THERE IS NO real column this month, as we are in the middle of the Nationals. I am happy to report that as of this point, all events are running very well and have great participation; more in the next column. We have a safety proposal to publish this month for Radio Control (RC) Scale Helicopter. This proposal has been put into effect by the AMA president, the Contest Board coordinator, and the chairman of the Scale Contest Board. For the proposal to remain in effect, it must be published; four weeks after publication we will take a ratification vote of the Scale Contest board. Safety Proposal RC Scale Helicopter Submitted by Peter Wales, AMA 532418 For event 518 All changes are in italics 1. General. All pertinent AMA regulations (see sections entitled Sanctioned Competitions, record, Selection of Champions. General and Scale General) shall be applicable except as specified below. 2. Safety. All models shall be subject to a safety inspection at the discretion of the Contest Director. A model judged to be unflyable due to a crash must be reinspected prior to reuse. Dangerous flying or poor sportsmanship shall be grounds for disqualification. 3. Model Requirements. There shall be no limitation on the types of equipment that can be fitted to the helicopter. Each contestant shall be permitted (1) model entry. 4. Proof of Scale. Contestants shall present the following materials with the helicopter for static judging. a. A published 3-view or more drawing and b. Pictures published or otherwise pertaining to color markings and details 5. Static Judging. Static judging is to be done at the flying site. It is recommended that different judges work the static and flying portions of the contest. The judging shall be done at a distance of two (2) meters. The model may be placed on an elevated or rotating table if desired. 6. Static Scoring. Entries shall be judged on the following items, with a maximum of 100 points each. Total of three (3) judges (Maximum 1800 points) a. Fuselage b. Cockpit c. Landing gear d. Rotor systems e. Craftsmanship f. Finish and markings 7. Flight Plan. (See contest area layout page 101). All maneuvers shall commence and end at the scale (S) helipad. The maneuvers shall be flown in proper sequence and away from the spectators. The pilot shall remain in the pilots box during all maneuvers. A minimum of one (1) meter altitude shall be maintained for all maneuvers. Each contestant shall have three (3) minutes to start his engine. This time may be used for adjusting and trimming as long as the engine is started within the allotted time. Once the contestant has announced the start of the first maneuver, he is not allowed to make any adjustments to the helicopter. Engine restarts after the flight has commenced are not allowed. All models shall be carried from the start box to the helipad. Models shall not be flown from the helipad to the pit area. Contestants shall fly the following maneuvers, each with a K factor of six (6) in the following order: a. Fifteen second hover and 45 degree climbout b. Rectangular traffic pattern •• e. Translational landing d. 360 degree circle e. Freestyle maneuver (two [2] minutes maximum) The maximum flying time is five (5) minutes. Helipads shall be 1.2 meters in diameter. All scale maneuvers shall commence at the scale (Labeled "S" on layout) helipad. 8. Flight Scoring. Should a flight be aborted it shall be considered an official attempt upon completion of two (2) maneuvers. All contestants shall be permitted to fly as many equal rounds as time allows. Contestants shall fly the same equipment as that which was static judged. Should part of the aircraft be damaged so as to be replaced, that portion of the helicopter shall be rejudged. All maneuvers shall be judged zero to ten (0-10), this figure being multiplied by the K-factors indicated. The flight score shall be the sum of the scores from the three (3) judges. (Maximum score = 900 points) 9. Official Score. The final score shall be the sum of the best two (2) flight scores plus the static score (maximum = 3600 points). If only two (2) rounds are flown then those two (2) rounds will be combined with the static score to determine the total. If three (3) or more rounds are flown, the best two (2) rounds shall be added to the static score to determine the total. Scale Helicopter Judges Guide 1. Fifteen second Hover and 45 degree climbout. Helicopter lifts off smoothly from the scale helipad and establishes a stationary hover attitude directly over the Scale helipad at an altitude of 1-2 meters. (delete "and with a heading into the wind" and all other references to wind direction). The stationary hover must be maintained for a minimum of 15 seconds. The helicopter then turns right through 90 degrees and ascends at an angle of 45 degrees to a minimum altitude of 8 meters and continues to fly straight and at a constant altitude to flag number 4. 2. Rectangular traffic pattern. The maneuver starts upon completion of the 45 degree climbout. The helicopter flies at a constant altitude along the baseline to flag number 4, executes a 90 degree turn away from the baseline and then flies on that heading for a distance of 15 meters. The helicopter then executes the second 90 degree turn to fly at the same constant altitude to flag number I. The helicopter executes a third 90 degree turn back towards the baseline flies on that heading for 15 meters and then executes the last 90 degree turn back onto the baseline headed towards the Scale helipad. 3. Translational landing. The maneuver starts at a minimum altitude of 8 meters and upon completion of the rectangular traffic pattern. At the chosen altitude the helicopter enters a translational straight line descent to a soft landing on the scale helipad. Maximum score is achieved when the touchdown is preceded by a minimum duration altitude/hover. 4. 360 degree circle. Maneuver starts when the helicopter lifts off smoothly from the scale helipad into an ascending 180 left hand turn of 15 meters diameter to the altitude (3 meters minimum) at which the circle is to take place starting at flag number one or flag number 6. At this point the helicopter proceeds to fly a left hand 360 degree circle of 30 meters diameter centered on the scale helipad at a constant altitude and maneuver is completed by flying a descending left hand 180 degree turn and landing on the scale helipad. 5. Freestyle maneuvers. Pilot will announce the start of the freestyle flight prior to liftoff. Flight will commence and end at the scale helipad. Maneuver must be described and or sketched on scoresheet Duration of the flight may not exceed 2 minutes. The main objective is to demonstrate the flight capabilities and functions of the actual full size helicopter Scoring will be based on smoothness. precision, realistic speed and judges impression of the overall presentation including takeoff and landing. A requirement in any flying maneuver of a minimum altitude, diameter or distance should be strictly enforced. Any maneuver flown that does not approximately meet the minimum altitude, diameter or distance stated shall only be allowed a maximum score of two lor that maneuver.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2002/10
Page Numbers: 170, 173
Edition: Model Aviation - 2002/10
Page Numbers: 170, 173
THERE IS NO real column this month, as we are in the middle of the Nationals. I am happy to report that as of this point, all events are running very well and have great participation; more in the next column. We have a safety proposal to publish this month for Radio Control (RC) Scale Helicopter. This proposal has been put into effect by the AMA president, the Contest Board coordinator, and the chairman of the Scale Contest Board. For the proposal to remain in effect, it must be published; four weeks after publication we will take a ratification vote of the Scale Contest board. Safety Proposal RC Scale Helicopter Submitted by Peter Wales, AMA 532418 For event 518 All changes are in italics 1. General. All pertinent AMA regulations (see sections entitled Sanctioned Competitions, record, Selection of Champions. General and Scale General) shall be applicable except as specified below. 2. Safety. All models shall be subject to a safety inspection at the discretion of the Contest Director. A model judged to be unflyable due to a crash must be reinspected prior to reuse. Dangerous flying or poor sportsmanship shall be grounds for disqualification. 3. Model Requirements. There shall be no limitation on the types of equipment that can be fitted to the helicopter. Each contestant shall be permitted (1) model entry. 4. Proof of Scale. Contestants shall present the following materials with the helicopter for static judging. a. A published 3-view or more drawing and b. Pictures published or otherwise pertaining to color markings and details 5. Static Judging. Static judging is to be done at the flying site. It is recommended that different judges work the static and flying portions of the contest. The judging shall be done at a distance of two (2) meters. The model may be placed on an elevated or rotating table if desired. 6. Static Scoring. Entries shall be judged on the following items, with a maximum of 100 points each. Total of three (3) judges (Maximum 1800 points) a. Fuselage b. Cockpit c. Landing gear d. Rotor systems e. Craftsmanship f. Finish and markings 7. Flight Plan. (See contest area layout page 101). All maneuvers shall commence and end at the scale (S) helipad. The maneuvers shall be flown in proper sequence and away from the spectators. The pilot shall remain in the pilots box during all maneuvers. A minimum of one (1) meter altitude shall be maintained for all maneuvers. Each contestant shall have three (3) minutes to start his engine. This time may be used for adjusting and trimming as long as the engine is started within the allotted time. Once the contestant has announced the start of the first maneuver, he is not allowed to make any adjustments to the helicopter. Engine restarts after the flight has commenced are not allowed. All models shall be carried from the start box to the helipad. Models shall not be flown from the helipad to the pit area. Contestants shall fly the following maneuvers, each with a K factor of six (6) in the following order: a. Fifteen second hover and 45 degree climbout b. Rectangular traffic pattern •• e. Translational landing d. 360 degree circle e. Freestyle maneuver (two [2] minutes maximum) The maximum flying time is five (5) minutes. Helipads shall be 1.2 meters in diameter. All scale maneuvers shall commence at the scale (Labeled "S" on layout) helipad. 8. Flight Scoring. Should a flight be aborted it shall be considered an official attempt upon completion of two (2) maneuvers. All contestants shall be permitted to fly as many equal rounds as time allows. Contestants shall fly the same equipment as that which was static judged. Should part of the aircraft be damaged so as to be replaced, that portion of the helicopter shall be rejudged. All maneuvers shall be judged zero to ten (0-10), this figure being multiplied by the K-factors indicated. The flight score shall be the sum of the scores from the three (3) judges. (Maximum score = 900 points) 9. Official Score. The final score shall be the sum of the best two (2) flight scores plus the static score (maximum = 3600 points). If only two (2) rounds are flown then those two (2) rounds will be combined with the static score to determine the total. If three (3) or more rounds are flown, the best two (2) rounds shall be added to the static score to determine the total. Scale Helicopter Judges Guide 1. Fifteen second Hover and 45 degree climbout. Helicopter lifts off smoothly from the scale helipad and establishes a stationary hover attitude directly over the Scale helipad at an altitude of 1-2 meters. (delete "and with a heading into the wind" and all other references to wind direction). The stationary hover must be maintained for a minimum of 15 seconds. The helicopter then turns right through 90 degrees and ascends at an angle of 45 degrees to a minimum altitude of 8 meters and continues to fly straight and at a constant altitude to flag number 4. 2. Rectangular traffic pattern. The maneuver starts upon completion of the 45 degree climbout. The helicopter flies at a constant altitude along the baseline to flag number 4, executes a 90 degree turn away from the baseline and then flies on that heading for a distance of 15 meters. The helicopter then executes the second 90 degree turn to fly at the same constant altitude to flag number I. The helicopter executes a third 90 degree turn back towards the baseline flies on that heading for 15 meters and then executes the last 90 degree turn back onto the baseline headed towards the Scale helipad. 3. Translational landing. The maneuver starts at a minimum altitude of 8 meters and upon completion of the rectangular traffic pattern. At the chosen altitude the helicopter enters a translational straight line descent to a soft landing on the scale helipad. Maximum score is achieved when the touchdown is preceded by a minimum duration altitude/hover. 4. 360 degree circle. Maneuver starts when the helicopter lifts off smoothly from the scale helipad into an ascending 180 left hand turn of 15 meters diameter to the altitude (3 meters minimum) at which the circle is to take place starting at flag number one or flag number 6. At this point the helicopter proceeds to fly a left hand 360 degree circle of 30 meters diameter centered on the scale helipad at a constant altitude and maneuver is completed by flying a descending left hand 180 degree turn and landing on the scale helipad. 5. Freestyle maneuvers. Pilot will announce the start of the freestyle flight prior to liftoff. Flight will commence and end at the scale helipad. Maneuver must be described and or sketched on scoresheet Duration of the flight may not exceed 2 minutes. The main objective is to demonstrate the flight capabilities and functions of the actual full size helicopter Scoring will be based on smoothness. precision, realistic speed and judges impression of the overall presentation including takeoff and landing. A requirement in any flying maneuver of a minimum altitude, diameter or distance should be strictly enforced. Any maneuver flown that does not approximately meet the minimum altitude, diameter or distance stated shall only be allowed a maximum score of two lor that maneuver.
