The AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
22 ModelThe AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
sponsored the
Blade 500 X
Invitational. Pilots
sent in videos of
themselves flying,
hoping to be
selected for this
first-time event.
Winners took home
Horizon Hobby
products.
(L-R) Gaui Girl Brooke Bayless and Gaui/Empire Hobby
Team Manager Andy Panoncillo presented Nick Maxwell
with the ONE trophy for winning this prestigious contest.
Nick flew a Thunder Tiger Raptor G4 with a Futaba radio
to capture the title.
There are seminar tents behind Stage
Center where you can learn about
everything from building your first heli
to programming a computer transmitter.
There are plenty of top pilots hanging
around, too. They are usually friendly
and helpful if someone has questions
about any aspect of helicopters.
There is a special noontime event
at Stage Center each day building up
to the ONE contest on Saturday. The
ONE contest is an invitational event
sponsored by Empire Hobbies and Gaui
for a selected group of top international
pilots.
Seven competitors have 7 minutes
to put on a flying performance to wow
both a judging panel and the crowd. In
fact, a decibel meter is used to record
crowd noise and that figure is added
to the competitors’ scores. The highest
combined score wins and the lucky flier
gets his or her name on a permanent
trophy along with a briefcase containing
$7,000! That makes for a great incentive
to see the super-radical flying everyone
loves.
The huge crowd gets into the
competitive spirit by clapping, yelling,
and whistling during the flights. Heck,
there have even been occasional full
dance sessions break out among the
crowd. It is the most exciting display of
unbridled 3-D flying in the world.
This year, Nick Maxwell put his
Thunder Tiger G4 heli and Futaba
radio equipment through the paces and
was crowned the ONE immediately
following his extraordinarily creative
www.ModelAviation. and thrilling flight. Way to go, Nick!
A new competition was added as a
Stage Center attraction this year. The
people at Horizon Hobby brainstormed
a fantastic idea to showcase the
company’s new Blade 500 X helicopter.
The company invited any
unsponsored pilot age 14 or older to
send a video of his or her flying to
Horizon Hobby for consideration in
entering a special contest.
After the pilots were selected,
they were each given a Blade 500 X
helicopter and a Spektrum DX18
radio one day before the event. Each
competitor had only one day to
become accustomed to the heli and
prepare to fly in front of thousands of
spectators. The stakes were high because
the winners would receive both the
helicopter and the DX18 radio!
This was a popular format, which
leveled the playing field among the
entrants. Spectators enjoyed seeing
how identical machines could be flown
uniquely by the contestants.
Clay Payne won first place followed
by Jordan Horwitz in second, and Sergio
Marachilian took third place.
Congratulations to all of the pilots and
the Horizon people for seeing a great
idea through to fruition. It was fun and
entertaining to watch.
The party at Stage Center doesn’t
stop when the sun
goes down, either. Jack
Burnside of Empire
Hobby/Gaui resembles a
professional party planner
when it comes to serving
people and making sure
everyone is having a
great time. Jack invites
everyone into his tent for
free beverages and games.
Some say Jack’s party
is the main reason they
come to IRCHA!
Several other groups
have festive get-togethers
on site each night as
well. You don’t have to
worry about not knowing
anyone when you attend
IRCHA for the first time.
When you go home you
will have made a bunch of
new friends. Then you can
begin your own IRCHA
Jamboree tradition as so
many others have done.
Remembering Our Friends
Unfortunately, we lost a couple of
longtime IRCHA friends in 2012. Paul
Giles was an avid RC helicopter pilot
and was a member of Team Horizon.
Paul passed away on April 20. He will be
remembered for how he brought smiles
to everyone he was in contact with.
Paul’s wife, Sue, remains involved in the
hobby and carries on the Giles tradition
of helping others.
Mike Swift was suddenly taken from
us on July 10. Mike had attended every
IRCHA Jamboree for the last 20 years.
He was well known for his shirtless 3-D
flying on hot days. Mike was with Team
Futaba and worked hard to help other
pilots enjoy RC helicopters. Mike’s wife,
Ruth, spent many days on the flightline
at various RC heli events. In Mike’s
memory, Ruth has set up a scholarship
fund with the AMA for students who
are interested in aviation.
We will miss Paul and Mike. They
were involved during the fastest pace of
development our hobby has ever seen.
People acknowledged their experienced
voices, and their contributions will live
on in us and the machines we fly.
Other Attractions
IRCHA has a great Scale tent near
This was the pits in the Speed Run area.
Helicopters flew in the 140-mph range. The
TDR was one of the top helis competing and
Oliver Jellen was one of the fastest pilots on
the course.
Jim Spice built this Century Cobra and flew it on an electric-powered T-Rex 600. He built his
own cable tail-drive system that runs through the fuselage and up to the tail rotor. He is a
full-scale heli pilot who flew in Vietnam in 1967. This was his first year of flying in the IRCHA
Jamboree Scale Contest.
weather was perfect for this year’s event.
The flightline and pits lled up quickly and a new
attendance record was set—1,049 registered pilots were
on hand to celebrate the largest single-category RC
event in the world.
The winners of
the Blade 500 X
Invitational (L-R)
Jordan Horwitz,
second; Clay Payne,
rst; and Sergio
Marachilian, third.
The pilots earned a
chance to compete
by sending Horizon
Hobby a video of
himself or herself
flying.
Stage Center with the top Scale helicopters
in the world on display. This is a must-see
presentation. The Scale pits on the fl ightline
are busy with inquisitive people waiting for
their turn to talk with the world-class builders
of these fi ne machines. Fantastically detailed
and appointed machines have to be squeezed
in side by side because there are so many
models.
Some of the realistic helicopters in this area
take months or even years to build. If you
appreciate fi ne craftsmanship, make sure to
stop by the Scale heli display and special fl ight
station just for these machines.
Ray Stacy held the Autorotation Contest and
Santiago Panzardi organized the popular Speed
Cup. Read more about those two contests in
the “RC Helicopters” column in this issue.
It goes without saying that the IRCHA
Jamboree is the highlight of the year for the
RC heli community. If you have an interest
in rotary craft, then make an effort to see this
spectacle at least once. There is a reason pilots
and nonpilots alike return each year to enjoy
every aspect of this mega event. I hope to see
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/12
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27,28
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/12
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27,28
The AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
22 ModelThe AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
sponsored the
Blade 500 X
Invitational. Pilots
sent in videos of
themselves flying,
hoping to be
selected for this
first-time event.
Winners took home
Horizon Hobby
products.
(L-R) Gaui Girl Brooke Bayless and Gaui/Empire Hobby
Team Manager Andy Panoncillo presented Nick Maxwell
with the ONE trophy for winning this prestigious contest.
Nick flew a Thunder Tiger Raptor G4 with a Futaba radio
to capture the title.
There are seminar tents behind Stage
Center where you can learn about
everything from building your first heli
to programming a computer transmitter.
There are plenty of top pilots hanging
around, too. They are usually friendly
and helpful if someone has questions
about any aspect of helicopters.
There is a special noontime event
at Stage Center each day building up
to the ONE contest on Saturday. The
ONE contest is an invitational event
sponsored by Empire Hobbies and Gaui
for a selected group of top international
pilots.
Seven competitors have 7 minutes
to put on a flying performance to wow
both a judging panel and the crowd. In
fact, a decibel meter is used to record
crowd noise and that figure is added
to the competitors’ scores. The highest
combined score wins and the lucky flier
gets his or her name on a permanent
trophy along with a briefcase containing
$7,000! That makes for a great incentive
to see the super-radical flying everyone
loves.
The huge crowd gets into the
competitive spirit by clapping, yelling,
and whistling during the flights. Heck,
there have even been occasional full
dance sessions break out among the
crowd. It is the most exciting display of
unbridled 3-D flying in the world.
This year, Nick Maxwell put his
Thunder Tiger G4 heli and Futaba
radio equipment through the paces and
was crowned the ONE immediately
following his extraordinarily creative
www.ModelAviation. and thrilling flight. Way to go, Nick!
A new competition was added as a
Stage Center attraction this year. The
people at Horizon Hobby brainstormed
a fantastic idea to showcase the
company’s new Blade 500 X helicopter.
The company invited any
unsponsored pilot age 14 or older to
send a video of his or her flying to
Horizon Hobby for consideration in
entering a special contest.
After the pilots were selected,
they were each given a Blade 500 X
helicopter and a Spektrum DX18
radio one day before the event. Each
competitor had only one day to
become accustomed to the heli and
prepare to fly in front of thousands of
spectators. The stakes were high because
the winners would receive both the
helicopter and the DX18 radio!
This was a popular format, which
leveled the playing field among the
entrants. Spectators enjoyed seeing
how identical machines could be flown
uniquely by the contestants.
Clay Payne won first place followed
by Jordan Horwitz in second, and Sergio
Marachilian took third place.
Congratulations to all of the pilots and
the Horizon people for seeing a great
idea through to fruition. It was fun and
entertaining to watch.
The party at Stage Center doesn’t
stop when the sun
goes down, either. Jack
Burnside of Empire
Hobby/Gaui resembles a
professional party planner
when it comes to serving
people and making sure
everyone is having a
great time. Jack invites
everyone into his tent for
free beverages and games.
Some say Jack’s party
is the main reason they
come to IRCHA!
Several other groups
have festive get-togethers
on site each night as
well. You don’t have to
worry about not knowing
anyone when you attend
IRCHA for the first time.
When you go home you
will have made a bunch of
new friends. Then you can
begin your own IRCHA
Jamboree tradition as so
many others have done.
Remembering Our Friends
Unfortunately, we lost a couple of
longtime IRCHA friends in 2012. Paul
Giles was an avid RC helicopter pilot
and was a member of Team Horizon.
Paul passed away on April 20. He will be
remembered for how he brought smiles
to everyone he was in contact with.
Paul’s wife, Sue, remains involved in the
hobby and carries on the Giles tradition
of helping others.
Mike Swift was suddenly taken from
us on July 10. Mike had attended every
IRCHA Jamboree for the last 20 years.
He was well known for his shirtless 3-D
flying on hot days. Mike was with Team
Futaba and worked hard to help other
pilots enjoy RC helicopters. Mike’s wife,
Ruth, spent many days on the flightline
at various RC heli events. In Mike’s
memory, Ruth has set up a scholarship
fund with the AMA for students who
are interested in aviation.
We will miss Paul and Mike. They
were involved during the fastest pace of
development our hobby has ever seen.
People acknowledged their experienced
voices, and their contributions will live
on in us and the machines we fly.
Other Attractions
IRCHA has a great Scale tent near
This was the pits in the Speed Run area.
Helicopters flew in the 140-mph range. The
TDR was one of the top helis competing and
Oliver Jellen was one of the fastest pilots on
the course.
Jim Spice built this Century Cobra and flew it on an electric-powered T-Rex 600. He built his
own cable tail-drive system that runs through the fuselage and up to the tail rotor. He is a
full-scale heli pilot who flew in Vietnam in 1967. This was his first year of flying in the IRCHA
Jamboree Scale Contest.
weather was perfect for this year’s event.
The flightline and pits lled up quickly and a new
attendance record was set—1,049 registered pilots were
on hand to celebrate the largest single-category RC
event in the world.
The winners of
the Blade 500 X
Invitational (L-R)
Jordan Horwitz,
second; Clay Payne,
rst; and Sergio
Marachilian, third.
The pilots earned a
chance to compete
by sending Horizon
Hobby a video of
himself or herself
flying.
Stage Center with the top Scale helicopters
in the world on display. This is a must-see
presentation. The Scale pits on the fl ightline
are busy with inquisitive people waiting for
their turn to talk with the world-class builders
of these fi ne machines. Fantastically detailed
and appointed machines have to be squeezed
in side by side because there are so many
models.
Some of the realistic helicopters in this area
take months or even years to build. If you
appreciate fi ne craftsmanship, make sure to
stop by the Scale heli display and special fl ight
station just for these machines.
Ray Stacy held the Autorotation Contest and
Santiago Panzardi organized the popular Speed
Cup. Read more about those two contests in
the “RC Helicopters” column in this issue.
It goes without saying that the IRCHA
Jamboree is the highlight of the year for the
RC heli community. If you have an interest
in rotary craft, then make an effort to see this
spectacle at least once. There is a reason pilots
and nonpilots alike return each year to enjoy
every aspect of this mega event. I hope to see
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/12
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27,28
The AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
22 ModelThe AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
sponsored the
Blade 500 X
Invitational. Pilots
sent in videos of
themselves flying,
hoping to be
selected for this
first-time event.
Winners took home
Horizon Hobby
products.
(L-R) Gaui Girl Brooke Bayless and Gaui/Empire Hobby
Team Manager Andy Panoncillo presented Nick Maxwell
with the ONE trophy for winning this prestigious contest.
Nick flew a Thunder Tiger Raptor G4 with a Futaba radio
to capture the title.
There are seminar tents behind Stage
Center where you can learn about
everything from building your first heli
to programming a computer transmitter.
There are plenty of top pilots hanging
around, too. They are usually friendly
and helpful if someone has questions
about any aspect of helicopters.
There is a special noontime event
at Stage Center each day building up
to the ONE contest on Saturday. The
ONE contest is an invitational event
sponsored by Empire Hobbies and Gaui
for a selected group of top international
pilots.
Seven competitors have 7 minutes
to put on a flying performance to wow
both a judging panel and the crowd. In
fact, a decibel meter is used to record
crowd noise and that figure is added
to the competitors’ scores. The highest
combined score wins and the lucky flier
gets his or her name on a permanent
trophy along with a briefcase containing
$7,000! That makes for a great incentive
to see the super-radical flying everyone
loves.
The huge crowd gets into the
competitive spirit by clapping, yelling,
and whistling during the flights. Heck,
there have even been occasional full
dance sessions break out among the
crowd. It is the most exciting display of
unbridled 3-D flying in the world.
This year, Nick Maxwell put his
Thunder Tiger G4 heli and Futaba
radio equipment through the paces and
was crowned the ONE immediately
following his extraordinarily creative
www.ModelAviation. and thrilling flight. Way to go, Nick!
A new competition was added as a
Stage Center attraction this year. The
people at Horizon Hobby brainstormed
a fantastic idea to showcase the
company’s new Blade 500 X helicopter.
The company invited any
unsponsored pilot age 14 or older to
send a video of his or her flying to
Horizon Hobby for consideration in
entering a special contest.
After the pilots were selected,
they were each given a Blade 500 X
helicopter and a Spektrum DX18
radio one day before the event. Each
competitor had only one day to
become accustomed to the heli and
prepare to fly in front of thousands of
spectators. The stakes were high because
the winners would receive both the
helicopter and the DX18 radio!
This was a popular format, which
leveled the playing field among the
entrants. Spectators enjoyed seeing
how identical machines could be flown
uniquely by the contestants.
Clay Payne won first place followed
by Jordan Horwitz in second, and Sergio
Marachilian took third place.
Congratulations to all of the pilots and
the Horizon people for seeing a great
idea through to fruition. It was fun and
entertaining to watch.
The party at Stage Center doesn’t
stop when the sun
goes down, either. Jack
Burnside of Empire
Hobby/Gaui resembles a
professional party planner
when it comes to serving
people and making sure
everyone is having a
great time. Jack invites
everyone into his tent for
free beverages and games.
Some say Jack’s party
is the main reason they
come to IRCHA!
Several other groups
have festive get-togethers
on site each night as
well. You don’t have to
worry about not knowing
anyone when you attend
IRCHA for the first time.
When you go home you
will have made a bunch of
new friends. Then you can
begin your own IRCHA
Jamboree tradition as so
many others have done.
Remembering Our Friends
Unfortunately, we lost a couple of
longtime IRCHA friends in 2012. Paul
Giles was an avid RC helicopter pilot
and was a member of Team Horizon.
Paul passed away on April 20. He will be
remembered for how he brought smiles
to everyone he was in contact with.
Paul’s wife, Sue, remains involved in the
hobby and carries on the Giles tradition
of helping others.
Mike Swift was suddenly taken from
us on July 10. Mike had attended every
IRCHA Jamboree for the last 20 years.
He was well known for his shirtless 3-D
flying on hot days. Mike was with Team
Futaba and worked hard to help other
pilots enjoy RC helicopters. Mike’s wife,
Ruth, spent many days on the flightline
at various RC heli events. In Mike’s
memory, Ruth has set up a scholarship
fund with the AMA for students who
are interested in aviation.
We will miss Paul and Mike. They
were involved during the fastest pace of
development our hobby has ever seen.
People acknowledged their experienced
voices, and their contributions will live
on in us and the machines we fly.
Other Attractions
IRCHA has a great Scale tent near
This was the pits in the Speed Run area.
Helicopters flew in the 140-mph range. The
TDR was one of the top helis competing and
Oliver Jellen was one of the fastest pilots on
the course.
Jim Spice built this Century Cobra and flew it on an electric-powered T-Rex 600. He built his
own cable tail-drive system that runs through the fuselage and up to the tail rotor. He is a
full-scale heli pilot who flew in Vietnam in 1967. This was his first year of flying in the IRCHA
Jamboree Scale Contest.
weather was perfect for this year’s event.
The flightline and pits lled up quickly and a new
attendance record was set—1,049 registered pilots were
on hand to celebrate the largest single-category RC
event in the world.
The winners of
the Blade 500 X
Invitational (L-R)
Jordan Horwitz,
second; Clay Payne,
rst; and Sergio
Marachilian, third.
The pilots earned a
chance to compete
by sending Horizon
Hobby a video of
himself or herself
flying.
Stage Center with the top Scale helicopters
in the world on display. This is a must-see
presentation. The Scale pits on the fl ightline
are busy with inquisitive people waiting for
their turn to talk with the world-class builders
of these fi ne machines. Fantastically detailed
and appointed machines have to be squeezed
in side by side because there are so many
models.
Some of the realistic helicopters in this area
take months or even years to build. If you
appreciate fi ne craftsmanship, make sure to
stop by the Scale heli display and special fl ight
station just for these machines.
Ray Stacy held the Autorotation Contest and
Santiago Panzardi organized the popular Speed
Cup. Read more about those two contests in
the “RC Helicopters” column in this issue.
It goes without saying that the IRCHA
Jamboree is the highlight of the year for the
RC heli community. If you have an interest
in rotary craft, then make an effort to see this
spectacle at least once. There is a reason pilots
and nonpilots alike return each year to enjoy
every aspect of this mega event. I hope to see
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/12
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27,28
The AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
22 ModelThe AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
sponsored the
Blade 500 X
Invitational. Pilots
sent in videos of
themselves flying,
hoping to be
selected for this
first-time event.
Winners took home
Horizon Hobby
products.
(L-R) Gaui Girl Brooke Bayless and Gaui/Empire Hobby
Team Manager Andy Panoncillo presented Nick Maxwell
with the ONE trophy for winning this prestigious contest.
Nick flew a Thunder Tiger Raptor G4 with a Futaba radio
to capture the title.
There are seminar tents behind Stage
Center where you can learn about
everything from building your first heli
to programming a computer transmitter.
There are plenty of top pilots hanging
around, too. They are usually friendly
and helpful if someone has questions
about any aspect of helicopters.
There is a special noontime event
at Stage Center each day building up
to the ONE contest on Saturday. The
ONE contest is an invitational event
sponsored by Empire Hobbies and Gaui
for a selected group of top international
pilots.
Seven competitors have 7 minutes
to put on a flying performance to wow
both a judging panel and the crowd. In
fact, a decibel meter is used to record
crowd noise and that figure is added
to the competitors’ scores. The highest
combined score wins and the lucky flier
gets his or her name on a permanent
trophy along with a briefcase containing
$7,000! That makes for a great incentive
to see the super-radical flying everyone
loves.
The huge crowd gets into the
competitive spirit by clapping, yelling,
and whistling during the flights. Heck,
there have even been occasional full
dance sessions break out among the
crowd. It is the most exciting display of
unbridled 3-D flying in the world.
This year, Nick Maxwell put his
Thunder Tiger G4 heli and Futaba
radio equipment through the paces and
was crowned the ONE immediately
following his extraordinarily creative
www.ModelAviation. and thrilling flight. Way to go, Nick!
A new competition was added as a
Stage Center attraction this year. The
people at Horizon Hobby brainstormed
a fantastic idea to showcase the
company’s new Blade 500 X helicopter.
The company invited any
unsponsored pilot age 14 or older to
send a video of his or her flying to
Horizon Hobby for consideration in
entering a special contest.
After the pilots were selected,
they were each given a Blade 500 X
helicopter and a Spektrum DX18
radio one day before the event. Each
competitor had only one day to
become accustomed to the heli and
prepare to fly in front of thousands of
spectators. The stakes were high because
the winners would receive both the
helicopter and the DX18 radio!
This was a popular format, which
leveled the playing field among the
entrants. Spectators enjoyed seeing
how identical machines could be flown
uniquely by the contestants.
Clay Payne won first place followed
by Jordan Horwitz in second, and Sergio
Marachilian took third place.
Congratulations to all of the pilots and
the Horizon people for seeing a great
idea through to fruition. It was fun and
entertaining to watch.
The party at Stage Center doesn’t
stop when the sun
goes down, either. Jack
Burnside of Empire
Hobby/Gaui resembles a
professional party planner
when it comes to serving
people and making sure
everyone is having a
great time. Jack invites
everyone into his tent for
free beverages and games.
Some say Jack’s party
is the main reason they
come to IRCHA!
Several other groups
have festive get-togethers
on site each night as
well. You don’t have to
worry about not knowing
anyone when you attend
IRCHA for the first time.
When you go home you
will have made a bunch of
new friends. Then you can
begin your own IRCHA
Jamboree tradition as so
many others have done.
Remembering Our Friends
Unfortunately, we lost a couple of
longtime IRCHA friends in 2012. Paul
Giles was an avid RC helicopter pilot
and was a member of Team Horizon.
Paul passed away on April 20. He will be
remembered for how he brought smiles
to everyone he was in contact with.
Paul’s wife, Sue, remains involved in the
hobby and carries on the Giles tradition
of helping others.
Mike Swift was suddenly taken from
us on July 10. Mike had attended every
IRCHA Jamboree for the last 20 years.
He was well known for his shirtless 3-D
flying on hot days. Mike was with Team
Futaba and worked hard to help other
pilots enjoy RC helicopters. Mike’s wife,
Ruth, spent many days on the flightline
at various RC heli events. In Mike’s
memory, Ruth has set up a scholarship
fund with the AMA for students who
are interested in aviation.
We will miss Paul and Mike. They
were involved during the fastest pace of
development our hobby has ever seen.
People acknowledged their experienced
voices, and their contributions will live
on in us and the machines we fly.
Other Attractions
IRCHA has a great Scale tent near
This was the pits in the Speed Run area.
Helicopters flew in the 140-mph range. The
TDR was one of the top helis competing and
Oliver Jellen was one of the fastest pilots on
the course.
Jim Spice built this Century Cobra and flew it on an electric-powered T-Rex 600. He built his
own cable tail-drive system that runs through the fuselage and up to the tail rotor. He is a
full-scale heli pilot who flew in Vietnam in 1967. This was his first year of flying in the IRCHA
Jamboree Scale Contest.
weather was perfect for this year’s event.
The flightline and pits lled up quickly and a new
attendance record was set—1,049 registered pilots were
on hand to celebrate the largest single-category RC
event in the world.
The winners of
the Blade 500 X
Invitational (L-R)
Jordan Horwitz,
second; Clay Payne,
rst; and Sergio
Marachilian, third.
The pilots earned a
chance to compete
by sending Horizon
Hobby a video of
himself or herself
flying.
Stage Center with the top Scale helicopters
in the world on display. This is a must-see
presentation. The Scale pits on the fl ightline
are busy with inquisitive people waiting for
their turn to talk with the world-class builders
of these fi ne machines. Fantastically detailed
and appointed machines have to be squeezed
in side by side because there are so many
models.
Some of the realistic helicopters in this area
take months or even years to build. If you
appreciate fi ne craftsmanship, make sure to
stop by the Scale heli display and special fl ight
station just for these machines.
Ray Stacy held the Autorotation Contest and
Santiago Panzardi organized the popular Speed
Cup. Read more about those two contests in
the “RC Helicopters” column in this issue.
It goes without saying that the IRCHA
Jamboree is the highlight of the year for the
RC heli community. If you have an interest
in rotary craft, then make an effort to see this
spectacle at least once. There is a reason pilots
and nonpilots alike return each year to enjoy
every aspect of this mega event. I hope to see
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/12
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27,28
The AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
22 ModelThe AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
sponsored the
Blade 500 X
Invitational. Pilots
sent in videos of
themselves flying,
hoping to be
selected for this
first-time event.
Winners took home
Horizon Hobby
products.
(L-R) Gaui Girl Brooke Bayless and Gaui/Empire Hobby
Team Manager Andy Panoncillo presented Nick Maxwell
with the ONE trophy for winning this prestigious contest.
Nick flew a Thunder Tiger Raptor G4 with a Futaba radio
to capture the title.
There are seminar tents behind Stage
Center where you can learn about
everything from building your first heli
to programming a computer transmitter.
There are plenty of top pilots hanging
around, too. They are usually friendly
and helpful if someone has questions
about any aspect of helicopters.
There is a special noontime event
at Stage Center each day building up
to the ONE contest on Saturday. The
ONE contest is an invitational event
sponsored by Empire Hobbies and Gaui
for a selected group of top international
pilots.
Seven competitors have 7 minutes
to put on a flying performance to wow
both a judging panel and the crowd. In
fact, a decibel meter is used to record
crowd noise and that figure is added
to the competitors’ scores. The highest
combined score wins and the lucky flier
gets his or her name on a permanent
trophy along with a briefcase containing
$7,000! That makes for a great incentive
to see the super-radical flying everyone
loves.
The huge crowd gets into the
competitive spirit by clapping, yelling,
and whistling during the flights. Heck,
there have even been occasional full
dance sessions break out among the
crowd. It is the most exciting display of
unbridled 3-D flying in the world.
This year, Nick Maxwell put his
Thunder Tiger G4 heli and Futaba
radio equipment through the paces and
was crowned the ONE immediately
following his extraordinarily creative
www.ModelAviation. and thrilling flight. Way to go, Nick!
A new competition was added as a
Stage Center attraction this year. The
people at Horizon Hobby brainstormed
a fantastic idea to showcase the
company’s new Blade 500 X helicopter.
The company invited any
unsponsored pilot age 14 or older to
send a video of his or her flying to
Horizon Hobby for consideration in
entering a special contest.
After the pilots were selected,
they were each given a Blade 500 X
helicopter and a Spektrum DX18
radio one day before the event. Each
competitor had only one day to
become accustomed to the heli and
prepare to fly in front of thousands of
spectators. The stakes were high because
the winners would receive both the
helicopter and the DX18 radio!
This was a popular format, which
leveled the playing field among the
entrants. Spectators enjoyed seeing
how identical machines could be flown
uniquely by the contestants.
Clay Payne won first place followed
by Jordan Horwitz in second, and Sergio
Marachilian took third place.
Congratulations to all of the pilots and
the Horizon people for seeing a great
idea through to fruition. It was fun and
entertaining to watch.
The party at Stage Center doesn’t
stop when the sun
goes down, either. Jack
Burnside of Empire
Hobby/Gaui resembles a
professional party planner
when it comes to serving
people and making sure
everyone is having a
great time. Jack invites
everyone into his tent for
free beverages and games.
Some say Jack’s party
is the main reason they
come to IRCHA!
Several other groups
have festive get-togethers
on site each night as
well. You don’t have to
worry about not knowing
anyone when you attend
IRCHA for the first time.
When you go home you
will have made a bunch of
new friends. Then you can
begin your own IRCHA
Jamboree tradition as so
many others have done.
Remembering Our Friends
Unfortunately, we lost a couple of
longtime IRCHA friends in 2012. Paul
Giles was an avid RC helicopter pilot
and was a member of Team Horizon.
Paul passed away on April 20. He will be
remembered for how he brought smiles
to everyone he was in contact with.
Paul’s wife, Sue, remains involved in the
hobby and carries on the Giles tradition
of helping others.
Mike Swift was suddenly taken from
us on July 10. Mike had attended every
IRCHA Jamboree for the last 20 years.
He was well known for his shirtless 3-D
flying on hot days. Mike was with Team
Futaba and worked hard to help other
pilots enjoy RC helicopters. Mike’s wife,
Ruth, spent many days on the flightline
at various RC heli events. In Mike’s
memory, Ruth has set up a scholarship
fund with the AMA for students who
are interested in aviation.
We will miss Paul and Mike. They
were involved during the fastest pace of
development our hobby has ever seen.
People acknowledged their experienced
voices, and their contributions will live
on in us and the machines we fly.
Other Attractions
IRCHA has a great Scale tent near
This was the pits in the Speed Run area.
Helicopters flew in the 140-mph range. The
TDR was one of the top helis competing and
Oliver Jellen was one of the fastest pilots on
the course.
Jim Spice built this Century Cobra and flew it on an electric-powered T-Rex 600. He built his
own cable tail-drive system that runs through the fuselage and up to the tail rotor. He is a
full-scale heli pilot who flew in Vietnam in 1967. This was his first year of flying in the IRCHA
Jamboree Scale Contest.
weather was perfect for this year’s event.
The flightline and pits lled up quickly and a new
attendance record was set—1,049 registered pilots were
on hand to celebrate the largest single-category RC
event in the world.
The winners of
the Blade 500 X
Invitational (L-R)
Jordan Horwitz,
second; Clay Payne,
rst; and Sergio
Marachilian, third.
The pilots earned a
chance to compete
by sending Horizon
Hobby a video of
himself or herself
flying.
Stage Center with the top Scale helicopters
in the world on display. This is a must-see
presentation. The Scale pits on the fl ightline
are busy with inquisitive people waiting for
their turn to talk with the world-class builders
of these fi ne machines. Fantastically detailed
and appointed machines have to be squeezed
in side by side because there are so many
models.
Some of the realistic helicopters in this area
take months or even years to build. If you
appreciate fi ne craftsmanship, make sure to
stop by the Scale heli display and special fl ight
station just for these machines.
Ray Stacy held the Autorotation Contest and
Santiago Panzardi organized the popular Speed
Cup. Read more about those two contests in
the “RC Helicopters” column in this issue.
It goes without saying that the IRCHA
Jamboree is the highlight of the year for the
RC heli community. If you have an interest
in rotary craft, then make an effort to see this
spectacle at least once. There is a reason pilots
and nonpilots alike return each year to enjoy
every aspect of this mega event. I hope to see
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/12
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27,28
The AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
22 ModelThe AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC)
made RC history this past August
by hosting the largest, single-category
event in the world. RC helicopter pilots
made it happen at the helicopter-only
get-together they call the International
Radio Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special
Interest Group recognized by AMA’s
governing body. IRCHA president, Dave
Millner, has dreamed of breaking the
1,000-pilot mark since recent years’
attendance has been hovering in the
900-plus range. This year, that dream
became a reality.
The record was shattered when 1,050
registered pilots showed up for the 2012
event!
The organizers were not expecting a
double-digit percentage increase during
a down economy, but it shows that RC
helicopters are important to their pilots.
The increase sheds a positive light on the
Stephane Despaite from Montreal liked early
morning flights. On Saturday morning he found
the calm flightline conditions to be a perfect
way to start his day of flying at the IRCHA
Jamboree.
Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour. Sponsoring
helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one
of the most popular attractions for spectators.
IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA
Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with
many neighborhoods and suburbs where
everyone you meet is friendly and
likeminded. That sounds like a utopia for
RC heli pilots, and it truly is.
In the same way bees return to the
hive and give all of the other bees
directions to the best flowers, heli
pilots from faraway places come to
visit IRCHA and then return home
to tell their friends about the magical
experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying
complex has all the room needed for
multiple types of helicopter flights to
take place concurrently. Everything from
Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials,
Speed Cup racing, autorotation contests,
to beginner setup clinics were going on
simultaneously.
I caught up with a fun group of pilots
that made the long trip from Australia
to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They
proudly drove their golf cart around
with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof
and an Australian flag flying from the
back.
Pilots from 25 countries assembled in
Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest
all-helicopter party ever! And if that
isn’t enough to quench your rotary
desires, then you could take a ride in one
of the two full-scale helicopters on site
for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the 1/2-mile long
flightline is the focal point of the
IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central
flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz
with manufacturers’ demonstrations,
free prize giveaways, contests, and many
other fun happenings.
sponsored the
Blade 500 X
Invitational. Pilots
sent in videos of
themselves flying,
hoping to be
selected for this
first-time event.
Winners took home
Horizon Hobby
products.
(L-R) Gaui Girl Brooke Bayless and Gaui/Empire Hobby
Team Manager Andy Panoncillo presented Nick Maxwell
with the ONE trophy for winning this prestigious contest.
Nick flew a Thunder Tiger Raptor G4 with a Futaba radio
to capture the title.
There are seminar tents behind Stage
Center where you can learn about
everything from building your first heli
to programming a computer transmitter.
There are plenty of top pilots hanging
around, too. They are usually friendly
and helpful if someone has questions
about any aspect of helicopters.
There is a special noontime event
at Stage Center each day building up
to the ONE contest on Saturday. The
ONE contest is an invitational event
sponsored by Empire Hobbies and Gaui
for a selected group of top international
pilots.
Seven competitors have 7 minutes
to put on a flying performance to wow
both a judging panel and the crowd. In
fact, a decibel meter is used to record
crowd noise and that figure is added
to the competitors’ scores. The highest
combined score wins and the lucky flier
gets his or her name on a permanent
trophy along with a briefcase containing
$7,000! That makes for a great incentive
to see the super-radical flying everyone
loves.
The huge crowd gets into the
competitive spirit by clapping, yelling,
and whistling during the flights. Heck,
there have even been occasional full
dance sessions break out among the
crowd. It is the most exciting display of
unbridled 3-D flying in the world.
This year, Nick Maxwell put his
Thunder Tiger G4 heli and Futaba
radio equipment through the paces and
was crowned the ONE immediately
following his extraordinarily creative
www.ModelAviation. and thrilling flight. Way to go, Nick!
A new competition was added as a
Stage Center attraction this year. The
people at Horizon Hobby brainstormed
a fantastic idea to showcase the
company’s new Blade 500 X helicopter.
The company invited any
unsponsored pilot age 14 or older to
send a video of his or her flying to
Horizon Hobby for consideration in
entering a special contest.
After the pilots were selected,
they were each given a Blade 500 X
helicopter and a Spektrum DX18
radio one day before the event. Each
competitor had only one day to
become accustomed to the heli and
prepare to fly in front of thousands of
spectators. The stakes were high because
the winners would receive both the
helicopter and the DX18 radio!
This was a popular format, which
leveled the playing field among the
entrants. Spectators enjoyed seeing
how identical machines could be flown
uniquely by the contestants.
Clay Payne won first place followed
by Jordan Horwitz in second, and Sergio
Marachilian took third place.
Congratulations to all of the pilots and
the Horizon people for seeing a great
idea through to fruition. It was fun and
entertaining to watch.
The party at Stage Center doesn’t
stop when the sun
goes down, either. Jack
Burnside of Empire
Hobby/Gaui resembles a
professional party planner
when it comes to serving
people and making sure
everyone is having a
great time. Jack invites
everyone into his tent for
free beverages and games.
Some say Jack’s party
is the main reason they
come to IRCHA!
Several other groups
have festive get-togethers
on site each night as
well. You don’t have to
worry about not knowing
anyone when you attend
IRCHA for the first time.
When you go home you
will have made a bunch of
new friends. Then you can
begin your own IRCHA
Jamboree tradition as so
many others have done.
Remembering Our Friends
Unfortunately, we lost a couple of
longtime IRCHA friends in 2012. Paul
Giles was an avid RC helicopter pilot
and was a member of Team Horizon.
Paul passed away on April 20. He will be
remembered for how he brought smiles
to everyone he was in contact with.
Paul’s wife, Sue, remains involved in the
hobby and carries on the Giles tradition
of helping others.
Mike Swift was suddenly taken from
us on July 10. Mike had attended every
IRCHA Jamboree for the last 20 years.
He was well known for his shirtless 3-D
flying on hot days. Mike was with Team
Futaba and worked hard to help other
pilots enjoy RC helicopters. Mike’s wife,
Ruth, spent many days on the flightline
at various RC heli events. In Mike’s
memory, Ruth has set up a scholarship
fund with the AMA for students who
are interested in aviation.
We will miss Paul and Mike. They
were involved during the fastest pace of
development our hobby has ever seen.
People acknowledged their experienced
voices, and their contributions will live
on in us and the machines we fly.
Other Attractions
IRCHA has a great Scale tent near
This was the pits in the Speed Run area.
Helicopters flew in the 140-mph range. The
TDR was one of the top helis competing and
Oliver Jellen was one of the fastest pilots on
the course.
Jim Spice built this Century Cobra and flew it on an electric-powered T-Rex 600. He built his
own cable tail-drive system that runs through the fuselage and up to the tail rotor. He is a
full-scale heli pilot who flew in Vietnam in 1967. This was his first year of flying in the IRCHA
Jamboree Scale Contest.
weather was perfect for this year’s event.
The flightline and pits lled up quickly and a new
attendance record was set—1,049 registered pilots were
on hand to celebrate the largest single-category RC
event in the world.
The winners of
the Blade 500 X
Invitational (L-R)
Jordan Horwitz,
second; Clay Payne,
rst; and Sergio
Marachilian, third.
The pilots earned a
chance to compete
by sending Horizon
Hobby a video of
himself or herself
flying.
Stage Center with the top Scale helicopters
in the world on display. This is a must-see
presentation. The Scale pits on the fl ightline
are busy with inquisitive people waiting for
their turn to talk with the world-class builders
of these fi ne machines. Fantastically detailed
and appointed machines have to be squeezed
in side by side because there are so many
models.
Some of the realistic helicopters in this area
take months or even years to build. If you
appreciate fi ne craftsmanship, make sure to
stop by the Scale heli display and special fl ight
station just for these machines.
Ray Stacy held the Autorotation Contest and
Santiago Panzardi organized the popular Speed
Cup. Read more about those two contests in
the “RC Helicopters” column in this issue.
It goes without saying that the IRCHA
Jamboree is the highlight of the year for the
RC heli community. If you have an interest
in rotary craft, then make an effort to see this
spectacle at least once. There is a reason pilots
and nonpilots alike return each year to enjoy
every aspect of this mega event. I hope to see