Many scale jet model competitions have been held during the last two decades, some of these (e.g. 'Deutsche Impeller Meisterschaft' in Germany, and 'Top Gun' in the USA) having considerable international participation - however they were all based on very different rules, making it confusing and difficult for those who wished to enter. In April 1992 two jet enthusiasts, Winfried Ohlgart of the DMFV (German modelers association) and Mike Cherry, came up with the concept of a new international competition class for scale jet models, with a universal set of rules. The important thing about these rules they decided was that they should be what the jet modelers wanted - and not what was dictated by any single modeling federation or association with little current experience of this type of model.

To carry this idea to fruition a new organization was formed named the 'International Jet Model Committee'. Towards the end of 1992 the IJMC met with CIAM (the modeling section of the FAI) at their headquarters in France, to seek official recognition as the 'Special Working Group' for scale jet modeling competitions, and this was granted at the FAI Plenary meeting in Paris in March 1993.

The main purposes of the IJMC are twofold. Firstly to compile the F4J competition rules, modify them as proves necessary in the light of contest experience, and to provide support and advice to organizers of events held to these rules. Secondly, to promote jet modeling internationally and obtain improved recognition from national modeling federations - and eventually to seek full FAI/CIAM competition class status, which will permit 'official' World Championships.

The F4J rules can be briefly summarized as follows: The contest consists of three parts, each of which is worth a maximum percentage of the total marks as follows; Static judging (40%), Flying judging (55%), and Noise judging (5%). Judging is carried out by an international panel of judges, selected by the IJMC, of 3 persons for the static, and 5 for the flying and noise parts. Each competitor has the opportunity to make three flights, with the lowest scoring flight being discarded. Apart from the mandatory take-off, level pass and landing each competitor must attempt 5 other maneuvers - with a wide choice of aerobatic, non-aerobatic and technical options listed in the F4J rules to chose from.

Currently the IJMC has 42 members representing 23 countries, each having equal voting rights, and a main council of 4 members, who are democratically elected at each bi-annual general meeting, normally held at the Jet World Masters. Currently the council members are:

• Winfried Ohlgart (Chairman) - Germany HOhigart@aol.com

• Reto Senn (Secretary) - Switzerland

• Ralf Ploenes (Treasurer) - Germany
  RPMJETS@compuserve.com

• Mike Cherry (Press Officer) - England
  mikech@globalnet.co.uk

• Jerry Caudle (Overseas Rep) - USA
  promark@pro-mark.com

For more information on the International Jet Model Committee, or copies of the F4J rules, you should write to the Chairman at: Stauffenbergstrasse 42., D-5308 Rheinbach., Germany. . . .