1996/97 Rules and Vehicle Design Specifications (revisions and updates)

More Safety Requirements (added 9/24/96)

Safety inspections will include the following in addition to the other items of (9/10/96).

• Motor safety / arming switch
  • All aircraft must have a mechanical motor arming system which will prevent the motor from starting prematurely, which could cause injury to team members. The arming system shall be seperate from the onboard radio Rx switch. This may be a mechanical switch rated for the maximum current draw and accessible from outside the aircraft, or can be a removable link such as an automotive "blade" style fuse. The aircraft radio Rx must be powered and the throttle verified to be "closed" before activating the motor arming switch. (Added: 23Sep96)

• Letter of Intent to Compete = 31 Oct 1996
• Written Report (Proposal Phase) = 17 March 1997 (was 31 March)
• Written Report (Addendum) = 14 April 1997 (was 28 April)
• Contest date = April 26, 1997 with April 27 being the rain date (was May 10-11)

All vehicles will undergo a safety inspection by a designated contest safety inspector prior to being allowed to make any competition or non-competition (i.e. practice) flight. All decisions of the safety inspector are final. Safety inspections will include the following as a minimum.

• Physical inspection of vehicle to insure structural integrity.
  • Verify all components adequately secured to vehicle. Verify all fasteners tight and have either safety wire, lock-tite (fluid) or nylock nuts.
  • Verify propeller structural and attachment integrity.
  • Visual inspection of all electronic wiring to assure adequate wire gauges and connectors in use.
  • Teams must notify inspector of expected maximum current draw for the propulsion system.
  • Radio range check, motor off and motor on.
  • Verify all controls move in the proper sense.
• Structural verification.
  • All aircraft will be lifted with one lift point at each wing tip to verify adequate wing strength (this is equivalent to a 2.5g load case) and to check for vehicle cg location. Teams must mark the expected empty and with payload cg location on the exterior of the aircraft fuselage.
• Radio fail-safe check.
  • All aircraft radios must have a fail-safe mode that is automatically selected during loss of transmit signal. The fail-safe will be demonstrated on the ground by switching off the transmit radio. During fail safe the aircraft receiver must select: throttle closed, full up elevator, full right rudder, full left aileron, full flaps down (if so equipped).
• General rules compliance.
  • Verify weight of payload and that it is steel (magnet test)
  • Verify weight of battery pack and check for manufacturers logo or seal.
  • Check pilot certification. (AMA license)