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Igor I. Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition
Regulations

Contents

1. 1. General
2. 2. Prize
3. 3. Eligibility
4. 4. Conditions of Entry
5. 5. Application for Entry
6. 6. General Conditions

Other links:

• General information on the Human Powered Helicopter Competition.

1.1 The prize will be awarded by the AHS to the entrant who first fulfills the conditions.

1.2 Additionally, an attempt will be registered with the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) as a World Record for Human-Powered Helicopter Flight duration.

2.1 The AHS prize in U.S. $20,000.

3.1 The competition is international and is open to individuals or teams from any part of the world.

3.2 Any questions regarding the acceptance of entries, eligibility of entrant, pilot, crew or aircraft under these regulations, or any other matter relating to the AHS prize, the decision of the AHS is final.

3.3 All questions regarding the world record attempt will be governed by the sporting code of the FAI and rest exclusively with the NAC.

4.1 Aircraft

4.1.1 The machine shall be a heavier-than-air machine. The use of lighter-than- air gases shall be prohibited.

4.1.2 The machine shall be a rotary wing configuration capable of vertical takeoff and landing in still air, and at least one member of the crew shall be non-rotating.

4.1.3 The machine shall be powered and controlled by the crew during the entire flight, including accelerating the rotor up to takeoff speed.

4.1.4 No devices for storing energy either for takeoff or for use in flight shall be permitted. Rotating aerodynamic components, such as rotor blades, used for lift and/or control are exempt from consideration as energy storing devices.,

4.1.5 No part of the machine shall be jettisoned during the flight including the rotor spin-up and takeoff.

4.2 Crew

4.2.1 The crew shall be those persons in the machine during takeoff and flight, and there shall be no limit set to their number.

4.2.2 No member of the crew shall be permitted to leave or enter the aircraft t at any time during takeoff or flight.

4.2.3 No drugs or stimulants shall be used by any member of the crew. An assurance must be given to the official observers at the time of the attempt that this requirement has been met.

4.2.4 Up to two handlers or ground crew shall be permitted to assist in stabilizing the machine during takeoff and landing, but in such a manner that they do not assist in accelerating or decelerating any part of the machine.

4.3 Ground Conditions

4.3.1 All attempts, which shall include the takeoff, shall be made over approximately level ground (i.e., with a slope not exceeding I in 100 in amy direction).

4.3.2 All attempts shall be made in still air, which shall be defined as a wind not exceeding a mean speed of approximately one meter per second (3-1 kilometers per hour, 2.23T statute miles per hour, 1.5 nautical miles per hour) over the period of the flight.

4. Flight Requirements

4.4.1 The flight requirements shall consist of hovering for one minute while maintaining flight within a 10-meter square. During this time the lowest part of the machine shall exceed momentarily 3 meters above the ground.

4.4.2 The machine shall be in continuous flight from takeoff to landing, and at no time during the flight shall any part of the machine touch the ground.

4.4.3 A reference point on the non-rotating part of the machine will be established an a means whereby the observers can judge that the machine stayed within the confines of the 10-meter square.

4.4.4 The one minute hovering time and the momentary achievement of 3 meters altitude is required to win the AHS prize. (However, the FAI 1980 regulations specify that only the duration of the flight and a momentary achievement of 3 meters altitude will be recorded for the FAX world record attempt, making it possible to achieve a world record without satisfying the AHS prize requirements.)

4.5 Observation

Every attempt shall be observed by the NAC or by any persons authorized by them to act as observers. It may take place in the competitors own country if it is affiliated to the FAI. In a country not so, it could be advantageous to conduct the flight in a neighboring country which is so affiliated.

Back to Table of Contents.

5.1 Entry forms shall be obtained from and returned to the American Helicopter Society. 217 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 684-6777. email: Staff@vtol.org

5.2 The entry fee shall be U.. $15 (made payable to the American Helicopter Society).

5.3 Each entry form shall contain an application for official observation of the competitors attempt.

5.4 The entrant shall undertake to abide by the conditions for official observation as set out on the entry form and application for official observation and shall undertake to defray all expenses incurred in connection with the official observation of the attempt.

5.5 The following fees and charges are made by the NAA for record attempts in Class I, Human Powered Aircraft. All attempts shall be for national and international records.

5.6 Final notice of the proposed time and place of the attempt requiring official observation may, if so desired, be sent to the AHS later than the entry form. It must in all cases be received at least thirty days before the proposed date f or the attempt. This time is required by the NAC (the NAA in the U.S.A.) to arrange for official observation. Applications will be considered in order of receipt.

5.7 Membership in the appropriate NAC and an FAI Sporting License in required for all crew members taking part in this competition. Application forms may be obtained from the NAC or the AHS. For this competition, a pilot's license is not required.

6.1 Insurance

The entrant must take out on behalf of himself, his crew, representatives or employees, liability insurance in such form and mount to be specified by the AHS, to. indemnify the American Helicopter Society, the NAC and the FAI against any claims. Evidence that such insurance has been effected must be submitted with the application for official observation.

6.2.1 These regulations shall remain in force until such time as the AHS considers it necessary to amend them, or the prize has been won.

6.2.2 The AHS reserves the right to add to, amend or omit any of these regulations and to issue supplementary regulations.

6.3 Interpretation of Regulations

The interpretation of these regulations or any of the regulations hereafter issued rest entirely with the AHS. The entrant shall be solely responsible to the official observer f or due observance of these regulations and shall be the person with whom the official observers will deal in respect thereof, or any other question arising out of this competition.