District X 2013/07

ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news ama news
www.ModelAviation.com July 2013 Model Aviation 145
a
June
club
to
kindergarten
FPG-9
I recently was invited to two multirotor
events in our district. The first was
held at the Palomar R/C Flyers field
in Fallbrook, California. The inagural
Multirotor Challenge was organized
by Innovative Designs (www.
innov8tivedesigns.com). This was a large
event with 52 participants and twice as
many spectators. Vendors were out in
force, showing off the latest equipment
for multirotor aeromodeling.
The weekend event was a combination
of fun-fly and competition. The models
ranged from three, four, five, six, and
even eight-motored aircraft. Most had
a central body holding the receiver,
batteries, speed control, GPS, and
camera, with a series of trusses radiating
from the central body at the end of
which motors and fixed pitch propellers
were attached.
The competitions included weight
lifting, Pylon Racing, an obstacle course,
and a return-to-launch-point contest to
see whose GPS and autopilot were the
most accurate.
The pilots were excited about this
new form of aeromodeling and the
technological innovations that come
with it. Most of them began modeling
with traditional helicopters and fixedwing
aircraft, but there were some who
began their modeling with multirotor
aircraft.
Two memorable participants were
Techinstein and Lucidity, aka Brian
Zvoigzne and Patrick Sherman, from
the Roswell Flight Test Crew. You
can learn more about them at www.
roswellflighttestcrew.com. Their motto
is semper cadentes, which translates to,
“always crashing.” They have a lighthearted
take on the trials and tribulations
of getting a complex model and its flight
systems to work together.
The second event was held at the
F3B Soaring Association’s field in
Fremont, California. Dave Vrutta from
Ready Made RC (www.readymaderc.
com) organized this event. This event
was a combination of a fun-fly and
competition.
The two competitions offered were
a gate race and an old-fashioned drag
race. For the gate race, models had to
fly through a series of rectangular gates
approximately 5 feet high and 8 feet
wide. I watched through a set of special
goggles as a pilot flew the course. The
goggles displayed an image from the
model’s on-board camera, providing a
real-time, bird’s-eye view of the event.
If multirotor and fixed-wing FPV
models are operated in accordance
with AMA Document 550—First
Person View (FPV) Operations, and
AMA Document 560—RC Operation
Utilizing Failsafe, Stabilization, and
Autopilot Systems, these new advances
in our sport should be welcomed and
integrated into our clubs. If someone
brings one to the field, have a look
at it. I think you’ll be impressed by
the technology and the modelers’
enthusiasm for this emerging sector of
our sport.
Please go to our district website
(www.ama10.org) where you’ll find
additional photos to go with this story
and some beautiful videos.
Patrick Sherman and Brian Zvoigzne: the Roswell
Flight Test Crew.
We have all heard the term “when pigs fly.” Well
Jason Anderson built himself a flying pig.
This quad is participating in the heavy lift
competition.
Antonio Lopez pilots his quad at the Multirotor
Challenge.
Associate Vice Presidents: Tim Attaway, Chula Vista CA; (619) 427-6392; [email protected]; Denny Baker, Brentwood CA; (925) 513-1224; [email protected]; Forrest
Barton, Woodland CA; (530) 383-9019; [email protected]; Duke Chung, Honolulu HI; (808) 421-1094; [email protected]; Greg Clemensen, Las Vegas NV; (702) 870-
6242; [email protected]; Kevin Houser, Oro Valley AZ; (520) 490-7657; [email protected]; Tim Johnson, Downey CA; (562) 965-4288; [email protected].
com; Mike Lee, Redlands CA; (951) 733-8621; [email protected]; Rick Maida, Morgan Hill CA; (408) 778-6885; [email protected]; Scott Malta, Merced CA; (209) 617-
5789; [email protected]; Todd Sheridan, Pleasant Grove UT; (801) 358-8345; [email protected]; Roger Willis, Buckeye AZ; (760) 604-6773; willisasoc@aol.
com. Contest Coordinators: Tim Attaway, Chula Vista CA; (619) 427-6392; [email protected]; Ellis Hall, Fair Oaks CA (North); (916) 217-6302; [email protected]; Howard
Kennedy (Arizona and Utah), Phoenix AZ; (602) 361-8475; [email protected]; Christopher Sullivan, Waipahu HI; (808) 953-8863; [email protected].
Lawrence Tougas
Vice President
District X—Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
[email protected]
1827 Santa Monica St., Fairfield CA 94533
Tel.: (707) 480-2053; www.ama10.org
Dave and Rick Vrutta from Ready Made RC.
Until next month, may you have nothing
but happy landings.
13july.indd 145 5/23/2013 3:32:05 PM