Overview

Gyrocopter duration (inaccurately called helicopter duration in the US) is an FAI event where there is significant room for technical innovation and no “standard” design approach among all the top competitors.  The goal is to get a high boost (which takes a light model, therefore small, or at least light blades) then to deploy an unfolding set of blades that immediately spin up to a high rotation velocity and produce significant lift, while remaining upright with the body hanging beneath the rotating rotors.  Current successful designs include both larger, folding blades (such as George Gassaway’s design in the files section), and single-piece 12-13 inch blades such as Keith Vinyard’s design.  Almost every successful flier today uses only three blades. 

Rules for S9 Gyrocopeter

• Flown in three standard rounds and, if needed, a flyoff round

• Flown in the 2.5 N-sec (A) power class for both Seniors and Juniors

• Maximum flight duration per standard round is 180 seconds

• Score is the sum of the duration of the three flights

• If tie for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place after three standard rounds, 1st flyoff round is flown with max of 300 seconds

• Maximum of two models may be entered for the three standard rounds

• One additional model may be entered for the flyoff round

• S9A model requirements: minimum length = 500 mm, minimum diameter = 40mm for at least 50% of length, maximum mass = 60 grams

How-To/Tips

Photos