IHLGF Home Page

International Hand Launch Glider Festival
June 3-4, 2001

New Rules

The rules for the IHLGF contest helped establish some of the proposed F3K FAI Hand Launch Glider rules. The IHLGF organizers will always be known for the best international HLG contest.
Current F3K rules can be found at the BARCS site, http://home.clara.net/barcs/ , and are duplicated here for your review. Visit the BARCS site as it offers many very useful and informative HLG links as well as some videos clips gathered by Craig Coles. Beware if you are building for F3K, there is a limit of 3 servos for the airplanes.

Class F3K Provisional rules for Hand Launch RC-Gliders

General

A competition for Hand launch RC-gliders is a multitasking contest where RC gliders must be hand-launched and accomplish specific tasks. The contest shall consist of at least five rounds. The organizer must provide a sufficient number of timekeepers in order to allow 7 simultaneous flights at all time. In principle, each competitor is allowed one helper who should not become physically involved in the flight. Handicapped persons may ask for assistance at launching and retrieving (catching) their models. During a competition with only one class, the competitors of less than 1.5 m height may be assisted for launching-catching. If junior and senior classes are scored separately, the limit is 15 years of age for juniors.

The organizer should provide a transmitter impound where all transmitters are kept in custody while not in use during a flight or the corresponding preparation time.

Competitors not involved in flying or helping another competitor may be asked by the organiser to operate as timekeepers.

Definition of models

Models are gliders, with the following limitations :

Wingspan max. 1500 mm Weight max. 600 g
Radius of the nose, minimum 5 mm in all orientations (see F3B nose definition for measurement technique).

The models must be launched by hand and are controlled by radio equipment acting on an unlimited number of surfaces.

The competitor may at all times exchange parts among his models.

Each competitor must provide two frequencies on which his models may be operated, and the organizer may assign any of these frequencies for the duration of any round or the complete contest.

Definition of the flying field

The flying field should be reasonably level and large enough to allow several models to fly simultaneously. The main source of lift should not be slope. The organizer must define the launching and landing area before the start of the contest and all landings should happen within this area. Any landing outside the area gets a null score for the specific flight.

A typical launching and landing area could be a rectangle 100 m x 50 m oriented with longer side perpendicular to the wind direction.

Definition of landing

A landing is considered valid if :

the model comes to rest and at least one part of it touches the launching and landing area
the competitor catches the model by hand (or if competitor is handicapped, his helper, if launching was made by this person), while standing with both feet inside the launching and landing area.

Flight time

The flight time is measured from the moment the model leaves the hands of the competitor (or his helper, see above) to the moment the model comes to rest on the ground or the competitor catches the model by hand (or his helper, see above) or the working time expires.

The flight time is official if :

the launching happens from inside the launching and landing area
the landing happens inside this area
the launching happens within the working time of the task

Definition of round

The contest is organized in rounds, each of which allocates a competitor a working time of maximum 10 minutes. The start and end of the working time are announced with a sound-signaling device. The competitors are arranged in as few groups as possible, with two competitors minimum and seven competitors maximum (this number may vary depending on the total number of entries). The results are normalized within each group, 1000 points being the basis for the winner of the group. For each round, the competitors receive at least 2 minutes preparation time, as announced by the organizer. Alternatively, the working time of the preceding group may be declared the preparation time for the next group. During the preparation time, the competitor is allowed to turn on and check his radio, but is not allowed any launch of his model, either outside or inside the launching and landing area.

Final score

The final score for a competition is the addition of the normalized scores for all tasks flown, with the exception of the lowest score, if more than 5 rounds were flown.

Definition of tasks

Before the start of each round, the organizer announces the kind of task to be flown. The five tasks of the program are defined below. Depending on the weather conditions and the number of competitors, the working time may be reduced by decision of the organizer. Minimum working time is indicated in the definition of each task. No points are deducted for flying over the maximum flight time or for flying after the end of working time. All competitors must land as soon as their flight or task has been completed.

Task A

During the working time, the competitor must try to accomplish the greatest number of flights, lasting 30 seconds or multiples of 30 seconds. Each completed slice of 30 seconds is scored 1 point.

Examples :
1st flight is 15 sec. - 0 point
2nd flight is 63 sec. - 2 points
3rd flight is 48 sec. - 1 point etc.

Minimum working time is 5 minutes.

Task B

During the working time, the competitor may launch the model an undefined number of times, but only the last flight is taken into account to determine the final result. The length of the flight is limited to 5 minutes. Any additional release of the model annuls the preceding timing. When the competitor announces that he has completed his last flight (his official flight for this task), he must leave the launching and landing area, together with his timekeeper.

Minimum working time for this task is 7 minutes.

Task C

During the working time, the competitor may launch his model not more than 6 times. The maximum measured flight time is 3 minutes. This time may be reduced to 2 minutes if the number of competitors is large. The sum of the three longest flights is taken for the final score.

Minimum working time for this task is 7 minutes.

Task D

All competitors of a group must launch their models simultaneously, within 3 seconds after the signal of the organizer. Maximum measured flight time is 3 minutes. The model that lands first gets 1 point, all successive models get an additional point. Two models landing within the same second, according to the official timing, get the same score. The next model gets two points more. All models still flying at the end of the 3 minutes slot time get the same number of points (previous + 2), provided they land inside the launching and landing area. This procedure of mass launch is repeated up to 3 flights in total during a 10 minutes working time. The new launch may be ordered after all models from the previous launch have landed. The scores of all three flights are added to obtain the final score for this task.

Task E

During the working time, the competitor may accomplish as many launches as he likes. Each competitor must try to complete a flight of 30 seconds. Once this is accomplished, the next two flight times must be incremented by 15 seconds. So flight times should be : 45 sec., 60 sec., 75 sec., 90 sec. The longest flight time is 90 seconds. To reach any specific flight time, the number of launches is unlimited. The time of the last flight is taken into account. In adverse weather conditions, the organizer may reduce the increment to 10 seconds (30 sec., 40 sec. Etc. up to 70 sec.). Flight score are given 1 point per completed second of flight.

Example : (increment 15 seconds)

1st flight 32 sec. The max of 30 sec. Is reached. Next flight should reach 45 seconds. Partial score is 32 points.
2nd flight 38 sec. Flight is zero
3rd flight 42 sec. Flight is zero
4th flight 47 sec. The max. Of 45 sec. is reached. Next flight should reach 60 seconds. Partial score is 32 + 47=79 points.
5th flight 81 sec. The max is reached. Next flight should reach 75 seconds. But the remaining working time is only 65 seconds. Total score of the task is 32 + 47 + 81=160 points
etc.

©2001 Crawford-Adams Enterprises All Right Reserved.
Permission to use any of the pictures and information on this CD is Required.

International Hand Launch Glider Festival June 3-4, 2001
New Rules The rules for the IHLGF contest helped establish some of the proposed F3K FAI Hand Launch Glider rules. The IHLGF organizers will always be known for the best international HLG contest. Current F3K rules can be found at the BARCS site, http://home.clara.net/barcs/ , and are duplicated here for your review. Visit the BARCS site as it offers many very useful and informative HLG links as well as some videos clips gathered by Craig Coles. Beware if you are building for F3K, there is a limit of 3 servos for the airplanes. Class F3K Provisional rules for Hand Launch RC-Gliders General A competition for Hand launch RC-gliders is a multitasking contest where RC gliders must be hand-launched and accomplish specific tasks. The contest shall consist of at least five rounds. The organizer must provide a sufficient number of timekeepers in order to allow 7 simultaneous flights at all time. In principle, each competitor is allowed one helper who should not become physically involved in the flight. Handicapped persons may ask for assistance at launching and retrieving (catching) their models. During a competition with only one class, the competitors of less than 1.5 m height may be assisted for launching-catching. If junior and senior classes are scored separately, the limit is 15 years of age for juniors. The organizer should provide a transmitter impound where all transmitters are kept in custody while not in use during a flight or the corresponding preparation time. Competitors not involved in flying or helping another competitor may be asked by the organiser to operate as timekeepers. Definition of models Models are gliders, with the following limitations : Wingspan max. 1500 mm Weight max. 600 g Radius of the nose, minimum 5 mm in all orientations (see F3B nose definition for measurement technique). The models must be launched by hand and are controlled by radio equipment acting on an unlimited number of surfaces. The competitor may at all times exchange parts among his models. Each competitor must provide two frequencies on which his models may be operated, and the organizer may assign any of these frequencies for the duration of any round or the complete contest. Definition of the flying field The flying field should be reasonably level and large enough to allow several models to fly simultaneously. The main source of lift should not be slope. The organizer must define the launching and landing area before the start of the contest and all landings should happen within this area. Any landing outside the area gets a null score for the specific flight. A typical launching and landing area could be a rectangle 100 m x 50 m oriented with longer side perpendicular to the wind direction. Definition of landing A landing is considered valid if : the model comes to rest and at least one part of it touches the launching and landing area the competitor catches the model by hand (or if competitor is handicapped, his helper, if launching was made by this person), while standing with both feet inside the launching and landing area. Flight time The flight time is measured from the moment the model leaves the hands of the competitor (or his helper, see above) to the moment the model comes to rest on the ground or the competitor catches the model by hand (or his helper, see above) or the working time expires. The flight time is official if : the launching happens from inside the launching and landing area the landing happens inside this area the launching happens within the working time of the task Definition of round The contest is organized in rounds, each of which allocates a competitor a working time of maximum 10 minutes. The start and end of the working time are announced with a sound-signaling device. The competitors are arranged in as few groups as possible, with two competitors minimum and seven competitors maximum (this number may vary depending on the total number of entries). The results are normalized within each group, 1000 points being the basis for the winner of the group. For each round, the competitors receive at least 2 minutes preparation time, as announced by the organizer. Alternatively, the working time of the preceding group may be declared the preparation time for the next group. During the preparation time, the competitor is allowed to turn on and check his radio, but is not allowed any launch of his model, either outside or inside the launching and landing area. Final score The final score for a competition is the addition of the normalized scores for all tasks flown, with the exception of the lowest score, if more than 5 rounds were flown. Definition of tasks Before the start of each round, the organizer announces the kind of task to be flown. The five tasks of the program are defined below. Depending on the weather conditions and the number of competitors, the working time may be reduced by decision of the organizer. Minimum working time is indicated in the definition of each task. No points are deducted for flying over the maximum flight time or for flying after the end of working time. All competitors must land as soon as their flight or task has been completed. Task A During the working time, the competitor must try to accomplish the greatest number of flights, lasting 30 seconds or multiples of 30 seconds. Each completed slice of 30 seconds is scored 1 point. Examples : 1st flight is 15 sec. - 0 point 2nd flight is 63 sec. - 2 points 3rd flight is 48 sec. - 1 point etc. Minimum working time is 5 minutes. Task B During the working time, the competitor may launch the model an undefined number of times, but only the last flight is taken into account to determine the final result. The length of the flight is limited to 5 minutes. Any additional release of the model annuls the preceding timing. When the competitor announces that he has completed his last flight (his official flight for this task), he must leave the launching and landing area, together with his timekeeper. Minimum working time for this task is 7 minutes. Task C During the working time, the competitor may launch his model not more than 6 times. The maximum measured flight time is 3 minutes. This time may be reduced to 2 minutes if the number of competitors is large. The sum of the three longest flights is taken for the final score. Minimum working time for this task is 7 minutes. Task D All competitors of a group must launch their models simultaneously, within 3 seconds after the signal of the organizer. Maximum measured flight time is 3 minutes. The model that lands first gets 1 point, all successive models get an additional point. Two models landing within the same second, according to the official timing, get the same score. The next model gets two points more. All models still flying at the end of the 3 minutes slot time get the same number of points (previous + 2), provided they land inside the launching and landing area. This procedure of mass launch is repeated up to 3 flights in total during a 10 minutes working time. The new launch may be ordered after all models from the previous launch have landed. The scores of all three flights are added to obtain the final score for this task. Task E During the working time, the competitor may accomplish as many launches as he likes. Each competitor must try to complete a flight of 30 seconds. Once this is accomplished, the next two flight times must be incremented by 15 seconds. So flight times should be : 45 sec., 60 sec., 75 sec., 90 sec. The longest flight time is 90 seconds. To reach any specific flight time, the number of launches is unlimited. The time of the last flight is taken into account. In adverse weather conditions, the organizer may reduce the increment to 10 seconds (30 sec., 40 sec. Etc. up to 70 sec.). Flight score are given 1 point per completed second of flight. Example : (increment 15 seconds) 1st flight 32 sec. The max of 30 sec. Is reached. Next flight should reach 45 seconds. Partial score is 32 points. 2nd flight 38 sec. Flight is zero 3rd flight 42 sec. Flight is zero 4th flight 47 sec. The max. Of 45 sec. is reached. Next flight should reach 60 seconds. Partial score is 32 + 47=79 points. 5th flight 81 sec. The max is reached. Next flight should reach 75 seconds. But the remaining working time is only 65 seconds. Total score of the task is 32 + 47 + 81=160 points etc.
©2001 Crawford-Adams Enterprises All Right Reserved. Permission to use any of the pictures and information on this CD is Required.