ASRO Man-on-Man Rules

ASRO MoM Rule Structure:
Version 3.1 - Updated 12/18/02 - Check out our Slope Racing 101 guide

1. Objective. To provide slope racing for sportsman, advanced competitors and builders.  Make it enjoyable, safe competition that will be interesting for spectators and challenging for the contestants yet provide classes where costs and protests over materials and construction can be minimized.

2. General. All AMA Competition Rules and FCC regulations covering the R/C flier, the plane and equipment shall apply to these events, except as noted herein, or if officially announced prior to the event and submitted along with the contest sanction application. There shall be no limitation on the number of controls. The contestant shall be allowed only one (1) model per round, but may switch to an alternate model of his choice for any following rounds. The builder-of-the-model rule does not apply for SoCal MoM events. All models flown must be safety inspected by the Contest Director or a CD appointed representative prior to competition.

2.1 Consideration of safety for spectators, contest personnel, and contestants is of the utmost importance for this event. Any conduct by a contestant deemed by the CD to be hazardous will be cause for immediate disqualification of the contestant from the event at the discretion of the CD.

2.2 Consumption of alcoholic beverages will not be allowed on site during a contest. Any pilot or official who consumes alcoholic beverages during the official hours of a contest shall be removed from the competition.

3. Model Aircraft Requirements.

3.1  48 Inch Foamie Class

3.1.1 The model must be an all foam slope glider with exceptions listed below.  This should be considered a sport flyers class, a place for someone to get started in slope racing without spending a lot of money.  Gliders are commercially available for this class, and the spirit of low cost and simplicity shall not be violated.  Gliders may be disqualified at the CD’s discretion for building material violations.  Experienced pilots are encouraged to fly in this class so long as they are helpful to those less experienced.  Pilots may be disqualified from this class at the CD’s discretion.

3.1.2 Wings shall have a shock absorbing foam leading edge at least 1.0 inch wide, measured chord wise, at the root, and no less than 0.5 inches at the wing tip. The wing leading edges may be covered with film covering material, (such as Ultracoat, Coverite, Solartex, or similar), vinyl tape, fiber reinforced vinyl tape or any combination of the three. Wood, metal, solid plastic, carbon fiber, Kevlar or any resin impregnated fiber material on or in the wing leading edges will not be permitted. Batteries must be no closer than 1 inch from the leading edge at any point.  Lead used for balancing the aircraft must be no closer than 1/2 inch to the leading edge at any point and must be within 1 inch of the centerline of the aircraft measured side to side.  The balancing lead must be no closer than 0.25 inches to the surface of the wing at any point measured top to bottom.

3.1.3 Wing spars of any material are permitted provided they do not violate the provisions of item 3.1.2 above (not less than 1.0 inches away from leading edge at any point along the span). Maximum total cross sectional area for spars shall not exceed 1 sq.in. Moveable control surfaces at the wing trailing edge (ailerons) are not considered part of the total spar cross section.

3.1.4 Control surfaces, tail and winglets shall be constructed of balsa or coroplast type material.  They may be covered with film covering material, vinyl tape, fiber reinforced vinyl tape or any combination of the three.  Metal, solid plastic, carbon fiber, fiberglass cloth, Kevlar or any resin or resin impregnated fiber covering material on the control surfaces will not be permitted, except for the saddle area of v-tail designs.  Control rods and control horns can be made from any material so long as they are rounded with no sharp edges.

3.1.5 The fuselage may have longerons provided their total cross-sectional area does not exceed 1/2 sq.in. area. The fuselage may be covered with film covering material, vinyl tape, fiber reinforced vinyl tape or any combination of the three. Wood, metal, solid plastic, carbon fiber, Kevlar or any resin impregnated fiber covering material on the fuselage will not be permitted, except as follows:  Any (fuselage) structure extending aft of the wing trailing edge for the purpose of locating one or more tail surfaces may be made of any materials so long as a tail surface conforming to section 3.1.4 is the aft-most component by a minimum of one inch behind the extension, and no sharp or pointed ends are exposed. Gliders not pre-approved by ASRO may be disqualified at the CD’s discretion for safety hazard reasons.

3.1.6 No plane shall posses any form of thrust power. Engines, electric motors, compressed gas or chemical propellants are prohibited.

3.1.7 The maximum allowable wing span shall be 48 inches, unless otherwise allowed by the CD.

3.1.8 A maximum flying weight of 3 pounds (48 ounces), including ballast, shall apply.3.1.9 AMA Number of Models rule does not apply to this class. If a glider is damaged in this class, the pilot may fly any other model that meets the specifications of this class, including a borrowed one that is another pilot’s primary entry. Once the pilots’ primary glider is repaired, that glider may be used again so long as deemed safe by the contest director.

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3.2   Sportsman 60 inch class

3.2.1  Maximum 60 inch wing span, minimum 50”.

3.2.2  Leading edge of entire wing must be made of shock absorbing foam material.  Width of this foam shall be 20% of cord, measured from the leading edge back, at any point over the entire wing span except that portion of the wing that is over, under or in the fuselage.  Maximum width of this foam does not have to exceed 1.5 inches.
Example 1: Cord at wing root measures 5 inches, leading edge must be at least 1 inch shock absorbing foam at wing root. Wing tip is 3 inches, shock absorbing foam must be at least 0.6 inches at the wing tip. Example 2: Cord is 10 inches, leading edge must at least be 1.5 inches (even though 20% of 10 is 2 inches, 1.5 is max required).  The foam leading edge portion shall be covered as described in Section 3.1.2.  The remaining portions of the wing behind the leading edge, may be of any material(s), including the control surfaces.

3.2.3  The fuselage may be made of any material, except the forward 1.5 inches (minimum), which shall be of resilient foam with a compressibility equal to or less than 3.0 LB EPP, (including EPE or similar materials).  There must be at least 1.5 solid inches of this foam forward of any balance weight, battery, longeron or any other hard items or materials. 

3.2.4  No spar restrictions

3.2.5  No control surface area or control surface material restrictions, other than listed above for this class. 

3.2.6  Ballast and balance weight must be mounted internally.

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3.4    Conventional 60 inch class

3.4.1  No shock absorbing foam gliders are allowed in this class.  Foam leading edges or nose are not allowed.  Only wood or composite construction allowed.

3.4.2  Maximum wing span is 60 inches, minimum 50”.

3.4.3  All other AMA rules apply.

3.5    Conventional Unlimited Class

3.5.1 No shock absorbing foam gliders are allowed in this class.  Foam leading edges or nose are not allowed.  Only wood or composite construction allowed.

3.5.2  Minimum wingspan shall be 72 inches.

3.5.3  All other FAI & AMA rules apply including the FAI maximum weight of 11.023 Pounds or Max wing loading of 24.57 oz/sq.ft. of total projected area.

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4. Contest Rules

4.1 Pilot duties – All pilots or designated replacements shall work as base B judge during the event.  Exact assignments will be posted prior to the start of the first round. Generally after a pilot completes a heat race and lands, the pilot or designated replacement reports to base B to judge for the 2^nd heat after the one flown.  For example, pilots in heat one judge for heat three.  Pilots in the next to the last heat judge for the first heat. So if there are six heats, the pilots in heat five judge for the heat one.  The number of pilots in each heat may differ.  The CD shall modify the assignments to fit the situation.  If a pilot or designated replacement is late for a base judge assignment, the pilot receives FIVE (5) TWO (2) penalty points.

4.2 Heat Race – Pilots will be given the signal to launch. The race will use a flying start, similar to a sailing start in yachting. After the First Time Mark (FTM), any pilot may enter the course to signify the beginning of the heat race. FTM times will be set by the CD prior to the first round, but may be changed throughout the competition between heats to accommodate various changing conditions.  General guidelines for FTM are 30 seconds. For Unlimited class, 60 seconds for FTM is typical.

4.2.1 Pilots shall fly the heat race according to AMA rule 10.4 on page 118 of the Competition Regulations for 1999-2000 which states that all turns shall be away from the slope except during landing. However, it also states that passing of oncoming traffic shall be to the right; this rule is left over from power plane pylon racing and does not work for glider slope racing.  Slope racing is a figure 8, turn away from the slope, stay outside and cross to the inside around the half way point, traffic permitting.  Stay inside during the approach to the turn and again, turn away from the slope.

4.2.2 Starter, Pilots and Lap Counters shall stand at the pylon designated as Base A. The Starter is responsible for keeping track of the leader.  If the leader is passed, the Lap Counter of the passing plane may be asked if his plane is passing for the lead, or just making up a lap.

4.2.3 Judges shall stand at the pylon designated as Base B.

4.2.4 There shall be 8 laps per heat race, that’s 16 legs with 15 turns. Winner is the first to complete the 8 laps. MoM is not a timed event.  The accuracy of the lap count is critical.

4.2.5 A pilot may not re-launch or retrieve a downed glider once the countdown has started.  The pilot must wait until the heat is over and the CD signifies the course is clear before retrieving a downed glider.   This shall be considered a DNF.

4.2.6 If a pilot does not launch at the start of the heat the pilot will receive a DNS. 4.2.7 If a pilot started the heat and drops out of the heat for any reason including a collision, the pilot will a DNF.  This includes if a pilot launches, but crashes before crossing the start line at the first time mark, this pilot will receive a DNF.

4.2.8 If all planes go down prior to or during the heat race for lack of wind or lift, the heat race will be restarted when conditions are correct.

4.2.9 The Contest Director, Safety Officer or Starter can abort the heat race at any time when safety is an issue.  Examples are: a) Glider disrupting pilots, judges, or bystanders.  b) Another flying object, including wild life enters the course or its close proximity.

4.2.10 If a racer cuts (i.e. turns more than 90 degrees before the Base and does not complete the full lap), he is penalized and has to do an extra lap. If a racer cuts twice on the same heat race, he is scored as a DNF. A racer can be disqualified for erratic movement, poor sportsmanship, or if he is deemed to be dangerous (i.e. flying over the pits, over the Judges, Pilots, Lap Counters, or bystanders). Any pilot who is disqualified will no longer continue in the contest.

5. Race Course - The race course shall generally be 80 meters for 48” Foam and 60” Sportsman, and 100 meters for 60” Composite from Base A to Base B. When possible, Unlimited Class Base A and Base B shall be at least 120 meters but no longer than 200 meters apart.

6. Contest Officials

6.1 Contest Director

6.2 Alternate Contest Director

6.3 Safety Officer(s)

6.4 Base B Judges – Are Assigned.

6.5 Lap Counters – Lap counters shall be volunteers.

7. Scoring – Heat race points are awarded as follows:

• First Place –       One (1) point

• Second Place –   Two (2) points

• Third Place –      Three (3) points

• Fourth Place –     Four (4) points

• Did Not Finish (DNF) –Max Number of Pilots in a Round per Class + One, not to exceed Five (5) points

• Did Not Start (DNS) –Max Number of Pilots in a Round per Class + Two, not to exceed Six (6) points.
  (Did not launch)

Example:  There are two rounds of 48” Foam, Round One with 4 pilots and Round Two with 3 pilots.  If a pilot in Round 2 gets a DNF (crashes on course), he will receive 5 points (4+1).

Winner of a class is the pilot who receives the least amount of points.

8. The Racing Matrix:

8.1  We have prepared matrices for races with up to 12 pilots.  This matrix will assign pilot numbers into flight groups so that each pilot will eventually fly against each other.  Depending on the number of pilots, heats are grouped into 2 or 3 plane heats.  Click here to download (28KB Excel Spreadsheet)

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