PYLON RACING
200 MPH+ Of Pure Adrenaline
RCPRO – Skill Level System
The RCPRO Skill Level System was developed to help racers succeed at R/C pylon racing.
While these descriptions give the basic requirements for the skill levels, the RCPRO committees will determine what skill level racing classes fit into.
Also, the course used may affect what skill level is required. Many fliers are accustomed to flying in front of themselves. 2 pole pylon is flown in front of the pilots, while 3 pole racing has the pilots in the middle of the action. 3 pole racing is more demanding, regardless of the airplane type.
Level 1
This level is for newcomers to pylon racing, or even to Radio Control flying. Planes that have rudder, elevator and throttle, or planes that use two channel control for pitch and turning are what this level is about. Racing at this level may be very informal.
Level 2
Four channel control is the basic defining lower limit for this level. The pilot must have reasonable skill with at least aileron, elevator, and throttle control. Some planes may or may not have or need rudder control. Nitro powered Trainers that don’t exceed 70-80 mph and Park Flyers under 50 mph fit into this level. Slow Quickie (Q-500 with .25 sized engines) also falls into this category.
Level 3
Intermediate skills are required for this level. Q-500 Sport (AMA 424) is an example of a racing class that falls into this category. Warbird or Scale racers that exceed 100 mph are in this level. Park Flyers that exceed 50 mph or electric Speed 400 pylon planes are other examples.
Level 4
Advanced skills are necessary for this level. Warbird or Scale racers that exceed 120-130 mph and Quickies powered with .46′s or .40′s with tuned mufflers fit into this category. Speed 400 pylon planes powered by brushless motors also fit here.
Level 5
This is the most advanced level. Q-40 (AMA 422), Q-500 (AMA 428), FAI F3D, and FAI F5D fall into this category. The flying skills required are extremely demanding.
For more pylon racing information check out these sites:
Even More Info:
Recently, I attended a radio-controlled model-aircraft pylon race. I was not prepared for the excitement of the event. Both during and after the event, I wanted to know more about RC pylon racing. I talked with pilots, callers, and course workers. To learn even more, I decided to dig into the Academy of Model Aeronautics(AMA) rules and regulations for pylon racing.
A pylon race course is defined by three pylons. Each pylon is between 15-20 feet high. Pylon-1 is positioned at one end of the course near a signal board. The start/finish line is positioned 508 feet from Pylon #1 down the center of the course and 100 feet from a line connecting pylons #2 and #3. Pylons #2 and #3 were separated by 100 feet and formed the end of a triangular course.
Ten laps around the course equals 2.5 miles. The actual distance flown around the course probably varies between about 3 to 3.5 miles. This is so because the aircraft fly in loops around the pylons, have to fly around and pass traffic, and change altitude for one reason or another. The pilots fly their aircraft around the course in a counterclockwise direction, making sharp, left-hand turns only. The course length was selected to result in 10-lap times between one minute (fast pace) and two minutes (slow pace for beginners). For the quickest aircraft, the speed around the course is typically between 180-200mph.
The signal board is equipped with red lights to signal when a pilot’s aircraft “breaks the gate.” The “gate” is a line from pylon-1 to the “flaggers” position not less than 300 feet away. As an aircraft passes this line, a flagger activates a light for pilot’s assigned lane. A pilot seeing his signal knows that he can make his turn at pylon-1 without “cutting.” There are also two white lights on the board for each of the four lanes. These are used to indicate a “cut” (a turn on the inside of a pylon). The cut lights are also controlled by the flaggers. The start/finish line for the race has four lanes: a maximum of four pilots can participate at once. The lanes are designated according to where, on an aircraft, an identifying red or green decal is applied.
If you visualize an aircraft in front of you during a sharp left-hand bank away from you and around a pylon, one end of the wing will be higher than the other. Aircraft in Lane 1 or 2 have a decal on the low end of the wing; aircraft in Lane 3 or 4 have a decal on the high end of the wing. Pilots apply a decal according to their assigned starting-lane position for a heat as follows:
Lane-1, green decal on the low end of the wing,
Lane-2, red decal on the low end of the wing,
Lane-3, green decal on the high end of the wing, and
Lane-4, red decal on the high end of the wing
A matching color scheme is used to indicate the lanes on the signal board. Course judges use the decals to identify each aircraft. For example, a “Cut Judge” might report a cut like this, “Cut on high red.” Before the races begin, the pilots perform last minute checks on their aircraft, fuel them, and apply the colored decal. The Contest Director (CD) conducts short informational meetings for both course workers and pilots. The course workers include cut judges, fueling supervisor, flaggers, and timers/lap counters. After the meetings, the course workers occupy their stations around the course and the pilots for the first heat are driven to the start/finish line. Everyone on the course is required to wear a hard hat for safety. Also, for safety, all course-worker stations are a minimum of 300 feet from the race course.
When the pilots are positioned at the start/finish line, a 60-second timer is started. Pilots have just one minute to start their engines and prepare for takeoff. Pilots are prepared for takeoff when their aircraft engines are started and they are facing pylon #1 with both hands on the radio transmitter. Pilots not prepared for takeoff before the timer runs out are disqualified for the heat. As soon as all pilots are in position and ready to control their aircraft, the starter gives the signal to launch, and the heat begins. From the start of a heat until the end, the aircraft run “flat-out.” There is no remote-throttle control to vary the engine’s speed. During the race, the pilot’s partner, the caller, is of critical assistance to the pilot. In addition to launching the aircraft, and because the pilot’s attention is so focused on controlling the aircraft, the caller determines when the pilot should commence a turn around a pylon and calls this out to the pilot. Pilot and caller teams typically have long-time associations, and are often family members.
Cut judges are assigned to each pylon in order to insure that the aircraft turn outside the pylons instead of “cutting” inside a pylon during a turn. One “cut” requires an extra lap around the course for a pilot’s aircraft; two “cuts” disqualifies the pilot’s aircraft from the heat. Cuts are indicated to pilots by the white lights on the signal board. When a pilot or pilot’s caller sees a cut light for the assigned lane, they know that the point at which the turn commences must be adjusted. After each heat, the winning aircraft is weighed to insure that it is not lighter than the AMA’s minimum weight requirements. Winners for the race are determined on the basis of several heats. After the last race, both pilots and course workers return from the field for awards and prize drawings.
I live in the Pacific Northwest and the rainy season has begun. The pylon-racing season is over for the year–but you can bet I’ll be at t
he next event held in my area.
I hope you enjoyed this article,
Royce Tivel
