Silver Certificate

 

The Silver Certificate indicates that a pilot is safe to fly at public displays. This means that he/she will have to display sensible regard to safety at all times, not just during the test. An examiner will observe behaviour throughout the day to ensure that nothing is done that will endanger oneself or others. 


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


2. Hovering M.


3. Nose-in hover.


4. Top Hat.


5. Right and Left Hand Circles.


6. Take Off and 45° Climb.


7. Double stall turn.


8. Approach and landing.


9. Answer satisfactorily five questions on the Safety Code and Recommended Procedures.


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 with the model sitting cross-wind and the tail pointing towards the pilot.


PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS

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


HOVERING M

The pilot stands between the two markers at the rear of the box. Facing away from the pilot, the model takes off vertically from the centre of the box to skids at eye level and hovers briefly, then flies a 45° path to a rear marker in line with the pilot either to the left or to the right. It hovers briefly, then moves forward 10 metres and hovers briefly over the front marker. The model then flies sideways for 10 metres until it is above the other front marker and hovers briefly. It then flies backwards for 10 metres and hovers briefly over the other rear marker, then flies a 45° path back to the centre of the box and again hovers briefly, before making a vertical descent to land in the centre of the box. In adverse weather conditions, i.e. windy or gusty, the box should be moved upwind some 30 metres and rotated through 90°. The 'M' should be performed nose into wind with the pilot standing at the downwind end of the box. This will allow the manoeuvre to be performed safely without the model ever coming between the pilot and pit area or spectators. NOTE : The manoeuvre should be flown with reasonable height and speed control and the skids should be at eye level throughout the manoeuvre.


NOSE-IN HOVER

The pilot moves to the upwind side pilot stance. The pilot may move the model to a nose-in position before take-off or it can be rotated to a nose-in position once airborne. The model smoothly lifts vertically until the skids are at eye level. The pilot rotates the model to a nose in position if necessary. The pilot hovers with the nose of the model facing towards him for a minimum of 20 seconds. The pilot may choose to rotate the model to a tail in position at this point. The model descends smoothly to land.

NOTE : This manoeuvre should be performed at least 5 metres from the pilot and no more than 8 metres from the pilot.


TOP HAT

The pilot moves to the rearmost stance 2 metres behind the 10 metre box and remains there for the rest of the schedule. This manoeuvre starts 10 metres outside the downwind side of the 10 metre box. The model hovers with skids at eye level before moving forward 10 metres to the edge of the box and hovering briefly. The model then ascends 4 metres to give a total height from the ground of 6 metres, where it hovers briefly then flies forward 10 metres maintaining a height of 6 metres. The model hovers briefly, then descends 4 metres to skids at eye level, hovers briefly, then flies forward for 10 metres and is then flown backto the centre of the box and landed.


RIGHT AND LEFT HAND CIRCLES

The model takes off vertically at right angles to the pilot to skids at eye level and hovers briefly before moving forward to complete a right or left hand circle, returning to the centre of the box with skids at eye level. It is rotated through l80° and then flies forward to complete a circle in the opposite direction, returning to the centre of the box with skids at eye level. The model then lands. NOTE : It is advisable to fly the first circle starting off facing downwind so that the second circle is completed into wind. The circles should be performed at a moderate forward speed and be no more than 50 metres in diameter.


TAKEOFF AND 45° CLIMB

The model takes off vertically to skids at eye level with the model side on to the pilot and hovers briefly before performing a 45° ascent of approximately 30 metres.


DOUBLE STALL TURN

The model flies forward from the last manoeuvre, turns l80° in fast forward flight and flies past the pilot for approximately 50 metres at a height of at least 20 metres. It is now pulled up to the vertical and is then rotated through l80° away from the pilot into a vertical dive to pull out at the same height as the manoeuvre was started. The model then flies 50 metres past the pilot in the opposite direction and is again pulled up to the vertical. As the model stops it is rotated 180° again away from the pilot into a vertical dive and pulls out at the same height as the manoeuvre was started.

NOTE : The manoeuvre is completed when the model is in line with the pilot.

 

APPROACH AND LANDING

This manoeuvre is started approximately 30 metres high and 30 metres outfrom the 10 metre box. The model performs a 45° descent to the centre of the 10 metre box to skids at eye level before performing a vertical descent to land.

 

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 radioshould be switched off and frequency control regulations followed. 



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