Hey Dan.

My big question here is how do we "interpret" footprint. There is no designation to how big the box should be, should the box be bigger for a 50% plane than a 25% plane?? By the same token, a 40% plane can easily be seen over 1/4 mile and farther away, where as the 25% plane gets real small, sooner. I find this very ambiguous.

So IMO , this is an attempt to keep pilots from flying in the next county by penalizing the ones with a low score, and rewarding those who fly closer in. How to judge this, FAIRLY, has to be very difficult. Again, different standards apply to different sized aircraft going by the rule (visibility). I don't believe vertical heights are a factor here, as much as the amount of geography a pilot uses, ei end manuevers and back of the box manuevers.

If a pilot stays reasonably close, then the pilot will get a 10. If a 40% gets a little small, then downgrades will occur, however, I believe most judges will be hard pressed to justify in their own mind the difference between a 5, 7 or 3. This will probably turn into a 10 or 0 kinda thing as judges work through in their own minds how to be fair.

How to judge it fairly, could be achieved partially, by the CD or District VP at the first couple contests demonstrating at the Pilots meeting what different size aircraft look like at the point in distance out, downgrades should be handed out, as well as where manuevers should be placed (end and back of box) for a 10 or 0. This will take time and effort, as well as a willingness to learn from all members and pilots. Time will tell.

Ed