Once again this was a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow modellers from around the world, renew and extend contacts. It confirmed that South Africa has a special place in this community with many well wishers and greetings to friends in SA. The voting procedure was simplified with only yes and no votes counting and the option to record a non-vote.
F3x: I was able to attend the RC soaring sub- committee meeting chaired by Tomas Bartovsky in a rather dry but correct manner. The meeting was well attended and the voting on most items was in line with our preferences and a copy of these minutes is attached.
F2 Control line: Here voting in the sub-committee was generally in line with our preferences.
F4 Scale: Many items were withdrawn by the sub-committee for further study, the rest being in line with our preferences.
F3 Aerobatics: Not being a rulemaking year there was no sub-committee meeting. Of special interest was that the Bureau ruled that variable incidence propulsion devices were not in the spirit of the rules and therefore not allowed at present. This raises the issue of other devices such as contra-rotating and variable pitch propellers, and other systems that are not control surfaces but could influence the behaviour of the model. A similar ruling has been made in respect of separate tail rotor motors in helicopters.
F3 Pylon: The big issue here is noise reduction, both engine and propeller and is considered work in progress.
We were able to present the SA bid for the 2012 F3J World championships and this was successful against counter bids from Croatia and Slovakia. The real work starts now and the organisers have a mammoth task ahead.
Also of interest is that disciplines that do not already have a junior world championship category can now include a 4th member in their teams, the 4th being a junior who is less than or turns 18 in the calendar year of the championship. It is assumed this also depends on if the organisers make provision for such juniors.
Another issue that will receive attention in the coming year is the proliferation of World Championships, the financial burden this places on the NAC`s, and whether some poorly supported categories should be retired.
Talks are ongoing for the IJMC to integrate with the CIAM, and achieve FAI world championship status, etc.
Other developments are granting provisional status to F3N Helicopters and introduction of F3F slope soaring class. The proposed F3R Q500 pylon racing class was referred back to the sub-committee.
An enjoyable but intense experience where our participation is not only appreciated but considered essential.
John Brink
F3x: I was able to attend the RC soaring sub- committee meeting chaired by Tomas Bartovsky in a rather dry but correct manner. The meeting was well attended and the voting on most items was in line with our preferences and a copy of these minutes is attached.
F2 Control line: Here voting in the sub-committee was generally in line with our preferences.
F4 Scale: Many items were withdrawn by the sub-committee for further study, the rest being in line with our preferences.
F3 Aerobatics: Not being a rulemaking year there was no sub-committee meeting. Of special interest was that the Bureau ruled that variable incidence propulsion devices were not in the spirit of the rules and therefore not allowed at present. This raises the issue of other devices such as contra-rotating and variable pitch propellers, and other systems that are not control surfaces but could influence the behaviour of the model. A similar ruling has been made in respect of separate tail rotor motors in helicopters.
F3 Pylon: The big issue here is noise reduction, both engine and propeller and is considered work in progress.
We were able to present the SA bid for the 2012 F3J World championships and this was successful against counter bids from Croatia and Slovakia. The real work starts now and the organisers have a mammoth task ahead.
Also of interest is that disciplines that do not already have a junior world championship category can now include a 4th member in their teams, the 4th being a junior who is less than or turns 18 in the calendar year of the championship. It is assumed this also depends on if the organisers make provision for such juniors.
Another issue that will receive attention in the coming year is the proliferation of World Championships, the financial burden this places on the NAC`s, and whether some poorly supported categories should be retired.
Talks are ongoing for the IJMC to integrate with the CIAM, and achieve FAI world championship status, etc.
Other developments are granting provisional status to F3N Helicopters and introduction of F3F slope soaring class. The proposed F3R Q500 pylon racing class was referred back to the sub-committee.
An enjoyable but intense experience where our participation is not only appreciated but considered essential.
John Brink
SAMAA-CIAM delegate
