Appearance:

Models shall be judged for appearance complete and ready to fly. After model has been judged, nothing will be removed or added to the model which, in the judges' opinion, changes in any manner the appearance of the model from the way it was when presented for appearance judging. However, during any attempt for official flight after the contestant has begun to crank the engine, if it becomes necessary to remove the propeller spinner for changing of propeller, etc., then it is permissible to leave off the spinner for that particular flight. Any damage to the model after judging, or changes that may be made as a result of such damage, will not be cause for loss of appearance points. Appearance judging will take place just before contestant's first flight. (At the Nats, due to the large number of entries, the appearance judging takes place during the pilots' meeting on the day before the first day of qualifying.) Judges shall exercise prudence in assigning points, and reserve excellent point values for those models which are decidedly above average.

Flight Procedures/Starting:

Each contestant will be called to the circle when it is his or her turn to fly. From the time they are called to the circle, contestants will have a maximum of five minutes to give the hand signal to begin starting their engine(s). Once the starting hand signal has been given, contestants will be allowed a maximum of three minutes to become airborne. A contestant may make as many starts as necessary, or may take off, land and restart if necessary, as long as the three minute time period has not been exceeded. If a second takeoff is made during the three minute time period, the first takeoff score will be canceled and a new score given. NOTE: Bonus points for starting within one minute and the requirement that the engine be hand started have been dropped under the US rules. Furthermore: Eight minutes total elapsed time (rather than 7 under FAI rules) is allowed from the time the contestant gives a hand signal prior to starting his engine to start, take off, complete the flight pattern, and land.
ATTEMPTS:
Failure to give the starting hand signal within five minutes of being called to the circle, or failure to become airborne within three minutes of giving the starting signal, shall be charged as an attempt. Contestants shall be allowed three attempts to make two official flights. No maneuver, including the landing, will be scored after the eight minutes allowed have elapsed.

Takeoff and level flight:

A correct takeoff consists of the model rolling smoothly along the ground for a distance of not less than 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) but not greater than one-quarter of a lap. The model then rises smoothly into the air with a gradual climb and a smooth leveloff to normal flight level (approximately 5 feet) over the point at which the model began its ground roll. The model continues on for two smooth laps of normal level flight to the point of original leveloff.
Errors:
The model bounces, or becomes airborne too soon or too late. Takeoff, climb, or leveloff is not gradual and smooth. Leveloff occurs too soon, or too late. Leveloff and normal flight level are not within a height of 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet).

Reverse Wingovers (one required):

Correct reverse wingovers are judged when the model starts from normal flight level, makes a vertical climb and dive, passing directly over the flyer's head, cutting the ground circle in half, and recovers in an inverted position at normal flight level. The model then continues for half a lap inverted to the starting point, and again makes a vertical climb and dive over the center of the circle from inverted flight, before recovering upright at normal flight level.
Errors:
First half: the model starts at other than normal flight level, wobbles when going into climb, or turn exceeds 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) radius. The model does not cross directly over flyer's head. The model does not cross the circle in a straight line. the model wobbles or recovers at other than normal flight in an inverted position or turn exceeds 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) radius. the model does not cut the circle in the same position and direction in second part of maneuver.
Second Half: Scored same as first half, reversing the entry and recovery positions.

Consecutive Inside Loops (Three Required):

Correct loops are judged when the model starts from normal flight level and makes a series of three smooth, round loops, all in the same place with the bottoms of the loops at normal flight level and the tops of the loops with the lines at 45 degrees elevation. The model then continues for another half loop, recovering inverted and descending to normal flight level, flying two laps before being judged for inverted flight.
Errors:
Loops are rough and irregular (i.e. egg-shaped, hexagonal, etc.). Bottoms of loops are not at 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet) height. Tops of loops vary more than 0.6 meter (2 feet), plus or minus, of the 45 degrees elevation point. Second and third loops vary more than 0.6 meter (2 feet) from the path of the first loop.

Inverted Flight (two laps):

Correct inverted flight is judged when the model makes two smooth, stable laps at normal flight level.
Errors:
Height is not 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet). Height varies more than 0.6 meter (2 feet).

Consecutive Outside Loops (Three Required):

Correct loops are judged when the model starts from the inverted position at normal flight level and makes a series of three smooth, round loops, all in the same place, with the bottoms of the loops at normal flight level and the tops of the loops with the lines at 45 degrees. The model then continues for another half loop, recovering at normal flight level.
Errors:
Loops are rough and irregular (i.e. egg-shaped, hexagonal, etc.). Bottoms are not at 1.2-1.8 meter (3.9-5.9 feet) height. Tops of loops vary more than 0.6 meter (2 feet), plus or minus, of the 45 degrees elevation point. Second and third loops vary more than 0.6 meter (2 feet) from the path of the first loop.

Consecutive Inside Square Loops (Two Required):

Consecutive inside square loops are judged correct when the model starts from normal flight level and flies a square course consisting of two loops, each with four inside turns of approximately 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) radius and straight equal sized segments, with bottom segments at normal flight level and top segments as inverted level flight at 45 degrees line elevation. The two bottom corners are equal and so are the two top corners. The maneuver begins and ends with the model in level flight at the point of start of the first turn.
Errors:
Model wobbles on turns. Lower height is not between 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet). Upper height is not within 0.6 meter (2 feet) of the 45 degrees elevation point. Turns are not precise and/or exceed 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) radius. Sides of loops are not equal. Second loop is not in the same flight path as the first loop.

Consecutive Outside Square Loops (Two Required):

Consecutive outside square loops are judged correct when the model starts from level flight at a 45 degrees elevation and flies a square course (starting with a vertical dive) consisting of two loops, each with four outside turns of approximately 1.5 meter (4.9 feet) radius and straight equal sized segments with bottom segments flown inverted at normal flight level and top segments as level flight at 45 degrees elevation. The two bottom corners are equal and so are the two top corners. The maneuver begins and ends with the model in level flight at the point of start of the first turn. The model recovers into normal level flight.
Errors:
Model wobbles on turns. Lower height is not within 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet). Upper height is not within 0.6 meter (2 feet) of the 45 degree elevation point. Turns are not precise and/or exceed 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) radius. Sides of loops are not equal. Second loop is not in the same flight path as the first loop.

Consecutive Inside Triangular Loops (Two Required):

Correct triangular loops are judged when the model starts from normal level flight and flies a triangular course, starting at the base turn. The three sides of equal length and the three corner angles of equal size. The top corner must be placed at 45 degrees elevation. The second triangular loop must be flown in the same flight path as the first one. All corners must be smooth, precise, and of approximately 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) radius.
Errors:
Model starts at a height other than between 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet). Turns are rough and wobbly or exceed 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) radius. Peak of second turns is not within 0.6 meter (2 feet) of the 45 degrees elevation point. Sides are wobbly and/or not equal in length. Second loop is not in the same flight path of the first loop.

Horizontal Eights (Two Required):

Horizontal eights are to be entered and completed at the intersection point of the circles and exit at the same point. The inside loop must be flown first. Correct eights are judged when the model makes two eights, each consisting of two round circles or loops of the same size, tangent to each other, and in a horizontal line. The model must enter the eight from normal flight level and be vertical at the intersection point of tangency of the circles. The eights must be symmetrical. At the top of each circle the model must be at the 45 degree elevation point; the bottoms of the circles must be at normal flight level.
Errors:
Model is not vertical at entry. Model at the top of circles is not within 0.6 meter(2 feet) of 45 degrees elevation point. Bottoms of circles not within 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet) height. Loops are not round and equal in size. Point of intersection varies. Second eight is not in the same position as the first.

Square Horizontal Eights (Two Required):

The eight is to be entered in the direction of the climbing sides of the loops, and after completion of two eights the exit is made in the same direction. The inside loop must be flown first. Correct eights are judged when the model starts a vertical climb and makes a modified inside square loop followed by a modified outside square loop ending with a vertical climb at the same point. The loops are modified so their climbing sides are vertical, and the loops are tangent to each other along these sides, and the turns starting and ending the climbs are 90 degrees. The top sides are slightly shorter than the remaining sides which are of equal length. The maneuver is repeated to form two eights. Tops of loops must be at 45 degrees elevation, bottom of loops must be at normal flight level, and all turns must be smooth, precise and of approximately 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) radius.
Errors:
Corners exceed 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) radius. Sides are not straight. Vertical sides and bottom sides are not equal in length. Loops are not equal in size. Top and bottom sides are not horizontal. Turns starting and ending the climbs are not 90 degrees. Tops of loops are not within 0.6 meters (2 feet) of 45 degrees elevation. Bottom of loops are not within 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet) in height. The position of the climbing side varies. Second eight is not in the same position as the first one.

Vertical Eights (Two Required):

Vertical eights are to be started at the point of 45 degrees elevation and finished at the same point in inverted flight. The inside loop must be flown first. Correct eights are judged when the model makes two eights, each consisting of two round circles or loops of the same size, tangent to each other, and in a vertical line. The model must be horizontal at the intersection point of tangency of the circles. The eights must be symmetrical, the top of the heights at a point 90 degrees over the flyer's head, and the bottom of the eights at normal flight level.
Errors:
Model is not horizontal at entry. Entry is not within 0.6 meter (2 feet) of the 45 degrees elevation point. Tops of eights are not within 0.6 meters (2 feet) of the 90 degrees point. Bottoms of eights are not at a height between 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet). Loops are not round and/or equal in size. Point of intersection varies. Second eight is not in the same position as the first.

Hourglass Figure (One Required):

The correct hourglass figure is judged when the model starts from normal flight level and flies an hourglass course starting with an abrupt turn followed by an inverted climb, turns into a wingover path across the circle center for a distance equal to half the total climb, turns into an inverted dive, and recovers at normal flight level. The flight paths of the climb and the dive cross at 45 degrees elevation. The four rounded corners of the figure shall have a radius of approximately 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) and the flight path forms two equilateral triangles of equal size, turned peak to peak, and one in vertical line above the other.
Errors:
Maneuver starts at other than the normal flight level of 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet). Turns are rough and wobbly or exceed a2.1 meters (6.9 feet) radius. Top of figure is not within 0.6 meter (2 feet) of the 90 degrees position over the pilot's head. Triangle segments are not of equal length. The maneuver is not symmetrical around the vertical line through the crossing point at 45 degrees elevation. Recovery is not at normal flight level of 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet).

Overhead Figure Eights (Two Required):

Overhead eights are to be entered and completed at the intersection point of the circles, directly over the flyer's head, and exited from the same point. The inside loop must be flown first. Correct overhead eights are judged when the model makes two eights, each consisting of two round circles of the same size, with the intersection or point of tangency directly over the flyer's head. The model must enter the eights with a vertical climb through the center of the circle, and must always point in this direction at the center of the eights. The eights must be symmetrical and the model at the lowest point of each circle must be at a point of 45 degrees elevation.
Errors:
Model is not vertically overhead at entry. Low point of circles is not within 0.6 meter (2 feet) of the 45 degrees elevation point. Loops are not round and equal in size. Point of intersection varies. Second eight is not in the same position as the first.

Four-leaf Clover (One Required):

The maneuver is entered from level flight at approximately 38 degrees elevation and consists of one full inside loop, level flight, three-fourths of an outside loop, vertical climb, three fourths of an outside loop, level inverted flight, three-fourths of an inside loop, and a vertical climb. The right loops are tangent to the left loops along a vertical plane of symmetry through the center of the clover leaf, and the bottom loops are tangent at the top loops. The loops are of equal size and they are connected by horizontal and vertical flight paths. The bottom points of the maneuver shall be at the 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) height, and the top shall be tangent to the vertical plane through the circle center. When the last loop is performed, the maneuver is made complete by a vertical climb through the center of the four-leaf clover. (Exit the maneuver over the top of the circle into the wind, returning to normal level upright flight on the other side of the circle.)
Errors:
Entry is not within 0.6 meter (2 feet) of the 38 degrees elevation point. Loops are rough or not of equal size. Parts connecting loops are not properly horizontal or vertical according to the maneuver sketch. Bottoms of lower loops are not at a height between 1.2-1.8 meters (3.9-5.9 feet). Tops of upper loops are not within 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) of the vertical plane through the circle center. Loops are not properly tangential to form a square pattern. Model recovers before it has flown vertically through the clover pattern.

Landing:

A correct landing is judged when the model descends to land with no bounce or unusual roughness, and without any part of the model other than the landing gear having touched the ground. (In the US pattern there is no requirement for the plane to travel any particular distance before landing, nor is there any prescribed point at which touch down must be made after descent starts or the engine quits.) Main wheel(s) or three-point landings are permissible.
Errors:
An error is committed whenever the model bounces or when any part of the model other than the landing gear touches the ground. A crash, or a flip over, a belly or upside down landing receives no marks and would also require forfeiture of the 25 pattern points. An error occurs each time the model deviates from a smooth descent. Any unusual circumstances outside the pilot's control, which may have caused one of the above mentioned errors, will be taken into consideration by the judges. NOTE: It is permissible to extend (by whipping) the descent, to achieve the minimum two laps between maneuvers, to maintain eligibility for pattern points.