The purpose of this postal contest is to encourage friendly participation between aeromodellers worldwide with the prime emphasis being on low-key, leisurely flying without the pressures of ‘regular’ competition.  The Internet permits us to have a worldwide event in the spirit of a friendly local club contest. A wide variety of events are offered including classes for types and sizes of models which have been overtaken and/or outclassed by modern developments or are perhaps too small to be considered for ‘serious’ competition work, such as 20” and 25” Rubber, Sky Bunny and Cloud Tramp, many of which can be flown at any time on smaller local sites without the necessity of travel to more formal contests at larger areas.

Flights may be made outdoors between July 1st. 2016 and June 30th. 2017 inclusive; it is not required that all flights in any event be made upon the same day but each is to be pre-nominated as ‘official’. The general format (with exceptions as noted) is for three or more flights to the specified maximum; after three (or more) maximums are achieved, further flights will be made to a higher maximum, increasing by specified increments until the model fails to reach the duration target for that flight. The final score will be the total of all flights, recorded in seconds; the purpose of this scoring system is to reduce the possibility of models being lost in an ‘unlimited flyoff’ and as flights may be made at any time within the contest period it does not entail unduly arduous flying sessions to complete same. In classes where maximum sizes are established, the span shall be measured as per plan, not as ‘projected span’.

A maximum is the maximum time that may be recorded in a flight, without respect to the actual flight time on the watch being over the maximum. To clarify the concept of maximums, consider an event which requires six flights with a maximum of 60 seconds and a 30 second increment thereafter. If you make six flights and all are over 60 seconds, those flight times are each recorded for scoring purposes as a 60 second flight. The total score at this point is 6 x 60 = 360 seconds. If any of your flights are less than the 60 second maximum, that flight time is recorded and the six times are summed for your score. Only if you make all six maxes do you qualify for the next flight, which will have a 60 + 30 = 90 second maximum. If you don’t make the 90 second max, you sum your times so far for your score. If you make the 90 second max, you may make another flight to a 90 + 30 = 120 second max. If at any time, you don’t make the max, your record that time and sum it with all previous flight times for your score. You make no more flights if at any time you fail to make the max for that flight.

Report all times where multiple flights are made, do not report only the final score. I have had submittals of times from other contests listing only final scores. Different contests have different rules for flights and scoring. All flight times are required to verify and make transparent that scoring is done according to the WWP rules.

‘Vintage/Oldtimer’ classes are for designs authenticated to have been flying outdoors prior to December 31st. 1950, even though plan publication may be of a later date in any kit, commercial magazine, SAM publication, club newsletter, etc.  Multiple entries with different models may be made in all events but flights in one event may not be ‘doubled up’ with any other class for which a given model is eligible – separate flights, please.

The 20” Rubber class is to encourage the flying of all such models designed for outdoor use and not usually considered competitive against larger designs. There is no restriction on publication or production date and all designs ‘published’ in/on freely available sources i.e. newsletters, websites, etc. are acceptable provided such source and/or details are available to others.

To maximize flying opportunities there is ample scope for a variety of rubber models and gliders to be flown in multiple events and you are encouraged to take stopwatch, pencil and notepad with you each time you go to your local field, or to a contest, as an added incentive to your flying enjoyment. Bear in mind, also, that any number of individual models may be flown in any event for which they are eligible.

A full report will be published here after the scores are received and compiled. To enhance the same, a brief account of weather, site, flying anecdotes, photographs, etc. would be appreciated when scores are submitted. Please ensure that all scores are posted here in Comments, under the Leave a Reply heading, below, by July 15th, 2017; earlier submissions would be most gratefully received! Please provide clear notice as to which class/event they should be posted to. Reporting scores all along should stimulate participation.

I welcome any comments regarding amendment to any event rules that might make same more attractive, or suggestions for other classes that might be considered of general interest in any future Contest.

GOOD FLYING – GOOD LUCK – and … above all … HAVE FUN!

EVENTS:

Sky Bunny – Flown per rules published here. Rule 4, about the contest dates, is amended to conform with the dates of this current World Wide Postal Competition.

20” Rubber – For any published/kitted outdoor designs not exceeding 20”/51cm span . Three flights to 60 second maximum followed by 30 second increments thereafter.

25” Rubber – Any published/kitted models up to 25”/63.5cm span. Three flights to 60 second maximum followed by 30 second increments thereafter.

30” Vintage/Oldtimer – For designs pre-1951, not exceeding 30”/76cm. Three flights to a 90 second maximum followed by 30 second increments thereafter.

42” Vintage/Oldtimer – For designs pre-1951, with spans greater than 30”/76cm but not exceeding 42”/107cm. Three flights to a 120 second maximum followed by 30 second increments thereafter.

P-30 Rubber – Standard P30 rules (page 18). Three flights to 120 second maximum followed by 60 second increments thereafter. (Note that this 60 second increment differs from the 30 second increment in the AMA rule.) No gears or movable surfaces, other than for d/t operation.

Freewheel Rubber – Any published/kitted outdoor design with a freewheeling propeller is eligible, wing span not exceeding 36”/91cm. Three flights to 90 second maximum followed by 30 second increments

Unlimited Rubber – Any rubber model with wingspan not exceeding 42”/107cm. No auto surfaces. Three flights to a 120 second maximum, followed by 60 second increments thereafter.

KK “Senator” – A one-design class for this popular design. Three flights to 120 second maximum, followed by 60 second increments thereafter.

Cloud Tramp – Any version of the Cloud Tramp design as published, 8” prop (plastic OK), any type of prop bearing. Five flights, no maximum; longest and shortest will be discarded and balance totaled for score.

Towline Glider – Any glider, straight tow only with no moving surfaces other than autorudder. Maximum towline length 164’/50 metres. Equivalent (164’/50 metres relaxed length) high-start launch systems permissible. Three flights to 90 second maximum followed by 60 second increments.

Small Towline Glider – Any glider to a maximum span of 40”/101.5cm, straight tow with no moving surfaces other than autorudder. Maximum towline length 164’/50 metres. Equivalent (164’/50 metres relaxed length) high-start launch systems permissible. Three flights to 60 second maximum followed by 60 second increments.

6″ Tiny Hand Launched Glider – For any glider with wingspan no greater than 6”/15.2 cm. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Multiple entries permissible.

6″ Tiny Catapult Launched Glider – For any glider with wingspan no greater than 6”/15.2 cm. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Catapult – a 9” loop of ¼” flat rubber attached to a 6” handle. Multiple entries permissible.

8″ Tiny Hand Launched Glider – For any glider with wingspan no greater than 8”/20.3 cm. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Multiple entries permissible.

8″ Tiny Catapult Launched Glider – For any glider with wingspan no greater than 8”/20.3 cm. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Catapult – a 9” loop of ¼” flat rubber attached to a 6” handle. Multiple entries permissible.

Catapult/Handlaunch Glider (small) – For any glider with wingspan no greater than 12”/30.5 cm. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Catapult – a 9” loop of ¼” flat rubber attached to a 6” handle. Multiple entries permissible.

Catapult/Handlaunch Glider (large) – For any glider larger than 12”/30.5cms. Six flights, 60 second maximum (flights under ten seconds need not be reported). If six maximums scored, 30 second increments thereafter. Catapult – a 9” loop of ¼” flat rubber attached to a 6” handle. Multiple entries permissible.

Tip-launch Glider – For any size of wingtip-launch glider. Folding wings and R/C are not permissible. Six flights to a 60 second maximum, increasing by 30 second increments thereafter.

Peanut Scale – Any type, any period, 13″ maximum wingspan or 9″ maximum length. Total highest three of six flights for score.

Dimescale – Any type, any period, 16″ maximum wingspan, no scale or bonus points. Total highest three of six flights for score.

Phantom Flash – Per kit or plan, plastic or wood prop. May be hand launched. Total highest three of six flights for score.