April 28th and 29th,  2012

Hosted By:

University Multispectral Labs (UML), Oklahoma State University, NASA OK Space Grant Consortium, Zivko Aeronautics, Spirit AeroSystems, AUVSI


Latest additions (2/12/2012) in red

Speedfest is an exciting, high-speed aircraft design competition which is intended to foster enthusiasm for aviation, and unmanned aircraft design.  For 2012, there are two flight classes:


Alpha Class is the Advanced class.  There are fewer propulsion restrictions, and more challenging performance and tasks are required. 

India Class is the Invitational Class.  For 2011-2012, it is open to high-school teams on an invitational basis

The top 3 teams in each class will be recognized with awards.  The winners of each class will be awarded the Speedfest Cup.

Contents:
Scoring
Class Requirements
Safety Requirements
General Aircraft Requirements
Additional Rules and Information
Eligibility
Entry Form Format
Deadlines
Speedfest Site



Scoring

The Speedfest flight course can be seen in the figure below:






Class Requirements

Alpha Class:
India Class:


Safety Requirements

Safety must be the number one priority of all contest participants. The Speedfest organizers have gone to great lengths to keep the event safe for participants and spectators.  Please carefully note the following:


General Aircraft Requirements

Engine shutoff
Every aircraft shall be equipped with a positive means of shutting off the engine in flight.  The throttle or shutoff mechanism shall be activated by a dedicated, operable servo or electronic  speed controller and shall not affect the aircraft flight path. Regardless of the method used, shutoff must occur immediately.

Landing Gear
For all classes, no part of the aircraft may be jettisoned or fall off, including, landing gear which must stay with the aircraft at all times.  For example, no “dollies” or sleds.  

Spinner or prop nut.
On all aircraft, the front end of the engine crankshaft or motor shaft shall be covered with a spinner or safety nut.


Propeller
Metal propellers are prohibited in all classes.  The following modifications may be made without penalty to India class propellers:
a. One blade may be sanded on the top (front) side only for balancing.
b. One side of the hub may be sanded for balancing.
c. The shaft hole may be enlarged, but only as much as necessary to fit the engine crankshaft. The enlarged hole shall be concentric with the original hole.
d. Edges and tips may be sanded, but only as much as necessary to remove sharp molding flash.
e. Tips may be painted for visibility and safety.


Team Numbers
Each team will mark their aircraft with a team number. Letters and numbers shall be clearly legible and sized at least 1 inch tall if possible, and located either on the top of a wing or on a visible portion of the fuselage.  The number will consist of the following:

1)    The letter representing the aircraft class (B, E, or A) followed by a "dash" 

2)    A two letter identifier for the state or country
3)    A "1" or a "2".  Institutions that bring 1 team, use the number "1"
4)    A two or three letter identifier for the institution

For example: E-AZ1UA

Preflight Airworthiness Inspection of Aircraft
During registration, all aircraft shall undergo a safety inspection.  Safety inspections will be conducted using the same team queue numbers discussed above.
Safety inspectors will be simply checking the following:

  1. Push/pull rods or cables, control horns, and servo leads shall be installed in such a way that they will not become disconnected in flight. Clevises must have a "keeper mechanism."  
  2. All screws holding the engine to the mount and the mount to the firewall shall be in place and secure.
  3. For India class: The radio receiver and battery pack shall be surrounded by soft foam rubber or other vibration-dampening material and adequately protected against contamination by engine exhaust, raw fuel, or fuel residue.
  4. Control surfaces shall be firm on the hinge line without excessive play.
  5. Servos shall be mounted securely with little play.
  6. Pushrods shall have only one threaded end that is free to turn. 
  7. Wings, if removable, shall be securely attached to the fuselage by some mechanical means such as bolts.
  8. The aircraft shall be free of obvious indications of structural damage which may compromise safety.
  9. Alpha aircraft must have an external arming shunt discussed in the Safety Requirements section.
  10. Spinner or prop nut used to secure propeller.
Radio Gear:
Only 2.4 GHz spread spectrum radios will be allowed.  A standard radio range check will be conducted.

Fail-Safe:
Aircraft receivers must be programmed with a fail safe system which will cut off engine power if signal is lost or interrupted.  Operation of this feature must be demonstrated.

Repairs:
Any aircraft that has been damaged after a safety inspection or has a known history of problems shall not be permitted to fly until it has been satisfactorily repaired and re-inspected. Materials used for repair may come from any source.

Confirmation of class rules:
Judges will also confirm that aircraft comply with the Class Requirements for the class entered.


Additional Rules and Information

Contest-Day Information
Flight Sequence
Optional Speedfest Team Promotional Video Award

Speedfest Teams that create promotional videos have the opportunity to be recognized at the event, and to recieve awards.  Videos can promote: thier team, airplane, university, country, Speedfest, or any combination of these in an entertaining and informative way.

Guidelines:
Teams will link thier videos to the SpeedfestUSA page no later than April 20, and the winner will be chosen by electronic voting.  There are no restrictions on who may vote.  Votes will be accumulated from April 20, until Speedfest contest day.



Eligibility



Entry Form Format

For each class entered, send a separate email with the following information in the following format:

-  Team Name
-  Academic institution name.
-  Team Number (see Team Numbers under General Aircraft Requirements for how to select your number)
-  Team Contact information
-  Class to be entered

In the Subject line of your email write:  “Speedfest Entry Request, (your team number), (date)”

Subject line example:  Speedfest Entry Request,
E-AZ1UA, 21Sept2011

Send a separate email for each class entered.

Send entries to:  

                           


Deadlines



Contest Site

Speedfest is held at the Unmanned Aircraft Flight Station (UAFS) in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  
GPS Location: lat=36.1632229 lon=-96.836514
Stillwater Oklahoma is approximately 75 miles from two major airports: Tulsa International Airport in Tulsa, OK,  and Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City, OK.  

Airfield Directions:  From all directions, the best way to get to the UAFS is to drive to the intersection of Hwy 51 (E 6th st.) and N. Clay Road (bulls-eye in map below). Then take Clay road north approximately 3.2 miles.  The UAFS is just north of the intersection of N. Clay Rd. and E. Airport Rd.  



Speedfest Site Diagram and Course Layout