Roll over Sikorsky

June 13 was the last day in a series of days that Aerovelo was tuning their helicopter in preparation for another attempt at the Sikorsky prize. All week, the team was taking a measured approach, incrementally testing things before moving onto the next step. Things seemed less frantic than in the past when the team always seemed to be pushing very hard, an atmosphere that was captured well by the Popular Mechanics article. At the same time, things were also moving slower since more than 50% of the flight crew were new.

Wednesday evening was the first time that they had ever been allowed to keep the aircraft on the field overnight, so they didn’t have to reassemble it and re trim it in the morning. The downside was that they only had the field until 1 pm. I didn’t arrive until about 10:30 so I didn’t see the first flight of the day by Trefor. Two test flights by Todd at 1.5 m and 2 m went very smoothly, as shown in the video below. There seemed to be quite a bit less flex in the truss, even for the two meter flight.

The team started prepping for a final flight. As per usual, time was very tight, so the question was whether or not to go for the record.

The team decided to go for 3m. The officials raised the markers and the camera stand.

Cam untangles the marker rope that will dangle down from the pilots position. The dowels mark one meter intervals.

Final adjustments.

Todd stretches during his 35 minute warmup routine. He tells Cam to try and push back on the deadline with the soccer centre.

A final announcement to the spectator gallery and the crew.

Todd gets ready to fly.

He goes up, smooth as silk. The copter is drifting to the side, and I can see Todd straining to recenter the aircraft.
You can see the rope with the dowels hanging straight down, with the 3m dowel near Cam’s knee.

Up well beyond 3 m (when you hear the airhorn in the video) and then just holding on for over a minute. You can hear Cam calling out “55” then “60” then “65 and down” at the end the clip.

Bedlam.

Todd was exhausted and excited. Cameron looked stunned as if he was still processing the enormity of what they had just accomplished.

The team has to get the aircraft off the field, but first some measurements for validation.

Unspooling the last time for the day.

Reviewing video with the AHS official.

The cervelo frame has been through two crashes and has been cracked and patched.

Marc and Cam disassembling the truss.

The victors leave the field of battle.

Congratulations to all members of the team, past and present. At times like this, it is an incredible privilege to have had the opportunity to witness something like this, and to see the joy in all the leaders, students, families, and other supporters faces.

Aerovelo has posted their official video.

Update:
There is a very nice write up on Torontoist that goes into more depth than some of the other coverage.