Welcome To The World Of Remote Control Soaring!

The Rocky Mountain Soaring Association (RMSA) has been Denver's foremost model sailplane club since 1976. We are a A.M.A. chartered club with over 50 members. Among our current and former members we have:

• Skip Miller - R/C Soaring's FIRST World Champion (F3B)
• Mark Howard - U.S. Absolute sailplane altitude record holder (7,717')
• Jack Sasson - A U.S. F3B speed record holder
• Lenny Keer - A U.S. World Champion in model soaring
• and Byron Blakeslee - a noted soaring magazine columnist

A number of our club members have medals from podium finishing US Soaring teams.

We can offer the beginning flier a wealth of information and experience to help make his or her inaugural flight a success. We normally fly at our primary club field - a large sod farm near Barr Lake. Club membership is required to fly at the field unescorted. Current A.M.A. membership is required by ALL pilots. Training sessions are often conducted at the field, weather permitting. Training times may be arranged with any instructor.

For directions to the field, or if you have questions about building, flying, or trimming your sailplane, feel free to contact one of the club members in the contacts section. Club members fly a variety sailplanes, including thermal duration, slope, scale, hand-launch, cross-country along with the international competitions for F3K, F5K, F3B, F5B, F3J and F5J. We have specialists who can assist you with these specific styles of flying. RMSA also conducts competitive events to help promote flying excellence. Events are scheduled monthly during flying season and the calendar is published on this website.

With a large and dispersed membership along the front range, club business is generally conducted via the club email list.

What Kinds of Soaring Are There?

Soaring, the magical use of rising air to defy gravity! There is nothing like catching your first thermal, you will probably stumble into it, it will bounce around and you will be surprised that it is going up not down! You will circle like you were taught, and be captivated by the beauty as it goes round and round. Then, at some point, you will say "Holy cow - I am really high, now I have to get down without blowing the plane up." You will use your spoilers or flaps to make a nice slow descent and land gently at your feet. Your hands stop shaking, and that is it - you are hooked!

That is the begining of a life long passion. Soaring is not just about learning to fly an aircraft, in fact that is the easy part. The challenge is to find that thermal every flight. How to know what the signs of a thermal are, weather patterns, where to fly to increase the odds of hitting that thermal. You will be learning to optimize the way you fly in different kinds of lift. Every day is different - you use your senses to feel the air temperature changes, you notice other things in the air that are clues to thermal activity, you see disturbances in the grass, and changes in the wind direction and speed. All clues as to where to fly to go up.

Some say soaring is like fly fishing, you know the fish are there, but where? What are the clues that lead you to cast one place or another? Those choices are different than they were yesterday and will be different from tomorrow. That is the fun and challenge of soaring - where is that thermal today?

There are all kinds of different soaring disciplines from lazy thermalling with a light floater, for no good reason except the challenge, to the adrenaline filled speed of Dynamic Soaring - topping 400mph. No matter what kind of soaring you are interested in, RMSA likely has members that participate. Many of our members just love to come out to our world class field just for the fun of it. Others are active in our competition events. You should know that competitions are not just for the top guys, but they are the best way for beginners to progress in their skills. Sure you can go out and fly all by yourself and have plenty of fun, but if you want to really improve your skills, attending contests is the best way. Ignore your score and focus on what you can learn from the top pilots. both their advice while you are flying and their performance provides invaluable information on how and where to fly to stay up. We regularly run events that are fun and competitive. Some of the more popular ones that we regularly run are:

• 2 Meter - a popular beginning class that uses affordable polyhedral wood and carbon kits that are guided using only rudder and elevator with a spoiler to control speed and descent. They are launched either with a bungee or an onboard electric motor. These contests harken back to the early days of r/c soaring. Our own Sam Pendleton kits the Tetra, an outstanding model in this class.
• F3K or Discus Launched Gliders - 1.5 meter wingspan planes. We also allow electric powered variants of these models for those unable or limited in their ability to throw the model in a discus type launch.
• F5J Electric Launch- A popular class of competition with models up to 4 meter wingspans launched with an electric motor in the nose.

Other classes of sailplane activities members participate in include:

• F3J - up to 4M span sailplanes using a winch to launch for a thermal duration task
• F3B - very fast winch launched models that compete in speed and distance on a closed course and also duration.
• F5B - a class of very fast electric launched models with powerful motors for a multi-task event
• F3F - racing in slope lift with fast models on a closed 100 meter course, usually in coastal areas with consistent onshore wind
• Scale/Aero Tow - these are models of actual full scale sailplanes towed to altitude by model tow planes just like the full size sport
• DS - Dynamic Soaring which entails flying on a slope and generates great speeds!
• GPS Triangle Racing - these models use GPS based equipment on board the model and on the ground to complete as many laps of a triangle course as possible in an allotted time.

These events occur less frequently and often require travel to participate. Note that our field is open to members for practice for any of the above disciplines.
Here is a brief description of the above disciplines:

2M/RES

This class encompasses a lot of different names but we call it fun. This is a great starter class, using relatively inexpensive built-up sailplanes. There are a lot of candidate kits, but not a lot of ready to fly models. If you are a builder there are some excellent kits, including one by one of our members. Sam Pendleton offers a great, well thoughtout kit that is perfect to get going. If you are not interested in building, your best bet is to find a used model from someone in the club or one of the modelling sites.

The flying is a lot like a fun fly. The exact rules can change slightly from event to event, but in general the goal is to launch and fly for an organizer determined number of minutes, which sounds easy, but it is not. You accumulate points for every second of flight time and the one with the most points at the end wins. Usually you will fly 2-4 flights per hour and time for others when you are not flying. 8 flights a day is a common goal.

DLG/Handlaunch/F5K

This class is an official international competition format, but is a perfect way to get started in soaring. Some of our members have represented the USA at world championship events. The sailplanes are smaller and easy to transport, with a 1.5 meter wingspan. The official way to launch is by grabbing a peg in the wingtip and spinning around to throw it like a discus (aka Discus Launched Glider - DLG). This takes some practice and a bit of athleticism to be highly competititive, but for fun flying the average joe can launch plenty high to find thermals. Some of us older pilots have some difficulties with the throw so our club now allows the use of electric launched DLGs. These are the same planes but they have a motor and a device that limits the launch to a height that is competitive with the good throwers (about 50 meters).

You learn a lot about thermals and flying with DLG class planes. They are typically a bit more expensive than the 2M class as they are generally manufactured for lighter weight and strength using carbon fiber and other Materials. Beginners are likely best off purchasing a used model in this class as there are plenty available and the prices are affordable.

In competitions pilots fly a variety of tasks as determined by the organizer for the day. Some simple task examples are: 1) 2 five minute flights in a 10 minute window 2) In a ten minute window fly 5 flights of 1, 2, 3 and 4 minutes in 10 minutes (any order). Scoring is generally 1 point per second of flight time. Pilots fly in groups and the pilot with the most points wins the group. The points are then normalized with the winning pilot getting 1000 points and the rest of the pilots get their percentage of the pilots score. So, for example, if the winning pilot gets 500 seconds and the next best pilot gets 250 seconds, then the winning pilot gets 1000 and the other pilot gets 500 (because they got 1/2 of the winning pilots points.

We fly competitions every month from March to November weather permitting. Beginners are encouraged to participate where they can fly with more experienced pilots which helps the learning curve a lot.

F5J

F5J is a class for the bigger sailplanes - generally 3.5 to 4 meters in span. They are launched using a motor. Made using the latest technology in construction and materials, these planes can come in at under 40 oz for a 4 meter span. They are the ultimate soaring machines. You will want to be proficient in controlling an R/C aircraft before moving into this class but once you can safely control and land, these are really fun planes to fly. Physics tells us that bigger flys better and it is true, and the performance of these planes is incredible. You can fly further away searching for lift and flying in the wind is much easier than the smaller planes. Some of the best pilots in the country are in RMSA and fly this class regularly. Often several members will attend out of town events together as well.

The overview of the rules are pretty simple: in a ten minute window you must launch with the motor, run the motor for no more than 30 seconds, then try to find lift to sustain you for the rest of the 10 minutes. You then land before the 10 minute window expires with bonus points for landing closest to a landing spot. The kicker is that you are penalized for the height you launch to, so you want to launch as low as you can and still get your full time. There is a device in the plane to measure your launch height and that is used to compute your point penalty. You get 50 bonus points for landing within 1 meter of the landing spot before the window is over.

Again, scoring is generally 1 point per second of flight time plus landing bonus minus height penalty. Pilots fly in groups and the pilot with the most points wins the group. The points are then normalized with the winning pilot getting 1000 points and the rest of the pilots get their percentage of the pilots score. So, for example, if the winning pilot earns 500 points and the next best pilot gets 250 points, then the winning pilot gets 1000 and the other pilot gets 500 (because they got 1/2 of the winning pilots points.

F3B

F3B as a multi task event was born in the mid 70’s to take normal thermal duration models to a new and substantial achievement level. This was the first soaring event of its kind to be developed and embraced at the World Championship (Global) level .

The 3 tasks are: speed on a 150 meter 1 sided course , distance on a 150 meter, parallel to infinity course , and simple duration with a spot landing creating the first multitask sailplane event. Launching was by regulated hand tow, bungee, or winch. The excitement world wide was huge , with over 450 US participants competing to make the first 3 pilot USA team selected to compete in the first World Championship in Pretoria South Africa. In any developing technology, often times the human aspect of supporting the technology makes it difficult to keep the inertia and F3B participation has declined over the past 45 years in the USA.

The number of pilots who have the skills and tenacity to compete at a World Championship level today has shrunk unfortunately to less than 20 participants in the USA today… yes these are very complex machines requiring a very organized team approach to function efficiently.

Still, F3B was the development step that led to all of the amazing composite aircraft we all enjoy in all the venues today…. go fast , go far, and stay up long…. that’s what F3B has contributed to the art of RC Soaring. A very exciting and historic time in the invisible world of RC Soaring and still flown in pockets around the USA today.

Here is a brief tutorial video on F3B:
F3B Tutorial

F5B

F5b is a type of radio control electric model aircraft contest that consists of doing as many laps as possible between 2 poles 150 meters apart in 200 seconds followed by 10 minutes of thermalling, and then landing on a 30-meter landing circle. The laps must be made while gliding only, no motor allowed, so the motor is used to rapidly climb and power into the course.

There is a limit of 10 climbs, so to get more than 20 laps (a complete circuit- to the far pole & back- is 2 laps) the plane must climb high and glide 4 laps. To score more than 40 laps, the plane must glide a combination of 4 laps sets and 6 lap sets.

F3F - Slope Racing

Slope racing with a glider is a speed thing. 10 laps of 100 meter course as fast as you can. Despite having lots of mountains, Colorado is not known for any good slope racing sites. Generally slope racing is done along the sea coasts where the sea winds provide fairly predictable lift for racing. Some of our members regularly travel to the coasts to participate in this adenaline event. For more details see the following link: Slope Racing.

DS

Dynamic soaring is a flying technique used to gain energy by repeatedly crossing the boundary between air masses of different velocity. Such zones of wind gradient are generally found close to obstacles and close to the surface, so the technique is mainly of use to birds and operators of radio-controlled gliders, but glider pilots are sometimes able to soar dynamically in meteorological wind shears at higher altitudes.

Dynamic soaring is sometimes confused with slope soaring which is a technique for achieving elevation.

Basic mechanism While different flight patterns can be employed in dynamic soaring, the simplest is a closed loop across the shear layer between two airmasses in relative movement, e.g. stationary air in a valley, and a layer of wind above the valley. The gain in speed can be explained in terms of airspeed and groundspeed:

• As the glider begins the loop, say in a stationary airmass, groundspeed and airspeed are the same.
• The glider enters the moving airmass nearly head-on, which increases the glider's airspeed.
• The glider then turns 180°, where it is able to maintain most of its airspeed due to momentum. This must happen immediately, or groundspeed will be lost. The glider's groundspeed, first crosswind, then downwind, as it turns, is now higher, as the tailwind has accelerated the glider.
• The loop continues with the glider re-entering the stationary airmass and turning around, maintaining the now higher airspeed and groundspeed.
• Each cycle results in higher speeds, up to a point where drag prevents additional increase.

GPS Triangle Racing

So, what is GPS Triangle? It consists of a task that is defined by a triangle where the turn points are located 500m 90 degrees to the right (referred to as TP1) of where the pilots stand, 500m in front of the pilots (TP2) and 500m to the left (TP3). The starting gate is an imaginary line between TP2 and the pilots. Racers must cross the start gate lower than 500m altitude and less than 120km/h, then do as many laps as possible in 30 minutes. Energy management is key between being conservative and keeping altitude and being audacious to optimize the number of laps while still looking for thermals. During a competition, ‘working time’ (generally speaking 15 minutes) is defined as time in which you have to launch up and cross the start gate.

There is very specialized equipment that is used to collect and transmit data to the pilot, including speed, and location on the course. This is very similar to the way that full-scale racing is sometimes done.

Getting Started in Remote Control Soaring!

Model aviation presents the RC hobbyist with many satisfying options including scale, pattern, racing and soaring. Soaring’s niche is that it offers a unique connection between flyer, sailplane and the surrounding environment. RC sailplanes are the most graceful flyers in model aviation. Every flight is unique and challenges the pilot to identify and wring out the most performance available. On the next flight, conditions have changed and the pilot must determine how to adjust to take advantage of it. With experience the flyer learns to read what the model is saying, wind shifts and subtle temperature changes while observing soaring birds, lift/sink indicators and other sailplanes. It’s relaxing and rewarding but never boring or repetitive.

What do I need to get started?

All you need is the desire to fly; you don't even need a sailplane. If you call an RMSA instructor, we'll make arrangements to meet and you can fly one of our club trainers. If you decide you want to continue, you'll want a plane of your own. You will also need a radio. Most modern sailplanes are launched with an electric motor or by hand but many flyers still use a rubber hi-start. All are simple and efficient methods to get to altitude and start looking for thermals.

Why sailplanes?

If you’ve never flown RC, sailplanes provide an excellent way to learn. The easier your first plane is to fly, the more likely it is that you'll keep it intact through your basic flight instruction. You may also have a more enjoyable experience because you'll be more relaxed (so will your instructor!). Trainer sailplanes have only two controls as opposed to most powered trainer airplanes which have four. Trainer sailplanes fly much more slowly than powered planes giving the student time to react. You don't have to learn how to taxi a sailplane and you can land a sailplane safely anywhere on the field. With your sailplane, you will learn all the important lessons of flight; including the most important - visual orientation. Disorientation is one of the leading causes of RC accidents. You stand a much better chance of clearing the initial disorientation hurdle with a slow, stable sailplane. Sailplanes don't have the noise nor the mess of fuel and cleaners. Once you master the basics of flight, you can easily transition to other types of models if desired.

How do you launch a sailplane?

There are many methods, but the two most popular methods are the electric motor and hand launch - yes, hand launch. Hand launched models are typically 1.5 meters in wingspan and have a peg in the tip of one wing. The pilot grabs the peg, spins around, and releases the plane during the spin. Top pilots can launch over 300 feet, but more typical launches are 150 to 200 feet. Most modern, larger sailplanes are designed for electric launch. Typically sailplanes use small batteries and its motor is run only for a few seconds (up to 30) in order to get to altitude. With electric launched sailplanes you only need to bring extra batteries and a charger to the field. Other methods include hi-start and winch launches. A hi-start is simply a length of rubber tubing attached to a length of cord, such as fishing line. One end of the rubber tubing is tied to a stake driven into the ground, the other to the cord. A parachute and ring are attached to the free end of the cord. The ring is slipped onto a towhook on the belly of the sailplane. The pilot walks away from the staked end to stretch the rubber. When the line has enough tension the pilot releases the sailplane which climbs steeply to launch altitude. The ring falls away from the sailplane at the top of the launch and the parachute slowly returns the ring and line to earth. Hi-start launches are a graceful affair, silently lifting a sailplane into the air. Hi-Start or bungie launching is common for smaller planes. Electric winches are more commonly used by experienced pilots for heavier ships and higher launches. The winch is simply an electric motor with a big metal spool attached to its shaft. Line reels off the spool through a turn-around pulley several hundred yards away, and back to the pilot. The winch is controlled by a foot switch connecting a battery to the motor. Winch launches can be exciting, as expert pilots can launch their ships to well over 600 ft. high! Winch launching is becoming rare these days as it takes a lot of time and effort to set them up correctly. Popping a rechargeable battery into an electric powered model is a lot simpler. Sailplanes don't stay up very long do they? How can I learn to fly in such a short time? A typical 2-meter sailplane typically launches over 200 feet. This is plenty of altitude to allow mistakes and provide for several minutes of flight time. You'll learn why sailplanes are different from gliders as soon as you or your instructor finds a thermal of rising air for you. This is when you'll experience the magic of soaring, as your craft rises higher and higher into the sky. On a good day, it is not unusual for a student to have flights lasting twenty minutes or longer. Master flyers sometimes fly for an hour or more.

How long does it take to learn?

Some exceptional people can learn to fly a simple two channel plane in an afternoon. Others require a few outings before they're ready to "solo". Learning to "fly" the model is the easy part. Making the sailplane go where you want it to is not a difficult task, however, a true mastery of RC soaring can take years to achieve. The real skill is learning how to find and fly in thermals and stay up as long as you wish. Most pilots never stop learning - understanding the air, and the signs of thermals is a lifelong endeavor. In any event, don't rush the experience. Soaring skills mature given time and practice. Flying with other skilled pilots really helps the learning curve.

Can I learn without crashing?

Definitely! With an instructor, odds are that you'll keep your first sailplane until you wear it out, or you move on to something more advanced. RMSA instructors are the best, with many years of flying experience. You can improve your odds even more by using a "buddy box", where a cord connects your radio to your instructor's. The instructor can "take over" by flipping a switch, making crashes very unlikely. To use this method, you need to make sure that your instructor's radio is compatible with yours, and they both support this feature.

Another good tip is to get and use an R/C flight simulator. It can be very helpful in overcoming the control reversal syndrome that kills a lot of airplanes for beginners. This happens when the airplane is flying towards you. In this orientation the controls are the reverse of what your eyes tell you. A couple of tips on avoiding this: 1) when flying at yourself and a wing dips, push the stick towards the LOW wing gently. This will return the plane to level flight. Another tip is to turn and face the same way the plane is flying, watching the plane by looking over your shoulder. Then move the sticks like you are ing the cockpit. Using a flight sim and practicing landings toward yourself over and over can speed up your ability to avoid control reversals.

What kind of sailplane is best?

This depends on your starting skill set. If you come to soaring as a experienced R/C pilot from another discipline then you can likely step right into a higher performance soaring machine. In this case a lot depends on your budget and soaring goals. There are a large number of sailplanes that can be used for recreational/personal flying. Bigger is better for sailplanes, they are typically easier to fly and easier to see. If competition is a goal then a good approach is to look for a used competition plane. There are always used sailplanes available through the social media groups and sometimes from club members. Most flyers start out with a simple 2-channel (rudder/elevator) plane. A great way to start is with hand launched gliders. They are small (1.5m), easy to transport, easy to launch and will teach you a great deal about flying and thermaling. They typically fly slowly and are easy to control.

If you go with a larger rudder/elevator plane consider getting an electric launch version as they simplify the launching process. Larger sailplanes are actually easier to learn on. They’re more stable and easier to see. A list of popular sailplanes for novice pilots is included at the end of this section.

Where can I get a plane?

There are many ways to get your first sailplane. You can build one from a kit or assemble an ARF (Almost-Ready-To-Fly). You could also purchase one ready-built. If you have the time, patience, and skills it’s rewarding to build your own plane from a kit. Your local hobby shop may offer kits or ARFs but today more options are available on line. You'll get the advice you need at the hobby shop for glues, covering, radio equipment, etc. If you have questions, feel free to ask an RMSA instructor. We love to talk sailplanes, and we've probably already built the model you've chosen. If you want one ready-built, you have several options:

1. Hobby shops may have planes on display that are either on consignment or for sale by the owner.
2. Look for ads in our club communications. You can even post wanted ads to see if someone has something in the hangar they would part with.
3. Swap Meets – Some clubs host auctions or swap meets. The Jefco Aeromodelers hold one of the largest auctions in the country around the second weekend in February every year. The Longmont club has a spring and a fall auction. You can get a really good buy at an auction although it’s also easy to get taken. If you attend an auction, get there early and inspect every item you plan to bid on. Know the value of the items. Many items have been sold for more than their new price in bidding frenzies. If you are new to R/C, try to get an experienced modeler to coach you in your bidding. You can usually get a nice, completed model for about the same cost as the kit.
4. Electronic Forums such as RC Groups have sections devoted to RC, RC soaring, and RC for-sale items.

What kind of radio do I need?

We are blessed with excellent radios today. They operate on 2.4 GHz, and effectively, an unlimited number of models can be flown simultaneously*. Also keep in mind that these radios are made for either air or surface use – not both. Don’t install a radio in an aircraft that’s intended for cars and trucks.

Today transmitters run from under $200 to over $2000 apiece. Most of them can be programmed to operate dozens of your models. You’ll want a transmitter with at least four channels but more channels will provide you with future growth capability. A four-channel transmitter can control four functions on a model. For example, depending on the model, that might include rudder, elevator, ailerons and motor. If you’re new to RC and buying your first radio system this is a good point to talk with an experienced sailplane modeler for some sound advice.

The Spektrum DX6e is an example of a good first transmitter ($285 w/ lithium ion battery pack). Along with that you’ll need a receiver, servos and airborne battery pack. Selection of those items depends on the sailplane you’ve chosen.

*Note that cheap, used, 72 MHz radios can be found on line and at swap meets. They may still work and can be legally operated but it’s best to avoid them. They’re much more prone to interference and if two flyers are operating them on the same frequency simultaneously their models will go out of control and crash. Modern, 2.4 GHz radios don’t share that feature.

After I've learned the basics - then what?

You'll want to develop a feel for "reading the air" and finding lift. Books have been written on this topic, but they are no substitute for stick time. You'll challenge yourself to stay up longer and develop your landing skills. Soon, you'll be performing smooth aerobatics, rolls and loops. You may want to test your skills in competition - RMSA sponsors numerous thermal/duration contests each season. You will probably want to try more complex designs with ailerons, spoilers, or flaps. Some members enjoy building and flying replicas of full-scale sailplanes while others enjoy the thrill of slope soaring.

How much does it cost?

Along with a radio system, mentioned above, you’ll need the sailplane itself. Many hobby shops and online sources sell foam sailplanes for about $200 which often includes the airborne electronics. Just add a transmitter and fly. This can get you in the air quickly and cheaply but you may tire of its performance. They’re also damage prone.

Conscendo Evolution from Horizon Hobby ($230)

For something more conventional Sig offers their Riser kit. This is a 100-inch span model and is an excellent first sailplane. Kit price is $67 plus covering and glue. You’ll need to add a hi-start for launching.

100-inch Span Sig Riser

Club member, Sam Pendelton, sells a Tetra kit that that is winning a lot of RMSA events. This is a 2-meter electric-powered model that gets high praise for its excellent thermaling properties and builds nicely. Contact Sam for current pricing.

2-meter Electric Powered Tetra

Other online suppliers, such as Hyperflight, offer a wide range of sailplane kits and ARFs. Take a look at those offerings especially the 1 ½, 2 and 2 ½ meter models. They typically run in the $200-$500 range.

Polires ARF – Electric & Hi-Start Versions

Experienced modelers may prefer scratch-building. Plans are available online for many excellent sailplanes of bygone eras for which kits are no longer produced. If you have a favorite sailplane and enjoy a building project, give it a go!

100-inch Legionair Scratch-Build

Of course, you'll want to join the Rocky Mountain Soaring Association on this website. Membership to the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) is also required for all flying RMSA members. You can find an AMA application inside every issue of "Model Aviation" magazine. Some hobby shops have AMA applications, or join online.

If any of this sounds like fun, it is! Come fly with us.

Contact Us

President	Oscar Cytrynowicz		dcytry@hotmail.com
Vice-President	Bob Pederson	970-532-3437	bpedersn@colomail.com
Treasurer	Bill Beamer	303-594-3653	bbmw@comcast.net
Secretary	Jim DeGroot	(720) 273-2208	degroot@ibm.com
Field Manager	John Lovins	(303) 466-0817	judcaissons@gmail.com
Hand Launch/F3K/F5K	John Jonke	(303) 884-6924	johnjonke@aol.com
F3B	Skip Miller	(720) 231-4400	miller@uasusa.com
Open Class/F3J/F5J	Jim Monaco	(303) 906-6965	jim@monacocasa.com
Scale/Aerotow	Mark Howard	(720) 273-2208	Howard4113@msn.com

Our Leadership

Jim Monaco

President

Bob Pederson

Vice President

Bill Beamer

Treasurer

Become a Member, or Renew

Thanks for using the RMSA electronic signup process.  This process allows you to send your application to the RMSA Membership Coordinator electronically.  In addition it allows you to also pay electronically using the PAYPAL service. 

• Click the "Apply" link to apply and pay using PAYPAL. 

Apply

• If you choose to pay by mail send your payment to:

Rocky Mountain Soaring Association
c/o Bill Beamer
814 Jacques Way
Erie CO 80516

Make checks payable to: RMSA

Welcome to RMSA!

 

Club Contest Program (as of 01/23/2025)

PURPOSE

1. To help members develop flying skills by competing against equally skilled competitors grouped by discipline.
2. To encourage members to develop their design, building, and flying skills by competing with pilots from across the USA.

RMSA CONTESTS

RMSA generally schedules at least one contest per month per discipline, March through November At the beginning of each year, the Board of Directors in cooperation with discipline CDs normally sets the schedule for the year for all disciplines The Board or individual contest directors may from time to time also request or schedule additional specialty contests or events. All RMSA discipline contests will count toward season point totals for the discipline and awards as defined in the discipline specific scoring section below. In order for a contest to count for season points it must have at least 4 rounds.  If an insufficient number of pilots attend as defined in the discipline specific section below the contest must be rescheduled. If the original CD cannot accommodate the new date, the board shall be given the responsibility to find an alternate CD. If no alternate CD can be determined, the board will cancel the contest.

F5J

Qualification for F5J contests are basically any plane with electric motor and a limiter device that operates per the official FAI rules. F5J contests must have at least 6 pilots to qualify for season points. F5J contests follow the USA F5J tour rules set.

F3K/DLG

Qualification for F3K contests are up to 1.5mspan  planes, and allow electric launch as long as the plane has an altitude limiter set for 50M maximum launch and 7 seconds maximum run time.  F3K/DLG contests must have at least 4 pilots to qualify for season points. F3K tasks for the contest must be drawn from the official FAI F3K task list. A CD may draw upon any of those tasks to fill out the contest's rounds. The contests will follow official F3K rules for all aspects, unless otherwise stated by the CD at the pilots' meeting. F3K rules will also be followed with respect to throw out rounds.

2MRES

Qualification for 2MRES contests are basically any built-up 2M span plane that follow the F3RES (F3L) construction rules, with an allowance for electric motors. 2MRES contests must have  at least 5 pilots to qualify for season points. 2MRES models may be launched by F3RES (F3L) bungee or  electric launch as long as the plane is altitude limited to 80M maximum launch. Aircraft that do not meet the requirements listed above may be allowed to participate at the discretion of the CD, for the purpose of  introducing novice competitors, but their scores will not count towards the RMSA season points total and their pilots cannot be counted as one of the 5 required pilots for season points. Specific  competition rules are set at the beginning of the season by consensus of the CD(s). 

Fun Flys and Special Events

RMSA may also conduct season awards programs for other classes of events as determined by the Board of Directors at the beginning of each season. Specialty contests, fun flys, etc. are non-point events.

NON-RMSA CONTESTS

The Colorado Challenge Cup is normally held in the September timeframe and run by the club holding the cup for the year and is a counting event for 2M/F3RES regardless of the club holding the event. To encourage AMA members to participate in national level competitions, any national contest spanning two or more days with 18 or more contestants may be counted towards season total points in a discipline. Contests must be of a class compatible with the RMSA class they will be counted against, e.g. F5J  events for our F5J class, or F3K for the RMSA DLG title or F3L for 2M/F3-RES. NO MORE THAN ONE NON-RMSA CONTEST CAN BE COUNTED TOWARDS DISCIPLINE SEASON POINTS TOTALS!!

Scoring

All club contests will be normalized to 1000 points. For contests that have a preliminary and final stages, only the normalized preliminary scores will be used for contest season points.

STANDINGS

Normalized scores from each contest will be used to compute standings. Annual awards shall be given at least through third place in each class with more allowed with approval of the board.

F5J

The six best contests are counted towards annual Open points. In addition, only one non-RMSA contest may be counted toward the six best. For events with a Preliminary and a Final, only the Preliminary scores can be used.

F3K/F5K/DLG

For Discus Launched class year-end standings will be calculated using each pilot's scores from the official club contests. One "major" non-club contest score may be substituted for a club contest score. A pilot's final season score is determined by adding up their 6 highest scores for all club contests, and his 1 requested substitution.

2M/F3-RES

The best 5 RMSA 2MRES normalized contest scores will count toward the year end club totals.  The Challenge Cup contest score may be used for one of the five scores for the year total.

Club Champion (Miller Cup)

The RMSA club champion shall be recognized as a true champion pilot, showing both skills as a pilot and the willingness to compete against his peers inside and outside of RMSA and in multiple soaring disciplines.  The Miller Cup (named for Skip Miller, one of the club founders and world champion soaring pilot) is awarded to the champion.

To qualify for the Miller Cup pilots must meet the following requirements.

• At least 2 RMSA DLG events (best 2 scores count)
• At least 2 RMSA F5J events (best 2 scores count)
• One national level event in either of the above disciplines
• One other national level event in any soaring discipline.

Points for the club champion trophy shall be using the normalized, documented scores from all qualifying events.  For events with a Preliminary and a Final, only the Preliminary scores can be used. Normalized points from outside contests must be documented, and submitted to the club scorekeeper prior to November 15 for that contest year. In the event of a tie for any standings, co-champions will be declared.