Can I Fly In This Contest?

Click subject below to view answers: (Website Resources)

  1. I bought my model built by someone or manufactured, can I enter to fly?

  2. I would like to fly but do not know the Class/Group I will fly in.

  3. I do not have documentation for my plane...can I enter to fly?

  4. Is there someone with experience to assist me when I fly?

  5. Is there a simple Flight Plan I can practice...one with illustrations?

  6. I'm a decent pilot but never have done this...where do I learn more?

  7. I've been flying for years...but don't understand contest competition!

  8. Where do judges come from? Do they know a lot about aviation?

  9. I heard scale contests are beauty contests. What makes this one different?

10. Competing with experienced pilots...how do I win or place well?

11. I have an electric plane with limited flight time...can I enter?

12. Is there someone to help me when I fly?

BACK

1. I bought my model built by someone else or manufactured, can I enter to fly?

Answer: The contest is open to modeler-built or factory-built RC scale models. There are no minimum size, weight, or power limits. The maximum weight and displacement limits are the same as for RC Sport scale. Rule 4 of General rules which define builder–flier as one and the same...will not apply in this event.

BACK

2. I would like to fly in this contest but do not know the Class/Group I will fly in.

Answer: From the AMA Fixed Wing R/C Scale Competition Guide
12. RC Sport Scale Classes
RC Sport Scale events shall be divided into three classes requiring different competitive experience. They shall be referred to as Sportsman, Expert, and Designer classes.

All RC Scale Classes must comply with pertinent FAA and FCC rules & regulations, in addition to AMA rules. All contestants must be currrent (dates of contest) AMA (Academy Of Model Aeronautics) members. A contestant may only be listed once in a list of winners in each event class and may only receive one award in each event class.

12.1.
A contestant may enter the Expert class at his own option, but once entered in this class he may not again compete in the Sportsman class. A contestant must enter the Expert class if he has accumulated 30 advancement points.

Advancement points are awarded as follows: Each contestant in any AMA Class A or higher rated Sport Scale or Designer Scale contest receives one (1) advancement point for each other contestant he places ahead of.

RADIO CONTROL PRO-AM

Event 520.

The intent of Pro-Am is to provide an RC scale event which is, and is to remain, simple in concept. There are two (2) divisions of RC Pro-Am.

Pro-Am Sportsman Division is for the novice contestant only. This is purely an ENTRY LEVEL division for RC scale competition.

Pro-Am Pro Division is open to any contestant with previous RC scale competition experience. There are two Divisions within Pro-Am Pro.

1. Pro-Am Pro Division 1: For aircraft where the prototype that’s been modeled has fixed gear, has no more than one mechanical option or was not designed specifically for racing. (Basically, fabric covered).

2. Pro-Am Pro Division 2: For aircraft where the prototype that’s been modeled has retracting landing gear, has more than one mechanical option or was designed specifically for racing. (Basically, metal skinned).

3. Eligibility:
The contest is open to modeler-built or factory-built RC scale models. There are no minimum size, weight, or power limits. Maximum weight and displacement limits are the same as for RC Sport scale, General. rule 4 (builder–flier) will not apply in this event. 

BACK

3. I do not have documentation for my plane...can I enter to fly?

Answer: From the AMA Fixed Wing R/C Scale Competition Guide

4. Static Judging
Static score will be zero (0) or five (5). Five (5) static points will be awarded to
contestants who show documentation of outline and color resembling the subject
aircraft, or similar aircraft of the era.

Published 3-views, with or without color or markings, or box top renditions, are acceptable for documentation. Color and markings do not have to be specific to the model presented. That is all that is required to receive the static points.

BACK

4. Is there someone with experience to assist me when I fly?

Answer: YES ! ! !

We are bashful when dumped into a crowd we consider more knowledgable in whatever :) At the S.E. Texas R/C Scale Championship you are a competition scale family member.

A Meet N Greet is held every day of competition during the lunch break. You should make a list of questions so you do not forget to ask for answers to unknowns. We are a close knit group you have chosen to join. Mentoring is a "requirement" of playing this game...pass it on!  ;^)

BACK

 

5. Is there a simple Flight Plan I can practice...one with illustrations?

......................Click to view a sample Flight Plan

Answer: Flight maneuver illustrations, text descriptions and faults are here.

BACK

6. I'm a decent pilot but never have done this...where do I learn more?

Answer: Two Houston, TX resources........One National resource

................................
1. Bayou City Flyers  Houston, TX Gold Leader AMA Club

................................
2. Fort Bend R/C Club  Houston, TX Gold Leader AMA Club
.....

3. National Association Of Scale Aeromodelers AMA Scale SIG (Special Interest Group)

BACK

 

7. I've been flying for years...but I don't understand contest competition!

Answer: There are multiple resource sites focused on the S. E. Texas R/C Scale ...............Championship and the sport of Competitive Flying Scale Modeling.

	1. April 18, 19, 20, 2025 S.E. Texas R/C Scale Championship Brochure
	2. Online Resources For Houston Contest Pilots & Judges
	3. PowerPoint S.E. Texas R/C Scale Championship Online Classroom
	4. ProAm Sportsman (1st Timer) ProAm Pro (Experienced Non-500 Class)

BACK

..............
..............

..........

 

Our clear eye'd judges are qualified through multiple open book Q & A sessions utilizing the AMA R/C Fixed Wing Scale Guidelines for all classes contested at the S.E. Texas R/C Scale Championship. 

Typically the candidates to serve as Static & Flight Judges are modelers witnessed to have exhibited fair and impartial positions in modeling discussions. Often judges are experienced competitive flying scale modelers with an understanding scores are earned by comparison to published guidelines defining each scale contest class.

BACK

9. I heard scale contests are beauty contests. What makes this one different?

Answer: All contestants flying in "documented" classes (511, 512, 513, 515, 522, & 523) create a documentation binder (Three (3) are recommended to your advantage facilitating ease of scoring your entry).

Each judge has an assigned criteria for review (Outline, Color & Markings).  Documentation binders contain multiple view line drawings, artist renderings, and or photos of a 1:1 scale aircraft replicated by contestant for entry in AMA sanctioned scale contests.

Line drawings, photos, and artist renderings must be from reliable sources such as an aircraft manufacturer, model (undecorated assembled models are acceptable for contest documention following specified condititons) or aviation magazines, books, etc.

5 bonus points are awarded to the contest score of any Pro-_ _ class entry when a photo or "box top" rendering of the airplane type entered in the contest is presented at the time of contest registration.

Photo documentation accompanied by multiple view line drawings will always be a preferred documentation format. Documented class entries must replicate an explicit 1:1 aircraft presented as documentation photographic/artist rendered colors/scheme, mechanical, and graphic form.

Each contestant's entry in documented classes is recommended to be accompanied by three (3) documentation binders for comparison to each contestant's entry by Judges during Static portiton of scale contests. Each judge is assigned specific model element ~ feature comparing documentation to contestant's entry.

Contestant prepared documentation is compared to the contestants model viewed from multiple perspectives at a distance of 15 feet. There is one judge reviewing the model from 3 feet to determine contestant's craftsmanship score. Craftsmanship is defined by the skill at making things, or the skill with which something is made. 

Below is a typical Static Judging physical layout for expedited comparison of each model to documentation composed and qualified by each documented class pilot.


Oh....Yes, we "always" have beauties at Texas' R/C scale contests... ;^)

BACK

10. Competing with experienced pilots...how do I win, or place well?

Answer:


You are competing with peers. It is recommended you not dive into the "deep end of the pool" (documented classes) until you have flown in the Pro-Am class your model qualifies to enter.

Once you compete in a documented class you can not compete in a Pro-Am class with the same model. Competing in multiple classes is encouraged and rewarded with exceptional mentoring support.

The complete class index is contained in the S.E. Texas R/C Scale Championship online resources. We want you to succeed, not drown and never swim with us again... ;^)
BACK

11. I have an electric plane with limited flight time...can I enter?

Answer: From the AMA Fixed Wing R/C Scale Competition Guidelines

9.3. Time limit for each flight is 12 minutes inclusive of starting engine(s).

*You should select flight maneuvers requiring the greatest battery energy early in your Flight Plan. This would typically see you performing maneuevers wherein the model gains altitude from which the balance of maneuvers are worked down from.

BACK

12. Is there someone to help me when I fly?

Answer: Typically the host club of a contest will provide a mentor to explain and coach you through your Flight Rounds.

The S.E. Texas R/C Scale Championship does provide a mentor to coach and advise you prior to and during your flight in each of two (2) Pro-Am Flight Rounds on Friday April 18. 

Pro-AM contestants unable to compete on Friday April 18th are permitted to fly two (2) Flight Rounds during the first two (2) Flight Rounds Saturday morning April 19, 2025 at Fort Bend R/C Club with the documented classes:

 ..............................................511 RC Sportsman Sport Scale

 ..............................................512 RC Expert Sport Scale 

 ..............................................513 RC Sportsman/Expert Combined

 ..............................................515 RC Designer Scale

 ..............................................522 RC Team Scale

BACK

Acres Of Make Ready:

Friday April 18th 2025: Dick Scobee Memorial Field

Saturday April 19th & Sunday April 20th: Fort Bend RC