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INDIA Class

Speedfest is an exciting, high-speed aircraft design competition which is intended to foster enthusiasm for aviation, and unmanned aircraft design.  There are two flight classes:   Alpha Class is the Advanced class which is for collegiate-level teams.  India Class is the Invitational class.  It is open to high-school level teams and teams with similar skill level, 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.

Competition Suggestions for India Class Teams

Contents:
Mission Requirements and Design Constraints
Flight Procedures and Scoring
Safety Requirements
General Aircraft Requirements
Contest Day Information
Eligibility
Entry Form Format
Deadlines
Contest Site



Mission Requirements





Design Constraints
    ONE of the following kits (we will give teams thier preference until supplies run out):
            FT Mustang WR (1016mm)
            FT Spitfire WR (1080mm)
            FT P-40 WR (1066mm)
    Stock Category
    Modified Category


Flight Procedures and Scoring





Score:

Scoring is based on distance traveled (flags) within two minutes, on a course with 2 turn markers spaced 400ft. apart.  One point is awarded for each turn line reached (including the first).


Awards:

The Speedfest organizers will present 13 India Class awards in the following 7 categories.  (Awards are changed for 2022) Criteria shown in parentheses:

Tiebreakers: 




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:

Safety notice:   Electric-powered aircraft have different safety concerns than the IC engined airplanes used in past Speedfest competitions. Competitors should take great care in handling or working with the airplanes since it is possible for the motor to spin up to full speed instantly when a battery is connected.  This can be due to an electronic speed controller (ESC) malfunction, or improper attention to detail when connecting the battery or transmitter.   Always keep face, hands, fingers, and tools clear of, and behind the propeller whenever a battery is connected.  At Speedfest, all aircraft handlers are required to wear safety cut-resistant gloves (see below) and eye protection when handling aircraft.  Teams are also encouraged to do this also when they are working on their airplanes at home. Pilots

General Aircraft Requirements

Propeller
Only propellers designed for electric-powered aircraft are allowed.  Note that running the motor continuously with a prop larger than 9 inches in diameter, will cause the motor to degrade and eventually burn out.. 

Radio Gear:
Only 2.4 GHz spread spectrum radios will be allowed.  A standard radio range check should be conducted at the Speedfest airfield by the mentor or teacher, who will then verify pass, to the technical inspection judges.  

Covering:
Teams are encouraged to paint, tape, or somehow cover the wing with contrasting colors on the top and bottom of the wing.  With the darker color on the bottom of the wing.  This will assist the pilot in quickly determining the airplane's orientation.  The team number should also have the highest visibility possible.  Unique coloring and/or patterning on the tails and fuselage will aid in identification as well.  

Team Numbering
Each team will mark their airplane with their team number which will be assigned by the Speedfest organizers.  Each airplane must be numbered on the port wing (left side as viewed from sitting in the cockpit) top AND bottom of the wing.  Numbers must be as large as possible.  The bottom of the number should face the wingtip so that the judges and flaggers can easily read the team number during turns.  Teams may choose the number colors, but the color chosen should be the highest contrast possible with the background color of the wing so that it is easy to see from a distance.  Teams should take care to choose fonts, or number styles so that it is difficult to mistake a number when it is upside down (such as 6 and 9) or from other numbers (1 and 7, 4 and 9).   The picture below illustrates a properly numbered airplane:


Preflight Airworthiness Inspection of Aircraft
Prior to competition, all aircraft shall undergo a safety inspection.  Safety inspections will be conducted on a first come, first served basis. Teams are encouraged to go through safety inspections on the Friday afternoon of Speedfest so as to not miss any flight opportunities.

The overall quality of construction must be considered safe and airworthy. Safety inspectors will be checking the following:

  1. All flight batteries must have a female XT60 connector on the battery side
  2. Batteries must be strapped or otherwise mechanically held in place.  Tape is not acceptable.  Velcro is only acceptable if it completely straps around the battery and mechanically secures to structure.
  3. Aircraft must have a safety arming shunt that disconnects the propulsion battery and is easily accessible and always visible from the outside of the airplane .  This example of an arming shunt or arming switch is commercially available, although they can also be made.  It is recommended that XT60 connectors be used instead of Deans connectors which have a higher rate of failure.
  4. Push/pull rods or cables and control horns, shall be installed in such a way that they will not become disconnected in flight. Clevises must have a "keeper mechanism" such as a locking clevis or fuel tubing.   Adjustable control linkages that use set screws or friction are not acceptable.  
  5. Control surfaces shall be firm on the hinge line without excessive play.
  6. Servos shall be mounted securely with little play.
  7. Any servo wire extensions used must have connections secured with a servo lead lock (electrical tape or shrink wrap is permitted).
  8. All screws holding the motor to the mount and the mount to the firewall shall be secure.
  9. Check that transmitter used has a fail-safe set to throttle cut-off, and can indicate voltage low condition.
  10. Wings, if removable, shall be securely attached to the fuselage by some mechanical means such as bolts.
  11. The aircraft shall be structurally sound as well as free of structural damage which may compromise safety.
  12. Range check verification with mentor or teacher
  13. Team Flags and safety gear will be checked
  14. Proof of prior flight.  Teams must demonstrate proof of prior flight.  This may be done using pictures or video evidence. Proof of flight must be demonstrated prior to 9 AM on contest day, or the team will not be allowed to compete.
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 all aircraft entered comply with the Design Constraints.  This will include inspection and measurements of the airframe and motor for compliance.



Contest-Day Information
Registration
During the designated time on the day of the event, flight crews must register.  Speedfest officials will then provide each with a flight line pass.  Registration consists of the following:
Flight Sequence

Speedfest Team Promotional Video Award

All India class teams are required to create a Team Promotional Video.   Videos can promote: their team, airplane, school, Speedfest, or any combination of these in an entertaining and informative way.  The videos can be as simple as an introduction to the team taken with a smart phone camera, to as complicated as a fully edited promotional music video.

Guidelines:
Teams will send the YouTube link to their videos to SpeedfestAero email address no later than 7pm CST Monday, April 18, and the winner will be chosen by an appropriate method of electronic voting (TBA).   There are no restrictions on who may vote.  Votes will be accumulated from April 22, until Speedfest contest day.  The penalty for a team not submitting the link to their video by the deadline, is loss of their best heat score on contest day.



Eligibility


Entry Form Format

The team advisor (not the mentor) shall send an email with all of the following information, in the following format, for each team entered:

-  Academic institution name
-  Team Name
-  Class to be entered
-  Team Advisor name
-  Team Advisor email
-  Team Mentor name
-  Team Mentor email

In the Subject line of your email write:  “India Class Speedfest Entry Request, (Team Name), (date)”

Subject line example:  India Class Speedfest Entry Request, SHS Lancers, 21Sept2012


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 Takeoff Event
The NASA OKSG will be hosting a Speedfest India Class 2021-2022 “Take Off” educator event on Saturday, October 23rd, 2021, from 9 AM – 5 PM at the NASA OKSG STEM Engagement Center (SEC) on the OSU campus. This is a FREE event for both educators who have already entered a middle school/high school team into this year’s Speedfest and those who are considering the opportunity for this school year. During this event, participating educators will learn the rules/requirements for Speedfest 2022, be immersed in the hands-on inquiry-based Speedfest Curriculum created by the NASA OKSG (designed to teach the concepts leading up to the plane build), have the opportunity to tour various OSU MAE labs/facilities, and receive plane kits. Those educators who participate in the “Take Off” event in its entirety, will have the opportunity to apply for grants which will provide their team with a transmitter/receiver and a joystick/RC airplane simulator software and will receive access to the Speedfest Curriculum. Lunch will be provided. Registration is first-come, first-serve to the first 24 completed registration by middle school/high school educators. A registration link for this event is below:

TAKEOFF EVENT FLYER
REGISTRATION LINK