Flight Trimming

[franklinknights]

biggest thing to watch for is rafters. i had one glider stuck once 100 ft up. we ended up putting masking tape on the top of baloon and stuck it so it can come down. then u just seperate it. but if it touches the mylar ur going to hav to replace it

[sj]

A well built, low-mass helicopter won't free-fall rather it will glide slowly or at least it did in our case...

[illusionist]

Right, it shouldn't just fall, instead the heavier end (most likely the bottom) will lead the gliding descent.

[sj]

In addition a low mass helicopter probably wouldn't hit the ground with enough force to break it anyway. It's more probable that an attempt at catching it would break it.

[jander14indoor]

Two classic methods for rescuing helicopters or free flight planes when caught in ceiling. Other than a ladder or maintenance lift.
VERY long collapsible fishing pole, 20 ft or longer. Look for something called a Crappie pole. Available at Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's for something like $20 to $25. You can find 10 meter ones for less than $100. Longer are available but price seems to go up exponentially with length.

Already mentioned a largish helium balloon, probably will need the attachments mentioned. You can gain more control by adding a second or third line to steer and a dowel to poke into smaller places. Still less control than the fishing pole, but you can get it higher.

Best is not to get caught until you LAST flight AND to have an equally good backup copter.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[wlsguy]

AND to have an equally good backup copter.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

I think this is a key point for every team. Last year at Regionals, I noticed many teams did not have a backup WS plane and one of these teams (who did well in practice) managed to get their plane stuck and ended up running out of time trying to get it out of the rafters.

Time doesn't stop if your helicopter gets stuck in the competition. If (when) this happens, immediately go to your backup and get the first one down after you are finished flying.

[lllazar]

Well as long as you have a jig for the rotors, the rotors shouldn't be different between any two of your copters. Other than that, i don't see what other differences between the two could make a significant change in the flight time (as long as you do build them to be as close to identical as possible).

[illusionist]

Where are you guys testing? Normally I fly in the local elementary school's gym, but with winter break, everything is closed....

[sj]

Well we have a celling bumper so we just test in my basement even though the ceiling is only 8 ft but we still get really good times (our best in my basement is 90 secs) and it also gives us a chance to watch the entire flight close up.

[lllazar]

SJ do you use a probe?