For detailed information see the IAC Calendar.
RC Pylon at the 2023 Nats:
For Event 426....A qualifying single matrix of all registered contestants that will consist of 8 rounds. The top 28 finishers will then compete in a Finals single matrix that will consist of 5 rounds. The winner of the Finals will be the class National Champion.
For Event 422....The event will be run under the Single Matrix format and the winner will be declared the National Champion.
For Event EF1... At the 2023 NATS EF1 event, the rules applicable to servos and their installation in the NMPRA version of EF1 will be used. The below paragraphs will apply to EF1 at this years NATS. These are the requirements that have been in place for EF1 since its inception and will not require any changes if a plane was in compliance with the NMPRA EF1 rules prior to the event becoming an AMA event. The differences are largely in the number of screws per servo that are required and whether servos that are not designed to accept grommets may be used.
The decision to do this for the 2023 NATS was made by the RC Pylon Contest Board through a unanimous vote of the voting members of the Board and with the approval of the AMA Technical Director.
NMPRA version paragraphs applicable to servos and their installation in the models:
3) Servos controlling the pitch and roll functions shall be of adequate strength for the weight and speed of the aircraft. It is recommended that servos have a minimum torque rating of 30 in/oz. (27 m/kg)
5) All screws holding the servos to the servo rails or trays and holding any trays to the airframe shall be in place and secure. Rubber grommets shall be used on all servos designed to accept them. If the heads of the servo mounting screws are small enough to pull through the grommets, washers shall be used to prevent this. Alternatively, servos may be permanently installed with glue.
The reason for this change is, when EF1 was rolled into the AMA RC Pylon Rulebook, the rules, like the other classes, were written to refer to the safety inspection requirements that were already in the rulebook. We did not consider that the servo and installation requirements already in the rulebook were designed for internal combustion racing classes and therefore are more stringent than the requirements that have applied to EF1 since its beginning more than 10 years ago. As a follow-up to this years NATS, the Contest Board will process a revision to add servo and installation requirements specific to electric powered aircraft to the AMA RC Pylon Rulebook.
RC Pylon Racing is high-speed excitement. These small aircraft obtain speeds of nearly 200 mph. The models fly 10 laps around a course marked by three pylons. The pilots stand in the middle of the course, turning as the aircraft circle the pylons. Pylon Racing requires good depth perception and quick reflexes. A tenth of a second flown beyond a pylon can lose the race.
Turns are judged, and any "cuts" (turning short of a pylon) eliminate the lap. The aircraft typically fly in four heats. Points are awarded based on the finish place. The pilot with the most total points after all heat racing is finished is the event winner. Two classes of Pylon Racing are flown: the Quarter 40 and the Quickie 500.
