E20 Competition Dates for 2024:
(Please confirm before travelling)
Buckminster Mondays
CD Luke Goymour - Open E20 and NFFS Rules
29th April
20th May
17th June
29th July
2nd September
Sam 35 Events with E20:
CD Andy Green
Sunday 14th April Buckminster Spring Gala
Saturday 18th May Old Warden MayFly
Sunday 16th June Buckminster Retrofest
Saturday 27th July Old Warden Scale Weekend
Peterborough Flying Aces
Saturday 14th September (Many FF classes including Open E20)
PMFC Ferry Meadows Series
A monthly midweek club competition including Open E20. Visitors require BMFA membership.
E20 Rules:
The Peterborough MFC have flown with a few different E20 rules over the years. The original class was known as Ferry 500 using a specific motor & battery. In 2019, the broader Open E20 Rules were established to allow any motor set up. In 2022 members began experimenting with the US-style NFFS E20 Rules, which specify an 8.5x20mm coreless motor and single cell LiPo.
Most PMFC Ferry Meadows competitions are flown with the Open E20 Rules which suit small fields. The Ferry 500 rule is now obsolete, but these models can still enter the Open class. Monday competitions at Buckminster and International Postals include events for both Open E20 and NFFS Rules. NFFS Rules are likely to be adopted for future competitions in the UK.
Open E20 Rules (2024)
This is an electric free flight development class where experimenting with different power systems is encouraged.
Models must have a maximum 20" projected wingspan (the previous maximum 20" overall length rule has been dropped.)
Any motor, battery, propeller and timer are permitted.
Motor run will be less than 8 seconds.
Models must have a dethermalizer fitted.
No minimum or maximum model weight.
Competition comprises of three flights to a max decided on the day (up to 60 seconds.) A flight of less than 10 seconds will be considered an attempt.
NFFS E20 Rules
US-Style E20 with a restricted motor and battery.
Maximum projected wingspan: 20 inches
Minimum Weight: 28.4g (1oz)
Motor: 8.5mm x20mm Coreless, no gear drives
Battery: Single Cell LiPo (no capacity limit)
Propeller: maximum 2.7” diameter
Motor Run: 20 seconds (Fly offs 10 seconds)
No auto-surfaces other than dethermalizer
Three flights to a 90 second max, Fly off max increases in 30 second intervals
Full Rules can be found at the National Free Flight Society: https://www.freeflight.org/free-flight-rules/
International Postal Competition Rules
can be found at: https://www.e20world.com/postal-winter-warmer-23-24
Ferry 500 Rules (Historical)
This is an electric free flight class flown on a fixed power system to provide a level playing field for small field competition.
Models must have a maximum 20" projected wingspan (not flat span) and a maximum 20" overall length including propeller.
Any airframe design is permitted within the above limits.
Models must fly with a specified motor, propeller and timer.
For the 2019 competitions these will be:
GWS CN12-RXC 7.2V or N60 25500RPM 6-7.2V 12mm brushed can motor
3x2" direct drive prop
Peterborough FET fixed motor run timer (details here: https://peterboroughmfc.org/Ferry500-Timer.html )
Battery must be a minimum of 2S 180mah Lipo.
Motor run will be fixed at approximately 8 seconds.
The timekeeper is responsible for ensuring the motor run in flight is 8 seconds or less.
Models must have a dethermalizer fitted.
No minimum or maximum model weight.
Competition comprises of three flights to a max decided on the day (up to 60 seconds.) A flight of less than 10 seconds will be considered an attempt.
For 2019 the motors are available to PMFC members on proof of a viable model. The recommended battery is a Turnigy Nanotech 2S 180mah (25-40C)
(Ferry 500 is no longer flown by the PMFC as a separate class but the rules are included here for historical interest.)
Index of PMFC Resources
Jonathan Whitmore's Idiom E20 Plan and information:
https://peterboroughmfc.org/feature/idiom
E20 Rules: https://peterboroughmfc.org/FlyingRules/Ferry500-E20.html
Ian Middlemiss' 2013 Experiments with E20:
https://peterboroughmfc.org/membersmodels2013/04Smallfielesff.htm
https://peterboroughmfc.org/membersmodels2013/08Smallfielesff-two.htm
https://peterboroughmfc.org/membersmodels2013/11-E20_3.htm
2014 Competition Proposal:
https://peterboroughmfc.org/membersmodels2014/01-E20.htm
2014 Competition Progress Report:
https://peterboroughmfc.org/membersmodels2014/08-E20-progrep.htm
E20 Competitions re-established in 2018:
https://peterboroughmfc.org/technical-articles2018/E20Competition.htm
https://peterboroughmfc.org/technical-articles2018/E20-FurtherInfo.htm
PMFC Magazine Report:
https://peterboroughmfc.org/newsletters/2018-01-Leading_Edge-A5.pdf
Peterborough FET Timer Index Page:
https://peterboroughmfc.org/technical-articles2018/FET_Timers_consolidation.htm
The Ferry 500:
The 2019 AeroModeller Plan
https://peterboroughmfc.org/Ferry500.html
Ferry 500 FET Timer tutorials
https://peterboroughmfc.org/Ferry500-Timer.html
Luke Goymour’s E20 talk for the BMFA ‘In The Air Tonight’ Series:
E20 Kits, Plans & Components:
BMK Free Flight Store (UK Timers, Chargers etc): https://bmks.co.uk/collections/e20-timers-parts
J&H Aerospace (US Kits, Motors etc): https://jhaerospace.com/product-category/free-flight-kits/electric-freeflight
Joshua Finn’s Youtube Channel (Including videos for J&H Aerospace E20 kits): https://www.youtube.com/@joshuawfinn
Component Shop (UK LiPo’s): https://www.componentshop.co.uk/batteries/radio-control/li-po-flight-packs/3-7v-1s-packs.html
Mariusz Wrona – Fatcat 2, 3 Kits (Poland): https://www.facebook.com/mariusz.wrona.77
Vintage Model Company SAMS E20 Kit: https://www.vintagemodelcompany.com/sams-e20-free-flight-duration-model
Ralph Bradley Thermite Plan: http://parmodels.com/thermite-e-20-by-ralph-bradley
Ralph Bradley Cliché Plan: http://parmodels.com/cliche-e20
Useful Links:
Facebook E20 Free Flight Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/252734703568141
Luke Goymour’s E20 site (Postal Competitions): www.e20world.com
The original Hip Pocket Aeronautics Forum E20 thread (Currently only available via Wayback Machine): https://web.archive.org/web/20210620223000/http://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum/index.php?topic=14519.0
Current Hip Pocket Aeronautics Forum E20 thread: https://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum/index.php?topic=27299
Willamette Modeler’s Club: http://willamettemodelersclub.weebly.com
Further Reading
Aeromodeller E20 Coverage:
November 2018 Peterborough Flying Aces Demo Andrew Boddington
June 2019 Ferry 500 Plan Feature Jonathan Whitmore
February 2021 GTS-E20 Review Chris Edge
June 2022 E20 Events Chris Edge
August 2022 2022 Mini Nats Report Chris Edge
August 2022 International Postal Reminder
November 2023 SAMS E20, BMK Timers Stuart Marsden
E20 Development Series: March 2024 1. The E20 Story (Class History) Jonathan Whitmore April 2024 2. E20 Design and Performance Jonathan Whitmore May 2024 3. E20 Idiom Free Plan Feature Jonathan Whitmore
National Free Flight Symposium #48 (2015)
An account of the origins of the US E20 class: “The E-20 Story – One of Free Flight’s Newest Events – Bob Stalick, Various Authors” https://www.freeflight.org/complete-symposium-contents
Free Flight Quarterly:
FFQ #62 - Bob Selman - 'Micro Pearl' (Depron)
FFQ #68 - Ralph Bradley - 'Cliché'
FFQ #70 - Ralph Bradley - 'Magnetic Propeller Brake For E20'
FFQ #74 - Ralph Bradley - 'Thermite'
FFQ #82 - Stan Buddenbohm - 'PushE' (inc. Plan)