Combat Rules

These rules apply to the exciting sport of slope combat, wherein the goal IS, in fact, to collide with other airplanes!

MCS Slope Combat Rules (2008)

Safety First:

1. Manned Vehicles have the right of way at all times.
2. Eye protection and Helmets are required. Good safety glasses or sport goggles ( not sun glasses ) and a bike helmet are considered minimum acceptable equipment.
3. Considerations of safety for spectators, contest personnel, and contestants are of the utmost importance. Any conduct deemed by the CD to be hazardous will be cause for immediate disqualification from the event. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to : Consumption of alcoholic beverages, reckless flying or behavior, intentionally violating flying or model configuration safety rules.

General Rules:

1. Except as noted below, all AMA and FCC regulations shall apply to this event.
2. There are no restrictions as to the number or type of controls. The "builder-of-the-model" rule is not applied.
3. Only one model will be allowed per round, but a competitor may switch to any available approved model before the start of a given round.
4. Models must be inspected and approved by the CD (or designated assistants) before the start of competition. Reinspection for safety or rules violations may be called for at the discretion of the CD.
5. Must have AMA/MAAC and MCS membership.

Model Aircraft Requirements:

1. The model must be a hand launched foam combat glider ( no propulsive devices ).
2. The first 1 1/2" of the wing leading edge, fuselage nose, or any other forward projecting component must be energy absorbing soft EPP or white foam. Leading surfaces may be covered with plastic model film, packing tape, or fiber reinforced packing tape. Hard materials such as wood, metal, solid plastic, or resin impregnated fibers of any type on or in any leading surface is prohibited.
3. The maximum flying weight shall not exceed 2.5 pounds.
4. The only acceptable exterior weight is soft modeling clay conformed and taped securely to the model surface.

Scoring:

1. Points are scored after a mid-air collision resulting in an opponent's plane being killed ( ceasing flight ). One point is awarded for each plane killed to a pilot involved in the collision who maintains flight in the combat zone ( no matter who initiates contact ). Planes involved in the collision unable to regain flight in the combat zone before the end of the round are also considered killed.
2. Points will not be awarded until the airborne opponent succeeds in maintaining controlled flight in the combat zone and is determined by his judge or the CD to be capable of reengaging in combat.

EXAMPLE:

If two aircraft engage, and both crash, without either of the above verification maneuvers being executed, no score will be gained by either pilot.

The post-kill verification maneuver must be performed prior to continuing on to the next engagement or being killed by an opposing pilot.

CD has final determination of a kill. If a victim aircraft completes a roll but is unable to reengage before landing, a kill will be called on that aircraft.

Contest Rules:

1. The combat zone will be determined and declared by the CD before competition begins. Spectator and parking areas will be marked and designated as no fly/DQ zones. Intentionally flying over the spectator/parking areas will result in no score and disqualification from that round.
2. The CD shall determine if lift, winds, and weather are suitable and safe for combat and may at any time interrupt competition until conditions improve.
3. Each competitor will be assigned a judge/assistant at the beginning of each round ( usually a fellow competitor ). Fliers, Judge/assistants, and the CD must all wear eye protection and helmets and are the only ones permitted across the spectator lines during combat. Each judge/assistant will score the assigned pilot as well as assist in retrieval and relaunch and as a lookout for errant models.
4. Groups of fliers will compete in 10 minute non-elimination rounds, each announced, started, timed and stopped by the CD (or designated assistants). The group size and number of rounds will be determined by the CD according to conditions, usually before the contest start, but may change with consideration to safety and fairness as the rounds progress. A tie breaking round may be used to determine first place.
5. Unlimited relaunches are permitted within the 10 minute round, provided retrieval presents no safety hazard in the judgment of the CD. Definite out of bounds areas will be designated before contest start.
6. The CD may call for an inspection and/or disqualify a damaged model during a round. Models may be repaired and resubmitted for immediate inspection by the CD (or designated assistants). If it passes inspection, the plane is immediately available for competition.

This page was last changed on April 28, 2010