Selection of Contestants
TOC is an invitational contest and contestants are selected at the discretion of contest management.

Contestants Acceptance Deadline
Contestants must notify the Contest Director of their acceptance, in writing, to participate by March 30, 2000. If for any reason the invitee cannot attend, another contestant will be invited.

Aircraft Specifications

A. Type Of Aircraft
Model aircraft shall be a replica of a full size aircraft designed for aerobatic maneuvers. Suitable military aircraft will also be acceptable. It is the responsibility of the contestant to document both the aerobatic capability and proof of scale of the full size aircraft chosen. Contestants must provide three view scale drawings of both the original aircraft they selected and their version of the aircraft. Deviations from scale should be noted to aid contest officials in processing.

Contestants will be provided with three-view drawings of representative aircraft with the desired location of dimensions to be checked and noted. Drawings and other documentation should be sent to the contest director no later than May 15, 2000. Aircraft will be inspected and specifications checked on, Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 16 and 17, 5:00 p.m. till 6:30 p.m.

B. Deviation From Scale
a. The outline dimensions of the model as viewed from the top and side shall be within a 10% deviation from scale. The horizontal stab location must be within 10% of the full scale based on the height of the vertical fin. Example: if the full scale vertical fin is 10 ft tall and you have a 50% scale model then the horizontal stab can be moved from its full scale location by the following formula: 5 ft x 12 in x 10% = 6 inches up or down. The wing location must also be within 10% of the scale airplane based on the tallest part of fuselage not counting the vertical fin area (the tallest part is normally near the canopy area). Example: if the full scale airplane fuselage is 6 ft. tall then the wing can be moved on a 50% scale airplane 3 ft x 12 in x 10% = 3.6 inches up or down. All airplanes must meet the rules in 2000. No more grandfathered airplanes.

b. The scale of the model will be determined by the models wingspan (top wing of biplanes) as compared to the full size aircraft.

c. The general contours and shapes of the model shall be similar to the full size aircraft.

d. The model's airfoil need not be similar to the full size aircraft.

e. The control surface hinge locations and type can be different on the model as compared to the full size aircraft.

f. Additional controls and flight surfaces cannot be used on the model unless the full scale aircraft had such controls or control surfaces. Note: The use of split ailerons, coupled ailerons to the elevator (flaperons) and weight/cg shifting devices are not allowed. However, adding a fixed weight to shift CG is allowed.

g. Any type of radio control equipment and control levers or switches can be used. (Gyros and timed snap switches are NOT ALLOWED.

C. Engine
Maximum engine size is based on the wing area of the model as follows:

D. Weight
No weight limit.

E. Wing Area
Minimum wing area for monoplanes shall be 1400 square inches and for biplanes 1600 square inches.

F. Cockpit
The model shall have a realistic pilot and instrument panel of appropriate size.

NOTE: CONTESTANTS AND OFFICIALS SHOULD CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE RULES ARE INTENDED TO INSURE AN AIRCRAFT WHICH CLOSELY RESEMBLES ITS FULL SCALE COUNTERPART. ANY MODEL THAT DOES NOT MEET THE INTENT OF THE RULES OR AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED AND NOT ALLOWED TO COMPETE.

Jury
A three man jury will rule upon any disputes and will be the final authority. The jury will consist of a representative of the sponsors, the contest director, and the chief judge.

Judges
A minimum of ten judges will be used, with two groups of five judges (Group A and Group B) judging the qualifying rounds and 10 judges judging the final rounds. During the qualifying, the judges will be rotated so as to obtain as equal a contestant exposure as possible. Alternate judges will be used as necessary to maintain a staff of 10 judges. The judges will be recognized international judges from aeromodeling and full scale aerobatic judging. An orientation flight by a demo pilot will be made prior to any starting of a new round with new judges.

Helpers
Contestants are allowed one helper during the each of their contest performances. (During the engine start, safety will be the primary concern and several helpers may be used to restrain the aircraft.)

Time Limit
The contestant must have his engine started and commence his flight within three minutes after his time has started. If he fails to commence within the first three minutes and is so informed by the timer, he must immediately clear the area for the next contestants. No engine restarts are allowed after the aircraft takes off. Restarting is permitted within the first three minutes. Once the competitor has been given permission to start his engine and turn on his transmitter, he may delay no longer than one minute before attempting to start his engine.

There is no time limit for the aerobatic sequences except as noted:

After takeoff, the contestant is permitted to make one fly-by in the direction of flight he has chosen. After this fly-by he must position his aircraft to enter the aerobatic zone or "box" without delay so as to start his performance before the judges.

Utilization of Airspace and Frequencies
Only one flight will be flown at a time during the competition. A suitable frequency identifier pin will be used to control use of frequencies. A current USA FCC approved radio system and frequency must be used.

Number of Attempts
Each competitor is entitled to one attempt for each official flight. An attempt can be repeated at the jury's discretion only when, for any unforeseen reason outside the control of the competitor, the aircraft fails to make a start. Radio malfunction or inability to start an engine are not to be considered as reasons for a second attempt of an official flight. There is an official flight when an attempt is made, whatever the result.

Safety (Changed from 1999)
Considerations of safety for spectators, contest personnel and other contestants are of the utmost importance to this event. Dangerous flying of any sort or poor sportsmanship of any kind, shall be grounds for disqualification of any contestant involved. (Dangerous flying includes maneuvering extremely low to the ground or flying directly at the spectators at show center. The northern edge of the runway will be used for the zero line. Cross the zero line during the flight and the whole flight is zeroed. At no time can the pilot or his assistant be under or touch the aircraft once the aircraft is airborne. There will also be no hand launches of any form.

Scoring System and Maneuver Selection
With the exception of the Four Minute Free Program, maneuver selection, for all programs, will be compiled from the 1997 FAI Aerobatic Catalog.

Judges Flight Scoring
Judges will score maneuvers from 1 to 10 points. 1/2 points may be used at the judges' discretion. All judges' scores will be counted. Contestants' scores will be the composite of the judges' total scores multiplied by the applicable "K" factor. The "K" factor is a difficulty coefficient assignment of each flight maneuver as specified by the TOC "K" factor book. "K" factors have been adjusted to more closely represent the degree of difficulty a model pilot has in accomplishing a maneuver. For 98 TOC (2000??? ed.) we will be using a version of the full scale TBL scoring system.

Flight Programs
Contestants will be required to perform the following programs:

Known Compulsory Program #1, #2, #3.
Unknown Compulsory Programs #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7.
Four Minute Free Program

For qualifying, Known Compulsory Program #1,#2,#3, will be flown once. For the Sunday finals, two of the Known Compulsory Programs will be flown.

For qualifying, Unknown Compulsory Programs, #1, #2 and #3 will be flown once. For the Saturday finals, Unknown Compulsory Programs #4 and #5 will be flown once. For the Sunday finals #6 and #7 will be flown once.

For qualifying the Four Minute Free will be flown three times. For the finals the Four Minute Free will be flown twice each day. (Sat and Sun)

Known Compulsory Program (Changed from 1999)
This program will be composed of 10 to 12 figures flown in normal and inverted flight, performed consecutively and continuously, observing the prescribed sequence of the figures.

The patterns will not be given to the contestants until the night before they are flown. The maneuvers will be selected from a known list of 21 maneuvers that are distributed before the contest. There will be three separate known patterns selected from the list of 21 maneuvers and all maneuvers will be used during the contest. All patterns will have a total of 400 K of difficulty. For the Sunday finals two of the preliminary knowns will be flown.

Unknown Compulsory Programs
The contest management will use the same general criteria in the preparing the sequences for this event as are used for the Known Compulsory Program.

Four Minute Free Program
This event will be flown by all contestants. Anything goes as far as maneuver selection and the FAI catalog need not apply. A written or verbal description of the flight need not be furnished to the judges. The contestants may use music or other special effects to enhance their performance. (A music system will be provided that allows the use of cassette tapes or compact discs. Contestants must provide their own music*). Direction of entry into or exit from the aerobatic zone is optional and entry may be made in any attitude. However, the flight must be planned to ensure safety of all concerned. (Flying directly at the spectators at show center and crossing the runway foul line will not be allowed.) Contestants must fly the same aircraft as the known and unknown flights.

*Contestants using their own tapes and CD's must adjust the music levels on contest provided equipment before the start of the contest.

This is a show-off event which should be fun for both contestants and spectators.

There are four criteria used in judging, as follows:
a. Originality; b. Versatility; c. Harmony and Rhythm; d. Execution

Each criterion is scored with a maximum of 60 "K" possible. Therefore, the maximum score for the event is 240 "K" per judge or 1200 "K" total for five judges or 2400 "K" total for l0 judges.

The time limit for this event is four minutes, plus or minus five seconds. Flight time starts when the competitors' caller signals to the judges the start of the sequence and terminates when the caller signals the end. (Time will not stop until aircraft assumes straight and level upright or inverted flight and rocks its wings or time will stop when the aircraft touches the ground, planned or not). The contestants' total score will be reduced by 30 points for each second that his flight time exceeds the allotted four minutes plus or minus five seconds. CONTESTANTS MUST BE NORTH OF THE RUNWAY EDGE BEFORE COMMENCING ANY MANEUVERS.

The Four Minute Free Program will be flown Friday and Saturday as the last event of the day. On Sunday the programs will be flown as the last event of the rounds.

POSITIONING COEFFICIENTS: (NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FOUR MINUTE FREE PROGRAM)
A difficulty coefficient (K) will apply to all flights.

Aerobatic Zone
This zone is defined horizontally by a 75 degree angle on each side of the pilot as he faces 90 degrees to the runway. Vertically, an angle of 75 degrees from the pilots' position defines the upper boundary of the zone.

Direction of flight shall be parallel to the runway and in the direction selected by the contestant.

Meteorological Conditions
The maximum wind should not exceed 20 knots. The ceiling should be such that a contestant can climb to a maximum altitude needed to complete maneuvers safely. However, the Contest Director may deviate from these weather requirements after meeting with the contestants in which at least a majority agree to continue the contest (a tie will be broken by the CD). However, safety shall be the primary consideration of the Contest Director. A competitor is entitled to discontinue his flight if meteorological conditions deteriorate during any portion of his flight. In such a case, the competitor, immediately after landing, must report his reasons to the chief judge who will inform the judges. If the judges accept the reasons for interrupting the flight, it will be repeated from the beginning.

Meeting Schedule

Monday, October 16, 2000 7:00 p.m.
There will be a meeting in the Hospitality Suite for all contestants, judges and contest personnel. This will be an informal get together to discuss all facets of the contest.

Tuesday, October 17, 2000 9:00 a.m.
There will be a meeting for all judges and the chief judge, Fred Johnson. The location will be announced. At 1:00 p.m. all judges will meet at a site to be determined. At 6:00 p.m. Known and Unknown Compulsory Program #1 will be given to all contestants and judges. The details of the program will be discussed at this time.

Wednesday, October 18, 2000
After flying competition is finished for the day, Known and Unknown Compulsory Program #2 will be given to all contestants and judges. The details of the program will be discussed at this time.

Thursday, October 19, 2000
After flying competition is finished for the day, Known and Unknown Compulsory Program #3 will be given to all contestants and judges. The details of the program will be discussed at this time.

Friday, October 20, 2000
After the end of the day's competition, Unknown Compulsory Program #4 and #5 will be given to the top 14 contestants and judges. The details of the programs will be discussed at this time.

Saturday, October 21, 2000
After the competition is finished for the day, the two Knowns will be selected and Unknown Compulsory Programs #6 and #7 will be given to the judges and the 7 final contestants. The programs may be discussed at this time.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
After the Known and Unknown Compulsory Program #1 is given to the contestants Tuesday, no further practice flying is allowed at any locations. Contestants may request permission from the contest director for short flights to check aircraft trim or engine performance. Such flights may be flown only at the contest site before or after the day's official flying. All flying will be observed at all times by the contest director to ensure adherence to the rules. NOTE: The use of computer simulations to practice the unknown patterns will be considered a violation of this rule. Please use hand held models only.

Contestants' Number Assignment
Contestants will draw a number from one to twenty one at the meeting October 16, 2000. These numbers will then be assigned to each contestant for the first three days of the contest. New numbers for order will be drawn for the semi finals and finals.

Competition Schedule
Weather permitting, there will be five official days of flying. Only completed rounds will be scored. If for any reason flying must be postponed, the jury will adjust the flying schedule to best suit the circumstances. Programs completed will be used to determine contestant placement. Decision of the jury will be final.

Unless otherwise specified by the contest director, competition flying will commence at 8:00 a.m. each day of the contest. The demonstration flight for the judges will be flown daily at 7:45 a.m. Judges and all contest personnel are requested to be at the flying site by 7:30 a.m.