THE F400 Class:

Pictured here is my Third Design F400 Racer the "Hue-N-400" powered by a Nelson QM40 Engine.

Hereunder are the rules related to this class. These rules have been shorten by myself and reworded to make a better explanation. If you are interested send me an E-Mail highlighting your queries, and I will respond.

This class is now  officially included in the Australian Rules book. It is starting off slowly but there are a few including myself who would like it to fully progress. The best time over an FAI course is by Andrew Davies with a 1-10 - which is not hanging around.

It is interesting to note that we run Straight FAI fuel and with that our models are definitely not up to the speeds of the QM40 class in the USA.  Good times are in the seventies.  I personally believe that this is one of the better features of our F400 class.

This class was formed in Australia as a second string to our International F3D class. It has proven to be a success and is flown in most of our states. It is usually run in conjunction with F3D events - using the same course. This solves the waste of time in setting up a new course.

Without doubt the inclusion of F400 to the Australian scene has promoted F3D - I know that we are running far more F3D in Victoria than we have ever did - because combining  F400 and F3D together  we have enough competitors to make up the numbers.

It is also giving newcomers to racing who are really  interested in competing a good chance to fly a fast 40 size aircraft - without the complexities of F3D.

Originally we allowed 45 size engines in this event - and we have continued to do so. This enables some people who what to have a try - to use some of their sports engines - however they never come up to the performance of the QM40 engines. But it gives them the chance to compete.

Now that this event is  official it will be run at Nationals and AMPRA events.

• ENGINES - Max 7.6 cc (This was done to let guys fly with their existing (46) sports engines) However the faster competitors use      Nelson and Jett Manufactured 6.5 (40 engines).

• COURSE - Leg 180 meters - Base 40 meters

• SILENCER - Must be a side exhaust set up.

• PROPELLERS - We were using only APC D1 series QM40 racing props - however in Victoria we only allow Continuous Filament  Carbon Fibre/Resin Props.

• SPINNER - Metal round nosed , a rounded dome nut is acceptable

• FUSELAGE -

  • Height 150 mm

  • Width 75 mm

• LANDING GEAR-

  • Two or three wheel design

  • Min Track 150 mm

• WING-

  • Minimum Wing Area 2550 cm2

  • Thickness of wing just outboard of fillet Minimum 22 mm at root.

  • Wing must have a constant taper of thickness from root to tip sections.

• WEIGHT - Minimum 1800 g

• FUEL - 80% Methanol - 20% Castor Oil (No Synthetics)

• RACE -

  • 10 laps are raced

  • Only one helper is allowed - this is usually the Caller.

  • In the event of a cut 10% is added to the offenders score.

  • Scores are calculated in seconds

  • After four rounds are flown - the worst heat time is eliminated from the total score

  • After nine rounds are flown - the two worst heat times are eliminated from the total score

  • The winner is the person with the lowest total score (All heat times added together-excluding those eliminated)

  • If a person gets two cuts or more in a race his time is recorded as 200 seconds (A very severe penalty I must say!)

• SCALE LOOKS - No scale rules are applied.

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