What is F3A: ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΕΜΠΛΟΥΤΙΖΟΥΜΕ ΤΙΣ ΓΝΩΣΕΙΣ ΜΑΣ The F3A acronym stands for: F = Flying model 3 = Radio control A = Aerobatics The FAI class of F3A involves complex aerial maneuvers with a radio controlled model aircraft, where utmost precision and skill in controlling the model aircraft in any attitude and under all conditions is required. The model aircraft is 100% influenced by the wind and all maneuvers in the aerobatic schedules are judged relative to a point on the ground. The competitor must therefore compensate constantly for possible wind drift and other weather elements. Typically, an F3A model aircraft will have a fuselage length and a wing span of less than 2 meters (78.74), and the weight must not exceed 5kgs (11.02lbs). They can be made out of any material, built-up or composite, as long as it meets these 3 elements. The motive for power is either an internal combustion engine, with no size or fuel limitations, but the engine has to be adequately silenced, or an electric motor powered by a battery not exceeding 42 volts. There is a 94 decibel limit for all aircraft regardless of power unit. The F3A class is a team and an individual competition. FAI member countries may enter a team of up to 3 competitors as a national team for world and continental championships. Team results are the sum of the three competitors scores at the end of the contest. Flights are performed directly in front of the judges in an aerobatic zone or box, which extends 60 degrees to the left and right of a center line, and at an elevation of no more than 60 degrees. Each time the model aircraft crosses the center line, a particular maneuver of an aerobatic schedule has to be performed, involving components such as loops, rolls, lines, spins, snap rolls, stall turns, knife-edge, and combinations of these. At the ends of the aerobatic box, the model aircraft is required to do turn-around maneuvers to enable it to reverse its direction of travel. An aerobatic schedule has 17 maneuvers, excluding the take-off and landing. Maneuvers, or parts of them, performed outside of the box are penalized by loss of points, proportional to the degree of infraction. Generally the model aircraft is required to be flown at 150 meters from the pilot, in a plane perpendicular to the center line. Each competitor will be entitled to 4 preliminary flights, of which the best 3 scores will determine his placing. Semi-final and final rounds are generally only flown for world, continental and national championships, of which the finals also involve 2 different unknown maneuver schedules along with 2 finals schedules. The competitors performance is assessed by a panel of judges who will award marks, independently from each other, between 0 and 10 for each maneuver, or figure. Maneuvers are assigned a difficulty factor (K-factor, which is a multiplier of each maneuver) depending on the complexity of the particular maneuver. Judging is based on four basic criteria: precision (or geometry), smoothness and gracefulness, positioning (display), and size of maneuvers. Points are subtracted for various types of defects observed by the judges, the severity of these defects, and the number of times these defects are observed. At the end of each flight the judges may award a penalty for an excessively noisy model aircraft, to discourage disturbance to the surroundings. Here you can see the 2 different sequences that will be flown during the World Championships. The Unknowns will be made up by the pilots after the semi-finals when the top 10 are announced.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 14:17:53 +0000
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