The race rules stiplulate that at least 10 aircraft of any type used in the race must have entered commercial service prior to the commencement of the race. Eamonn's post indicates that 9 of the 747-8s have now entered service, so only one more is needed in order for it to be allowed during the race.As for whether the 747 will be flown this year much depends on race strategy when it comes to flying the jet legs. There are at least two jet legs specified in the General Rules and more may be allowed by the Special Rules. As of today I believe the Convair 990 is the fastest jet allowed by the rules and it may be preferable to the 747.

The rules specify only aircraft whose top speed is less than Mach 1. They also specify that most legs be flown by prop aircraft, and I believe these two specifications intend to keep things interesting.GPS navigation and AP are allowed. As for UAVs, it is a race after all, and there are faster prop aircraft than these.

So isn't this race just a matter of finding the best combination of fastest planes within the confines of the rules? What if someone was using time compression? How would the verification program detect that?

Ah, good question! We run a little verification program called the Duenna. It runs simultaneously with each leg and checks that the rules have not been broken.http://johannesmuell.../fs/web/duenna/I don't know how it works, but it works alright!

So isn't this race just a matter of finding the best combination of fastest planes within the confines of the rules? What if someone was using time compression? How would the verification program detect that?

Like Mike said, we use a program called the Duenna, it establishes a link with your Flightsim. When this link is established it can read internal FS variables so it can determine many factors of your sim to determine if you are indeed following the rules or not.For example, it will detect, overspeeds/refuelling/sudden position changes/time compression/aircraft changes/etc..Hope that helps..

Checkout the practice thread and have a look at the Duenna results posted there - you'll find it can't be beaten.

Just a quick thought.The Duenna can be spoofed--it is not absolutely hacker-proof and was never meant to attain any serious level of security. The author is a talented guy and has built in some standard safeguards--for our own needs. It is a program that monitors a lot of MSFS variables and allows the pilot to authentic the validity of his flight. Obviously, if some sophisticated hacker wants to ruin things, he probably can. But gosh, the purpose of the event is for everyone to have fun in a friendly competitive atmosphere. Beers afterwards. There would be no honor in hacking our little event.

There would be no honor in hacking our little event.

Ha ha! So true.

Curiously, in Australia now the government is beginning to implement a way of measuring a motorist's average speed by photographing a car's licence plate and broadcasting it over a growing network of similar roadside stations. The result is such that wherever a motorist may go a fairly accurate measure of his/her average speed follows. It's a brilliant solution to a chronic problem, and it works.In the context of hacking the Duenna, a hacker would still not escape detection because of the times posted on the forum. Dividing the distance by the times posted would result in an accurate measure of average speed, and this would be the hacker's undoing.Trying to hack the Duenna would be a waste of time, and as Mike has suggested what benefit would there be?

Curiously, in Australia now the government is beginning to implement a way of measuring a motorist's average speed by photographing a car's licence plate and broadcasting it over a growing network of similar roadside stations. The result is such that wherever a motorist may go a fairly accurate measure of his/her average speed follows. It's a brilliant solution to a chronic problem, and it works.

Really?? Thats an interesting way of doing it. I know here in Canada they use aircraft to catch speeders on some of the bigger highways but thats only your speed over a small distance.. But that method would be average speed over what could be a long distance.. I am curious how they would handle your average speed over roads with different speed limits.Well, I hope to visit Australia someday.. Looks like a beautiful country.

I am curious how they would handle your average speed over roads with different speed limits.

I expect they've measured the distances for each speed zone, then from there they can leave it to the network infrastructure to do the math. Quite cool!

Just a note re: 747-8F. It is not race legal yet. We need 10 delivered and in service. November 2011 count stands at 5.http://en.wikipedia...._and_deliveries

Whoo Hooo!!!! :( Ten Freighters now delivered.http://en.wikipedia...._and_deliveries

Wooohooo.. lets make sure the race committee knows first before you or I break it out of our hangars.. :)

LOL Eamonn may get his wish and be able to haul freight in this year's RTWR... but I get the real thing to watch weekly :( -->>

Wow thats a fast response.. :)