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At the Union CC Regionals in NJ this year there was a network of girders positioned about 2 feet below the ceiling. A good number of helicopters lodged themselves up there, coming down in pieces only after adults dislodged them using balloons.

My first helicopter flight hit a girder on its way down, causing the helicopter to flip and fall sideways, hurting the duration.

The second flight hit an intersection of girders....and stayed there.

Now, the first flight still received 3rd place, but I was wondering: has anyone made or tried making a helicopter that ascends less (with a maximum height well below the ceiling height) while still attaining a decent duration?

XieXie wrote:At the Union CC Regionals in NJ this year there was a network of girders positioned about 2 feet below the ceiling. A good number of helicopters lodged themselves up there, coming down in pieces only after adults dislodged them using balloons.

My first helicopter flight hit a girder on its way down, causing the helicopter to flip and fall sideways, hurting the duration.

The second flight hit an intersection of girders....and stayed there.

Now, the first flight still received 3rd place, but I was wondering: has anyone made or tried making a helicopter that ascends less (with a maximum height well below the ceiling height) while still attaining a decent duration?

Wow that really sucks. You weren't able to get it down?

As for the NJIT regionals the event was held in a room of good height with a flat ceiling. Winning time (me) was 1:13 followed by 1:07.

They bumped it with a balloon until the rotor shattered and it came down in pieces. Same with 4 other helicopters that I saw, and at least a few more during the other sessions. I only had about 30 seconds, but obviously not under optimal conditions.

What was the winning time?

Unfortunate.

Those rafters were really annoying.

Did you see the RC helicopter rescue mission? It was hilarious!

They didn't announce it at awards, is there anywhere I could find out? This was my first science olympiad competition, so pardon my newbieness

I did see the "rescue mission"! It tore apart all of the mylar on my wings though, without moving it an inch. But it was a great idea.

It was funny to watch. Not extremely effective. I have no idea what they were thinking, if the rotors on the RC helicopter clip your helicopter, it's moving at such a high speed that it'd break your helicopter.

Oh, I'm also going to say that helicopters is a really big luck game. Flights that barely meet the rafters (or girders) well never do well compared to a successful flight that does go completely past them.

On an regular 8-foot ceiling and over 1000 winds (not sure what size rubber... .083?) my helicopter only does about half a minute meh
I haven't yet had the chance to test on a higher ceiling... I would do it at school, but guard is always practicing >.>
I know some wobble is natural/will always be there, but is there any way to reduce... I would say wobble but it's more like wild careening caused by the rotor axes being too far apart? I tried clay (it's underweight anyway)... ? Something to think about when I make my next one

Wobble from spaced out rotors? Strange. With the 11 or so helicopters I've made to test different variables/factors, it seems like the rotors that are CLOSER apart are more wobbly and have a tendency to flip. The only time I had wobble from a decently long motorstick -- about a foot long -- was when my friend released a helicopter (err...threw it into the air) awkwardly. Perhaps you could try different releasing methods, or see if the helicopter is balanced?