These rummors always float around ... and in my opinion are completely baseless.

The issues I've seen in Unlimited class:

a) not enough judges - there were numerous cancelations by judges prior to the event. This resulted in 95% of Unlimited flights judged by only 3 or 4 people over and over. Most of these judges, from my understanding, were from the same area (North Central Region). Every judge brings his own version of "what is it supposed to look like" into the judging chair with him. If all of them are used to the style of flying that's prevailing in the area, the local pilots will have a slight advantage. A simple thing as a wing level flight can cost you 0.5 - 1 point, just because the judges consider "level" different than you - if you're the unlucky one and get cought up in it every flight of every round - it will cost you in the end.

b) several missed hard zeros - I still don't uderstand why the ingenious IMAC rules proposal for maneuver judge got tabled

c) unability of pilots to see their individual scores after every round/day of flying - this was a real killer, especially with the same judges judging you over and over and pilots being forbidden to communicate with judges after flight.

d) The software bug that mixed up the K-factors - no biggie there.

e) No access to score sheets after the contest was over - including up until now. That will feed the conspiracy theories for sure.

Considering that at least half of the unlimited pilots were displaying flights with MINIMAL mistakes, the final standings become a partial lottery If pattern can put together FIVE judges for FAI, I think IMAC could as well. In retrospect, I woudn't mind judging couple rounds during the NATS, if in turn I was exposed to more diverse judging pool...


P.