- 15.1 Timers
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In all events for which a time-of-flight figure is scored, one or more Timers shall be stationed in the launching area with
stopwatches and may not leave the launching area in order to keep the model in sight. Meet officials will provide the same
number of timers to all contestants; any additional official timers must be provided by the contestant. Optical aids, other
than sunglasses or eyeglasses to correct to normal vision, may not be used by the Timers, except in FAI class events, where
optionally, Timers may be equipped with binoculars.
- 15.2 Separation
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Unless specifically allowed by the rules of that event, no timed entry may separate into two or more unattached parts, or
eject its motor.
- 15.3 Deployment
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The recovery system of any duration model need not deploy fully and correctly, as long as the model descends in a safe
manner and the recovery system action remains within the requirements of the particular event.
- 15.4 Conflict of Interest
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A Timer shall not time his/her own entry.
- 15.5 Stopwatches
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Stopwatches used for timing shall have a resolution no coarser than 1/10 second; shall have (at the minimum) standard start,
stop, and reset capabilities, and shall be capable of being restarted from a stopped state without being reset. A stopwatch
with split-time (or lap accumulate) capabilities (i.e., one which continues to record time internally after being stopped; and
which can display at any time, on demand, the total elapsed time since the watch was started) may be used for competition,
provided that if it is used to time any entry, it shall be available for use to time any other entry in competition with it.
- 15.6 Timed Interval
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All entries shall be timed from the instant of first motion on the launcher until the part to be scored for time of flight
touches the ground, is caught in a tree, power line, or otherwise stopped, or drifts out of sight of the timer. As specified in
Rule 1.1, motors, recovery system protectors, and wadding are not to be timed as portions of an entry.
- 15.7 Averaging
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The official time of flight shall be computed by averaging the elapsed times of flight recorded by each Timer, then rounding
to the nearest whole number of seconds. The individual elapsed times recorded by the Timers shall not be rounded before
summing. After averaging the times, fractions of a second less than 0.5 shall be rounded to the next lower second; fractions
of 0.5 or above shall be rounded to the next higher second.
- 15.8 Disappearance
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If the model disappears behind an obstacle to vision in such a manner as to lead the Timers to believe that it touched the
ground very shortly thereafter, stopwatches shall be stopped when the model disappears; however, they may be started again
if the model reappears. If the model drifts out of sight in the sky, the Timers shall stop their watches individually when they
lose sight of it.
- 15.9 Recording Data
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All data shall be recorded for all timing events and flights, including those flights that may be disqualified. This permits the
timing data to be available in case the disqualification ruling is later reversed.
- 15.10 Return
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Unless otherwise specified by the rules of the event, the contestant must return his entry to the officials after at least one of
his/her qualified flights, except as specified by Rule
10.4. Contestants failing to satisfy this requirement cannot place in an
event, but shall receive flight points, except in an event where the score is the sum of several factors, in which case the flight
shall be scored as having a duration of zero.
- 15.11 Malfunction
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When a malfunction of a stopwatch or Timer occurs such that any elapsed time measurement is not available, the elapsed
time(s) recorded by the remaining Timer(s) shall be used as the official time. When all stopwatches or Timers malfunction,
the flight shall not be considered an official flight unless the flight is disqualified on other grounds. Alternately, at the option
of the contestant, he/she may choose to consider the flight as an official flight with a time of zero; in which case the flight
cannot place but is eligible for flight points; except in an event where the score is the sum of several factors, in which case
the flight shall be scored as having a time of zero.
- 15.12 Multi-Round Events
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Any duration event listing a multi-round maximum may be flown as a multi-round event. This must be indicated on the
contest sanction. The weighting factor for the event shall be increased by 4 (four) in this case.
- 15.12.1 Number of Flights
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Each contestant is initially allowed three official flights in a multi-round event. The Contest Director may designate
that each flight must be flown in the time interval (round) designated by the Contest Director. Any model not flown in
its designated round shall receive a zero score.
- 15.12.2 Number of Models
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A contestant may enter no more than two models in a multi-round event for the purpose of making all official flights,
including any necessary additional flights, except as stated in Rule
11.5.
- 15.12.3 Maximum Time
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The official duration of each flight shall be calculated as follows: if the duration achieved exceeds the maximum time
limit defined for that flight, the entry shall be awarded the maximum time limit; otherwise the entry shall be awarded
its achieved duration in seconds. Timers may stop timing the flight after it has achieved the maximum time.
- 15.12.4 Scoring
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Multi-round events shall be scored as follows: the official durations achieved by the contestant on the initial three
official flights in the event shall be summed. If there is no tie for first place, then the contestant achieving the highest
score is the winner. If there is a tie, contenders for first place shall be given the opportunity to make additional official
flights (flyoffs) to determine the winner. The maximum time limit for a contestant's first additional flight shall be
computed by adding a one minute increment (or, at the discretion of the Contest Director, a greater increment) to the
maximum time limit for the event. For each subsequent additional flight made by a contestant, one additional increment
shall be added to the previous maximum time limit. Additional flights shall be held in this manner until a winner is
determined. Second through fourth places shall be distributed first among the other contenders in the flyoffs, and then
among any other contestants having made qualified flights, on the basis of total computed score.
- 15.12.5 Return
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The models in multi-round duration events need not be returned to the officials except as required by
Rules 9.10 and 15.12.2.
- 15.12.6 Reduced Maximum Time
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If unusual weather or field conditions are encountered, the Contest Director, with the concurrence of a majority of the
contestants entered in the event, may lower the maximum time to a more reasonable value. The Contest Director must
advise the Regional Contest Board that this has been done and the reasons for doing so.
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