[Colin]

Hi Everyone,

With the ECHC being such a success at the Avon Valley Flyers field, we've decided to have them host the event again for 2013. I'm extremely excited to help put on a bigger, and better fun-fly for the 2013 flying season! Up-dates will follow in this thread. Please view the attached flyer to view our list of sponsors. I hope to see you there!

Here are the event details from MAAC's website: http://www.maac.ca/events/event_details.php?eid=3782

Here's a video from last year's event, taken by Jeremy Dann.

You Tube

You Tube

The contest will begin Saturday morning, at 8:00am, and conclude around 12:00pm. The rest of the weekend will open flying for everyone.

Contest rules and format will be exactly the same as last year. The maneuvers will remain unchanged as well - they seem to provide a good level of difficulty for those who competed. I will end up changing them as competitors gain experience and get better. This is supposed to be fun! I don't want everyone to have to work too hard to be able to compete. If you have any suggestions or would like to see changes made, I would be glad to do so. Please find the contest details below.


Class

There will be two classes - Beginner, and Intermediate. Both classes will share a similar format of different difficulties. Helicopters ranging from 450 to 700 size may be used in the beginner class, while a 550 or larger model will be required for the intermediate class.



Format

Each competitor will fly two separate flights. One will be a freestyle, and the other a known. Both flights will be approximately 3 minutes long. The pilot will fly two rounds of each flight.



Rules

The contestant must have valid MAAC or AMA insurance.

Unsafe flying (determined by the judges) will not be allowed. We want to keep this as safe and as fun as possible. You may be asked to stop flying if necessary.

__________________________________________________ _______________________________



Freestyle

This flight gives the competitor an opportunity to fly however he or she chooses. You are encouraged to put together a pre-planned flight before the contest. Judging will be based upon the following criteria.

1) Symmetry (does the pilot use both sides of the field equally?)

2) Diversity (does the pilot use all forms of flight? – upright, inverted, forward, backward?)

3) Precision and Control (does the pilot maintain straight and symmetrical lines during maneuvers, hold a constant altitude and speed through transitions, and place the helicopter where he/she wants?)

4) Consistency (does the pilot maintain the same flight qualities from the start of the flight through to the end?)

5) Creativity (does the pilot do any maneuvers that stand out, are maneuver transitions smooth and linked together, are there various types of styles used throughout the flight?)



Known

The known flight will consist of 5 pre-determined maneuvers for the beginner class, and 6 for the intermediate class. The contestant can fly them in whichever order he or she chooses. A spotter must inform the judges of the prior to the start of each maneuver by raising their hand above their head and lowering it down to their side. Judging will commence once the first maneuver is started, and end once the last maneuver is completed. Judging will be based upon the following criteria.

1) Symmetry (is the maneuver placed in the center of the pilot? Are all portions/legs of the maneuver symmetrical?)

2) Precision (does the pilot maintain straight and symmetrical lines during maneuvers, hold a constant altitude and speed, and place the helicopter where he/she wants?)

3) Consistency (does the pilot maintain the same flight qualities from the start of the flight through to the end?)



__________________________________________________ ________________________________





Known Maneuvers – Beginner Class



1) 360 Degree 4-point Hovering pirouette: The model will start the maneuver at eye level, with the tail facing the pilot. The pilot will execute a slow 360 degree pirouette in either direction, while pausing briefly every 90 degrees (approx 1 second).

- Deductions will be made for the following

- Altitude change

- Drift in any direction.

- Variation in pirouette speed.

- Variation in pause length

- Cyclic bobble (quick, abrupt corrections)



2) 540 Degree Stall Turn: The model will begin from straight and level, upright forward flight (from the right or left). The pilot must pull 90 degrees from level to vertical. Once the model stops its vertical ascent the pilot will complete a 540 degree pirouette, which puts the helicopter in a vertical nose down attitude. The model should follow the same line on the way down as it did on its way up. Once the model has traveled to the same point as the maneuver entry the pilot will pull 90 degrees from vertical to level upright, forward flight.

- Deductions will be made for the following

- Drift in any direction.

- Variation in pirouette speed.

- Entry and exit height are not the same

- Cyclic bobble (quick, abrupt corrections)



3) 2-Point Roll: The model will begin from straight and level, up-right forward flight (from the right of left). The pilot must complete a full 360 degree roll, with a pause at the 180 deg mark (approx. 1 second). The pause should take place as the helicopter passes in front of the pilot. The model will exit the maneuver up-right at the same altitude and speed at which it was entered.

- Deductions will be made for the following

- Variation in roll speed.

- Entry and exit height are not the same

- Entry and exit speed are not the same

- Up-right and inverted sections are not of equal length

- Maneuver is not centered in front of the pilot

- Cyclic bobble (quick, abrupt corrections)



4) Loop: The model will enter the maneuver from level, up-right forward flight. The pilot must complete a full inside (positive) loop.

- Deductions will be made for the following

- Variation in speed.

- Entry and exit height are not the same

- Entry and exit speed are not the same

- Maneuver is not centered in front of the pilot

- Cyclic bobble (quick, abrupt corrections)



5) Vertical Hovering Square: The maneuver will begin with the helicopter in a hover at eye level. The pilot must fly a vertical square shape with a brief pause at each corner. All legs of the square should be even, and flown at the same speed. Once the model returns to the starting point the maneuver will be considered complete.

- Deductions will be made for the following

- Altitude change during the horizontal portions of the square

- Drift in any direction.

- Variation in speed.

- Variation in pause length

- Cyclic bobble (quick, abrupt corrections)

__________________________________________________ ______________________________





Known Maneuvers – Intermediate Class





1) Hovering Inverted Triangle with 90 deg. pirouettes: The maneuver will begin at eye level with the tail facing the pilot. The helicopter must fly an inverted vertical triangle shape (starting from the bottom), while performing a 90 degree pirouette at each point of the triangle. The first leg of the maneuver will be a 45 degree up-line to the right or left of the pilot, once the model reaches the top of the triangle the helicopter will pause for a second and complete a 90 degree pirouette. The second leg will be side on relative to the pilot, and will be flown either forward or backward, once the leg is completed the model will pause for a second and complete another 90 degree pirouette. The third leg of the maneuver will be done nose in, and is a 45 degree down-line toward the initial starting point of the maneuver. Once the model reaches its original starting point the maneuver is complete.

- Deductions will be made for the following

- Variation in speed.

- Variation in pirouette speed

- Triangle shape is not symmetrical

- Entry and exit height are not the same

- Maneuver is not centered in front of the pilot

- Cyclic bobble (quick, abrupt corrections)

- Drift in any direction



2) Vertical (elevator) Tic-Tocs: The model will begin from a hover at a height the pilot is comfortable with. The model will do three full (2 o’clock to 10 o’clock represents one full tic-toc) consecutive tic-tocs, either tail down or nose down, side in or skids/disk in. Once the tic-tocs are completed the model should return to it’s original starting position, this will signify the end of the maneuver.

- Deductions will be made for the following

- Variation in cyclic speed

- Each side of the tic-toc does not share the same angle.

- Entry and exit height are not the same

- Maneuver is not centered in front of the pilot

- Cyclic bobble (quick, abrupt corrections)

- Drift in any direction





3) Loop with ½ roll: The model will enter from the right or left and pull to the half way point of a regular loop, centered in front of the pilot. Once the helicopter reaches the top of the loop the pilot must execute a ½ roll (to up-right). The second portion of the loop will be negative, the model will exit at the same point and at the same speed as the entry, the only difference being that the helicopter will be inverted.

- Deductions will be made for the following

- Variation in speed

- Loop is not round

- Entry and exit height are not the same

- Entry and exit speed are not the same

- Maneuver is not centered in front of the pilot

- Inward/outward drift



4) Cobra Roll: The model will enter the maneuver from either the right of left while flying forward. At a point before the model reaches the pilot the helicopter must pull to a 45 degree up line. At the half way point of the helicopters ascent the pilot will complete a ½ roll and continue the 45 degree up-line while inverted. Once the model is directly in front of the pilot he/she will pull to a 45 degree down line. Once the half way point of the down line is reached a ½ roll in the opposite direction will be completed and the rest of the down line will be flown up-right. The pilot must exit the maneuver at the same height and speed at which it was entered.

- Deductions will be made for the following

- ½ rolls are not centered in relation to the up line

- Entry and exit height are not the same

- Entry and exit speed are not the same

- Maneuver is not centered in front of the pilot

- Inward/outward drift







5) Up-right Backward Figure 8: The model will enter the maneuver from the left or right of the pilot, flying backward. The helicopter must follow a horizontal figure 8 pattern. Once the model crosses the same point at which the maneuver was started, the maneuver will be considered complete.

- Deductions will be made for the following

- Both “loops” of the 8 are not symmetrical

- Variation in altitude throughout the maneuver

- Variation in speed throughout the maneuver

- Maneuver is not centered in front of the pilot





6) Autorotation: The pilot must complete an autorotation from 100+ feet. The descent speed and path should be kept as constant as possible until the flair.

- Deductions will be made for the following

- Engine/motor is still driving the main rotor

- Variation of descent speed

- Rough touch down

[Colin]

Please copy and paste this form in an e-mail to me if you plan to attend the event. Pre-registration is $15, on-site registration will be $20. colin_bell3(at)hotmail.com

Thanks,

Colin




East Coast Heli Contest Registration


Name: __________________________________________________ __



Contest Class: Beginner ____ Intermediate____



Helicopter: ________________________________________________



MAAC/AMA #: ___________________________________________



Address: __________________________________________________



Frequency: ________________________________________________



Additional Info: ____________________________________________

[NinjaToes]

Looking forward to the event again this year

[Digger1973]

I am hoping to have that weekend off. Last year my vacation was canceled and I had to miss it.

[Tower]

Excellent'!!!!!!

Can't wait - been off line for awhile, we lost 2 furry family members back to back and it set us back a bit. Time to get some other events scheduled for next season - going to be a great heli-year in the maritimes! Lucky 13

[Colin]

Hi Everyone,

Last year was pretty tight for parking, and in an effort to allow cars to move around more freely we would like to put the campers/trailers at the far left of the parking area. This means you will have to have your camper on site by late Friday afternoon. There will be several of us setting up the field that evening, and it will make organization much easier (opposed to shuffling everything around Saturday morning). We only have enough room for 5 or 6 large campers.

If you plan to bring a trailer, please e-mail me with a heads up. We want to easily accommodate as many people as we can.

colin_bell3 (at) hotmail.com

Thanks,

Colin

[Colin]

We have now got Alan Szabo Jr. confirmed for this years event! It's already shaping up to be bigger and better than 2012.

I also need an e-mail from those who plan to participate in the contest, with your full name and which class you will be flying in.

Thanks for your help in making the prep. flow smoothly.

Colin

[al_voisine]

Looking forward to it, had a great time last year.

Suggest you start a new thread for 2013.

AL

[Colin]

Thanks Al! I appreciate your support, along with everyone else who attended and had a good time last year. I hope we can make it even better this year.

This is the 2013 thread The contest format has remained exactly the same, so it doesn't look much different.

Cheers,

Colin

[Jimmy P]

Wishin I lived about 2500 km's closer to get there. The Shag event seems to be dead this season was really hopin to meet and learn from better pilots, enjoy the event you guys sounds like a great time, cheers Jim.