| Recently, I attended a radio-controlled model-aircraft | | | | on the signal board. Course judges use the decals to |
| pylon race. I was not prepared for the excitement of | | | | identify each aircraft. For example, a "Cut Judge" might |
| the event. Both during and after the event, I wanted to | | | | report a cut like this, "Cut on high red." Before the |
| know more about RC pylon racing. I talked with pilots, | | | | races begin, the pilots perform last minute checks on |
| callers, and course workers. To learn even more, I | | | | their aircraft, fuel them, and apply the colored decal. |
| decided to dig into the Academy of Model | | | | The Contest Director (CD) conducts short |
| Aeronautics(AMA) rules and regulations for pylon | | | | informational meetings for both course workers and |
| racing. | | | | pilots. The course workers include cut judges, fueling |
| A pylon race course is defined by three pylons. Each | | | | supervisor, flaggers, and timers/lap counters. After the |
| pylon is between 15-20 feet high. Pylon-1 is positioned | | | | meetings, the course workers occupy their stations |
| at one end of the course near a signal board. The | | | | around the course and the pilots for the first heat are |
| start/finish line is positioned 508 feet from Pylon #1 | | | | driven to the start/finish line. Everyone on the course is |
| down the center of the course and 100 feet from a | | | | required to wear a hard hat for safety. Also, for |
| line connecting pylons #2 and #3. Pylons #2 and #3 | | | | safety, all course-worker stations are a minimum of |
| were separated by 100 feet and formed the end of a | | | | 300 feet from the race course. |
| triangular course. | | | | When the pilots are positioned at the start/finish line, a |
| Ten laps around the course equals 2.5 miles. The | | | | 60-second timer is started. Pilots have just one minute |
| actual distance flown around the course probably | | | | to start their engines and prepare for takeoff. Pilots |
| varies between about 3 to 3.5 miles. This is so | | | | are prepared for takeoff when their aircraft engines |
| because the aircraft fly in loops around the pylons, | | | | are started and they are facing pylon #1 with both |
| have to fly around and pass traffic, and change | | | | hands on the radio transmitter. Pilots not prepared for |
| altitude for one reason or another. The pilots fly their | | | | takeoff before the timer runs out are disqualified for |
| aircraft around the course in a counterclockwise | | | | the heat. As soon as all pilots are in position and ready |
| direction, making sharp, left-hand turns only. The course | | | | to control their aircraft, the starter gives the signal to |
| length was selected to result in 10-lap times between | | | | launch, and the heat begins. From the start of a heat |
| one minute (fast pace) and two minutes (slow pace | | | | until the end, the aircraft run "flat-out." There is no |
| for beginners). For the quickest aircraft, the speed | | | | remote-throttle control to vary the engine's speed. |
| around the course is typically between 180-200mph. | | | | During the race, the pilot's partner, the caller, is of critical |
| The signal board is equipped with red lights to signal | | | | assistance to the pilot. In addition to launching the |
| when a pilot's aircraft "breaks the gate." The "gate" is | | | | aircraft, and because the pilot's attention is so focused |
| a line from pylon-1 to the "flaggers" position not less | | | | on controlling the aircraft, the caller determines when |
| than 300 feet away. As an aircraft passes this line, a | | | | the pilot should commence a turn around a pylon and |
| flagger activates a light for pilot's assigned lane. A pilot | | | | calls this out to the pilot. Pilot and caller teams typically |
| seeing his signal knows that he can make his turn at | | | | have long-time associations, and are often family |
| pylon-1 without "cutting." There are also two white lights | | | | members. |
| on the board for each of the four lanes. These are | | | | Cut judges are assigned to each pylon in order to |
| used to indicate a "cut" (a turn on the inside of a pylon). | | | | insure that the aircraft turn outside the pylons instead |
| The cut lights are also controlled by the flaggers. The | | | | of "cutting" inside a pylon during a turn. One "cut" |
| start/finish line for the race has four lanes: a maximum | | | | requires an extra lap around the course for a pilot's |
| of four pilots can participate at once. The lanes are | | | | aircraft; two "cuts" disqualifies the pilot's aircraft from |
| designated according to where, on an aircraft, an | | | | the heat. Cuts are indicated to pilots by the white lights |
| identifying red or green decal is applied. | | | | on the signal board. When a pilot or pilot's caller sees a |
| If you visualize an aircraft in front of you during a sharp | | | | cut light for the assigned lane, they know that the point |
| left-hand bank away from you and around a pylon, | | | | at which the turn commences must be adjusted. After |
| one end of the wing will be higher than the other. | | | | each heat, the winning aircraft is weighed to insure that |
| Aircraft in Lane 1 or 2 have a decal on the low end of | | | | it is not lighter than the AMA's minimum weight |
| the wing; aircraft in Lane 3 or 4 have a decal on the | | | | requirements. Winners for the race are determined on |
| high end of the wing. Pilots apply a decal according to | | | | the basis of several heats. After the last race, both |
| their assigned starting-lane position for a heat as | | | | pilots and course workers return from the field for |
| follows: | | | | awards and prize drawings. |
| Lane-1, green decal on the low end of the wing, | | | | I live in the Pacific Northwest and the rainy season has |
| Lane-2, red decal on the low end of the wing, | | | | begun. The pylon-racing season is over for the |
| Lane-3, green decal on the high end of the wing, and | | | | year--but you can bet I'll be at the next event held in |
| Lane-4, red decal on the high end of the wing | | | | my area. |
| A matching color scheme is used to indicate the lanes | | | | |