34 MODEL AVIATION
by Jerry Smith
For a “huck”
of a show, visit
a Huckfest
near you
Chane Spendlove and Steve Johnson do the ever-popular hover in front of the crowd. For
those who couldn’t attend, Fred Midgett of Higher Plane Productions (R) captures all the
action for his Huckfest video production.
Above: Justin Owen and Doug Ahlschlager
hover their airplanes in formation. If you
can’t hover, you’re not huckin’!
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:19 PM Page 34
THE ATLANTA, Georgia, event was the last
in a series of Huckfests held across the US in
2008 after a successful run of gatherings at
Saint Louis, Missouri; Woodstock,
Connecticut; and Napoleon, Ohio. Held
October 24-26 and co-sponsored by the Flying
Giants and Extreme Flight R/C, the venue was
the Georgia Model Aviators’ (GMA) club field
just outside of Cumming.
Flying Giants is an Internet-based company
that is funded by advertising. It provides a
sounding board for the modeling community,
where members can exchange ideas and other
interesting and desirable features for the
RCer.
Best of all, Flying Giants is free. All
you have to do is sign in on the Web site
with a user name and password.
Extreme Flight R/C is a Cumming-based
company, headed by Chris and Melissa Hinson,
that provides excellent RC products and
hardware. Their aircraft are well tested and
popular with those who fly for sport and in
contests.
Chris is a great ambassador for the RC
industry and an over-the-top pilot. He
sponsored the Hucktoberfest’s raffle of $3,500,
which included airplanes, engines, and
hardware. There were many happy winners.
GMA provided the field and food, and club
volunteers pitched in to help. The group has a
membership exceeding 200, and the president,
Rex Bryant, provides the members with
excellent leadership.
The GMA field is a great place at which to
fly. It offers a choice of grass or hardtop
runways and 65 acres of space: a perfect venue
for this wild affair. Besides the club’s normal
donations to charity, a portion of the Huckfest
food proceeds went to the Muscular Dystrophy
Association.
What is a Huckfest? Chris Hinson said:
“No, it’s not a contest, but rather a large
meeting of like-minded individuals gathering in
July 2009 35
Below: Rex Bryant, Georgia Model Aviators
president, takes his job seriously. What
happened to delegating responsibility?
Chris Hinson, “Mr. Extreme Flight,” flies
his 74-inch-span Yak. With his new
Torque Revolution 5018T/250 outrunner
motor and FlightPower 10s 5000 mAh Li-
Polys, the model’s all-up flying weight is
13 pounds.
A little guy with a big model: 13-
year-old Louis Vendiales and his
DA-150-powered, 42% Yak. He has
been flying for two years and is
already a pro. His dad, Mark, did
the pit work.
Photos by the author
Russell
Reel’s
prototype
40% Extra
300 spans 125
inches, was
flown with a DA-
150 engine and
MTW canisters, and
weighed 42 pounds
all-up. It should have
been available in the
spring from Extreme
Flight R/C.
07sig2.QXD 5/26/09 9:15 AM Page 35
36 MODEL AVIATION
Steve Cinch (L) of Flying Giants and Jim T. Graham of RCGroups
take time out for a bite. Both used streaming video to share the
action on their respective Web sites.
Right: Mild-mannered Steve Johnson
flew his FMG 42% CAP 232, powered
with a 3W-200 engine and guided by a
JR radio system. Extreme maneuvers
are his way of keeping the heart
pumping.
Below right: Belching smoke, this 50cc
Aeroworks Pitts Python, flown by Paul
Hollermann, pulls up into a hover,
inches above the ground.
Below: Paul and Ross Hollermann flew
one airplane together. Paul was on the
left stick and Ross was on the right.
Their flying demonstration was
amazing.
Above: Part of the enjoyment is talking to fellow huckers,
exchanging ideas, and enjoying good fellowship. That’s what
huckin’ is all about!
07July 2009 37
Above: Extreme Flight R/C’s Chris and Melissa Hinson cosponsored
the event. Chris is an ambassador to RC, providing
excellent airplane kits and hardware to sport and competition
pilots, and his flying skills are among the best.
Below: What a great Huckfest—all in a day-and-a-half, with 60
registered pilots. Everyone should make an effort to attend this
popular event.
Above: Wayne Matthews,
“Mr. Sew Busy,” got in
some flying time with his
big Composite-ARF Yak.
He is really an IMAC man,
not a hucker, and was
recently elected secretary
of the organization.
Doug Ahlschlager, a hard-core hucker, thrills with his continual rolls close to the ground. His big Katana seems to survive the
beating—most of the time.
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:40 PM Page 37sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:32 PM Page 36
July 2009 37
Above: Extreme Flight R/C’s Chris and Melissa Hinson cosponsored
the event. Chris is an ambassador to RC, providing
excellent airplane kits and hardware to sport and competition
pilots, and his flying skills are among the best.
Below: What a great Huckfest—all in a day-and-a-half, with 60
registered pilots. Everyone should make an effort to attend this
popular event.
Above: Wayne Matthews,
“Mr. Sew Busy,” got in
some flying time with his
big Composite-ARF Yak.
He is really an IMAC man,
not a hucker, and was
recently elected secretary
of the organization.
Doug Ahlschlager, a hard-core hucker, thrills with his continual rolls close to the ground. His big Katana seems to survive the
beating—most of the time.
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:40 PM Page 37
Everyone here at Flying Giants is excited that the AMA has an interest in our
Huckfest series. We have been working hard to promote Giant Scale extreme 3-D flying
in a safe and controlled manner.
This year, to make the Huckfest tour even better, we have brought on a title sponsor.
The upcoming series will be billed as “JTEC Radiowave Presents the 2009 Huckfest
Series.” The events are as follows.
• June 19-21 in Rockford IL; hosts: Rock Valley R/C Flyers
• June 26-28 in Saint Louis MO; host: Mark Trent and the Orchard Hill Fliers
• July 31-August 2 in Woodstock CT; host: Snap-A-Saurus
• September 11-13 in Napoleon OH; host: Corky Heitman and the Thistledown Flyers
• October 23-25 in Atlanta GA; host: Chris Hinson and Extreme Flight R/C MA
—Stephen Cinch
Flying Giants
Sources:
Flying Giants
www.flyinggiants.com
a spirit of fellowship and camaraderie to enjoy
as much 3-D and aerobatic RC flying as they
can stand.”
The first edition was held in Ohio in 2006,
and it was a tremendous success.
But how did the Huckfest get its name? It
came from action sports, such as skateboarding
and motorcycle events. When the action got
crazy, the RCers would say, “Man, he’s
huckin’ it.”
Then as 3-D aerobatics became more
prevalent, with such extreme maneuvers as the
Wall and rolling low to the deck, the name
“Huckfest” was born—thanks to Flying
Giants’ Steve Cinch, who is better known as
“SleepyC.”
The first day of the Atlanta Huckfest was a
complete washout. A cold front moved through
with rain, wind, and cooler temperatures. The
club has cameras at the field so that the
members can see what is happening there, and
I checked them online intermittently. All I saw
were raindrops in the mud puddles and no
flying activity.
However, the next day the weather did a
180 and gave us a perfect day for flying. There
was plenty of action, with five to six airplanes
in the air most of the day.
Most of these pilots are hard-core
“huckers.” Some go at the wild maneuvers in a
reasonable way, but others live on the edge of
destruction, daring to put their models back in
kit form. Some of the participants came from
great distances, such as Minnesota,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida. The
event also drew several local pilots.
I met two young huckers from Cold
Springs, Minnesota: Paul and Ross
Hollermann. Most of the time they flew in
formation—even rolling and hovering together.
They had it down.
One of the cool things they did was fly one
model, with Ross on the right stick and Paul on
the left. A flier’s brain usually coordinates two
sticks on the transmitter, but it becomes much
more complicated when you split the task
between two people. Maybe the Hollermanns’
being twins made it easier in some way. The
airplane looked as if one pilot were flying it.
Paul and Ross did an outstanding job, and
their dad was there to encourage them. I
consider these guys conservative huckers.
On the other side of the spectrum, I met a
hucker who fit perfectly in the hard-core class.
Some mild-mannered people’s personalities
38 MODEL AVIATION
change drastically when you get them behind
a wheel of a car. But Doug Ahlschlager of
Daytona Beach, Florida, was never mild
mannered; he put on a wild show from the
moment he picked up the transmitter.
Doug was extremely hard on servos,
airframes, and wing tubes. After taking off
with his aircraft, it never did stop rolling. At
one point, a roll close to the ground netted his
model an unexpected inverted landing, which
tore loose the rudder and broke the propeller.
“Not to worry,” said Doug. “I’ll have it
fixed in an hour.” And he did.
The flying went on the rest of the day. One
airplane ended up in a tree, and Joe Martin
splattered his big Ultimate biplane in front of
God and everybody while putting on a
fantastic show. The parts of his airplane were
hauled off the field in the GMA “Bag of
Shame.”
As darkness approached, a bank of lights
was set up, thanks to Extreme Flight R/C,
allowing the pilots to fly into the night. Fliers
had to be careful not to wander too far away
from the lights, or bye-bye airplane. Much
hovering and other maneuvers were
performed during this nighttime session.
Flying continued into the evening, until
10:30. With cold temperatures creeping in, a
big bonfire was started at the end of the
runway. Many settled down there for the
warmth and to talk about the day’s flying over
a beer.
(Editor’s note: Stories of fire-walking have
been going around; if you want those details,
you’ll have to visit the Flying Giants Web site
or, better yet, visit a Huckfest event in person.)
In spite of the first-day washout, the Atlanta
Huckfest was a great one-and-a-half-day fest.
Pilots’traveling long distances to attend
attested to the fact that this event has attained
popularity. Amazing flying and wild
maneuvers allow the “hotdog” pilots to
showcase their skills.
Thanks to Flying Giants’ Steve Cinch for
promoting the Huckfest, Extreme Flight R/C
for the sponsorship, and all those volunteer
workers in the GMA club. I look forward to
next year, when the “huckers” return for
another wild event at Atlanta. MA
Jerry Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
RCGroups
www.rcgroups.com/atlanta-huckfest-577
Flying Giants
www.flyinggiants.com/forums/fg253
Extreme Flight R/C
(770) 887-1794
www.extremeflightrc.com
Georgia Model Aviators
www.gmarc.com
07sig2.QXD 5/26/09 9:20 AM Page 38
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 34,35,36,37,38
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 34,35,36,37,38
34 MODEL AVIATION
by Jerry Smith
For a “huck”
of a show, visit
a Huckfest
near you
Chane Spendlove and Steve Johnson do the ever-popular hover in front of the crowd. For
those who couldn’t attend, Fred Midgett of Higher Plane Productions (R) captures all the
action for his Huckfest video production.
Above: Justin Owen and Doug Ahlschlager
hover their airplanes in formation. If you
can’t hover, you’re not huckin’!
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:19 PM Page 34
THE ATLANTA, Georgia, event was the last
in a series of Huckfests held across the US in
2008 after a successful run of gatherings at
Saint Louis, Missouri; Woodstock,
Connecticut; and Napoleon, Ohio. Held
October 24-26 and co-sponsored by the Flying
Giants and Extreme Flight R/C, the venue was
the Georgia Model Aviators’ (GMA) club field
just outside of Cumming.
Flying Giants is an Internet-based company
that is funded by advertising. It provides a
sounding board for the modeling community,
where members can exchange ideas and other
interesting and desirable features for the
RCer.
Best of all, Flying Giants is free. All
you have to do is sign in on the Web site
with a user name and password.
Extreme Flight R/C is a Cumming-based
company, headed by Chris and Melissa Hinson,
that provides excellent RC products and
hardware. Their aircraft are well tested and
popular with those who fly for sport and in
contests.
Chris is a great ambassador for the RC
industry and an over-the-top pilot. He
sponsored the Hucktoberfest’s raffle of $3,500,
which included airplanes, engines, and
hardware. There were many happy winners.
GMA provided the field and food, and club
volunteers pitched in to help. The group has a
membership exceeding 200, and the president,
Rex Bryant, provides the members with
excellent leadership.
The GMA field is a great place at which to
fly. It offers a choice of grass or hardtop
runways and 65 acres of space: a perfect venue
for this wild affair. Besides the club’s normal
donations to charity, a portion of the Huckfest
food proceeds went to the Muscular Dystrophy
Association.
What is a Huckfest? Chris Hinson said:
“No, it’s not a contest, but rather a large
meeting of like-minded individuals gathering in
July 2009 35
Below: Rex Bryant, Georgia Model Aviators
president, takes his job seriously. What
happened to delegating responsibility?
Chris Hinson, “Mr. Extreme Flight,” flies
his 74-inch-span Yak. With his new
Torque Revolution 5018T/250 outrunner
motor and FlightPower 10s 5000 mAh Li-
Polys, the model’s all-up flying weight is
13 pounds.
A little guy with a big model: 13-
year-old Louis Vendiales and his
DA-150-powered, 42% Yak. He has
been flying for two years and is
already a pro. His dad, Mark, did
the pit work.
Photos by the author
Russell
Reel’s
prototype
40% Extra
300 spans 125
inches, was
flown with a DA-
150 engine and
MTW canisters, and
weighed 42 pounds
all-up. It should have
been available in the
spring from Extreme
Flight R/C.
07sig2.QXD 5/26/09 9:15 AM Page 35
36 MODEL AVIATION
Steve Cinch (L) of Flying Giants and Jim T. Graham of RCGroups
take time out for a bite. Both used streaming video to share the
action on their respective Web sites.
Right: Mild-mannered Steve Johnson
flew his FMG 42% CAP 232, powered
with a 3W-200 engine and guided by a
JR radio system. Extreme maneuvers
are his way of keeping the heart
pumping.
Below right: Belching smoke, this 50cc
Aeroworks Pitts Python, flown by Paul
Hollermann, pulls up into a hover,
inches above the ground.
Below: Paul and Ross Hollermann flew
one airplane together. Paul was on the
left stick and Ross was on the right.
Their flying demonstration was
amazing.
Above: Part of the enjoyment is talking to fellow huckers,
exchanging ideas, and enjoying good fellowship. That’s what
huckin’ is all about!
07July 2009 37
Above: Extreme Flight R/C’s Chris and Melissa Hinson cosponsored
the event. Chris is an ambassador to RC, providing
excellent airplane kits and hardware to sport and competition
pilots, and his flying skills are among the best.
Below: What a great Huckfest—all in a day-and-a-half, with 60
registered pilots. Everyone should make an effort to attend this
popular event.
Above: Wayne Matthews,
“Mr. Sew Busy,” got in
some flying time with his
big Composite-ARF Yak.
He is really an IMAC man,
not a hucker, and was
recently elected secretary
of the organization.
Doug Ahlschlager, a hard-core hucker, thrills with his continual rolls close to the ground. His big Katana seems to survive the
beating—most of the time.
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:40 PM Page 37sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:32 PM Page 36
July 2009 37
Above: Extreme Flight R/C’s Chris and Melissa Hinson cosponsored
the event. Chris is an ambassador to RC, providing
excellent airplane kits and hardware to sport and competition
pilots, and his flying skills are among the best.
Below: What a great Huckfest—all in a day-and-a-half, with 60
registered pilots. Everyone should make an effort to attend this
popular event.
Above: Wayne Matthews,
“Mr. Sew Busy,” got in
some flying time with his
big Composite-ARF Yak.
He is really an IMAC man,
not a hucker, and was
recently elected secretary
of the organization.
Doug Ahlschlager, a hard-core hucker, thrills with his continual rolls close to the ground. His big Katana seems to survive the
beating—most of the time.
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:40 PM Page 37
Everyone here at Flying Giants is excited that the AMA has an interest in our
Huckfest series. We have been working hard to promote Giant Scale extreme 3-D flying
in a safe and controlled manner.
This year, to make the Huckfest tour even better, we have brought on a title sponsor.
The upcoming series will be billed as “JTEC Radiowave Presents the 2009 Huckfest
Series.” The events are as follows.
• June 19-21 in Rockford IL; hosts: Rock Valley R/C Flyers
• June 26-28 in Saint Louis MO; host: Mark Trent and the Orchard Hill Fliers
• July 31-August 2 in Woodstock CT; host: Snap-A-Saurus
• September 11-13 in Napoleon OH; host: Corky Heitman and the Thistledown Flyers
• October 23-25 in Atlanta GA; host: Chris Hinson and Extreme Flight R/C MA
—Stephen Cinch
Flying Giants
Sources:
Flying Giants
www.flyinggiants.com
a spirit of fellowship and camaraderie to enjoy
as much 3-D and aerobatic RC flying as they
can stand.”
The first edition was held in Ohio in 2006,
and it was a tremendous success.
But how did the Huckfest get its name? It
came from action sports, such as skateboarding
and motorcycle events. When the action got
crazy, the RCers would say, “Man, he’s
huckin’ it.”
Then as 3-D aerobatics became more
prevalent, with such extreme maneuvers as the
Wall and rolling low to the deck, the name
“Huckfest” was born—thanks to Flying
Giants’ Steve Cinch, who is better known as
“SleepyC.”
The first day of the Atlanta Huckfest was a
complete washout. A cold front moved through
with rain, wind, and cooler temperatures. The
club has cameras at the field so that the
members can see what is happening there, and
I checked them online intermittently. All I saw
were raindrops in the mud puddles and no
flying activity.
However, the next day the weather did a
180 and gave us a perfect day for flying. There
was plenty of action, with five to six airplanes
in the air most of the day.
Most of these pilots are hard-core
“huckers.” Some go at the wild maneuvers in a
reasonable way, but others live on the edge of
destruction, daring to put their models back in
kit form. Some of the participants came from
great distances, such as Minnesota,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida. The
event also drew several local pilots.
I met two young huckers from Cold
Springs, Minnesota: Paul and Ross
Hollermann. Most of the time they flew in
formation—even rolling and hovering together.
They had it down.
One of the cool things they did was fly one
model, with Ross on the right stick and Paul on
the left. A flier’s brain usually coordinates two
sticks on the transmitter, but it becomes much
more complicated when you split the task
between two people. Maybe the Hollermanns’
being twins made it easier in some way. The
airplane looked as if one pilot were flying it.
Paul and Ross did an outstanding job, and
their dad was there to encourage them. I
consider these guys conservative huckers.
On the other side of the spectrum, I met a
hucker who fit perfectly in the hard-core class.
Some mild-mannered people’s personalities
38 MODEL AVIATION
change drastically when you get them behind
a wheel of a car. But Doug Ahlschlager of
Daytona Beach, Florida, was never mild
mannered; he put on a wild show from the
moment he picked up the transmitter.
Doug was extremely hard on servos,
airframes, and wing tubes. After taking off
with his aircraft, it never did stop rolling. At
one point, a roll close to the ground netted his
model an unexpected inverted landing, which
tore loose the rudder and broke the propeller.
“Not to worry,” said Doug. “I’ll have it
fixed in an hour.” And he did.
The flying went on the rest of the day. One
airplane ended up in a tree, and Joe Martin
splattered his big Ultimate biplane in front of
God and everybody while putting on a
fantastic show. The parts of his airplane were
hauled off the field in the GMA “Bag of
Shame.”
As darkness approached, a bank of lights
was set up, thanks to Extreme Flight R/C,
allowing the pilots to fly into the night. Fliers
had to be careful not to wander too far away
from the lights, or bye-bye airplane. Much
hovering and other maneuvers were
performed during this nighttime session.
Flying continued into the evening, until
10:30. With cold temperatures creeping in, a
big bonfire was started at the end of the
runway. Many settled down there for the
warmth and to talk about the day’s flying over
a beer.
(Editor’s note: Stories of fire-walking have
been going around; if you want those details,
you’ll have to visit the Flying Giants Web site
or, better yet, visit a Huckfest event in person.)
In spite of the first-day washout, the Atlanta
Huckfest was a great one-and-a-half-day fest.
Pilots’traveling long distances to attend
attested to the fact that this event has attained
popularity. Amazing flying and wild
maneuvers allow the “hotdog” pilots to
showcase their skills.
Thanks to Flying Giants’ Steve Cinch for
promoting the Huckfest, Extreme Flight R/C
for the sponsorship, and all those volunteer
workers in the GMA club. I look forward to
next year, when the “huckers” return for
another wild event at Atlanta. MA
Jerry Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
RCGroups
www.rcgroups.com/atlanta-huckfest-577
Flying Giants
www.flyinggiants.com/forums/fg253
Extreme Flight R/C
(770) 887-1794
www.extremeflightrc.com
Georgia Model Aviators
www.gmarc.com
07sig2.QXD 5/26/09 9:20 AM Page 38
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 34,35,36,37,38
34 MODEL AVIATION
by Jerry Smith
For a “huck”
of a show, visit
a Huckfest
near you
Chane Spendlove and Steve Johnson do the ever-popular hover in front of the crowd. For
those who couldn’t attend, Fred Midgett of Higher Plane Productions (R) captures all the
action for his Huckfest video production.
Above: Justin Owen and Doug Ahlschlager
hover their airplanes in formation. If you
can’t hover, you’re not huckin’!
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:19 PM Page 34
THE ATLANTA, Georgia, event was the last
in a series of Huckfests held across the US in
2008 after a successful run of gatherings at
Saint Louis, Missouri; Woodstock,
Connecticut; and Napoleon, Ohio. Held
October 24-26 and co-sponsored by the Flying
Giants and Extreme Flight R/C, the venue was
the Georgia Model Aviators’ (GMA) club field
just outside of Cumming.
Flying Giants is an Internet-based company
that is funded by advertising. It provides a
sounding board for the modeling community,
where members can exchange ideas and other
interesting and desirable features for the
RCer.
Best of all, Flying Giants is free. All
you have to do is sign in on the Web site
with a user name and password.
Extreme Flight R/C is a Cumming-based
company, headed by Chris and Melissa Hinson,
that provides excellent RC products and
hardware. Their aircraft are well tested and
popular with those who fly for sport and in
contests.
Chris is a great ambassador for the RC
industry and an over-the-top pilot. He
sponsored the Hucktoberfest’s raffle of $3,500,
which included airplanes, engines, and
hardware. There were many happy winners.
GMA provided the field and food, and club
volunteers pitched in to help. The group has a
membership exceeding 200, and the president,
Rex Bryant, provides the members with
excellent leadership.
The GMA field is a great place at which to
fly. It offers a choice of grass or hardtop
runways and 65 acres of space: a perfect venue
for this wild affair. Besides the club’s normal
donations to charity, a portion of the Huckfest
food proceeds went to the Muscular Dystrophy
Association.
What is a Huckfest? Chris Hinson said:
“No, it’s not a contest, but rather a large
meeting of like-minded individuals gathering in
July 2009 35
Below: Rex Bryant, Georgia Model Aviators
president, takes his job seriously. What
happened to delegating responsibility?
Chris Hinson, “Mr. Extreme Flight,” flies
his 74-inch-span Yak. With his new
Torque Revolution 5018T/250 outrunner
motor and FlightPower 10s 5000 mAh Li-
Polys, the model’s all-up flying weight is
13 pounds.
A little guy with a big model: 13-
year-old Louis Vendiales and his
DA-150-powered, 42% Yak. He has
been flying for two years and is
already a pro. His dad, Mark, did
the pit work.
Photos by the author
Russell
Reel’s
prototype
40% Extra
300 spans 125
inches, was
flown with a DA-
150 engine and
MTW canisters, and
weighed 42 pounds
all-up. It should have
been available in the
spring from Extreme
Flight R/C.
07sig2.QXD 5/26/09 9:15 AM Page 35
36 MODEL AVIATION
Steve Cinch (L) of Flying Giants and Jim T. Graham of RCGroups
take time out for a bite. Both used streaming video to share the
action on their respective Web sites.
Right: Mild-mannered Steve Johnson
flew his FMG 42% CAP 232, powered
with a 3W-200 engine and guided by a
JR radio system. Extreme maneuvers
are his way of keeping the heart
pumping.
Below right: Belching smoke, this 50cc
Aeroworks Pitts Python, flown by Paul
Hollermann, pulls up into a hover,
inches above the ground.
Below: Paul and Ross Hollermann flew
one airplane together. Paul was on the
left stick and Ross was on the right.
Their flying demonstration was
amazing.
Above: Part of the enjoyment is talking to fellow huckers,
exchanging ideas, and enjoying good fellowship. That’s what
huckin’ is all about!
07July 2009 37
Above: Extreme Flight R/C’s Chris and Melissa Hinson cosponsored
the event. Chris is an ambassador to RC, providing
excellent airplane kits and hardware to sport and competition
pilots, and his flying skills are among the best.
Below: What a great Huckfest—all in a day-and-a-half, with 60
registered pilots. Everyone should make an effort to attend this
popular event.
Above: Wayne Matthews,
“Mr. Sew Busy,” got in
some flying time with his
big Composite-ARF Yak.
He is really an IMAC man,
not a hucker, and was
recently elected secretary
of the organization.
Doug Ahlschlager, a hard-core hucker, thrills with his continual rolls close to the ground. His big Katana seems to survive the
beating—most of the time.
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:40 PM Page 37sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:32 PM Page 36
July 2009 37
Above: Extreme Flight R/C’s Chris and Melissa Hinson cosponsored
the event. Chris is an ambassador to RC, providing
excellent airplane kits and hardware to sport and competition
pilots, and his flying skills are among the best.
Below: What a great Huckfest—all in a day-and-a-half, with 60
registered pilots. Everyone should make an effort to attend this
popular event.
Above: Wayne Matthews,
“Mr. Sew Busy,” got in
some flying time with his
big Composite-ARF Yak.
He is really an IMAC man,
not a hucker, and was
recently elected secretary
of the organization.
Doug Ahlschlager, a hard-core hucker, thrills with his continual rolls close to the ground. His big Katana seems to survive the
beating—most of the time.
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:40 PM Page 37
Everyone here at Flying Giants is excited that the AMA has an interest in our
Huckfest series. We have been working hard to promote Giant Scale extreme 3-D flying
in a safe and controlled manner.
This year, to make the Huckfest tour even better, we have brought on a title sponsor.
The upcoming series will be billed as “JTEC Radiowave Presents the 2009 Huckfest
Series.” The events are as follows.
• June 19-21 in Rockford IL; hosts: Rock Valley R/C Flyers
• June 26-28 in Saint Louis MO; host: Mark Trent and the Orchard Hill Fliers
• July 31-August 2 in Woodstock CT; host: Snap-A-Saurus
• September 11-13 in Napoleon OH; host: Corky Heitman and the Thistledown Flyers
• October 23-25 in Atlanta GA; host: Chris Hinson and Extreme Flight R/C MA
—Stephen Cinch
Flying Giants
Sources:
Flying Giants
www.flyinggiants.com
a spirit of fellowship and camaraderie to enjoy
as much 3-D and aerobatic RC flying as they
can stand.”
The first edition was held in Ohio in 2006,
and it was a tremendous success.
But how did the Huckfest get its name? It
came from action sports, such as skateboarding
and motorcycle events. When the action got
crazy, the RCers would say, “Man, he’s
huckin’ it.”
Then as 3-D aerobatics became more
prevalent, with such extreme maneuvers as the
Wall and rolling low to the deck, the name
“Huckfest” was born—thanks to Flying
Giants’ Steve Cinch, who is better known as
“SleepyC.”
The first day of the Atlanta Huckfest was a
complete washout. A cold front moved through
with rain, wind, and cooler temperatures. The
club has cameras at the field so that the
members can see what is happening there, and
I checked them online intermittently. All I saw
were raindrops in the mud puddles and no
flying activity.
However, the next day the weather did a
180 and gave us a perfect day for flying. There
was plenty of action, with five to six airplanes
in the air most of the day.
Most of these pilots are hard-core
“huckers.” Some go at the wild maneuvers in a
reasonable way, but others live on the edge of
destruction, daring to put their models back in
kit form. Some of the participants came from
great distances, such as Minnesota,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida. The
event also drew several local pilots.
I met two young huckers from Cold
Springs, Minnesota: Paul and Ross
Hollermann. Most of the time they flew in
formation—even rolling and hovering together.
They had it down.
One of the cool things they did was fly one
model, with Ross on the right stick and Paul on
the left. A flier’s brain usually coordinates two
sticks on the transmitter, but it becomes much
more complicated when you split the task
between two people. Maybe the Hollermanns’
being twins made it easier in some way. The
airplane looked as if one pilot were flying it.
Paul and Ross did an outstanding job, and
their dad was there to encourage them. I
consider these guys conservative huckers.
On the other side of the spectrum, I met a
hucker who fit perfectly in the hard-core class.
Some mild-mannered people’s personalities
38 MODEL AVIATION
change drastically when you get them behind
a wheel of a car. But Doug Ahlschlager of
Daytona Beach, Florida, was never mild
mannered; he put on a wild show from the
moment he picked up the transmitter.
Doug was extremely hard on servos,
airframes, and wing tubes. After taking off
with his aircraft, it never did stop rolling. At
one point, a roll close to the ground netted his
model an unexpected inverted landing, which
tore loose the rudder and broke the propeller.
“Not to worry,” said Doug. “I’ll have it
fixed in an hour.” And he did.
The flying went on the rest of the day. One
airplane ended up in a tree, and Joe Martin
splattered his big Ultimate biplane in front of
God and everybody while putting on a
fantastic show. The parts of his airplane were
hauled off the field in the GMA “Bag of
Shame.”
As darkness approached, a bank of lights
was set up, thanks to Extreme Flight R/C,
allowing the pilots to fly into the night. Fliers
had to be careful not to wander too far away
from the lights, or bye-bye airplane. Much
hovering and other maneuvers were
performed during this nighttime session.
Flying continued into the evening, until
10:30. With cold temperatures creeping in, a
big bonfire was started at the end of the
runway. Many settled down there for the
warmth and to talk about the day’s flying over
a beer.
(Editor’s note: Stories of fire-walking have
been going around; if you want those details,
you’ll have to visit the Flying Giants Web site
or, better yet, visit a Huckfest event in person.)
In spite of the first-day washout, the Atlanta
Huckfest was a great one-and-a-half-day fest.
Pilots’traveling long distances to attend
attested to the fact that this event has attained
popularity. Amazing flying and wild
maneuvers allow the “hotdog” pilots to
showcase their skills.
Thanks to Flying Giants’ Steve Cinch for
promoting the Huckfest, Extreme Flight R/C
for the sponsorship, and all those volunteer
workers in the GMA club. I look forward to
next year, when the “huckers” return for
another wild event at Atlanta. MA
Jerry Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
RCGroups
www.rcgroups.com/atlanta-huckfest-577
Flying Giants
www.flyinggiants.com/forums/fg253
Extreme Flight R/C
(770) 887-1794
www.extremeflightrc.com
Georgia Model Aviators
www.gmarc.com
07sig2.QXD 5/26/09 9:20 AM Page 38
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 34,35,36,37,38
34 MODEL AVIATION
by Jerry Smith
For a “huck”
of a show, visit
a Huckfest
near you
Chane Spendlove and Steve Johnson do the ever-popular hover in front of the crowd. For
those who couldn’t attend, Fred Midgett of Higher Plane Productions (R) captures all the
action for his Huckfest video production.
Above: Justin Owen and Doug Ahlschlager
hover their airplanes in formation. If you
can’t hover, you’re not huckin’!
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:19 PM Page 34
THE ATLANTA, Georgia, event was the last
in a series of Huckfests held across the US in
2008 after a successful run of gatherings at
Saint Louis, Missouri; Woodstock,
Connecticut; and Napoleon, Ohio. Held
October 24-26 and co-sponsored by the Flying
Giants and Extreme Flight R/C, the venue was
the Georgia Model Aviators’ (GMA) club field
just outside of Cumming.
Flying Giants is an Internet-based company
that is funded by advertising. It provides a
sounding board for the modeling community,
where members can exchange ideas and other
interesting and desirable features for the
RCer.
Best of all, Flying Giants is free. All
you have to do is sign in on the Web site
with a user name and password.
Extreme Flight R/C is a Cumming-based
company, headed by Chris and Melissa Hinson,
that provides excellent RC products and
hardware. Their aircraft are well tested and
popular with those who fly for sport and in
contests.
Chris is a great ambassador for the RC
industry and an over-the-top pilot. He
sponsored the Hucktoberfest’s raffle of $3,500,
which included airplanes, engines, and
hardware. There were many happy winners.
GMA provided the field and food, and club
volunteers pitched in to help. The group has a
membership exceeding 200, and the president,
Rex Bryant, provides the members with
excellent leadership.
The GMA field is a great place at which to
fly. It offers a choice of grass or hardtop
runways and 65 acres of space: a perfect venue
for this wild affair. Besides the club’s normal
donations to charity, a portion of the Huckfest
food proceeds went to the Muscular Dystrophy
Association.
What is a Huckfest? Chris Hinson said:
“No, it’s not a contest, but rather a large
meeting of like-minded individuals gathering in
July 2009 35
Below: Rex Bryant, Georgia Model Aviators
president, takes his job seriously. What
happened to delegating responsibility?
Chris Hinson, “Mr. Extreme Flight,” flies
his 74-inch-span Yak. With his new
Torque Revolution 5018T/250 outrunner
motor and FlightPower 10s 5000 mAh Li-
Polys, the model’s all-up flying weight is
13 pounds.
A little guy with a big model: 13-
year-old Louis Vendiales and his
DA-150-powered, 42% Yak. He has
been flying for two years and is
already a pro. His dad, Mark, did
the pit work.
Photos by the author
Russell
Reel’s
prototype
40% Extra
300 spans 125
inches, was
flown with a DA-
150 engine and
MTW canisters, and
weighed 42 pounds
all-up. It should have
been available in the
spring from Extreme
Flight R/C.
07sig2.QXD 5/26/09 9:15 AM Page 35
36 MODEL AVIATION
Steve Cinch (L) of Flying Giants and Jim T. Graham of RCGroups
take time out for a bite. Both used streaming video to share the
action on their respective Web sites.
Right: Mild-mannered Steve Johnson
flew his FMG 42% CAP 232, powered
with a 3W-200 engine and guided by a
JR radio system. Extreme maneuvers
are his way of keeping the heart
pumping.
Below right: Belching smoke, this 50cc
Aeroworks Pitts Python, flown by Paul
Hollermann, pulls up into a hover,
inches above the ground.
Below: Paul and Ross Hollermann flew
one airplane together. Paul was on the
left stick and Ross was on the right.
Their flying demonstration was
amazing.
Above: Part of the enjoyment is talking to fellow huckers,
exchanging ideas, and enjoying good fellowship. That’s what
huckin’ is all about!
07July 2009 37
Above: Extreme Flight R/C’s Chris and Melissa Hinson cosponsored
the event. Chris is an ambassador to RC, providing
excellent airplane kits and hardware to sport and competition
pilots, and his flying skills are among the best.
Below: What a great Huckfest—all in a day-and-a-half, with 60
registered pilots. Everyone should make an effort to attend this
popular event.
Above: Wayne Matthews,
“Mr. Sew Busy,” got in
some flying time with his
big Composite-ARF Yak.
He is really an IMAC man,
not a hucker, and was
recently elected secretary
of the organization.
Doug Ahlschlager, a hard-core hucker, thrills with his continual rolls close to the ground. His big Katana seems to survive the
beating—most of the time.
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:40 PM Page 37sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:32 PM Page 36
July 2009 37
Above: Extreme Flight R/C’s Chris and Melissa Hinson cosponsored
the event. Chris is an ambassador to RC, providing
excellent airplane kits and hardware to sport and competition
pilots, and his flying skills are among the best.
Below: What a great Huckfest—all in a day-and-a-half, with 60
registered pilots. Everyone should make an effort to attend this
popular event.
Above: Wayne Matthews,
“Mr. Sew Busy,” got in
some flying time with his
big Composite-ARF Yak.
He is really an IMAC man,
not a hucker, and was
recently elected secretary
of the organization.
Doug Ahlschlager, a hard-core hucker, thrills with his continual rolls close to the ground. His big Katana seems to survive the
beating—most of the time.
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:40 PM Page 37
Everyone here at Flying Giants is excited that the AMA has an interest in our
Huckfest series. We have been working hard to promote Giant Scale extreme 3-D flying
in a safe and controlled manner.
This year, to make the Huckfest tour even better, we have brought on a title sponsor.
The upcoming series will be billed as “JTEC Radiowave Presents the 2009 Huckfest
Series.” The events are as follows.
• June 19-21 in Rockford IL; hosts: Rock Valley R/C Flyers
• June 26-28 in Saint Louis MO; host: Mark Trent and the Orchard Hill Fliers
• July 31-August 2 in Woodstock CT; host: Snap-A-Saurus
• September 11-13 in Napoleon OH; host: Corky Heitman and the Thistledown Flyers
• October 23-25 in Atlanta GA; host: Chris Hinson and Extreme Flight R/C MA
—Stephen Cinch
Flying Giants
Sources:
Flying Giants
www.flyinggiants.com
a spirit of fellowship and camaraderie to enjoy
as much 3-D and aerobatic RC flying as they
can stand.”
The first edition was held in Ohio in 2006,
and it was a tremendous success.
But how did the Huckfest get its name? It
came from action sports, such as skateboarding
and motorcycle events. When the action got
crazy, the RCers would say, “Man, he’s
huckin’ it.”
Then as 3-D aerobatics became more
prevalent, with such extreme maneuvers as the
Wall and rolling low to the deck, the name
“Huckfest” was born—thanks to Flying
Giants’ Steve Cinch, who is better known as
“SleepyC.”
The first day of the Atlanta Huckfest was a
complete washout. A cold front moved through
with rain, wind, and cooler temperatures. The
club has cameras at the field so that the
members can see what is happening there, and
I checked them online intermittently. All I saw
were raindrops in the mud puddles and no
flying activity.
However, the next day the weather did a
180 and gave us a perfect day for flying. There
was plenty of action, with five to six airplanes
in the air most of the day.
Most of these pilots are hard-core
“huckers.” Some go at the wild maneuvers in a
reasonable way, but others live on the edge of
destruction, daring to put their models back in
kit form. Some of the participants came from
great distances, such as Minnesota,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida. The
event also drew several local pilots.
I met two young huckers from Cold
Springs, Minnesota: Paul and Ross
Hollermann. Most of the time they flew in
formation—even rolling and hovering together.
They had it down.
One of the cool things they did was fly one
model, with Ross on the right stick and Paul on
the left. A flier’s brain usually coordinates two
sticks on the transmitter, but it becomes much
more complicated when you split the task
between two people. Maybe the Hollermanns’
being twins made it easier in some way. The
airplane looked as if one pilot were flying it.
Paul and Ross did an outstanding job, and
their dad was there to encourage them. I
consider these guys conservative huckers.
On the other side of the spectrum, I met a
hucker who fit perfectly in the hard-core class.
Some mild-mannered people’s personalities
38 MODEL AVIATION
change drastically when you get them behind
a wheel of a car. But Doug Ahlschlager of
Daytona Beach, Florida, was never mild
mannered; he put on a wild show from the
moment he picked up the transmitter.
Doug was extremely hard on servos,
airframes, and wing tubes. After taking off
with his aircraft, it never did stop rolling. At
one point, a roll close to the ground netted his
model an unexpected inverted landing, which
tore loose the rudder and broke the propeller.
“Not to worry,” said Doug. “I’ll have it
fixed in an hour.” And he did.
The flying went on the rest of the day. One
airplane ended up in a tree, and Joe Martin
splattered his big Ultimate biplane in front of
God and everybody while putting on a
fantastic show. The parts of his airplane were
hauled off the field in the GMA “Bag of
Shame.”
As darkness approached, a bank of lights
was set up, thanks to Extreme Flight R/C,
allowing the pilots to fly into the night. Fliers
had to be careful not to wander too far away
from the lights, or bye-bye airplane. Much
hovering and other maneuvers were
performed during this nighttime session.
Flying continued into the evening, until
10:30. With cold temperatures creeping in, a
big bonfire was started at the end of the
runway. Many settled down there for the
warmth and to talk about the day’s flying over
a beer.
(Editor’s note: Stories of fire-walking have
been going around; if you want those details,
you’ll have to visit the Flying Giants Web site
or, better yet, visit a Huckfest event in person.)
In spite of the first-day washout, the Atlanta
Huckfest was a great one-and-a-half-day fest.
Pilots’traveling long distances to attend
attested to the fact that this event has attained
popularity. Amazing flying and wild
maneuvers allow the “hotdog” pilots to
showcase their skills.
Thanks to Flying Giants’ Steve Cinch for
promoting the Huckfest, Extreme Flight R/C
for the sponsorship, and all those volunteer
workers in the GMA club. I look forward to
next year, when the “huckers” return for
another wild event at Atlanta. MA
Jerry Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
RCGroups
www.rcgroups.com/atlanta-huckfest-577
Flying Giants
www.flyinggiants.com/forums/fg253
Extreme Flight R/C
(770) 887-1794
www.extremeflightrc.com
Georgia Model Aviators
www.gmarc.com
07sig2.QXD 5/26/09 9:20 AM Page 38
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 34,35,36,37,38
34 MODEL AVIATION
by Jerry Smith
For a “huck”
of a show, visit
a Huckfest
near you
Chane Spendlove and Steve Johnson do the ever-popular hover in front of the crowd. For
those who couldn’t attend, Fred Midgett of Higher Plane Productions (R) captures all the
action for his Huckfest video production.
Above: Justin Owen and Doug Ahlschlager
hover their airplanes in formation. If you
can’t hover, you’re not huckin’!
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:19 PM Page 34
THE ATLANTA, Georgia, event was the last
in a series of Huckfests held across the US in
2008 after a successful run of gatherings at
Saint Louis, Missouri; Woodstock,
Connecticut; and Napoleon, Ohio. Held
October 24-26 and co-sponsored by the Flying
Giants and Extreme Flight R/C, the venue was
the Georgia Model Aviators’ (GMA) club field
just outside of Cumming.
Flying Giants is an Internet-based company
that is funded by advertising. It provides a
sounding board for the modeling community,
where members can exchange ideas and other
interesting and desirable features for the
RCer.
Best of all, Flying Giants is free. All
you have to do is sign in on the Web site
with a user name and password.
Extreme Flight R/C is a Cumming-based
company, headed by Chris and Melissa Hinson,
that provides excellent RC products and
hardware. Their aircraft are well tested and
popular with those who fly for sport and in
contests.
Chris is a great ambassador for the RC
industry and an over-the-top pilot. He
sponsored the Hucktoberfest’s raffle of $3,500,
which included airplanes, engines, and
hardware. There were many happy winners.
GMA provided the field and food, and club
volunteers pitched in to help. The group has a
membership exceeding 200, and the president,
Rex Bryant, provides the members with
excellent leadership.
The GMA field is a great place at which to
fly. It offers a choice of grass or hardtop
runways and 65 acres of space: a perfect venue
for this wild affair. Besides the club’s normal
donations to charity, a portion of the Huckfest
food proceeds went to the Muscular Dystrophy
Association.
What is a Huckfest? Chris Hinson said:
“No, it’s not a contest, but rather a large
meeting of like-minded individuals gathering in
July 2009 35
Below: Rex Bryant, Georgia Model Aviators
president, takes his job seriously. What
happened to delegating responsibility?
Chris Hinson, “Mr. Extreme Flight,” flies
his 74-inch-span Yak. With his new
Torque Revolution 5018T/250 outrunner
motor and FlightPower 10s 5000 mAh Li-
Polys, the model’s all-up flying weight is
13 pounds.
A little guy with a big model: 13-
year-old Louis Vendiales and his
DA-150-powered, 42% Yak. He has
been flying for two years and is
already a pro. His dad, Mark, did
the pit work.
Photos by the author
Russell
Reel’s
prototype
40% Extra
300 spans 125
inches, was
flown with a DA-
150 engine and
MTW canisters, and
weighed 42 pounds
all-up. It should have
been available in the
spring from Extreme
Flight R/C.
07sig2.QXD 5/26/09 9:15 AM Page 35
36 MODEL AVIATION
Steve Cinch (L) of Flying Giants and Jim T. Graham of RCGroups
take time out for a bite. Both used streaming video to share the
action on their respective Web sites.
Right: Mild-mannered Steve Johnson
flew his FMG 42% CAP 232, powered
with a 3W-200 engine and guided by a
JR radio system. Extreme maneuvers
are his way of keeping the heart
pumping.
Below right: Belching smoke, this 50cc
Aeroworks Pitts Python, flown by Paul
Hollermann, pulls up into a hover,
inches above the ground.
Below: Paul and Ross Hollermann flew
one airplane together. Paul was on the
left stick and Ross was on the right.
Their flying demonstration was
amazing.
Above: Part of the enjoyment is talking to fellow huckers,
exchanging ideas, and enjoying good fellowship. That’s what
huckin’ is all about!
07July 2009 37
Above: Extreme Flight R/C’s Chris and Melissa Hinson cosponsored
the event. Chris is an ambassador to RC, providing
excellent airplane kits and hardware to sport and competition
pilots, and his flying skills are among the best.
Below: What a great Huckfest—all in a day-and-a-half, with 60
registered pilots. Everyone should make an effort to attend this
popular event.
Above: Wayne Matthews,
“Mr. Sew Busy,” got in
some flying time with his
big Composite-ARF Yak.
He is really an IMAC man,
not a hucker, and was
recently elected secretary
of the organization.
Doug Ahlschlager, a hard-core hucker, thrills with his continual rolls close to the ground. His big Katana seems to survive the
beating—most of the time.
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:40 PM Page 37sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:32 PM Page 36
July 2009 37
Above: Extreme Flight R/C’s Chris and Melissa Hinson cosponsored
the event. Chris is an ambassador to RC, providing
excellent airplane kits and hardware to sport and competition
pilots, and his flying skills are among the best.
Below: What a great Huckfest—all in a day-and-a-half, with 60
registered pilots. Everyone should make an effort to attend this
popular event.
Above: Wayne Matthews,
“Mr. Sew Busy,” got in
some flying time with his
big Composite-ARF Yak.
He is really an IMAC man,
not a hucker, and was
recently elected secretary
of the organization.
Doug Ahlschlager, a hard-core hucker, thrills with his continual rolls close to the ground. His big Katana seems to survive the
beating—most of the time.
07sig2.QXD 5/22/09 1:40 PM Page 37
Everyone here at Flying Giants is excited that the AMA has an interest in our
Huckfest series. We have been working hard to promote Giant Scale extreme 3-D flying
in a safe and controlled manner.
This year, to make the Huckfest tour even better, we have brought on a title sponsor.
The upcoming series will be billed as “JTEC Radiowave Presents the 2009 Huckfest
Series.” The events are as follows.
• June 19-21 in Rockford IL; hosts: Rock Valley R/C Flyers
• June 26-28 in Saint Louis MO; host: Mark Trent and the Orchard Hill Fliers
• July 31-August 2 in Woodstock CT; host: Snap-A-Saurus
• September 11-13 in Napoleon OH; host: Corky Heitman and the Thistledown Flyers
• October 23-25 in Atlanta GA; host: Chris Hinson and Extreme Flight R/C MA
—Stephen Cinch
Flying Giants
Sources:
Flying Giants
www.flyinggiants.com
a spirit of fellowship and camaraderie to enjoy
as much 3-D and aerobatic RC flying as they
can stand.”
The first edition was held in Ohio in 2006,
and it was a tremendous success.
But how did the Huckfest get its name? It
came from action sports, such as skateboarding
and motorcycle events. When the action got
crazy, the RCers would say, “Man, he’s
huckin’ it.”
Then as 3-D aerobatics became more
prevalent, with such extreme maneuvers as the
Wall and rolling low to the deck, the name
“Huckfest” was born—thanks to Flying
Giants’ Steve Cinch, who is better known as
“SleepyC.”
The first day of the Atlanta Huckfest was a
complete washout. A cold front moved through
with rain, wind, and cooler temperatures. The
club has cameras at the field so that the
members can see what is happening there, and
I checked them online intermittently. All I saw
were raindrops in the mud puddles and no
flying activity.
However, the next day the weather did a
180 and gave us a perfect day for flying. There
was plenty of action, with five to six airplanes
in the air most of the day.
Most of these pilots are hard-core
“huckers.” Some go at the wild maneuvers in a
reasonable way, but others live on the edge of
destruction, daring to put their models back in
kit form. Some of the participants came from
great distances, such as Minnesota,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida. The
event also drew several local pilots.
I met two young huckers from Cold
Springs, Minnesota: Paul and Ross
Hollermann. Most of the time they flew in
formation—even rolling and hovering together.
They had it down.
One of the cool things they did was fly one
model, with Ross on the right stick and Paul on
the left. A flier’s brain usually coordinates two
sticks on the transmitter, but it becomes much
more complicated when you split the task
between two people. Maybe the Hollermanns’
being twins made it easier in some way. The
airplane looked as if one pilot were flying it.
Paul and Ross did an outstanding job, and
their dad was there to encourage them. I
consider these guys conservative huckers.
On the other side of the spectrum, I met a
hucker who fit perfectly in the hard-core class.
Some mild-mannered people’s personalities
38 MODEL AVIATION
change drastically when you get them behind
a wheel of a car. But Doug Ahlschlager of
Daytona Beach, Florida, was never mild
mannered; he put on a wild show from the
moment he picked up the transmitter.
Doug was extremely hard on servos,
airframes, and wing tubes. After taking off
with his aircraft, it never did stop rolling. At
one point, a roll close to the ground netted his
model an unexpected inverted landing, which
tore loose the rudder and broke the propeller.
“Not to worry,” said Doug. “I’ll have it
fixed in an hour.” And he did.
The flying went on the rest of the day. One
airplane ended up in a tree, and Joe Martin
splattered his big Ultimate biplane in front of
God and everybody while putting on a
fantastic show. The parts of his airplane were
hauled off the field in the GMA “Bag of
Shame.”
As darkness approached, a bank of lights
was set up, thanks to Extreme Flight R/C,
allowing the pilots to fly into the night. Fliers
had to be careful not to wander too far away
from the lights, or bye-bye airplane. Much
hovering and other maneuvers were
performed during this nighttime session.
Flying continued into the evening, until
10:30. With cold temperatures creeping in, a
big bonfire was started at the end of the
runway. Many settled down there for the
warmth and to talk about the day’s flying over
a beer.
(Editor’s note: Stories of fire-walking have
been going around; if you want those details,
you’ll have to visit the Flying Giants Web site
or, better yet, visit a Huckfest event in person.)
In spite of the first-day washout, the Atlanta
Huckfest was a great one-and-a-half-day fest.
Pilots’traveling long distances to attend
attested to the fact that this event has attained
popularity. Amazing flying and wild
maneuvers allow the “hotdog” pilots to
showcase their skills.
Thanks to Flying Giants’ Steve Cinch for
promoting the Huckfest, Extreme Flight R/C
for the sponsorship, and all those volunteer
workers in the GMA club. I look forward to
next year, when the “huckers” return for
another wild event at Atlanta. MA
Jerry Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
RCGroups
www.rcgroups.com/atlanta-huckfest-577
Flying Giants
www.flyinggiants.com/forums/fg253
Extreme Flight R/C
(770) 887-1794
www.extremeflightrc.com
Georgia Model Aviators
www.gmarc.com
07sig2.QXD 5/26/09 9:20 AM Page 38