(C1) Postal-Carrier

The following is a very much work in progress to develop a much more accessible form of Class 1 Carrier. Because it's in depth and and more detailed than necessary for casual reading, this is an attempt to summarise the the whole concept with an overall picture..

• The existing rules mainly apply.

• the event takes place over a year with individual scores being added over that period. More chance of waiting for a good weather day to fly.

• Model size is not an issue.

• Scoring system means, even with a, Very! short flight and ditch, contestant still have a score, albeit a small one.

• For those that don't like or can''t build conventional models, the use of RTF foam scale models , opens up much more accessible jet type EDF models, along with scale models in general. Only downside is they can tend to be expensive, and also  depending on the model, difficult to accommodate mechanical elevator controls They can also be quite fragile when exposed the stresses of carrier competitions; but nothing that can't be overcome with some thought and careful flying.

Bearing mind this is all in a constant state of flux. If you are interested  make sure to ask before trying to fly in case something has changed. 

Beyond that, it is a much more relaxed contest form and you may even be using a model now that qualifies.

Zoe Quilter Sept 25

Some models that have been flown successfully in Postal Carrier

Proposed Class 1 Post rules (C1P) discussion

Amendments are suggested due to the increasing age profile of Carrier flyers and also as a response to the increasing need for prudent risk management. C1P doesn’t have to have any of these, but it could so easily be irresponsible not to have them... 

Maximum speed is 75mph (24 seconds for 7 laps). Speed above 75mph counts as 75mph. Even with this limit, a proxy pilot may be used for the Fast Run if a contestant is concerned about his/her ability for safe model control and the CD is satisfied that the handover process between proxy pilot and contestant prior to the remainder of the flight can be done acceptably safely.

Maximum flight attitude is 30 degrees, not 60 degrees.

Minimum model weight is 1.2kg, ready to fly, including all batteries/fuel but excluding lines.

Maximum noise level is 96 dB(A) at 7 metres, measured at any point around the model.

_ Revised pull-tests and control wire thicknesses based on proper technical calculations are being carried out with the help of C/L

_ Speed officials. Although this upgrade is not likely to be available soon, when it is, it will have relevance to all Carrier classes.

Safety related rules and, again, C1P doesn’t have to have them — but across-the-board fairness suggests that we do need them.

—It shall be mandatory that control of model pitch must always be achieved by differential movement of the control lines directly actuating model pitch control surfaces through a continuous mechanical-only linkage.

If all non-pitch related model flight controls are mechanically activated by control line movement, irrespective of mechanism type, then 30 bonus point will be awarded. This is to support the historically traditional Class 1 models currently in existence.

If only throttle control is of the electronic-down-the-lines type but all other non-pitch model flight controls are still mechanically activated by control line movement, then 20 bonus points will be awarded. 

If non-pitch controls (not hook deployment) are of the electronic-down-the-lines type, then 10 bonus points will be awarded.

If radio control via a conventional transmitter of any form is used, irrespective of the range of non-pitch controls that are activated by this method, then NO bonus points will be awarded.

Type 3 amendments are suggested for model diversity improvement and as a reward for the consequent additional complexity.

— These are neither safety nor fairness-related, so C1P yet again doesn’t have to have them — but from a strategic point of view of improving the across-the-board appeal of C1P and of future support for the class, they are very unlikely.

Biplane bonus points: 20. .

Autogyro bonus points: 20. Rotors may be sped-up prior to deck launch by either on-board or external means.

Non-hooked prototype bonus points: 20. Non-hooked biplanes will receive Biplane and Non-hooked bonus points, 40.

Internal combustion power bonus points: 10 per engine.

Ducted Fan* bonus points: 50. 

I.C.-power ducted fan models will receive I.c.-power and Ducted Fan bonus points, ie: 60. sl

Gas Turbine* bonus points: 120. .

Although a successful deck catapult system has already been ‘trialled, prior to the development of a full common-user system, a contestant may request the full length of a deck for take-off, the removed arrester wires being repositioned after Slow Run completion once the contestant has been directed to temporarily fly sufficiently clear of the deck for this to take place safely.

These amendments are also intended to make more possible the use of a single model for both Class | and Scale, since a contestant may feel more inclined to make the investment of time and effort in a system-/feature-endowed model that is suitable for Class | but which can also be used for Scale since such a model is less likely to be damaged in C1P use due to lower contest stress.

This is really IS hoped to be the case: a C1P contestant is not event-limited and can freely choose locations and dates that are the most user-friendly; once at an event, a C1P contestant is likely to experience lower contest pressure as there can never be any other direct contestants as there always are with conventional Carrier classes, and, furthermore, the normal limited number of attempts

does not apply; finally, a C1P contestant can easily choose simply not to fly if weather conditions are not to his/her liking, this being able to be done usually without significant loss of opportunity later in the season.

Further bonus points will be awarded for additional working control systems or scale visual features at 10 extra points per

system or feature. A maximum of 6 of the items listed below will receive bonus points, even if the model has more than 6 of the items. 

Models may not be built with any of the listed items if those items were not possessed by the prototype.

e Deployable hook (not one that just ‘dangles’).

e Flaps.

e Rudder.

e Ailerons.

e Dive brakes.

e Fixed or moveable slats (including drooping leading edges).

e Slots.

e Variable-incidence wing.

e Contra-rotating propellers (one prop freewheeling is OK). :

e Wheel brakes.

e Retracting undercarriage.

e Rigging.

e Externally-mounted guns.

e Cockpit detail (= seat, control column & instrument panel).

e Navigation lights (bright enough to be seen from the CD’s position, please!).

e Landing lights (bright enough to be seen from the CD’s position, please!).

e Externally-mounted equipment

(no more than one to count of: bombs, rockets, torpedoes, depth charges, tanks, ECM pods, cameras, radar/radio aerials).

General advice!

° Number of Engines: shall be applied to a model BEFORE flight, unlike C1, so that in the event of an instant post-launch Termination after which no further flight is possible, the model will always achieve some score and the pilot some degree of success.

e All bonus points suggested above start off as best guesses, but in-service adjustment of individual values — by consensus, of course — is likely to take place to ensure that contestants are treated as fairly as is collectively possible.

e Each C1P flight score is no more complicated for a contestant to undertake and for a CD to measure than those of either normal

Class | or BCD. However, each C1P final score is obviously going to be more complicated to calculate. This is primarily

because all pre-existing Carrier rules were devised long before modern safety concerns, high levels of competitive, electronic control and electric power came into being. These dominating developments now need to be taken into better account to give contestants a more balanced choice of model, power and control system types so that the survival of Class | is given the

greatest possible chance in the future.

Whilst historically traditional Class 1 models were designed to be as compact as possible to minimise form & profile drag and

consequently maximise top speed, the imposition of a 75 mph speed limit — if this (or any other limit) is agreed — together with the already-existing removal of model size restriction, means that new C1P models may now be designed and built to be significantly larger. This increase in size can result in a dramatic reduction in wing loading, leading to a major improvement in

general model handling, much better Slow Run and landing performance and a model life-expectancy that increases many-fold; sadly often not the general characteristics of the historically traditional Class 1 model types! Larger models will also more easily accommodate the various control systems, and as i.c. motors (typically) need no longer be quite such full-house racing

types as before, such motor reliability and ease of setting will also distinctly improve.

Converted ARTF & RTF R/C scale naval aircraft models, typically in moulded EPS foam with electric power, are strongly recommended for use in C1P and are excused the need for support documentation or any proof of scale.

All intending C1P flyers are advised to make themselves familiar with the existing Class | scale requirements and, in particular, to ask questions before new model design or construction is started!

For contestants who may be considering future use of C1P models in Scale contests as well, please be advised that the, ‘mandatory mechanical control of pitch’ is also a mandatory requirement of the Scale rules; furthermore, the use of 2.4GHz frequencies is also a mandatory requirement of the Scales rules if R/C control is used.

CIP flight scores should currently be sent* to Andy Housden who will advise on the eligibility of the various bonus points and will also calculate each final score. Andy can also measure noise levels. Andy will also maintain a C1P score book which ill be available for viewing at all contests and will be periodically updated on its own dedicated page on Carrier’s website.

phone or text Andy on 07551 924220 — please do NOT email him.

Andy Housden June2024+ May 2023.