EMRR's OOP: Helio Copter

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REV 2.4 - Tue Aug 17 07:30:34 2010

OOP
Estes Industries
Helio Copter

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SPECS:

25.4" x 1.346" - 2.89 oz

ROCKSIM FILE:

Right Click to Download

SpaceCAD FILE:

MISSING - please submit here

REC'D MOTORS:

C6-3, C6-5

(Contributed - by Dick Stafford

)

MOPS: Estes Hekipcopter Brief:
This rocket in BT-55 based and flies on 18mm motors. The nose cone uses helicopter recovery and the body uses a plastic parachute. My model also dates back to the late '80s.

Construction:
Parts included:
- BT-55 body tube
- plastic nose cone
- a plastic hub and three plastic blades
- three rubber bands
- three balsa fins
- 18mm motor mount
- launch lug
- rubber-band shock cord
- plastic parachute

The instructions were clear and easy to follow and the construction was simple. This kit was rated skill level-2, I guess because of the added complexity of the helicopter recovery.

The plastic hub was glued to the nose cone using plastic cement and the three blades snapped into the hub. Small rubber bands connected the hub and blades.

Finishing:
The kit came with decals and I painted mine as shown in the picture. The yellow plastic nosecone remained naked.

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out of 5

Flight:
The only recommended engines were the C6-3 and C6-5. I have also flown mine successfully on the AT SU D21-7. The motor mount used a metal clip so no tape was required.

Recovery:
The shock cord attached to the body tube with the folded-paper method and the chute was attached to the other end. The chute and shock cord are packed between the folding helicopter blades. The fit is snug and you need to make sure the blades fit around the shock cord mount. Recovery has always been perfect-except for when the helicopter nose impacted something hard and broke off one of the blades. I jury-rigged the blade by melting an small hole through the end of it and wiring it to the hub. It comes down a little wobbly but is basically OK. The helicopter recovery is cool and is a crowd-pleaser, so I have to give this a flight rating of 5.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
It was easy to build, flies great, and the helicopter recovery is icing on the cake.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

GUEST's OPINION:
"" (x.x.)

SPECIFIC ROCKET TIP:
"" (x.x.)

Date	Name	Motor	Ejection/ Altitude	Wind	Notes
08-21-2005	Tim Dicke	Est SU C6-3	Just Before	0-5 mph winds	Event: VOA Park Sport Launch - Finally got the rubber bands (from newpaper delivery) doubled up and connected so the nose cone would spin properly. Short walk for recovery.
08-21-2005	Tim Dicke	Est SU C6-3	Just Before	0-5 mph winds	- Finally got the rubber bands (from newpaper delivery) doubled up and connected so the nose cone would spin properly. Short walk for recovery.
09-10-2005	Tim Dicke	Est SU C6-3	Just Before	0-5 mph winds	- The helecopter nose cone opened up great and spun like mad on the way down. It landed about 50ft from the rocket. I might try a C6-5 next time.
09-10-2005	Tim Dicke	Est SU C6-3	Just Before	0-5 mph winds	Event: VOA Park Sport Launch - The helicopter nose cone opened up great and spun like mad on the way down. It landed about 50ft from the rocket. I might try a C6-5 next time.
10-08-2005	Tim Dicke	Est SU B6-3	Just Before	5-10 mph winds	Event: VOA Park Sport Launch - Took a little bit for the nose cone to start spinning. Once it did, it tracked the main part of the rocket nicely. Great flight and got a nice picture!
10-08-2005	Tim Dicke	Est SU B6-3	Just Before	5-10 mph winds	- Took a little bit for the nose cone to start spinning. Once it did, it tracked the main part of the rocket nicely. Great flight and got a nice picture!
11-19-2005	Tim Dicke	Est SU C6-3	Just Before	10+ mph winds	- Helecopter nose cone followed the rocket all the way down spinning like mad.
11-19-2005	Tim Dicke	Est SU C6-3	Just Before	10+ mph winds	Event: VOA Park Sport Launch - Helicopter nose cone followed the rocket all the way down spinning like mad.
03-25-2007	Tim Dicke	Est SU C6-3	Apogee - NC Up	5-10 mph winds	Event: VOA Park Sport Launch - The rubber bands were a little dry rotted and the blades did not deploy as they normally do. Still a nice flight.
03-25-2007	Tim Dicke	Est SU C6-3	Apogee - NC Up	5-10 mph winds	Event: VOA Park Sport Launch - The rubber bands were a little dry rotted and the blades did not deploy as they normally do. Still a nice flight.
11-01-2008	Tim Dicke	Est SU C6-3	Apogee - NC Up	5-10 mph winds	- Needs some new rubber bands. Took a while for the copter to start spinning.
07-07-2005	Reid Smith	Est SU B6-2	Very Early	0-5 mph winds	Helio Copter II - I actually found this rocket in a field one day. The fins were put on a bit crooked. Went up about 50-100ft spinning the whole time before ejection. Thought it CATO'd but after smoke cleared it was fine, by then it was on the ground.
10-13-2001	Dick Stafford	Est SU C6-3	Apogee - NC Up	5-10 mph winds	- Good flight. For most of the decent, the nose just tumbled. Close to the ground it started spinning, nose up. This has never happened before.
10-09-2004	Dick Stafford	Qst SU C6-5	Just Past (1-2sec)	Calm	Event: NARHAMS - good flight
08-01-2008	Dick Stafford	Est SU B6-4	Didn't Record	0-5 mph winds	Event: NARAM-50 - The chute came loose and the rocket came in parallel to the ground and spinning...it came right to me and I caught it!