MODEL HELICOPTERS SOUTH AFRICA

Competition Information

CLASS I | CLASS II | CLASS III | F3C

General Information

1. All AMA and FCC regulations governing the contestant, his equipment and model helicopter shall apply to this event, except as noted herein. Safety consideration of spectators, event personnel and participants shall be of primary importance.

2. Definition. A helicopter is a heavier-than-air model that derives all its lift and horizontal propulsion from a power-driven rotor system(s) rotating about a nominally vertical axis (or axes). Fixed horizontal supporting surfaces up to four (4) percent of the swept area of the lifting rotor(s) are permitted. A fixed or controllable horizontal stabilizer up to two (2) percent of the swept area of the lifting rotor(s) is permitted. Ground effect machines (hovercraft), convertiplanes, or aircraft that hover by means of propeller slipstream(s) deflected downward are not considered to be helicopters.

3. Prefabrication. A helicopter that is assembled by the builder from prefabricated parts and in which the builder installs the equipment is permitted.

4. Characteristics.

4.1. Area. Maximum swept area of the lifting rotor(s) is 250 square decimeters (26.02 square feet). Count only once any area of superposition, except coaxial helicopters whose rotors are farther than one (1) rotor radius apart, in which case, count the total area of both rotors.

4.2. Weight. Maximum of six (6) kilograms (13.22 pounds) without fuel and batteries.

4.3. Motor. Maximum total swept volume is:

4.3.1. Two-stroke glo motor(s); 15 cubic centimeters (0.91 cubic inches). Four-stroke motor(s); 20 cubic centimeters (1.21 cubic inches).

4.3.2. Two-stroke gasoline motor(s); 25 cubic centimeters (1.5 cubic inches).

4.3.3. Electric motor(s); maximum of 30 cells and one battery change after the hovering maneuvers.

4.3.4. It is recommended that noise level be monitored. The maximum noise level should be 96 decibels (dB) measured at three (3) meters from the center line of the model when the helicopter is in stationary hover at one and one-half (1-1/2) meters over concrete or macadam. If the model is hovered over bare ground or short grass, the level should be 94 dB. The measurement should be taken at a height of one and one-half (1-1/2) meters and at a 90 degree angle to the flight path. Additionally, this should be on the exhaust side and slightly downwind from the exhaust point. The contestant should be notified if the model fails the test, although, at this point, there shall be no penalty imposed.

4.4. Gyro. An electronic rate gyro may be used on the yaw axis only.

5. General.

5.1. All helicopters shall be subject to safety inspection at the discretion of the Contest Director.

5.2. Any helicopter judged unsafe or not flyable due to a crash may be reinspected prior to use.

5.3. Dangerous flying or unsportsmanlike behavior shall be grounds for disqualification.

5.4. All helicopters will have the contestant’s AMA number affixed, which may be located at the contestant’s discretion.

6. Contest Area Layout. Figure 1 shows the layout of the contest area.

6.1. One (1) meter = three and one-fourth (3-1/4) feet.

7. Number of Models. The number of helicopters eligible for entry is two (2). The contestant may change helicopters prior to signalling the start of the first maneuver.

8. Helpers. Each contestant may have only one (1) mechanic/caller. The helper may not act as coach; they may only announce the start and finish of each maneuver.

9. Number of Flights. Each contestant is entitled to three (3) official flights. Additional flights may be flown when time permits.

10. Official Flight. There is an official flight when the pilot is officially called, whatever the result. The flight may be repeated at the Contest Director’s discretion when for any unforeseen reason outside the control of the contestant, the helicopter fails to make a start, such as:

10.1. The takeoff cannot be made within the allowed time limit due to safety reasons.

10.2. The contestant can prove that takeoff was hindered by interference from outside.

10.3. Judging was impossible for reasons outside the control of the contestant (helicopter engine or radio failure is not considered outside the control of the contestant). In such cases, takeoff may be repeated immediately after the attempt, or after reporting to the CD during the same round, or with the approval of the CD after the round is completed.

11. Marking. Each maneuver may be awarded marks between zero (0) and 10 (including half (1/2) points) by each judge. Any maneuver not completed shall be scored zero (0).

12. Prohibited Area. There shall be an official that can observe any flight over the prohibited area (see Figure 1). An audible or visual signal shall be given to indicate such overflight. When a pilot is signaled as having overflown this area, any flight maneuvers remaining are scored zero (0) and the model must be landed as soon as possible. If the overflight occurred during a maneuver, then that maneuver shall be scored zero (0). Scores awarded to the point of the overflight shall remain. Note that the prohibited area extends to infinity.

13. No Score. Other than overflying the prohibited area, all maneuvers shall be scored. If an infringement has been made, the scores will be deleted on all cards. There shall be no score given when:

13.1. The contestant flies a helicopter that has been flown in the same contest by another contestant.

13.2. The contestant flies a helicopter that does not comply with the general characteristics of a radio controlled helicopter.

13.3. The contestant does not start the helicopter in the prescribed sequence.

13.4. The contestant does not turn in the transmitter to the impound or operates his transmitter during a round without permission.

13.5. The contestant does not release the helicopter at the prescribed takeoff point or requires the assistance of more than one (1) helper.

13.6. The contestant gets the transmitter from the impound before the first call and without permission.

13.7. The contestant switches on the transmitter before the second call (start engine and adjust helicopter).

13.8. The contestant’s helicopter exceeds eye level during the preparation period.

14. Classification. The classification for a single round is determined by normalizing the raw scores against the highest score for that round. Normalized score = raw score/high score for round X 1,000 (two (2) decimal places, i.e., XXX.XX.

14.1. The scores for a round must be clearly posted as soon as possible after the completion of the round.

14.2. It is recommended that raw scores be posted as soon as possible during each round.

14.3. The final classification will be determined by the sum of all flights, except the lowest one which is cancelled. If only one (1) flight has been made, then the final classification will be obtained by this single flight. In the case of a tie within the first three (3) places, the final classification shall be determined by a flyoff that should occur within one (1) hour of the normal finishing time of the contest. In the event that a flyoff is not possible due to conditions outside of the contestant’s and organizer’s control, for example, weather, then the final classification shall be determined by the ranking of the canceled scores. In the event of only a single flight or a tie still exists after using the canceled score, then the tie will stand.

15. Judging. It is recommended that a panel of five (5) judges be appointed for each round. The final score of each flight is obtained after discarding the highest and lowest marks for each maneuver. When less than five (5) judges are used, the marks given by all judges shall be used. The minimum number of judges to be used is three (3).

15.1. It is highly recommended that the judges are given a 20 minute break every two (2) hours. The organizer should take this into account when scheduling flights and notification of the break point should be made known to the judges and contestants.

16. Class Advancement. At their first contest, a contestant may enter any one (1) class at his option. Once committed to a class, the contestant will only be allowed to move to a higher skill class (except as noted in 16.6. and 16.7.). This move will occur in one of two ways: (1) voluntary, (2) mandatory.

16.1. Contestants may promote themselves voluntarily to a higher skill class at any time. Once they have made the move, they may not change back to a lower skill class, except as noted in 16.6. and 16.7.

16.2. A contestant will be mandatorily advanced through all AMA classes by the accumulation of points. In each class, a contestant will receive points according to the finishing place in every contest in which he competes. Contestants finishing third or lower will receive one (1) point for each contestant they beat. The second place winner will receive two (2) points for each contestant they beat. The first place winner will receive three (3) points for every contestant they beat. No more than 40 points shall be earned from any single contest. The points received will be determined from the Contest Director’s report and recorded in the contestant’s cumulative record.

16.3. Contestants will automatically advance to the next class when they have accumulated the following points:

Class I and II 90 points

Class III 150 points

The advancement will occur at the end of that calendar year.

16.4. There is no time limit for obtaining advancement points. The advancement points continue to accumulate from year to year until, if ever, the advancement goal is reached.

16.5. When a contestant enters a new class, he begins with zero (0) points.

16.6. Exception: Acontestant may compete in a higher class at a contest if his class is not offered without committing to a permanent move to a higher class. He may not fly in a lower class than his current rating. When a contestant competes in a higher class as provided for in this rule, he will still accumulate points as though he had entered his own class.

16.7. Exception: Acontestant may be reclassified to a lower class if he has written joint approval from a CD, District Contest Board member and an AMA District Vice President.

17. Organization of the Contest.

17.1. Preparation Time.

17.1.1. General. Acontestant must be called at least five (5) minutes before he is required to enter the start box. A start box two (2) meters in diameter will be provided away from the flightline, spectators, contestants, and models. When the timekeeper, with the permission of the Flightline Director, gives the signal to start the engine, the contestant is given five (5) minutes to start the engine and make last minute adjustments. The contestant may continue with preparation beyond the five (5) minute period; however, when this occurs, the flight time will automatically begin when the preparation time ends.

17.1.2. Class I. The contestant cannot hover the model in the start box and must carry the helicopter from the start box to the central helipad. Class I contestants can make last minute adjustments at the central helipad. If the engine stops before the contestant has signaled the start of the first maneuver, it may be restarted. The contestant must return to the start box for a restart. The flight time begins when the contestant announces the start of the first maneuver or when the five (5) minute preparation time expires.

17.1.3. Class II and III. The contestant must complete the preparation and adjustments while the model is still in the start box. The helicopter may only be hovered in the start box up to eye level without practicing any maneuvers. The model must be flown from the start box to the central helipad. The flight time begins when the model leaves the start box with the permission of the judges or when the five (5) minute preparation time expires. The contestant is not allowed to touch the model after leaving the start box.

17.2. Flight Time.

17.2.1. Class I—six (6) minutes.

17.2.2. Class II—eight (8) minutes.

17.2.3. Class III—eight (8) minutes.

18. Performance of Maneuvers.

18.1. A new score sheet is issued for each contestant for each round. It is recommended that only the pilot number and not his name appear on the score sheet.

18.2. The maneuvers are executed in the order described. Every maneuver executed out of order shall be scored zero (0).

18.3. No takeoff or landing is allowed if it is not explicitly indicated in the description of the maneuver except as provided for in 28.5.2. If such happens, the next maneuver will be scored zero (0).

18.4. The maneuvers should be performed in a smooth flowing sequence.

18.5. Flying maneuvers shall be flown parallel to the flight line.

18.6. The name of each maneuver and its start and finish must be announced by the pilot or his helper. Unannounced maneuvers will not be scored. The contestant may make only one (1) attempt to execute each maneuver during a flight. No practice attempt is allowed.

18.7. If the flight time expires before a maneuver is completed, that maneuver and any remaining will be scored zero (0), and the pilot is required to land as soon as possible. An audible or visual signal will be given to the pilot if the flight time expires.

19. Schedule of Maneuvers.

19.1. Class I.

19. 1. 1. Tail-in Vertical Triangle

19.1.2. Constant Heading Circle

19.1.3. Tail-in Vertical Rectangle

19.1.4. Spike with 90 Degree Pirouettes

19.1.5. Pass in Review

19.2. Class II.

19.2.1. Vertical Triangle

19.2.2. Constant Heading Eight

19.2.3. Vertical Rectangle

19.2.4. Spike with 90 and 180 Degree Pirouettes

19.2.5. Stall Turn

19.2.6. Cobra Vee

19.2.7. Loop

19.2.8. Translational Landing

19.3. Class III.

19.3.1. Vertical Triangle with 180 Degree Pirouettes

19.3.2. Nose-in Circle

19.3.3. Vertical Rectangle with 360 Degree Pirouettes

19.3.4. 540 Degree Stall Turn

19.3.5. Slow Roll

19.3.6. Immelmann S

19.3.7. Stall Turn with 1/2 Roll

19.3.8. Autorotation with 180 Degree Turn

19.4. FAI F3C shall be governed solely by the

rule in the FAI Sporting Code.

JUDGING GUIDE AND MANEUVER DESCRIPTIONS

20. Purpose. To furnish an accurate description of helicopter maneuvers and their judging criteria as reference for use in developing a uniformly high standard of judging. This also should serve as a guide for the contestant to understand scoring criteria.

21. Principles. Judging a helicopter maneuver should be based upon the perfection with which the helicopter executes the maneuver as described. The main principles used to judge the degree of perfection are:

Precision of the maneuver.

Smoothness and gracefulness of the maneuver.

Positioning of the maneuver.

22. Consistent Judging. The most important aspect of consistent judging is for each judge to establish his standard and then maintain that standard throughout the contest. It is advisable for the Contest Director or organizer to hold a conference prior to the start to discuss judging and make the standards as uniform as possible. This can be effected by using practice flights in which all judges score privately. After each flight, the defects in each maneuver should be discussed by all judges and agreement reached about the severity of the defects. Once the contest is started, the individual judge should not alter his standard under any influence.

23. Accurate Judging. Of equal importance to consistency is accuracy in judging. Being consistent, either high or low, is not good enough if the scores awarded are not a fair reflection of the maneuver performed.

24. Final Mark. The final mark will be between zero (0) and ten (10) to include one-half points.

25. Perfect Marks. Flawless maneuvers are rarely observed in competition, but every flawless maneuver should be awarded a 10.

26. Downgrades. Variations noted should be downgraded; the more serious the error, the greater the downgrade. The judge must keep in mind the overall maneuver in order not to overpenalize any given element of the maneuver.

27. Wind Correction. All maneuvers are required to be wind corrected so that the shape of the maneuver is preserved.

28. Terms. The following terms are used to describe maneuvers and are used in the downgrading guidelines. The intent is to identify specifically what is expected whenever the term is used.

28.1. Takeoff. The helicopter should rise smoothly from the helipad with a vertical ascent to the altitude described, without movement, either horizontally or about the yaw axis.

28.2. Stop. All stops must remain stationary for not less than two (2) seconds. Stops of less than two (2) seconds should be more severely downgraded than poor stops that meet the two (2) second criteria.

28.3. Horizontal Hovering Line. The helicopter moves from one (1) point to another with constant altitude, speed, and heading. The helicopter also must stay in the vertical plane between the two (2) points it is traversing. All lines should be flown at a consistent pace, both individually and as a whole for the maneuver.

28.4. Pirouettes. The helicopter rotates slowly and at a constant pace through 360 degrees. The helicopter does not move either horizontally or vertically.

28.5. Landing. The helicopter should descend smoothly and vertically to the helipad, without movement, horizontally or about the yaw axis. The helicopter should land smoothly, with no more than a very short hesitation between the vertical descent and the landing.

28.5.1. If the helicopter lands with the skids completely outside the helipad, a severe downgrade should be made. Aperfect mark can be awarded only if the landing is centered in the helipad.

28.5.2. When the helicopter does not land in the center of the helipad and the next maneuver requires a takeoff, it may be hovered to the center of the helipad prior to the beginning of the next maneuver without penalty. The helicopter may not be touched and any hover involved must not exceed one (1) foot in altitude.

28.6. Pilot Position. All hovering maneuvers specify an initial fixed pilot position.

• 28.6.1. Class I. Class I position is fixed to a two (2) meter line on side of box closest to the judges. If the pilot moves from the fixed position from the beginning to the end of the flight a severe downgrade shall be imposed.

28.6.2. Class II. Class II pilot position is fixed to a two (2) meter line on the side of the box closest to the judges. If the pilot moves from the fixed position from beginning to the end of the flight, a severe downgrade shall be imposed.

28.6.3. Class III. Class III pilot position is fixed to the four (4) meter pad on the side of the box closest to the judges. If the pilot moves from this position from the beginning to the end of the flight, a severe downgrade shall be imposed.

28.7. Helicopter Attitude. During hovering maneuvers, the actual attitude of the helicopter is primarily influenced by the wind direction and strength and is not a consideration in scoring.

28.8 Hover Positioning. Generally, this is a vertical placement of the helicopter over a reference point (e.g., flag) described in the maneuver. The reference point on the helicopter is the rotor shaft.

28.9. Maneuver Position. All flight maneuvers must be flown within the judging window. This area is approximately 60 degrees vertically and 90 degrees horizontally from the central helipad. Any maneuver flown partially outside this window should be severely downgraded. Any maneuver flown entirely outside this window should receive a mark of zero (0).

28.9.1. All flight maneuvers are started or centered at a specific position, generally the “mid-line.” Maneuvers flown out of position should be downgraded

according to the misplacement. Judges who are not positioned on the “midline” must be careful not to perceive positioning errors due to their slightly angled view.

28.9.2. Flying so far out, so close in, or so high as to make evaluation of a maneuver difficult should be severely downgraded.

28.10. Eye Level. The skids or undercarriage of the helicopter should be approximately at the height of the pilot’s eyes. Naturally, this varies with different pilots. The judge should consider all the elements to be flown at eye level as a group. Because the eye level height is considered a safety requirement, a more severe downgrade should generally be given for being low as opposed to high.

28.11. Entry and Exit Lines. All flight maneuvers are started and ended by a horizontal line that is parallel to the horizon and the flightline. Entry and exit lines must be no shorter than described for a particular maneuver. Lines longer than required should not be downgraded so long as the entry and exit lines are reasonable and of approximately the same length. The actual attitude of the helicopter need not be level. It is the flight path that is being scored.

28.12. Smoothness. During all parts of flying maneuvers, the helicopter must maintain smooth flight which is free of wobbles, bobbles, oscillations, and segmentations.

29.Description of Maneuvers. Following each description is a Downgrading Guide. Many elements have been described in detail previously and that guideline should be used for scoring. The list is in general order of importance

Class 1

 

 

Class 2

 

Class 3

 

F3C

 

• .

Competition Related Information Links