Helicopters– C Matthew Chalker & CeAnn Chalker and

Disclaimer This presentation was prepared using draft rules. There may be some changes in the final copy of the rules. The rules which will be in your Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the official rules.

Helicopter Basics 2 ultra light helicopters built and tested prior to competition Flown indoors Timed for duration aloft No Impound Aircraft to be labeled with team’s identification name & number Must be helicopter (fly vertically) with up to 3 rotors

Rotors Rotors are defined as surfaces that contribute lift by rotating around a vertical axis. When counting rotors, all surfaces for a single rotor (no limit on how many surfaces) must follow a common path, the parts must be rigidly connected to each other, and the rotor must be powered.

Helicopter Basics Allowable Materials Wood, paper, plastic film covering, and glue Tape, Thread, wire, metal or plastic tubes, rubber bands or string may be used to attach major components Any dense material for ballast No rigid plastic for functional components Flight log for 10 previous flights before beginning their test flights at competition

Power for Helicopter Helicopter launched from hand Powered by wound rubber band

Building Specifications - Total mass of helicopter must be at least 4.0 grams (without rubber motor) 40.0 cm maximum rotor diameter 2.0 grams maximum mass Multiple allowed per flight, but total mass must be less than 2.0 grams

Flight Log 6 parameters for 10 previous flights prior to competition 3 required parameters Motor size before windup Winds on the motor at launch Flight time 3 Additional parameter examples Turns remaining at landing Estimated peak flight height Torque at launch Ambient conditions

Competition 8 minutes to launch their 2 nd flight after their 1 st declared official flight begins Motors impounded after check-in, are available only for official flights Teams must declare before any launches during the 8 minutes if it is an official flight or a trim flight. If not declared any launch will be considered official.

Competition During 8 minute Flight Period teams may: Make adjustments & repairs Launch trim flights Qualify additional motors Timing will be to the hundredth of a second Timing ends when any part of the helicopter touches the ground or comes to rest on any obstructions (even if prop continues to rotate)

Competition – Competitors only allowed in testing/flight area Test flights allowed throughout competition at the discretion of the Event Supervisor, ending at least by the last 30 mins. of the tournament Test flights will yield to official flights Multiple aircraft may test fly at once

Scoring Winner is team with the longest flight time for any single flight Ties broken by second flight time

Deductions & Violations – Flight Log discrepancies Incomplete flight logs will have 10% of the flight time deducted from each flight No flight log will have 30% of the flight time deducted from each flight Rule Violations without a specific penalty will be ranked after all teams that do not violate the rules

Resources & Supplies Resources indoornews.com indoorduration.com Yahoo Groups Wright Stuff SO website Supplies on line F1D.biz FAImodelsupply.com

Additional Resource Matthew Chalker