The 2025 Heli Extravaganza Sliding Auto Contest - We're Doing It Again!
This is always amusing!
It's Free!
Ready for a break from piro flips, hurricanes, and inverted auto overspeeds? Something relaxing and amusing? Random RC is sponsoring the sixth Sliding Autorotation Contest at the
Heli Extravaganza 2025 at Triple Tree Aerodrome. There's no cost to enter and you get a cool T-shirt for participating (but must sign up before August 5th to get a T-shirt). If you haven't registered for HeliEx 2025 on the HeliEx site, do it now!
Sign Up Now*
All sign-ups must be done online, here on the Random RC website OR on the
HeliEx website, if you want to participate in the Contest. (To get a free T-shirt you must sign up before August 5, 2025.)
*You can sign up for the contest any time, but if you want a T-shirt you must sign up before August 5, 2025.
The Program
- Before the Contest: Visit the Pilots’ Lounge for your Official Contest T-Shirt
- Friday, 8/29/25: Practice and expert instruction
- Saturday, 8/30/25: the Contest (approximately 2 hours)
The Contest Rules
- Helicopters must be 550 size or larger.
- Each helicopter will have Random RC skis attached to the skids.
- Each pilot will fly up to three autos.
- The autorotation must begin at or above 50’ AGL (OK, we'll eyeball it).
- Initial touchdown must be within the marked 30' long "touchdown zone".
- (The touchdown zone has a "foul line." The helicopter must touch down before the foul line in order for a slide to count.)
- Sliding distance is measured from the foul line to the position of the main rotor shaft at the end of the slide. This method eliminates the need for spotters marking the initial touchdown point. (Pilots should endeavor to touch down as close to the "foul line" as possible to have the maximum amount of their slide distance included in their score.)
- Intentionally lifting off the surface after initial touchdown or bouncing and floating more than 5' in distance will "scratch" that attempt.
The Winners
- Longest Single Slide
- Longest Combined Three Slides
- Longest Failed Auto "Tumble" (or debris field)
All three winners will receive:
- A set of Random RC skis (slightly used) with Skid Clamps mounted to fit their heli
- Bragging rights until the next contest
Skis? Why Skis?
Because you can slide like a monster, farther than you've ever slid before. OK, this silliness started several years ago and was made famous by one of our Instructor Pilots, Steve O'Connor, who succe
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