F5J, step by step
- Preparation: 5 minutes to get to your spot and prepare the model. The AMRT is zeroed on the ground, on the spot, in front of the timekeeper.
- At the signal the working time starts: exactly 10 minutes, 15 in the flyoff. Before the signal the motor stays off.
- Hand launch with the motor running, within 2 m of your spot, straight ahead for at least 3 seconds in the direction set by the contest director. You get only one attempt per round.
- Climb: one motor run, 30 seconds at most. Flight time starts when you switch the motor on. If the prop is still turning after 30 seconds, the flight scores zero.
- Launch height: the AMRT records the highest altitude between motor start and 10 seconds after the motor is cut. Each metre costs half a point up to 200 m, 3 points above.
- Glide and thermals: one point for every second of flight, 600 at most (900 in the flyoff).
- Landing on your spot: 50 points within 1 m, then 5 fewer for every metre up to 10 m; beyond that, zero. It's measured from the model's nose. If the nose stops more than 75 m from the spot, the flight scores zero.
- Overtime: if you land after the end of the working time you lose the landing bonus; more than a minute late and the flight scores zero.
- Scoring: in each group the best pilot gets 1000 points, the others in proportion. With more than 4 rounds the worst is dropped. 30% of the pilots (from 6 to 14) go through to the flyoff, which starts again from zero.
A worked example
A flight of 9 minutes 40 seconds (580 points), landing 80 cm from the spot (50 points), motor cut at 120 m (60 points off): 580 + 50 − 60 = 570 points.