Pilots & Judges Guide

The Heli Masters is open for all radio controlled helicopters with following criteria:

• weight including batteries or fuel less than 10kg
• maximum rotor diameter 2m
• maximum 14S Lithium Polymer batteries = 60Volt
• automatic flight control systems are not allowed

The prohibited flying area behind the safety line is observed by the judges.

It is not allowed to touch the ground or any obstacles with the helicopter, excepting skids or tail fin.

If the safety line is crossed or the helicopter touches the ground except skids or tail fin, the flight is scored zero points/percent. The pilot has to land immediately.

If a serious damage is recognized by an airfield director or judge after the flight, the flight is also scored zero points/percent

After leaving the ready box, the pilot is allowed one caller. The caller is responsible for calling the set maneuvers and safety during the flight. The pilot must stand in front of the judges. The helicopter has to be carried from the ready box to the flying area. The competitor may choose his position during the flight with the following constraints: Don’t fly between the pilot and judges.

Start and landing have to be done in front of the safety line.

With significant damages the pilot must land his helicopter immediately for safety reasons. If a technical defect during a flight occurs, the competitor can restart once per round (prelimilary/finals) after all judges agreed. A restart verdict only occurs, if it isn’t a pilot’s mistake, just on a technical defect.

Highspeed maneuvers and highspeed maneuvers with sudden stops close to the pilot/caller/judges are not allowed.

In all kind of disputes and safety matters, the decision of the airfield director and judges is obligatory.

The number of judges is three or five. With five judges, the highest and lowest score will be canceled. The most important aspect of judging is consistency. Each judge must establish his standard and then maintain that standard throughout the competition. Judging accuracy is also very important.

The preliminary round consists of 3 flights:

• 1x set maneuver
• 1x freestyle ( 3:00 min )
• 1x flight to music ( 3:30 min )

After completion of every round, all scores will be normalized by awarding 1000 points to the highest scoring flight. The remaining scores are then normalized to a percentage in the ratio of actual score over the highest score of the round. The lowest score of the preliminary will be the throwaway score. The other scores are added together and then divided by the number of counting preliminary rounds. The result is the preliminary score. If only one round is possible then the classification will be based on that round.

After completion of the preliminary flights, the top 10 competitors are entitled to the Final flights:

• 1x set maneuver
• 1x freestyle ( 3:00 min )
• 1x flight to music ( 3:30 min )

The normalized results of the preliminary rounds for the top 10 pilots plus the three fly-off scores provide four normalized scores. All 4 scores are added together and then divided by the number of counting rounds. The result is the final score. If only one round is possible then the classification will be based on that round. Ties will be broken by counting the throwaway score.

If the tie still stands, a “sudden death“ flight to own music fly-off must take place until a decision is made.

Set maneuver

The competitor has to choose 6 figures from the catalog of total 22 set maneuvers. The text of the maneuver description takes precedence over the drawings. A maneuver that is not completed or not flown according to the description is scored zero (0) percent.

If a maneuver is scored zero percent all judges must agree.

The caller must announce the name, start and finish of each maneuver. All aerobatic maneuvers start and end with a straight and level flight of 10 meters minimum length parallel to the judges line.

All maneuvers from stationary flight start and end with a hovering of at least 1 second with the MA parallel or vertical to the flight line if not explicit mentioned at the description of the set maneuvers.

All maneuvers (considering also entry and exit) should be performed symmetrical to the center line. It´s not necessary to fly the set maneuver less than 1m flight level. Each maneuver is given a score between 0 and 100% with 5% increment by each judge.

Each judge downgrades from maximum 100% by following criteria:

• type of mistake
• heavy of mistake
• number of mistakes
• positioning of maneuver
• size and flight level of maneuvers compared to the other maneuvers

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Freestyle


The competitor should try to convince the judges from their flying abilities with a 3:00 min flight. Tolerance +/- 5s.


The flight will be judged for:

• Creativity (max.25%)
• Difficulty (max. 33%)
• Harmony (max. 25%)
• Precision (max.17%)

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Flight to music

The competitor should compose his own sequence of maneuvers to suit to a 3:30 min lasting music of his own choice. Tolerance +/- 5s. The flight time begins when the helper gives a distinctive hand signal and finishes only with another distinctive caller hand signal/end of music. If the music starts before the flight, the flight time starts not later then 15 seconds after the start of the music.

The flight will be judged for:

• Creativity (max.33%)
• Difficulty (max. 25%)
• Harmony (max. 25%)
• Precision (max.17%)

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Creativity:
Creativity does not mean just a collection of set maneuvers flown in strict order. Every pilot should create new styles/maneuvers or modify known maneuvers in the music flights. This new combinations or new maneuvers at all will lead to high scores. Also dynamic and diversified sequences are positive. There also should be a variety of different tempi in the presentation. Sequences without maneuvers or repetitions will lead to downgrades.

Difficulty:
This criterion evaluates the level of difficulty. The entire flight is be judged, not only some highlights. So the score reflects the average level of difficulty. The K-factors of the set maneuvers may give some reference values for the difficulty.

Harmony:
The the combination of maneuvers and the transitions between them is of influence. The size and dynamic of the maneuvers should fit to the performance of the helicopter. Harmony can be as well demonstrated in dynamic as in gentle sequences.

Precision:
Precision and recognition of maneuvers and sequences are evaluated here. The criterion is not as strict as for the set maneuvers and the whole flight is judged, but the principles are the same.