(Equal to International ACES Regulations 2000)
1 - General regulations
1.1 About ACES
Air Combat Elementary Support (ACES) is an international
contact-network for R/C-pilots interested in R/C Air Combat. The
organisation is democratic and non-profit. Elections are made
through voting, by concerned members.
1.1.1 Membership
Every person that is interested in R/C Air Combat may become a
member of ACES. A member may be suspended if he abuses the
ACES regulations, after several warnings from the ACES
administrators. To become a member of ACES, contact your
national contact.
1.1.2 Economy
Every country within ACES covers its own expenses. This includes
all administration posts as IC, NC etc.
1.1.3 Language
The official language in ACES is English.
1.1.4 Copyright
The copyright of the ACES-regulations and of the R/C Air Combat
rules belong to all members of ACES.
1.2 ACES network
The ACES network is built up by several contacts. Contacts
operate at different levels, according to the following figure (Dotted
boxes are optional):
1.2.1 International Coordinator
The 1. International Coordinator (1.IC) should coordinate ACES across the
different countries. He should keep contact between countries, distribute
international rules, and arrange international voting. He should also decide in
conflicts concerning interpretation of international rules and regulations.
The IC is elected every two years by all members of ACES. At the request of
any ACES nation, an annual voting on the 1.IC may be performed.
The 2. IC will be elected every two years by all members of ACES, but not in
the same year than the 1.IC, to provide continuity.
The IC appoints also new NC´s in new nations within ACES.
1.2.2 National Contact
The National Contact (NC) should co-ordinate ACES in his own
country. He should distribute rules to the national members, arrange
national voting and see to that the national ACES works smoothly.
He should also decide in conflicts concerning interpretation of
national rules and regulations. The NC is responsible for the
national Air Combat Cup. The NC is elected every year, by the
national members of ACES. The NC appoints his assistant, the 2nd
NC. He also appoints the national treasurer (if any), the national
newsletter-editor (if any), and the person responsible for the
national supply shop (if any). He also appoints GCs in new groups.
If ACES within a country becomes big, the National Contact can
decide to divide it into two or more Groups. The Group Contact
(GC) should co-ordinate ACES in his group (if any). The GC is
responsible for the national Air Combat Cup in his part of the
country. The GC is elected every year, by the members of his
group. The GC appoints his assistant, the 2nd GC.
1.2.3 Group Contact
If ACES within a country becomes big, the National Contact can
decide to divide it into two or more Groups. The Group Contact
(GC) should co-ordinate ACES in his group (if any). The GC is
responsible for the national Air Combat Cup in his part of the
country. The GC is elected every year, by the members of his
group. The GC appoints his assistant, the 2nd GC.
1.2.4 Squadron
A group of four or more members of ACES may form a Squadron
(Sqn). The Squadron has no organisational role.
1.3 Rules, voting and elections
Air Combat rules are decided and distributed by ACES. Rules
change according to voting.
1.3.1 Proposals for rule change
Every member can propose for rule change. A proposal is not
considered, unless it has three named supporters, that are all
members of ACES. A proposal is made to the NC and to the
national vote. A proposal should be written in English, and be
ready to be distributed to the other countries within ACES.
1.3.2 Vote and elections
Every second year an international vote is made, to decide on
proposals for rules change and to elect the administration posts
within ACES (IC, NC, GC). Only countries that has had at least
one sanctioned contest during the year, may participate in the
international vote. The year before the international vote, a
national vote is held. The national vote is held every second year,
in years where no international vote is held. The proposals which
get majority in the national vote and any candidate-names for the
post as IC, are sent by the NC to the IC. In the international vote
the IC then sends out all proposals for rules change, and candidatenames
for the post as IC, to all of the NCs. The NCs then arrange
a vote for its national members, and collect their votes. The NCs
then send their collected votes to the IC, who determines which
proposals and candidate IC got majority. In the national vote the
NCs det ermine which candidate NC, and which candidate GCs,
got majority.
1.3.3 Count of votes
Every given vote counts as one vote in the international vote. If a
tie should occur, the result is judged as not in favor of the proposal.
1.3.4 Distribution of rules
After the annual vote, the IC writes a new English set of rules , and
distributes it to the NCs. The new set of rules is not used until one
year after it was written. This means a vote held in year X, has an
impact on rules of year X+2. The new regulations are used the next
year however, meaning it is used in year X+1 according to the
example above. The NC may either translate the new rules into his
national language, or keep the rules in English. He should
distribute the new rules to the national members.
1.3.5 International and national rules
Every country has a veto on rules, in such way that they may
change their national rules according to national voting for rules
change. Rules may also vary across different nations due to
safety-concerns. At international competitions, the international
rules are used.
1.3.6 Extra vote and elections
The IC may call for an extra vote if the IC finds it necessary due to
special situations. In case an elected candidate does not fulfil his
duties, the higher administrator within ACES may call for a new
election to the post. The higher administrator may also appoint a
new administrator to take care of the post until the election can be
made.
1.4 Air Combat Cup
Competitions within any region, each year, may be gathered in a
cup. Competitions within the cup must have been announced to
the members of ACES within the region at least one month
before the competition is due.
1.4.1 Scoring in a cup
The total cup-score of a pilot is counted as the sum of the X best
rounds flown by the pilot, in the contests that are part of the cup.
The number X is decided on a per cup-basis.
1.4.2 Competition
As competition counts any organised competition held according
to the national or international Air Combat rules, with at least two
competitors. The competition must also have been sanctioned by
the National Contact.
1.4.3 Championships
As a national championship counts one single contest held at
most once a year in a country. As an international championship
counts a contest that covers several countries at most once a year
in a specified area, and this contest must have contestants from at
least two of the different countries.
1.4.4 Competition points
The total score of the competitor counts as his result from the
competition.
2 - Optional regulations
2.1 About optional regulations
These rules are optional, which means that any one member of
ACES may or may not wish to use all or part of these regulations.
Within these rules are some military insignias, such as ranks,
order ribbons etc. Remember that these insignias are just a
decoration, and by no means gives the bearer the right to
command any other member of ACES.
2.1.1 National Supply shop
The decorations and awards mentioned here can be sold by the
national ACES supply shop. Different countries may have
different decorations, and may choose not to use some of the
decorations.
2.2 General definitions
2.2.1 Sortie
Having flown a Sortie counts as having received at least one
whole (1.0) flight-time point in a competition flight.
2.2.2 Kill
A kill is defined as the result when two or more A/C collide
during a fight. If all of the A/C involved in a collision crash then
all pilots involved in the collision gets half a (0,5) kill. If one or
more A/C involved in a collision crash, and one or more A/C are
able to continue to fly, then the pilot(s) who continue to fly gets a
(1) kill. In this case, the pilot(s) that crash gets no kill. “Continue
to fly“ is defined as being airborne at least the 15 seconds
immediately following the collision.
2.2.3 Administrator
An administrator is a person who is either an International
Co-ordinator, a 2nd International Co-ordinator, a National
Contact, a 2nd National Contact, a Group Contact, a 2nd Group
Contact, a treasurer, a newsletter-editor or responsible for the
national supply shop.
2.3 Special decorations
2.3.1 Fighterwing
You may wear the
fighterwing as soon as you have made a sortie during a
competition.
2.3.2 Badges
Within ACES, there are different badges for the different levels
within the organisation. The following badges might exist: ACES,
National ACES, Group and Squadron. In addition one may use
national flag badges to show which country one belongs to, and in
which countries one has competed. Badges can also be made to
show which orders one has received, for instance an ACE-badge,
etc.
2.3.3 Medals
Three medals exist, based on how many sorties the pilot has
flown: Bronze Star (50 sorties), Silver Star (100 sorties) and Gold
Star (200 sorties). In addition medals can be used as an award to a
national champion, a cup-winner etc.
2.4 Order ribbons
The size of the order ribbons are 10x35mm. They should be
placed at a maximum of four in a row, and in the order stated
below.
2.4.1 Honoured Air Combatant (HAC)
One member that has done extra valuable duties for ACES, are
elected by all the members of ACES every year, to receive this
order.
2.4.2 Best Air Combatant (BAC)
The pilot that wins the national cup, every year in each country, is
awarded as “Best Air Combatant of <nation> <year>“.
2.4.3 Air Combat Expert (ACE)
A pilot who has gathered five or more kills is awarded as ACE.
2.4.4 Top Shot (TS)
The award “Top shot“ is given to any pilot who has achieved at
least an average of 1.25 cuts per fight in a single contest. The
average is counted across every possible number of fights,
including the finals, even though the pilot may not have qualified
to the finals.
2.4.5 Fighter Designer (FD)
To receive Fighter Designer, a member must design a fighter
according to R/C Air Combat rules, and send a full-size plan of the
design to the National Contact for evaluation. The fighter must
also have flown at least one sortie, and the design must not be a
copy of another design.
2.4.6 Air Combat Testpilot (ACT)
A pilot who has flown at least a sortie each with at least ten
different types of A/C, receives the award Air Combat Testpilot.
An A/C-type is defined as “Spitfire“, “FW190“, etc. Subtypes,
like “FW190A“ and ”FW190D-9“, do not count.
A pilot who has flown at least 50 sorties, receives the award Air
Combat Veteran.
2.4.8 ACES Administrator
An administrator that has worked for ACES for at least one whole
year, receives this order.
2.4.9 Best Aircombat Squadron (BAS)
This award is given to the squadron in every country, that has
gathered most points in sanctioned events during the year, in
contests across the world. A pilot must fight for the same
squadron the whole year, and a list of the squadron members must
be supplied to the NC at the beginning of every season. The
award is given as: Best squadron of <nation> <year>.
2.4.10 Aircombat International Champion (AIC)
A pilot who has won an international championship, receives this
award.
2.4.11 Aircombat National Champion (ANC)
A pilot who has won a national championship, receives this
award.
2.4.12 Aircombat Competition Champion (ACC)
A pilot who has won an aircombat competition, receives this
award.
2.4.13 Aircombat International championship (AI)
Is given to a member who has competed in an aircombat
international championship.
2.4.14 Aircombat National championship (AW)
Is given to a member who has competed in an aircombat national
championship.
2.4.15 Aircombat Competition (AC)
Is given to a member who has competed in an aircombat
competition.
2.4.16 Nations
Are given to a member according to which countries he has
competed in.
2.5 Ranks
A member of ACES receives ranks according to the following
rules.
2.5.1 Rank regulations
A new member of ACES has no rank (Pt.=Private). After having
competed in a competition or after becoming an administrator, the
member receives the rank of Corporal (Cpl.). After that, the
member is promoted as soon as he has flown 25 sorties. After
another 25 sorties, he is promoted again. From there on, he is
promoted for every 50 sorties he flies. An administrator is in
addition promoted for every whole year he has worked as an
administrator.
2.5.2 Rank patches
The rank patches should look like the following figures. Note: In
the “# Star General“, the # can be replaced by any number of
stars from 1 and upwards. A “1 Star General“ is of course the
lowest (but above an ordinary General).
2.6 Placement of decorations
The following recommendations apply on where to put the
different decorations.
2.6.1 The fighterwing
The fighterwing should be placed at the left side of your flight-suit.
The fighterwing may also be placed at the front of your cap.
2.6.2 The order-ribbons
The order ribbons should be placed at the left side of your
flight -suit, beneath the fighterwing (if any).
2.6.3 Rank Patches
Rank patches should be placed on the shoulders of your flight-suit.
They may also be placed at the front of your cap.
2.6.4 Medals
Medals should be placed at the right side of your flight-suit.
2.6.5 Badges
Badges may be placed anywhere at your flight-suit or at your cap.
The normal placement though, is at the arms of your flight -suit,
with the highest-level badges at the highest.
