At 3D Masters 2006 Jeff Barringer, 3D Masters Contest Director, released details of 3DX, a global 3D format for 3D helicopter competition.

The standard, based on the successful 3D Masters format, will allow entrants to choose 6 Set Manoeuvres from the current set of 30 3D Masters Set Manoeuvres coupled with a Freestyle sequence. The structure also lends itself to Electric Indoor events and employs a peer-judging system at its simplest level, rising to one or more 3D Masters Judges presiding over higher-level events.

Commenting on the Standard, Jeff Barringer explained: " the main reasons for the incredible success of 3D Masters have been the testing format and the quality of the judging. We cannot hope to provide judges for every 3D competition in the World, but we believe that the new 3DX format will allow pilots to arrive at a consensus over who was the best pilot on the day. The best person to judge a 3D pilot is another 3D pilot, and by rolling out 3DX to the world, we not only breed pilots, we breed judges too. "

Larger 3DX events will be supported by 3D Masters, who will provide judges and advice and help with infrastructure. All 3DX events will be registered and their progress monitored on the new 3DX website www.3dx.eu.com , where organisers will publish details, reports and pictures of their events so that the 3DX movement can be monitored by the 3D World.

Over the years 3D Masters has created its own momentum, leading to the current dynamic and exciting 3D scene where people from all over the World wait in anticipation for the annual 3D Masters results. The aim now is to continue to drive forward in order to maintain the vitality of the Sport, build interest from the public, and make 3D competition more accessible. There is now sufficient interest and investment tied up in 3D to warrant a World Standard against which everyone can be judged, and over the next few years to evolve a seeding system leading to meaningful World rankings.

3D Masters has now sown these seeds with the 3DX standard, and we look forward to watching the 3D movement flourish and grow.