Answer 1 - The 0.7m2 rule was established to effectively limit the lifting surface of the aircraft. So, hiding wings, while maintaining the 0.7m2 projection area, is against the principle of the regulation. We, therefore, decide for this matter that a multiplane lifting surface must have the same number of projection planes. The 0.7m2 limit must result from the sum of the projections on each plane. In a case of a biplane, it shall have two projection planes. One will comprise the projected area of the all aircraft except the lower (or upper) wings pair. The other will receive the projected area of the remaining lifting plane (the other wings pair). The sum of the two projected areas must not exceed the 0.7m2 limit.

2.  Question 2- Would it be allowed to build an aircraft with flexible high lift devices or even wings of that type?

Answer 2 -  Flexible structures and hinges are allowed as long as the moving arts do not provide thrust and the aircraft remains essentially a fixed wing aircraft. Rotary or flapping wings are not allowed. An exception is a moving slat that can have a net thrust, when deployed, but can be used as it is not considered a propulsion device.

3. Question 3 -  Will it be possible to modify the commercial propeller? Especially by grinding its tips? ?

Answer 3 - Modifications of propellers are allowed as long as considered safe. Modifications considered safe are: grinding tips for balancing purpose, for reduction of the diameter, or even for modification/adjustment of the tip of the propeller, while maintaining the section area distribution along the blade as structurally favourable as the original and keeping the propeller balanced.

4. Question 4 - Would it be allowed to use a propeller consisting of several parts as long as all parts are bought and fit together? ?

Answer 4 -  Only if, the parts combination to be used is declared safe for the maximum operation rpm, by all commercial manufacturers involved.

5. Question 5 -Does the current limit of 45A already have to be obeyed by the chosen dimension of the propeller or would it be allowed to limit it by other means? Can the model aircraft be lifted by a team member during the current measurement?

Answer 5  - Any ESC is allowed. A supplementary stage of electronic speed control like the one your team used in the last edition is allowed as long as the current limit is respected and cannot be altered via remote control. The operation with such a device, maintaining constant 45A current, must be demonstrated to be safe for the refrigeration arrangement in use on the aircraft.

6. Question 6 Is the minimum capacity of 3 Ah mandatory for the batteries or should we rather regard it merely as a good advice?

Answer 6 - 3 Ah is only a recommendation. But the team must realize that 3Ah capacity with 45A of current drain can only last  ~5min! The pre-flight maximum current check, any run-up or failed take-off will reduce the flight time even further.  The airfield at Covilhã is not o landing out friendly as the Ota airfield, where the 2007 edition took place.

7. Question 7 - Do we have to use the specified motor in a factory-assembled state or can we modify it?

Answer 7 -   No modification is allowed to the motor.

8. Question 8 Must there be butterfly nuts to mount the payload (and if so: do they have to be in unaltered state and do they have to be assembled by hand) or might we use some kind of clip?

Answer 8 See the Regulations Attachment 1. The vertical supporters must be 8mm threaded rods. The nuts must be threaded also (conventional), not clipping. It must be possible to safely fasten the nuts by hand. Any auxiliary device like an electric screw driver can be used to help in the operation of fastening the nuts to secure the cargo.

9. Question 9 - Do we have to transport the remote control within the box for the airplane?

Answer 9 It is not mandatory to transport the remote control Tx in the transport box, nor any spare batteries. But the receiver (rx) must fit in the box. The idea of the transport box regulation is to give the Portuguese teams a feel of the transportation distress that the rest of the teams face in order to make the aircraft arrive in the competition site.

10. Question 10 - Must the propeller be the only source of propulsion, too?

Answer 10 - The propeller must be the only moving part to provide thrust.

11. Question 11 - What does the runway look like that we will use? What is the quality of the runway surface? Could you support us with pictures?

Answer 11 - The runway surface is asphalt. For the friction coefficient, you can use the value of 0,08 but it depends also on the material of your wheels and the Bearings.

You can check the pictures at

http://www.acc09.com/index.php?option=com_morfeoshow&task=view&gallery=4&Itemid=86

For runway dimensions and surrounding obstacles check the site with

Google Earth (Loc.  N 40º 15,85´ -- W 007º 28,77´)

12. Question 12 - How will you measure the climb angle and over which time or distance must it exceed 1,5° in order to receive the bonus of 10 points?

Answer 12  - A climb angle flight judge will be positioned 50 m after the take-off run limit line to check whether the climb angle was above or below the 1.5º angle.  He will film the take-off with a video camera standing in support at 1.3m above the runway level and pointing to the take-off run limit line. The aircraft must maintain its take-off course for approximately these first 50m so the judge can positively check the climb angle.

 13. Question 13 - Would it be allowed to leave the undercarriage on the runway after take off?

 Answer 13 - No. The aircraft must remain in one piece during a flight attempt!

14. Question 14 - are variable-pitch propellers allowed ?

Answer 14 - Variable-pitch propellers are not allowed. The propellers must be a commercial and tested product with the safety precautions respected (e.g., r.p.m. limit not exceeded).

15. Question 15 - Is it possible to build the cargo bay without the walls ensuring the specified volume?

The cargo bay must respect the drawing Attachment 1 of the Regulations. It should  have side walls to hold the cargo as safely as possible.