RCCA Rules for Scale Combat (All Classes) 
Revised December 20th, 2004

World War II Fighter Combat

1. Objective.  To recreate the excitement of WWII era fighter combat in an enjoyable, safe, 1/12th scale competition that will be interesting for spectators and challenging for the contestants.

2. General.  All AMA and FCC regulations covering the R/C flier and his or her plane and equipment shall apply to this event. Every contestant shall sign the AMA Flight Safety Declaration Form, and attest that he or she meets the requirements stated therein. Contestants are expected to act in a safe and sportsmanlike manner at all times. Any conduct by a contestant deemed by the Contest Director (CD) to be hazardous or unsportsmanlike will be cause for immediate disqualification of that contestant from the event at the discretion of the CD. The judgment of the CD on safety matters shall not be protested. The builder-of-the-model rule does not apply to this event. There shall be no limitation on the type of equipment fitted to the model, or the number of controls, except as specified in the following sections. The contestant shall be allowed only one (1) model per round (except as noted in section 4.5), but may switch to an alternate model of his/her choice for any following rounds. All models flown must be safety inspected for airworthiness and inspected for compliance with the model weight and engine class requirements for which they are participating prior to the competition by the Contest Director or a CD appointed representative prior to competition.

2.1 Safety.  Safety for spectators, contest personnel and contestants is of the utmost importance for this event. The CD has the authority to enhance safety requirements to suit the need of the flying site and the contestants. The Combat Engagement Line, Safety Line, Pilot Line and Spectator/Pit Line should be clearly marked for the duration of the event. Spectators shall maintain a distance from the Combat Engagement Line of at least 500 feet for every 1.0 cu. in total displacement of the largest displacement aircraft in the contest. All individuals forward of the Spectator/Pit Line shall wear protective headgear, as outlined in the Official AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code, while combat flights are in progress. Each pilot is responsible for obtaining such headgear and shall have the sole responsibility to provide for his or her own protection.

3. Model Aircraft Requirements

3.1 The model must be a 1/12 scale replica of a Pursuit, Fighter or Attack aircraft produced or in service between 1935 and 1955. For the purpose of this contest, an aircraft shall be considered a Pursuit, Fighter or Attack aircraft if its missions routinely involved, or its designer intended any of the following: a) interception of enemy aircraft, b) high speed ground or sea attack, c) dogfighting, d) long and short range escort. The aircraft must have been originally designed to have had onboard guns installed. Aircraft that had guns mounted for defensive purposes only shall not qualify as Pursuit, Fighter or Attack aircraft.

2105: 3.2 Aircraft must resemble their full-scale counterparts. No more than plus or minus five (5) percent deviation from overall scale outline will be allowed.

2610: 3.2 Any aircraft legal in event 2105 shall be legal in event 2610. Aircraft must resemble their full-scale counterparts. No more than plus or minus ten (10) percent deviation from overall scale outline will be allowed.

3.2.1  The Contest Director shall determine accuracy-of-scale by simple visual inspection at 15ft, and may, at his discretion, request from the pilot a 3-view drawing or photo, to help in determining scale fidelity. Minor modifications that improve flight characteristics will be allowed as long as those modifications do not alter the basic resemblance to the original aircraft. Aircraft are to be finished in prototypical or unit/squadron colors for that type of aircraft of the period. Unusual color schemes are allowed when supported with simple photograph, or drawing documentation supplied by the pilot of the aircraft. The burden of proof of scale fidelity shall reside solely with the pilot of the aircraft.

3.2.2  Fuselages must be three-dimensional. Profile fuselages will not be allowed. Any part of the engine and/or muffler not concealed by the cowl or fuselage shall be ignored when considering the scale outline of the aircraft.

3.2.3  Landing gear is allowed but is not required unless the full scale aircraft had a fixed gear. Protrusions on the leading edges of the wing, scale or nonscale, shall not be allowed. Canopies, either structured or painted on, are required. The aircraft must begin the event with a cowling.

3.3 Weight

3.3.1  A maximum dry weight of 3.5 pounds for any single engine design.

3.3.2  The maximum dry weight for multi-engine designs shall be determined from the following table:

Twins up to and including a 50 inch span, 4 lbs.

Twins with greater than 50 inch span up to and including 60 inch span, 4.5 lbs.

Twins over 60 inch span, 5 lbs.

2105: 3.4. Maximum total nominal displacement for single engine designed aircraft shall be .21 cu. in. Tuned pipes are not allowed.

2610: 3.4. Maximum total nominal displacement for single engine designed aircraft shall be .26 cu. in.

3.4.1  Maximum total combined nominal displacement for multi engine designed aircraft shall be .30 cu. in. Multi engine model aircraft must have more than one functioning engine as per its full scale counterpart. Designs which utilized 2 engines contained in the fuselage may employ a single functional engine, but must comply with all single engine aircraft restrictions in this section.  

3.4.2  A muffler or tuned silencer is required and may not exceed 8" in length. No other engine restrictions are in effect. Two(2) stroke, four(4) stroke, or diesel engine, stock or modified, that satisfy the displacement requirements are acceptable. The use of electric motors is acceptable as long as the aircraft meets the weight requirements as detailed in 3.3. with batteries in place.

3.5  Engine Shut Off. The pilot must be able to shut off the model's engine(s) by radio control with the plane in any position, (e.g., a servo dedicated to throttle control or a kill switch).

3.6  Artificial Devices/Substances.  There will be no structures, or devices allowed on the model that could aid in the cutting of an opponent's streamer. Sticky fluids/sprays are permitted. Wing tip skid plates are allowed, but must not extend forward of the leading edge of the wing tip.

4. Contest Rules

4.1 Contest Site: The contest site will be comprised of the areas/lines described below:

4.1.1 Combat Arena: The Combat Arena shall be an area of limited width and depth to be determined by the constraints of the flying facility and at the discretion of the Contest Director. The minimum width shall be 420 feet. The boundaries of the Combat Arena designate the only location where aircraft may engage in the act of combat.  Once an aircraft leaves the Combat Arena, for any reason whatsoever, the act of combat by, or against, that aircraft must cease immediately.

4.1.2 Combat Engagement Line: The Combat Engagement Line shall be a line immediately adjacent to the Combat Arena.  (See Contest Site Diagram in Section 4.1.9.) Planes may not engage in combat behind this line under any circumstances. (See these rules, Section 6, Scoring, for penalties to be imposed due to a violation of the Combat Engagement Line.)

4.1.3 Safety Line: The Safety Line shall be a line no less than 25 feet behind the Combat Engagement Line.  At no time during the contest may an aircraft be flown behind the Safety Line except during the launch thereof (See Sections 4.1.5 Launch. 4.1.6 Landing and 4.1.8 Penalty Exceptions below).  (See these rules, Section 6, Scoring, for penalties to be imposed due to a violation of the Safety Line.)

4.1.4 Pilot Line: The Pilot Line shall be a line no less than 15 feet behind the Safety Line. This area is where the pilots will stand during combat.  Pilots must remain behind the Pilot Line at all times, except when launching or retrieving a landed aircraft.  Permission for anyone to move beyond the Pilot Line to retrieve a downed or landed aircraft before all aircraft have landed at the end of combat is at the sole discretion of the Line Marshall. (See these rules, Section 6, Scoring, for penalties to be imposed due to a violation of the Pilot Line.)

4.1.5 Launch: Aircraft shall be launched from a point at least 15ft (aprox 6 steps) in front of (closer to the Combat Zone) the Pilot`s Line. The launcher should not cross the Safety Line to launch. A pilot and/or their helper may cross the Pilot`s Line and move forward to the above designated "Launch Zone" for the express purpose of such launch. Any plane, retrievable or not, is subject to all rules and penalties regarding any or all line violations."

4.1.6 Landing: Any landing, regardless of the reason, cannot be made any closer to the Pilot Line than the Safety Line.  Any violation of the Safety Line on landing will incur the penalties designated for a Safety Line violation. No portion of the aircraft can be on or over the Safety Line.  For this purpose the string and streamer(s) will not be considered part of the aircraft.  (See penalty exceptions in Section 4.1.8.)

4.1.7 Spectator/Pit Line: Spectators shall maintain a distance from the Combat Engagement Line of at least 500 feet per cubic inch of engine displacement (See AMA Safety Code).  The largest engine displacement allowed to compete in the contest shall be used to determine the required setback of the spectators from the Combat Engagement Line.  Only contestants and contest personnel wearing hardhats may enter the area in front of the Spectator/Pit Line during combat.  There must be a minimum of 40 feet between the Pilot Line and Spectator/Pit Line.

4.1.8 Penalty Exceptions: Planes that cross the Combat Engagement line, Safety Line or Pilot Line due to loss of control that is a direct result of a midair shall not be subject to penalty.  However, if an aircraft is involved in a midair and it is determined by the pilot and the pilot's judge to be able to safely continue, and the aircraft is reengaged in combat, the pilot forfeits any opportunity to have the penalty exception apply to a future violation due to that midair, regardless. 

 

4.1.9 Contest Site Setup Example: Determine spectator location (spectator line), measure out to the combat engagement line the required distance for the largest engine displacement competing in that event (500 feet per cubic inch of displacement), determine where pilots will stand for flying (Pilot Line) then measure out 15 feet from Pilot Line for the Safety Line.  If, with these measurements, the Combat Engagement Line is at least 25 feet in front of the safety line (Pilot Line can be no closer than 40 feet behind the Combat Engagement Line) and there is a minimum of 40 feet between the pilots and the spectators you are good to go.

Figure 1 (see below)

4.2 Contest Structure.  The contest shall consist of at least 4 non-elimination rounds. Each round shall include as many heats as necessary to allow all contestants to fly the round. At least four (4) or more aircraft will be flown against each other in each heat provided the number of pilots allow and no frequency conflicts exist. After each pilot has had the opportunity to compete in at least four (4) rounds, the scores will be totaled. The pilot with the highest total score throughout the competition is the winner. In case of a point tie, the total of the previous rounds will be used to determine the winner of the tie. If a tie break can not be found in previous rounds scores, then a simple coin toss shall be used to break the tie. The CD may option for a fly off or spot landing to break the tie if the pilots are in agreement.

If more than 18 pilots are entered the CD may, at his/her option, use a preliminary and finals format wherein the top scoring pilots from the preliminary four or more rounds advance into a series of at least three Finals rounds. The number of pilots advanced to the Finals will be at least one-third and at most one-half of the total entries, based on the total scores from the preliminary rounds. Final scores will be determined by adding the total scores for each pilot from the Finals rounds to one-half of his total score from the preliminary rounds. The CD must inform pilots of the intention to use a Preliminary/Finals format prior to the start of the event.

4.3  Launching.  Aircraft may be launched by hand, dolly, landing gear or catapult. Every contestant is allowed the use of one (1) assistant to help with starting and launching.

4.4  Round Structure.  Each round shall consist of:

4.4.1 Preparation/Preflight.  The CD or Line Marshall shall ensure that each pilot has a pilot judge, then announce at least one (1) minute until the "Start Engines & Launch" signal.

4.4.2 Scramble/Launch.  A call/signal to "Start Engines & Launch" begins a window of ninety (90) seconds for launching aircraft into the combat arena (no combat is allowed in this 90 second period). The period ends when the last aircraft is airborne, or ninety (90) seconds has elapsed, by the call/signal to "Start Combat".

4.4.3 Duration/Combat. The combat period has a duration of (5) five minutes. For scoring purposes, flight scoring entails all safety related scoring. Combat scoring entails all related streamer and length of flight scoring. The combat period and all combat scoring begins at the call to “Start Combat”. The combat period and any combat scoring will end after the call to end combat. Flight scoring is in effect for the duration of the round, from the call to start engines and launch until all aircraft have landed. The CD or Line Marshall is responsible for keeping the time and advising the pilots of the time left or time passed during the round. The CD and Line Marshall are responsible for encouraging, or reminding the pilots to keep their aircraft near the center of the Combat Zone and at a reasonable distance and altitude in relationship to the Combat Engagement Line.

4.4.4 Restarts/relaunches. If a contestant's aircraft fails to launch on takeoff or must land any time during the Combat Period and is still airworthy, an unlimited number of restarts are allowed within the time between "Start Engines" and "End Combat" is called, provided the aircraft is down in an area that allows for its safe retrieval.

The area of safe retrieval is that area between the Combat Engagement line and the Pilot`s Line. This rule is in place for the safety of pilots. No part of the pilot or aircraft retriever's body may cross the plane of the Combat Engagement Line. An aircraft straddling the Combat Engagement line where a portion of the airplane may be secured for retrieval without any part of the retriever's body crossing the Combat Engagement Line, is allowed. To be retrieved all or some part of the aircraft must be on the pilots's side of the combat engagement line.

In the case where only the streamer or the string of the streamer is on the pilots side of the Combat Engagement line, retrieval is not permitted. In all cases the pilot or retriever must first have the permission of the contest official monitoring the line before attempting to retrieve the aircraft.

Any plane, retrievable or not, is subject to all rules and penalties regarding any or all line violations

4.4.5 Landing/Stand Down.  Landings will begin after the phrase/signal to "End Combat" has been given. Aircraft will land in an area designated by the CD and/or Line Marshall forward of the Pilot Line. Line rules are enforced. Aircraft known to be low in fuel are given first opportunity to land.

4.5 Change of Aircraft.  During a round, no change of aircraft is allowed once the pilot has launched or attempted a launch. In between rounds, the contestants may freely choose from any aircraft available to them. All aircraft switched during a round, prior to an attempted launch, must be on the same frequency.

4.6 Interround Safety Inspection.  The CD or his/her appointed representative, may, at his/her discretion, reinspect any aircraft that he/she suspects may have been made unsafe for flight. If the CD pronounces the aircraft as unsafe, it will not be flown, until the aircraft has been repaired and resubmitted to the CD for inspection. The CD is obligated to inspect an aircraft resubmitted for safety inspection as soon as the aircraft is presented to him/her. If it passes inspection the aircraft is immediately available for use. The judgment of the CD on safety matters can not be protested.

4.7 Streamers and string are provided by the CD to ensure uniformity. Crepe paper and cotton string are recommended. Streamers will be thirty (30) feet long and no less than five-eighths (5/8) inches wide and no more than one (1) inch wide, attached to the model by a cotton string extending at least five (5') feet from the tail of the model.  (At the discretion of the Contest Director, alternate streamer materials not meeting these specifications may be used if weather conditions prevent the use of standard streamer material).

5.0 Officials.

5.1.1 Contest Director (CD): A CD will be in charge of each event. The CD or his/her representative will, lay out and prepare the field, check each aircraft for conformance to scale, displacement, and safety requirements. The CD or his/her representative will be responsible for the making of flight matrices for all heats and rounds of the contest. The CD or his/her representative will use the start signal once the ninety (90) second launch window has elapsed or if all aircraft are airborne. At the end of the five (5) minute heat duration the CD or his/her representative will signal to the pilots to cease combat. The CD or his/her representative shall also tally scores from the individual aircraft judges for each individual in the competition. Streamers for the event will be supplied by the CD or his/her representative.

5.1.2 Judges: There will be one (1) judge for each aircraft flown per round. Each judge will register points gained or lost by the aircraft being judged, according to the scoring list. After the landing of that aircraft, the judge will inspect the streamer for final determination of points.

5.1.3 Line Marshall: The Line Marshall will signal all Combat Engagement Line, Safety Line and Pilot Line infractions. The individual judge scoring any plane confirmed as having crossed the Combat Engagement Line, Safety Line and/or Pilot Line by the Line Marshall is to inform the pilot of the infractions. If a pilot is disqualified for that round the judge will ask the pilot to land immediately.

6. Scoring

6.1 Loss of streamer. A streamer shall be considered lost if it was improperly secured or broken in any way other than being cut by an opponent. Streamers lost or cut or not fully extended during launch for any reason shall be considered to have launched without a complete streamer. In these cases the pilot must land and secure another streamer, and the pilot is denied any positive scoring until a new streamer is attached. An aircraft that is airborne with a complete and extended streamer attached when the call to Start Combat is made will receive launch on time points, and is eligible for continuous flight points. Any time a pilot lands after Start Combat is called, continuous flight point will be lost (see exceptions to this in 6.2).

6.2 Midairs Any pilot involved in a midair must disengage from combat, and leave the combat arena to the left, right or above, if possible. At the moment of impact of the midair, the plane shall be considered dead from positive and negative scoring (including penalties) or from being scored against. If the plane crashes as a result of the midair, the pilot shall earn +20 points for continuous flight. If the pilot can maneuver safely to an area outside the arena, and he/she and the Judge and/or Line Marshall all agree that the plane can safely continue, the plane shall be deemed alive and the pilot may re-engage and becomes subject to continuous flight scoring. If the plane is deemed unsafe to continue, the pilot shall land immediately beyond the safety line and he shall earn +20 points for continuous flight. If a flying facility makes the safe landing impossible, due to its size restrictions, the pilot shall remain airborne in an area away from the combat arena, pilots and spectators. After the round is complete and all other aircraft have landed, the pilot may be given clearance to land the crippled aircraft. It is the Line Marshall's responsibility to give a "heads up" warning in such case. At no time shall a pilot attempt to land a crippled aircraft inside the safety line or near the pilots during the round. Aircraft that midair during launch are considered failed launches, and shall be treated as if the plane failed to launch.  

6.3 Optional Carrier Landing.  If the optional carrier landing is used, it shall take place after completion of the round and score +25 points. The plane must land within and remain within the designated area. The carrier deck (size and location to be determined by the CD) shall be located on the runway in the combat area. After each aircraft has landed the carrier shall be cleared for the next aircraft to land.

6.4  Streamer Cut Scoring

6.4.1  A streamer cut is defined as any time one contestant's aircraft removes any part of a streamer attached to or being towed by another contestants aircraft between the announcement of “Start Combat” and “End Combat”.

6.4.2  Cutting or removing any streamer being towed by another contestant's aircraft will be scored as a cut.

6.4.3  A cut must be observed and confirmed by a judge to be eligible for scoring. The decision of the judge(s) regarding scoring of cuts is final.

6.4.4  If two streamers intertwine during combat and any part of one becomes removed, the pilot who's streamer remains intact will be awarded the cut.

6.4.5  If more than two streamers are intertwined, the pilot(s) whose aircraft retain the original portions of their streamer will score the cut(s).

6.4.6  If two streamers become intertwined and any portion of both are removed, both pilots will score a cut.

6.4.7  Multiple cuts on multiple streamers towed by a single aircraft in a single pass count as one cut.

6.4.8  Multiple cuts on a single streamer in a single pass count as one cut.

6.4.9  Streamers not being towed by a contestant's aircraft (i.e. floating unattached) are not eligible for scoring.

6.5  Scoring of Remaining Streamer

6.5.1  To be eligible for remaining streamer points, the aircraft must start the heat by completely crossing the Combat Engagement Line into the combat arena in controlled powered flight with an attached, fully extended streamer.

6.5.2  To be eligible for remaining streamer points, the streamer must still be attached to string attached to the model (except as covered in 6.5.3), and may not be a streamer cut from an opponent.

6.5.3  Should a streamer, string or attachment break on landing or in recovering the model from a crash site it may be taped together for scoring in a manner that does not increase the length of the streamer, provided that such action is observed and approved by a judge.

6.5.4  Streamer length will be rounded down to the nearest foot when measuring remaining streamer.

6.6  Reinstatement of points lost. No incident may occur that would reinstate continuous flight points once lost. For example, a pilot does not launch on time (losing continuous flight points), and midairs later in the heat. While pilots do not lose continuous flight points because of a midair, the pilot had already lost them prior to the midair for not launching on time. Once continuous flight points are lost, they are lost for the entire round. Likewise, no incident may occur that would reinstate points lost for failure to launch on time.

6.7  Combat Engagement Line, Safety and Pilot line violations. Combat Engagement Line, Safety Line and Pilot Line violations will be scored independently. That is, if a pilot violates more than one line rule, multiple penalties will be assessed.