DURATION AND SCALE CLASSES

BY

PETERBOROUGH MODEL FLYING CLUB

WHY PAPER?

A recent article in the May 2024 Aeromodeller Magazine was entitled “Paper Planes- FLYPAPER by Jim Leuken”. Jim’s father John Leuken had a paper plane design called Fly Paper published in American Modeller magazine in 1973.
The AM article came with a 70% size plan of FLYPAPER and this immediately piqued my interest. The article went on to describe how in the winter of 1966/67 the Scientific American held an event that has already taken to its proper place in aeronautical history, The First International Paper Plane Competition. Several of the outstanding designs were published by Simon and Schuster in “The Great International Paper Airplane Book”.

WHY NOT?

With nothing on the horizon for a paper plane competition in the UK and with Peterborough Model Flying Club having a considerable reputation for inventing new competitions over many years the initial germ of an idea grew to the holding of a National Rubber Powered Paper Plane Competition.
Coupled to the fact PMFC have one of the finest indoor Sports Hall in the UK with bookings in place for October, November and December 2024 and also January, February and March 2025, we then had an idea plus the perfect place to hold a PRPPPN ( Peterborough Rubber Powered Paper Plane Nationals).

WHAT NEXT?

With aeromodellers being such an inventive bunch we put our thinking caps on to develop a set of rules that will allow both Sport Duration and Sport Scale free flight indoor enthusiasts to be creative in developing paper planes to set the standards for years to come.

WHAT COMPETITION?

PETERBOROUGH RUBBER POWERED PAPER PLANE NATIONALS.

WHERE HELD?

BUSHFIELD SPORTS CENTRE , 10 BUSHFIELD, PE2 5RG close to the A1 turn off ( North and South) for Peterborough.

WHAT DATE?

SUNDAY, 2 ND MARCH 2025

WHAT COMPETITIONS?

Two classes:- Rubber Powered Sport Duration Rubber Powered Sport Scale

WHAT AWARDS?

£200 prize money divided between both classes.
Trophies for 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd places in both classes.
Concours Certificates for the 3 most beautiful models flown.
PRPPPN Certificates awarded to all entrants.

WHAT PHOTOGRAPH?

Along with photos being taken throughout the event there will be a special group photo taken at 13,00 of all competitors and their models.
We expect the event to be videoed.

WHAT RULES?

Design and size is open but must be suitable for rubber powered indoor flying with a minimum flight of 12 seconds to score in scale and 20 seconds in duration.
Note all models must feature an undercarriage and full fuselage ( no sticks or external motors), a mainplane ( or Foreplane) tailplane and fin.
Primary construction material for all models we suggest 100% sustainable or recycled paper of between 60-200 grm. Thus fuselage, formers, wings, tailplane, fin to be of 100% paper construction. Paper to be used for any areas requiring strengthening.
Wheels to be made of paper/card with U/C of paper or thin wire.
Wing and Tailplane spars may be a paper tube, drinking straw ( paper or plastic), bamboo, or cocktail sticks.
Noseblock may be made of balsa when necessary and a commercial nose bush may be used.
Propeller may be a suitable commercial light weight wood/plastic or homebuilt using a balsa/ply, paper, yogurt pot, cocktail stick combination. Prop shafts may use thin wire and bead type bearings.

RUBBER POWERED SPORT DURATION COMPETITION

Five official hand launched flights timed by BMFA member and recorded on score sheet.
One attempt per round for a flight of less than 5 seconds.
Timing in seconds commences from release and ends on the model landing or ceasing to fly.
The flight time in seconds from the best flight of five determines the competitors final placing.

RUBBER POWERED SPORT SCALE COMPETITION

Models to be accompanied by three view/photo to enable visual check prior to flight.
This is a flying only scale competition.
Five official flights, one attempt per round for a flight of less than 5secs.
Flights are scored for ROG ( bonus of 10 points) or hand launch then climb, height, cruise, descent, landing and overall appearance in flight.
The highest score from the five flights determine the competitors final placing.

WHAT NOW?

If you fancy taking part in a UK history making Paper Model Aircraft Competition why not put on your thinking cap, come up with a design ( or make a paper version of an existing one) and pop along to the Bushfield Sports Centre October-December 2024 meetings for trimming flights prior to the PRPPPN which will take place on Sunday 2 nd March 2025.
How can you possibly resist the hottest new indoor event in town?

To Register, and have any questions answered please contact :-
g r o . c f m h g u o r o b r e t e p y r a t e r c e s

THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DESIGNS!!

Download the flyer here.