AMA Nats: RC Helicopters

RC Helicopters Dan Melnik THIS YEARS AMA National RC Helicopter Championship event held July 13-15 Lin coln NE competition relatively small numbers 39 total entries proved large talent included three members US 1987 World Champs team just back competing Switzerland Dwayne Stevens event director well organized enough manpower run good contest Unlike some years past flying field excellent nice grass cover centrally located plenty room spread Out Im sure much control Dwayne troops over weather Mother Nature decided co operate temperature moderate mostly wind light just little rain Tuesday however Unfortunately Mike Mas flying third round FM rain let go Predictably posted lowest score contest 39 competitors three full days get four rounds Dwayne Stevens realized would have no problem finishing contest kept things moving Move did no delays everything went exceptionally welleven down on-field scoring courtesy Decker Daggetts computer now four RC Helicopter classes flown Nationals Novice Intermediate FM Scale year 15 Novice pilots six Intermediate 14 FAI four Scale Several Intermediate fliers moved up FM making larger FAT classes Nats During fun flying took place after contest seemed obvious some Novice fliers should have considered flying Intermediate class actual compe tition piloting skill Novice class gener ally better Intermediate Monday contest started off two rounds ofFAl followed round Intermed late Novice set judges used score entire contest five judges FAI class throwing out high low scores keeping three middle set judges scoring stayed very consistent round FM two rounds Intermediate round Novice flown Tuesday Wednesday two rounds Novice final round FAT staggered order flight contestant event scheduled afternoon didnt have show up until shortly before allowing him time see other events Nats differ ent locations low-key low-stress approach resulted very smooth competition much like fun-fly After four rounds scores classes very tight Novice Peter Chow win ner flying GMP Competitor amassed scjre 292 William Johnson three points behind take second flying Schluter Champion Silas Kwok finished third beautiful Cobra Jet Ranger Intermediate Gilbert Ruiz flew King Cobra first place point ahead Greg Sawer Champion Vincent Petraceh finished third place just seven points back also flew Champion FM class top scorers mem bers 1987 World Champs team Curtis Left FAI World Champion Curtis Youngblood kept up winning ways taking 1st FAI category Nats well Curtis checks over GMP Jet Ranger Competitor prior another flight Right winners Scale L R 1st Silas Kwok Bell 222 2nd Don Chapman Hughes 500 Rotary Wing Concepts 3rd Bill Cram Eberle 500 usIng Competitor mechanics multiblade head 56 Model Aviation AMA NATS Lincoln Nebraska Computers nave really come tfleir own tne Nats local contest around country well providing competitors spectators up-to-the-minute standings Decker Daggett mans keyboard keep RC Helicopter event running smoothly Event Director Dwayne Stephens thing well hand ran smooth contest times relaxed air funfly tense National Championship Youngblood Robert Gorham Mike Mas Flying between top three very close win could have gone conclusion scheduled four rounds Youngblood Gorham tie first place contest decided flyoff end Curtis Youngblood 1987 World Champion winner flyoff very close Gorhams flying very smooth Youngblood perhaps little precise following cones Youngblood flew GMP Jet Ranger Competitor mechanics used OS 60 Long Stroke Supertigre carburetor Curtis installed push-pull cyclic system virtu ally eliminated play used Tru-Spin rotor blades ballasted 200 grams Robert Gorham second flew familiar Cobra Jet Ranger powered OS Max 60 FSR Mike Mas flew Schluter Champion third place Mike highest score sin gle round its too bad weather trouble third round may have prevented him coming out top four beautiful entries Scale two Bell 222 Hughes 500-D year final placing Scale mostly mat ter flying skill believe two entries received no static points due lack documen tation Silas Kwok won first Scale Bell 222 using Cobra mechanics Don Chapman second Rotary Wing Concepts Hughes 500 very quiet model Chapman used Whisper-Tec muffler isolated Cham pion mechanics rubber dampeners really quiet things down third Bill Cram beautiful Eberle Hughes 500 used Competitor mechanics multi-bladed head After contest usual demonstra tion flying Robert Hamilton Robert Gorham did some beautiful formation flying new Limited Edition Storks also some impromptu Helicopter Pylon Racing re sults heat shown graphically pictures National Contest now over its time say congratulations AMA Dwayne Stev ens crew other folks spon sors made event possible Thank Hope see next year Left Dwayne Stephens presents Gilbert Ruiz flew King Cobra 1st place trophy Intermediate category Right team Rotary Wing Concepts L R Mike Mas caller Linda Don Chapman Dan Chapman Mark Wilson Wendell Adklns John Anast November 1987 57 Left Robert Gorham 1 caller Robert Hamilton Robert flew Cobra Jet Ranger 2nd FAI after being tied 1st wIth Curtis Youngblood Right winners Novice L R Peter Chow 1st Bill Johnson 2nd Silas Kwok 3rd BIll Cram 4th Lou Bohres 5th Part demonstration flying after ficial events pylon racing Helicopter style Wendell Adkins Mark Wilson didnt fare well heat thats racing Mike Mas posted single highest score FAI took 3rd overall Next year its some elses turn draw round lousy weather lookout Mike