Gold Certificate

The Gold Certificate indicates a competent and skilled pilot. The entire flight should be smooth and controlled. All flying manoeuvres must be consecutive — one on each pass.

1. Carry out pre-flight checks, start engine making sure that the clutch is fullydisengaged and the blades remain stationary when the engine is at idle.

2. Vertical triangle.

3. Remote nose-in circle.

4. Vertical rectangle.

5. Loop upwind.

6. Roll downwind away from pilot.

7. Roll upwind away from pilot.

8. 540° stall turn downwind.

9. Immelman turn.

10. Straight autorotation into wind.

FLIGHT LINE LAYOUT

The layout is based on a 10 metre square. At no point during the test should the model be between the pilot and the pits or public viewing area. At the start of the schedule the model is placed on the centre heli-pad side-on to the pilot with the nose pointing into wind.

PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS

Carry out pre-flight checks as per the Hovering Competence schedule.

VERTICAL TRIANGLE

Model takes off vertically at right angles to pilot from the centre helipad to skids at eye level and hovers for 2 seconds before moving slowly backwards for 5 metres until it is above marker. After a 2 second hover, it climbs forward at 45° until it is above the centre helipad where it hovers for 2 seconds. The model then descends forward at 45° until it is above the marker where it hovers for 2 seconds. It then flies slowly backwards for 5 metres until it is above the central helipad where it hovers for 2 seconds. The model now rotates tail towards the pilot, hovers for 2 seconds then lands.

REMOTE NOSE-IN CIRCLE

The model lifts to skids at eye level and hovers for 2 seconds. It now performs a clockwise nose-in circle, passing over the outer markers. The model hovers for 2 seconds then rotates 90° into wind, hovers for 2 seconds and lands.

VERTICAL RECTANGLE

The model takes off vertically from the centre helipad to skids at eye level and hovers for 2 seconds. It then moves slowly backwards for 5 metres until it is above marker and hovers for 2 seconds. The model now climbs vertically for 4 metres and hovers for 2 seconds before flying forward for 10 metres until it is above marker into a further 2 second hover. It now descends for 4 metres until skids at eye level and hovers for 2 seconds before flying slowly backwards for 5 metres until it is above the centre helipad where it hovers for 2 seconds before landing.

LOOP UPWIND

The model takes off from the centre helipad, gains a safe altitude and lines up into wind ready to start flying manoeuvres. It then flies into wind for about 10 metres and pulls up for a loop centred on the pilot stance. The model ends loop and flies straight and horizontal for about 10 metres at the same altitude and heading as at the start of the manoeuvre.

ROLL DOWNWIND AWAY FROM PILOT

The pilot now turns the model downwind and flies straight and level before performing a roll away from the pilot. It should be inverted as it passes the pilot. The model should maintain altitude and direction as the manoeuvre is completed.

ROLL UPWIND AWAY FROM PILOT

The pilot turns the model upwind and flies straight and level before performing a roll away from the pilot. It should be inverted as it passes the pilot. The model should maintain altitude and direction as the manoeuvre is completed.

540° STALL TURN DOWNWIND

The pilot turns the model downwind and flies straight and level. The model should fly past the pilot stance by some 50 metres before pulling up into a quarter loop, climbing vertically until it stops. It then pirouettes through 540° before descending vertically into a quarter loop, pulling out at the same height as entry to the manoeuvre. The model flies straight and level past the pilot.

IMMELMAN TURN

The model should fly past the pilot stance by some 50 metres before pulling into a half loop. At the top of the loop the model performs a half roll to upright flight. It then continues straight and level past the pilot stance.

STRAIGHT AUTOROTATION INTO WIND

The model should be turned and lined up downwind of the pilot. At an altitude of no less than 20 metres and on a heading parallel to the flightline, the engine must be set to idle before the model performs an auto rotation with a smooth constant descent directly to the centre helipad.

POST FLIGHT PROCEDURES

The engine should be cut before approaching the model. The transmitter aerial should be retracted and the model returned to the pit area. The radio should be switched off and frequency control regulations followed.