multiflyer,

I believe I have read of your desert event in RCM a number of years ago. Sounds fun. Our event is run by Space City RC out of a rural field NW of Houston. It is a three legged event and you are expected to be able to handle at least 45 minutes in the air between stops. There are two RC club fields further out of town to the west that are used for intermediate stops. The organizers drive the course (different each year) and time the legs driving the speed limit. The total time is logged secretly and the competitors have to try and match it. Your time is measured from wheels up, to wheels down.

The course maps are given to you about 45 minutes before the first plane leaves and are not difficult. Though getting off track, worse yet lost, is a very real possibility. Generally, a team is made up of 4 members: driver, navigator, pilot and co-pilot/spotter. It can be done with less (stressful!), but we prefer at least one extra hand. This year's event had a couple of interesting twists - one team's drive crew did not show so they flew with another, two planes from one truck; another flew a helicopter. Another first this year: everyone finished.

Flying is straight forward. We put the plane in front of the vehicle at about 150 ft or so AGL, a relatively comfortable observation height while sitting in the back of a pickup truck. At times (slow speed and tail winds) the bird will get much higher. At other times as when we are pushing the aircraft to its maximum speed, it will drop low, down to as little as 40 ft before we get the drive crew to adjust speed and allow us to grab some altitude. There are stop signs and multiple turns along the course and these are communicated from cab to flight crew so we know what is coming.

As I said before, great fun!

Bedford