[Unified-mailman] Col Young's Summary of '04 Unified Aerial Competition rules !OJO!

[Charles P Coleman]

Students-
Please take head to Col Young's summary below!
Charles

-----Original Message-----
From: pwyoung at ix.netcom.com [mailto:pwyoung at ix.netcom.com]
Subject: Summary of '04 Unified Aerial Competition rules

Unified Aerial Competition '04 competition summary.

1. Schedule. Thursday 29 May, 3-5pm and Friday 11-3pm are the two available
Johnson
dates. We suggest taking the first slot as it'll most likely be less crowded
and there will be
less demand for timers, batteries, etc.  If your team turns in reasonable
scores on the
first day, they may be allowed to fly on the second day but only as lower
priority to other
teams flying for their official scores.

2. Eggs will be provided by the contest management. In a change this year,
teams will be
issued eggs as soon as their team airplane starts takeoff for the unloaded
flight segment.
Ground teams will then have to do whatever is necessary to upload the egg
cargo at
the conclusion of the unloaded flight segment in minimum time.

3. Motor batteries will be provided and charged by contest management. The
only legal
ones to use are the 8 cell 350 mah packs. As we will be peaking the
batteries just before flight,
please turn in all batteries for overnight charging and peaking. There's no
advantage to retaining
batteries for yourself.

4. Unloaded flight segment, turn markers, etc. Two turn pylons will be set
up at opposite ends of Johnson. For the unloaded flight segment, the
airplane has to clearly go beyond and turn around the pylons during its two
laps. If the plane turns too soon (and this is easily observed) the team can
call an attempt and try again later - continuing on isn't required.

5. Flight start and timing. Timing starts for the unloaded flight upon first
motion of the airplane, not at takeoff point. The planes must
rise-off-ground on motor power alone, i.e. handlauncheds or any kind of
auxiliary propulsion/assistance is not allowed. Teams can position their
planes anywhere they choose on the course, and that initial point is the
start-finish line for their two laps.  Once the plane crosses that line the
second time, and assuming it has completed two pylon turns successfully,
time stops and is recorded.

6. Pit crew time, start of endurance flight segment. Official time is not
running after the plane has
crossed the start-finish line to conclude the unloaded flight - so there is
no reason to rush to
the airplane. Pit crew time starts when the pit crew touches the airplane to
start uploading egg cargo. Pit crew time stops when the plane starts "first
motion" for its endurance flight takeoff.  Pit crew time is straight
seconds, i.e. there's no weighting factor for # of eggs.

7. Endurance flight time starts upon "first motion" towards takeoff.  The
plane is not constrained to flying around pylons during the endurance
flight. Time stops when the plane lands or strikes a physical obstruction
and ceases flying (walls, roof girders, etc.).

Good luck! And if any questions, please communicate with Profs Coleman and
Drela, Carl, Howie, or myself.

Col Young