Unfortunately we are dealing with human judges and since this is a hobby we have to use judges who aren't always as prepared as we wish we all could be! The judging schools (at least the one that I went to) helps a lot by at least getting us all looking for the same things but the airspace control score IMHO needs some further attention in the schools.

I can't find any rule, nor do I recall hearing about one that says anything about 60 degrees up or any of that. The dead line (that will get you a zero for the figure if you cross it) is 100 feet in front of the contestant. Everyone has their own opinion on what looks good apparently but there is no rule that says you have to be any certain distance out beyond that or how far right and left you go. Only that you should be "placing the figures in the airspace in a manner that allow the figures to be optimally judged". So keeping them in tight so they can be easily seen makes sense to me but you also have to make sure the judges have time to consider your last figure, mark a score and are ready to judge the next figure. If we had scribes to write for us then the judges could keep their eyes on the plane at all times and we wouldn't have to worry about that either. Again reality is that we don't have scribes at most contests that I'm aware of.

If your airplane flies slowly enough I'd think you could keep a pretty tight sequence and accomplish what is required by the rules even adding a bit of extra line to allow them time to score. Keep in mind that the speed of your airplane is not judged either that I can find so flying slower lines would help accomplish this but again you may offend some judges sense of what "looks good" if your lines and manuevers vary in speed.

Having said all that we are dealing with human beings and it is hard to always know what they want. Go to the judging schools and watch and listen. All you can do is watch what they are judging as good and try to emulate it. Some will judge the 100' deadline at 60' and some at 150'. As a pilot I'd try to keep out about 200' as a baseline to be safe but not much further so they can see the plane. You can also ask someone who you've seen judging (probably not during) what they consider a perfect size loop, or how long a line should be between manuevers. Some folks will be very forthcoming with what they are looking for even if there is no right answer per the rulebook.

I was told that I was rushing my manuevers as well... I suspect there is just a bias amongst the judges for longer lines flown nice and slow between manuevers so that's what I'm going to give them a bit more of this year, though I'll tell you that more often I think folks need to be downgraded for flying to far out than the opposite. I saw some of the flyers even in Intermediate taking 35% airplanes out so far that you really couldn't make out if the wings were level anymore... apparently because they think flying long lines between every manuever looks better.

The rules seem to indicate that controlling the size of the box should be rewarded (as long as there is a line between manuevers) but what I've seen so far seems like the judges like bigger loops, longer lines and slow flight. It's just a bias that has developed I suspect so you can be right according to the rules but if you want the best scores your probably just going to have to follow the crowd.

Yes, I've only flown Basic so far but I understand you need more space for manuevers with a lot of "extras" thrown in when you get up to Advanced and unlimited but when every line betwen manuevers gives me time to drink another beverage of my choice.....

Hope this doesn't offend anyone. I have nothing but respect for those who do the judging, I haven't had the guts yet cause there is so much to keep track of and I just want to have fun! I'm going to though after another run through school and bit more experience. I feel like I owe it to the CDs 'cause I know how hard it is to get people to do it! Besides I want to give a 10 or two! Come on guys, impress me!