdrawn

.018" would have been required for all engine sizes

Voting was to end Nov. 25

Mark Hansen proposed a change to the Northwest 80mph Combat rules, which would have standardized the line diameter for all engine sizes.

This proposal has been withdrawn by the proposer.

Mark Hansen gives this explanation:

I have become aware of the movement afoot to change the AMA rules for Combat to allow the use of G.S.U.M.P. lines.  So, as the change I purposed would be of little use in an event where G.S.U.M.P. are used (and cannot be sawed), I would like to withdraw the motion for the change in the 80mph rules.

Voting was to end on this proposal Nov. 25, 2009. Votes will not be counted; there will be no change to the rules as a result of this proposal.

Below is explanation of what the proposal would have done.

The proposal: Current Northwest 80mph Combat rules do not mention flying wires; the AMA fast combat rules govern this issue at present. AMA rules allow planes powered by.15 size engines to use .015" lines; .36-powered planes are flown on .018" lines. At present, about half the entries in Northwest 80mph contests typically use .15-powered airplanes.

Hansen's proposal would have added the following sentence to the 80mph Combat rules:

Rule 3)  The line length and diameter shall be 59' 6" - 60'6", and .018" diameter respectively.

Hansen's rationale for the proposal was as follows: "I am submitting this rule because I feel the current AMA mantra for allowing .15 engines to use .015" lines is unsafe."

Voting was being conducted under the Northwest Rules procedure. For more on the process of promulgating and revising Northwest control-line competition rules, see the Northwest Rules section.


Proposed 2010 80mph Combat rules
Proposed new language in red

RULES FOR NORTHWEST 80MPH COMBAT

1. PURPOSE: It is the intent that this event will provide a form of combat that is slower, more relaxed, and less destructive to equipment than all-out AMA combat events.

2. All rules for AMA (fast) combat shall apply except as follows:

3. LINES:  The line length and diameter shall be 59' 6" - 60'6", and .018" diameter respectively, measured from the center line of the airplane to the center of the handle grip.

4. ENGINES: Any engine up to .40 displacement is permitted.

5. SPEED LIMIT: The airspeed limit for all contestants shall be 80 mph, which is defined at 6.43 seconds for a two-lap period at 20-foot height. No devices capable of varying the speed of the airplane in flight, such as throttles or carburetors adjusted by elevator trim, are allowed.

6. MATCH PROCEDURE: Flying of matches shall be exactly the same as in AMA combat except as follows:
Airspeed timing:
The first airplane to launch will be timed for two laps after the first full lap, at a height of approximately 20 feet (brief deviations in height for safety reasons are permitted). If the time for those two laps is greater than 6.43 seconds, the airplane will be judged eligible to compete. Pilots must keep the plane near the 20-foot height; failure to do so will delay timing.
If the second airplane launched appears to the circle marshal to be slower than the first plane, after the first plane has been declared eligible, the circle marshal may waive the timing of the second plane and signal the start of combat. If the second plane appears equal to or faster than the first plane, the circle marshal may time the second plane as well before beginning combat.
In the case of a simultaneous launch, the faster airplane will be timed.
Airplanes will not be timed on successive launches in the same match, unless the circle marshal has reason to believe that a plane has passed the 80mph speed limit. The circle marshal retains the right to stop combat at any point and re-time any airplane that appears to have passed the 80mph speed limit.
Exceeding the speed limit:
If, on the initial launch, a plane is judged to be flying in excess of the 80mph speed limit, that plane's airtime watch will be cleared, and airtime will not be counted until the plane is judged to be consistently flying below the airspeed limit; combat will not be started until both airplanes are within the speed limit. If a plane is judged to exceed the limit at sometime during the match - after the initial timing - the airtime watch will be stopped and not restarted until the plane is judged to be consistently flying below the speed limit; combat will be stopped until both planes are below the speed limit.

7. SCORING: Per AMA Combat.

jmt/FL/1-21-94/rev:2-18-94/6-10-94/4-15-96*
* ballot


Existing rules

RULES FOR NORTHWEST 80MPH COMBAT

1. PURPOSE: It is the intent that this event will provide a form of combat that is slower, more relaxed, and less destructive to equipment than all-out AMA combat events.

2. All rules for AMA (fast) combat shall apply except as follows:

3. ENGINES: Any engine up to .40 displacement is permitted.

4. SPEED LIMIT: The airspeed limit for all contestants shall be 80 mph, which is defined at 6.43 seconds for a two-lap period at 20-foot height. No devices capable of varying the speed of the airplane in flight, such as throttles or carburetors adjusted by elevator trim, are allowed.

5. MATCH PROCEDURE: Flying of matches shall be exactly the same as in AMA combat except as follows:
Airspeed timing:
The first airplane to launch will be timed for two laps after the first full lap, at a height of approximately 20 feet (brief deviations in height for safety reasons are permitted). If the time for those two laps is greater than 6.43 seconds, the airplane will be judged eligible to compete. Pilots must keep the plane near the 20-foot height; failure to do so will delay timing.
If the second airplane launched appears to the circle marshal to be slower than the first plane, after the first plane has been declared eligible, the circle marshal may waive the timing of the second plane and signal the start of combat. If the second plane appears equal to or faster than the first plane, the circle marshal may time the second plane as well before beginning combat.
In the case of a simultaneous launch, the faster airplane will be timed.
Airplanes will not be timed on successive launches in the same match, unless the circle marshal has reason to believe that a plane has passed the 80mph speed limit. The circle marshal retains the right to stop combat at any point and re-time any airplane that appears to have passed the 80mph speed limit.
Exceeding the speed limit:
If, on the initial launch, a plane is judged to be flying in excess of the 80mph speed limit, that plane's airtime watch will be cleared, and airtime will not be counted until the plane is judged to be consistently flying below the airspeed limit; combat will not be started until both airplanes are within the speed limit. If a plane is judged to exceed the limit at sometime during the match - after the initial timing - the airtime watch will be stopped and not restarted until the plane is judged to be consistently flying below the speed limit; combat will be stopped until both planes are below the speed limit.

6. SCORING: Per AMA Combat.

jmt/FL/1-21-94/rev:2-18-94/6-10-94/4-15-96*
* ballot


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This page was upated Nov. 24, 2009