IRCHA Jamboree - 2006/01

WHERE CAN YOU go and hang out with
close to 500 of your best buddies, doing
what all of you like to do best? The 2005
International Radio Controlled Helicopter
Association Jamboree, or IRCHA Jamboree
for short.
IRCHA was established in 1984 as a
means to unite model-helicopter pilots and
promote the safe flying and advancement of
model-helicopter flying. You can check out
14 MODEL AVIATION
IRCHA Jamboree BY RAY STACY
SKS Video captured all the action and conducted several on-camera pilot interviews,
including this one with Kyle Stacy.
Announcer Greg Poppel has only missed
one IRCHA Jamboree in 12 years! He did a
great job.
Adam Tashjian built his stunning Air-Crane from the first
production kit from Vario. East Coast Scale Helicopters
imports the kit.
the Web site at www.ircha.org.
The 2005 IRCHA Jamboree was the
organization’s 12th such event. I have been
to a number of them throughout the years,
including the first one held in Waynesburg,
Pennsylvania. The 2005 Jamboree was by
far the biggest and best that I have attended.
There were 467 pilots registered, and
some traveled from as far as Australia,
Germany, and England. The pilots covered
all skill levels, from just learning to hover
to the World Championships competitors.
Ages ranged from 9 years old to—well, I’m
not certain. This is a great opportunity to
catch up with old friends and make new
friends.
This year’s Jamboree was hosted in
Muncie, Indiana: the home of our Academy
of Model Aeronautics. This was my first
trip to the Muncie facility. Possibly like
many of us, I have always wondered what
the AMA site was really like. Our interests
have been well cared for!
IRCHA Jamboree
Each day started with Ralph Dalusio’s model flying the American flag while the national
anthem was played.
Matt Botos and Marcus Kim take a break during the manufacturers’ demonstrations. All
team pilots were available to answer questions.
“Would all Raptor pilots please come to center stage for a group photo?” There must be more than 150 of them!
Dan Monroe and his Frequency Control
SW program did a great job of keeping the
radio waves under control.
Photos by the author
January 2005 15
IRCHA Jamboree
Jeff Swartz, Mark Fadely, and Matt Botos perform the “Triple Threat.” This was nicely done to music, thanks to Mark.
A small portion of the raffle prizes that various manufacturers donated!
Jason Krause and Todd Bennett put the long-awaited Synergy design through its paces. It
was no surprise to see that the model performed beautifully.
I was impressed with not only the AMA
Headquarters building and the AMA
National Model Aviation Museum, but the
various flying sites that were beautiful and
well maintained. I am glad to see IRCHA
and AMA working so closely together on an
event of this magnitude.
The Jamboree started August 11 and lasted
until August 14; it was four days of nothing
but flying! The flightline was opened on the
10th, which was a good thing because many
people arrived early. Some people just can’t
get enough of this stuff!
Our group arrived early Thursday
morning. We were greeted by the sounds of
helicopters in the air and people running
back and forth between merchants, trying to
take in the latest and greatest in RC
helicopters. The flightline and “Vendor
Row” extended in both directions for as far
as I could see. I was suddenly glad I had
reserved one of the golf carts for the
weekend!
I think almost every top model-helicopter
company was represented on Vendor Row,
and that was certainly the place to get the
deals. We quickly found a spot for our tent
and unloaded our belongings.
IRCHA President Ron Kummer and his
staff did a great job of organizing the process
to register. There were two lines for signing
in: one for pilots who preregistered and one
for those who did not. The pleasant Holly
Swartz was there to make sure everyone
16 MODEL AVIATION
IRCHA Jamboree
How is this for a gorgeous flying site? The flightline stretches for almost as far as you can see!
Century pilot Kam Wyatt and gas-engine expert Bill Meador return after
an excellent demo with the Century Predator.
Every morning IRCHA President Ron Kummer started with a pilots’ meeting. This was to
go over the day’s agenda and discuss all rules for safe flying.
A number of golf carts were available for transportation.
The flightline was so long that it was almost a necessity.
Mr. IRCHA—Ron Kummer—prepares to
present one of the four Futaba MZ radios
that were given away.
January 2005 17
According to the author, his whole childhood is represented in
this replica hobby shop located in the AMA museum.
18 MODEL AVIATION
IRCHA Jamboree
Alan and Danny Szabo did a great job of keeping the crowd on its
feet with spectacular Raptor 90 demonstration flying.
Scale-event winner Tim Dawson (L) prepares the Puma for a
near-perfect flight.
This picture was taken in the early afternoon! The storms in
Muncie roll in fast, but the sun comes back almost as quickly.
Have sound; will travel. This cart carried sound equipment to
allow practicing choreographed routines to music.
Jeff Swartz and Mike Fortin visit along the flightline in their
“Electric Cadillac.” Enjoying friends is one of this event’s lures.
found his or her way into the proper line.
After we signed in and received our
badge and IRCHA Jamboree shirt, we were
directed to the radio impound, which was a
significant operation in itself. Dan Monroe
and his crew did a fantastic job of
coordinating this station; keeping 467 pilots
and their respective frequencies straight is no
easy task. Dan has developed a software
package that, in conjunction with AMA’s
equipment, handled the frequency control
beautifully.
Once your radio was checked at one end
of the impound trailer, your name and
frequency were entered into the computer
database. To check out your radio, you went
to the other end of the trailer where they
brought up your pilot number to see if your
frequency was available.
If it was, you were given your radio and a
pager to keep with you. If your frequency
was unavailable, you could see how much
time the person with your channel had left
before search began. Pilots who had
synthesized systems could get a report of all
open channels and pick the one of their
choice. Dan’s system will even show you, on
the fly, which frequencies are used the most.
Once you had the pager and transmitter,
the 30-minute clock started and you were
free to fly. At the end of the half hour, the
pager was activated, meaning it was time to
return your radio and pager to the impound.
If you did not come back, you were paged on
the public-address system. I know this from
personal experience!
During the busy times the 30-minute
periods could be too short; you might have
been called back before you were even able
to get to a flight station to fly, but those
instances were rare. There were a few times
when getting the pager and radio backawesome Bergen turbines owned by Greg
Alderman.
Throughout the day those present were
treated to demonstrations by some of the
best pilots in the world. One of my favorites
was the “Triple Threat” performed by Jeff
Swartz, Mark Fadely, and Matt Botos.
They executed a choreographed routine
with their helicopters that was amazing to
watch. At one point they had two
helicopters in a Hurricane, with the third
doing low-level flips in the middle. Later I
heard one of the pilots say, “Imagine how
good it would be if we actually practiced”!
The raffle prizes were the most
impressive lineup of helicopter
paraphernalia ever assembled! I saw Futaba
14MZ radios, JR radios, Airtronics radios,
Hirobo Evo 90 helicopters, Raptor 90
helicopters, Bergen Intrepid helicopters,
Century helicopters, engines, support
equipment, and more. It was huge. There
was more than $10,000 in prizes. Ron
Kummer did a great job of keeping things
running, and he passed out prizes
throughout the day.
Yes, the jamboree is one big fun-fly
event, but there is still a bit of friendly
competition. A Scale contest was held, in
which we got to see some of the bestlooking
helicopters in the country. Tim
Dawson won with his beautiful
Aérospatiale Puma. His scale building skills
are exceptional. I was disappointed to see
that Tim did not bring his trademark top
hat.
The next event was a drag race hosted
by Ron Lund of Rick’s R/C. This is
exciting to watch—from a distance!
There was also a Class I competition
scheduled, but I believe it had to be
canceled because of some nasty weather
that came through. It was amazing to this
northern boy to see how quickly a storm
could come up, dump rain and wind all over
the place, and then leave!
The event also featured engine clinics,
radio clinics, setup clinics, and more. There
was something for everyone.
Many of us took advantage of the rain to
check out the AMA museum. This is a
“must-see” attraction if you are ever in the
area. I got to relive my entire childhood in
the replica vintage hobby shop and see most
of the stuff I played with as a kid in fully
restored condition. It was great fun sharing
all the memories with my young son.
I still need to contact the museum and
see if AMA is interested in putting my
father’s original Schluter Huey Cobra on
exhibit. Tim Dawson has even offered to
restore it for display. That’s an offer we
can’t pass up.
Back on the flightline, the Raptor line
appeared to be the most popular helicopters.
At one point all Raptor pilots were asked to
bring their models to center stage for a
group picture. I am going to guess that there
were more than 150!
After the picture Jeff Fassbinder, Jeff
Swartz, and Alan Szabo tossed Thunder
Tiger shirts and hats into the group. Nice
gesture, guys!
When the sun went down we were
treated to some fantastic night-flying,
which must be seen to be appreciated. The
same exciting maneuvers performed during
the day are even better at night, and
sometimes—well, the pilots don’t know
exactly where the ground is!
And if that weren’t enough, back at the
hotel there was a group of guys flying their
Trex and Blade helicopters out in the
parking lot under the streetlights. Those
who attend the Jamboree really don’t want
to stop.
Sunday was the day to start to wind down.
Ron Kummer had a quick IRCHA meeting
and then gave away more prizes until he got
to the granddaddy of them all. The final
prize was a package consisting of a Hirobo
Evolution 90 helicopter, a Futaba 14MZ
radio, and an O.S. engine!
That alone made it worth the trip!
Congratulations to all the winners.
If you didn’t make it to the IRCHA
Jamboree this year, clear your calendar for
next year and plan on attending.
became a challenge, but you might expect
that with this many pilots.
I think every type of model helicopter was
represented at the Jamboree, ranging from
the tiny electric-powered Trex up to the

WHERE CAN YOU go and hang out with
close to 500 of your best buddies, doing
what all of you like to do best? The 2005
International Radio Controlled Helicopter
Association Jamboree, or IRCHA Jamboree
for short.
IRCHA was established in 1984 as a
means to unite model-helicopter pilots and
promote the safe flying and advancement of
model-helicopter flying. You can check out
14 MODEL AVIATION
IRCHA Jamboree BY RAY STACY
SKS Video captured all the action and conducted several on-camera pilot interviews,
including this one with Kyle Stacy.
Announcer Greg Poppel has only missed
one IRCHA Jamboree in 12 years! He did a
great job.
Adam Tashjian built his stunning Air-Crane from the first
production kit from Vario. East Coast Scale Helicopters
imports the kit.
the Web site at www.ircha.org.
The 2005 IRCHA Jamboree was the
organization’s 12th such event. I have been
to a number of them throughout the years,
including the first one held in Waynesburg,
Pennsylvania. The 2005 Jamboree was by
far the biggest and best that I have attended.
There were 467 pilots registered, and
some traveled from as far as Australia,
Germany, and England. The pilots covered
all skill levels, from just learning to hover
to the World Championships competitors.
Ages ranged from 9 years old to—well, I’m
not certain. This is a great opportunity to
catch up with old friends and make new
friends.
This year’s Jamboree was hosted in
Muncie, Indiana: the home of our Academy
of Model Aeronautics. This was my first
trip to the Muncie facility. Possibly like
many of us, I have always wondered what
the AMA site was really like. Our interests
have been well cared for!
IRCHA Jamboree
Each day started with Ralph Dalusio’s model flying the American flag while the national
anthem was played.
Matt Botos and Marcus Kim take a break during the manufacturers’ demonstrations. All
team pilots were available to answer questions.
“Would all Raptor pilots please come to center stage for a group photo?” There must be more than 150 of them!
Dan Monroe and his Frequency Control
SW program did a great job of keeping the
radio waves under control.
Photos by the author
January 2005 15
IRCHA Jamboree
Jeff Swartz, Mark Fadely, and Matt Botos perform the “Triple Threat.” This was nicely done to music, thanks to Mark.
A small portion of the raffle prizes that various manufacturers donated!
Jason Krause and Todd Bennett put the long-awaited Synergy design through its paces. It
was no surprise to see that the model performed beautifully.
I was impressed with not only the AMA
Headquarters building and the AMA
National Model Aviation Museum, but the
various flying sites that were beautiful and
well maintained. I am glad to see IRCHA
and AMA working so closely together on an
event of this magnitude.
The Jamboree started August 11 and lasted
until August 14; it was four days of nothing
but flying! The flightline was opened on the
10th, which was a good thing because many
people arrived early. Some people just can’t
get enough of this stuff!
Our group arrived early Thursday
morning. We were greeted by the sounds of
helicopters in the air and people running
back and forth between merchants, trying to
take in the latest and greatest in RC
helicopters. The flightline and “Vendor
Row” extended in both directions for as far
as I could see. I was suddenly glad I had
reserved one of the golf carts for the
weekend!
I think almost every top model-helicopter
company was represented on Vendor Row,
and that was certainly the place to get the
deals. We quickly found a spot for our tent
and unloaded our belongings.
IRCHA President Ron Kummer and his
staff did a great job of organizing the process
to register. There were two lines for signing
in: one for pilots who preregistered and one
for those who did not. The pleasant Holly
Swartz was there to make sure everyone
16 MODEL AVIATION
IRCHA Jamboree
How is this for a gorgeous flying site? The flightline stretches for almost as far as you can see!
Century pilot Kam Wyatt and gas-engine expert Bill Meador return after
an excellent demo with the Century Predator.
Every morning IRCHA President Ron Kummer started with a pilots’ meeting. This was to
go over the day’s agenda and discuss all rules for safe flying.
A number of golf carts were available for transportation.
The flightline was so long that it was almost a necessity.
Mr. IRCHA—Ron Kummer—prepares to
present one of the four Futaba MZ radios
that were given away.
January 2005 17
According to the author, his whole childhood is represented in
this replica hobby shop located in the AMA museum.
18 MODEL AVIATION
IRCHA Jamboree
Alan and Danny Szabo did a great job of keeping the crowd on its
feet with spectacular Raptor 90 demonstration flying.
Scale-event winner Tim Dawson (L) prepares the Puma for a
near-perfect flight.
This picture was taken in the early afternoon! The storms in
Muncie roll in fast, but the sun comes back almost as quickly.
Have sound; will travel. This cart carried sound equipment to
allow practicing choreographed routines to music.
Jeff Swartz and Mike Fortin visit along the flightline in their
“Electric Cadillac.” Enjoying friends is one of this event’s lures.
found his or her way into the proper line.
After we signed in and received our
badge and IRCHA Jamboree shirt, we were
directed to the radio impound, which was a
significant operation in itself. Dan Monroe
and his crew did a fantastic job of
coordinating this station; keeping 467 pilots
and their respective frequencies straight is no
easy task. Dan has developed a software
package that, in conjunction with AMA’s
equipment, handled the frequency control
beautifully.
Once your radio was checked at one end
of the impound trailer, your name and
frequency were entered into the computer
database. To check out your radio, you went
to the other end of the trailer where they
brought up your pilot number to see if your
frequency was available.
If it was, you were given your radio and a
pager to keep with you. If your frequency
was unavailable, you could see how much
time the person with your channel had left
before search began. Pilots who had
synthesized systems could get a report of all
open channels and pick the one of their
choice. Dan’s system will even show you, on
the fly, which frequencies are used the most.
Once you had the pager and transmitter,
the 30-minute clock started and you were
free to fly. At the end of the half hour, the
pager was activated, meaning it was time to
return your radio and pager to the impound.
If you did not come back, you were paged on
the public-address system. I know this from
personal experience!
During the busy times the 30-minute
periods could be too short; you might have
been called back before you were even able
to get to a flight station to fly, but those
instances were rare. There were a few times
when getting the pager and radio backawesome Bergen turbines owned by Greg
Alderman.
Throughout the day those present were
treated to demonstrations by some of the
best pilots in the world. One of my favorites
was the “Triple Threat” performed by Jeff
Swartz, Mark Fadely, and Matt Botos.
They executed a choreographed routine
with their helicopters that was amazing to
watch. At one point they had two
helicopters in a Hurricane, with the third
doing low-level flips in the middle. Later I
heard one of the pilots say, “Imagine how
good it would be if we actually practiced”!
The raffle prizes were the most
impressive lineup of helicopter
paraphernalia ever assembled! I saw Futaba
14MZ radios, JR radios, Airtronics radios,
Hirobo Evo 90 helicopters, Raptor 90
helicopters, Bergen Intrepid helicopters,
Century helicopters, engines, support
equipment, and more. It was huge. There
was more than $10,000 in prizes. Ron
Kummer did a great job of keeping things
running, and he passed out prizes
throughout the day.
Yes, the jamboree is one big fun-fly
event, but there is still a bit of friendly
competition. A Scale contest was held, in
which we got to see some of the bestlooking
helicopters in the country. Tim
Dawson won with his beautiful
Aérospatiale Puma. His scale building skills
are exceptional. I was disappointed to see
that Tim did not bring his trademark top
hat.
The next event was a drag race hosted
by Ron Lund of Rick’s R/C. This is
exciting to watch—from a distance!
There was also a Class I competition
scheduled, but I believe it had to be
canceled because of some nasty weather
that came through. It was amazing to this
northern boy to see how quickly a storm
could come up, dump rain and wind all over
the place, and then leave!
The event also featured engine clinics,
radio clinics, setup clinics, and more. There
was something for everyone.
Many of us took advantage of the rain to
check out the AMA museum. This is a
“must-see” attraction if you are ever in the
area. I got to relive my entire childhood in
the replica vintage hobby shop and see most
of the stuff I played with as a kid in fully
restored condition. It was great fun sharing
all the memories with my young son.
I still need to contact the museum and
see if AMA is interested in putting my
father’s original Schluter Huey Cobra on
exhibit. Tim Dawson has even offered to
restore it for display. That’s an offer we
can’t pass up.
Back on the flightline, the Raptor line
appeared to be the most popular helicopters.
At one point all Raptor pilots were asked to
bring their models to center stage for a
group picture. I am going to guess that there
were more than 150!
After the picture Jeff Fassbinder, Jeff
Swartz, and Alan Szabo tossed Thunder
Tiger shirts and hats into the group. Nice
gesture, guys!
When the sun went down we were
treated to some fantastic night-flying,
which must be seen to be appreciated. The
same exciting maneuvers performed during
the day are even better at night, and
sometimes—well, the pilots don’t know
exactly where the ground is!
And if that weren’t enough, back at the
hotel there was a group of guys flying their
Trex and Blade helicopters out in the
parking lot under the streetlights. Those
who attend the Jamboree really don’t want
to stop.
Sunday was the day to start to wind down.
Ron Kummer had a quick IRCHA meeting
and then gave away more prizes until he got
to the granddaddy of them all. The final
prize was a package consisting of a Hirobo
Evolution 90 helicopter, a Futaba 14MZ
radio, and an O.S. engine!
That alone made it worth the trip!
Congratulations to all the winners.
If you didn’t make it to the IRCHA
Jamboree this year, clear your calendar for
next year and plan on attending.
became a challenge, but you might expect
that with this many pilots.
I think every type of model helicopter was
represented at the Jamboree, ranging from
the tiny electric-powered Trex up to the

WHERE CAN YOU go and hang out with
close to 500 of your best buddies, doing
what all of you like to do best? The 2005
International Radio Controlled Helicopter
Association Jamboree, or IRCHA Jamboree
for short.
IRCHA was established in 1984 as a
means to unite model-helicopter pilots and
promote the safe flying and advancement of
model-helicopter flying. You can check out
14 MODEL AVIATION
IRCHA Jamboree BY RAY STACY
SKS Video captured all the action and conducted several on-camera pilot interviews,
including this one with Kyle Stacy.
Announcer Greg Poppel has only missed
one IRCHA Jamboree in 12 years! He did a
great job.
Adam Tashjian built his stunning Air-Crane from the first
production kit from Vario. East Coast Scale Helicopters
imports the kit.
the Web site at www.ircha.org.
The 2005 IRCHA Jamboree was the
organization’s 12th such event. I have been
to a number of them throughout the years,
including the first one held in Waynesburg,
Pennsylvania. The 2005 Jamboree was by
far the biggest and best that I have attended.
There were 467 pilots registered, and
some traveled from as far as Australia,
Germany, and England. The pilots covered
all skill levels, from just learning to hover
to the World Championships competitors.
Ages ranged from 9 years old to—well, I’m
not certain. This is a great opportunity to
catch up with old friends and make new
friends.
This year’s Jamboree was hosted in
Muncie, Indiana: the home of our Academy
of Model Aeronautics. This was my first
trip to the Muncie facility. Possibly like
many of us, I have always wondered what
the AMA site was really like. Our interests
have been well cared for!
IRCHA Jamboree
Each day started with Ralph Dalusio’s model flying the American flag while the national
anthem was played.
Matt Botos and Marcus Kim take a break during the manufacturers’ demonstrations. All
team pilots were available to answer questions.
“Would all Raptor pilots please come to center stage for a group photo?” There must be more than 150 of them!
Dan Monroe and his Frequency Control
SW program did a great job of keeping the
radio waves under control.
Photos by the author
January 2005 15
IRCHA Jamboree
Jeff Swartz, Mark Fadely, and Matt Botos perform the “Triple Threat.” This was nicely done to music, thanks to Mark.
A small portion of the raffle prizes that various manufacturers donated!
Jason Krause and Todd Bennett put the long-awaited Synergy design through its paces. It
was no surprise to see that the model performed beautifully.
I was impressed with not only the AMA
Headquarters building and the AMA
National Model Aviation Museum, but the
various flying sites that were beautiful and
well maintained. I am glad to see IRCHA
and AMA working so closely together on an
event of this magnitude.
The Jamboree started August 11 and lasted
until August 14; it was four days of nothing
but flying! The flightline was opened on the
10th, which was a good thing because many
people arrived early. Some people just can’t
get enough of this stuff!
Our group arrived early Thursday
morning. We were greeted by the sounds of
helicopters in the air and people running
back and forth between merchants, trying to
take in the latest and greatest in RC
helicopters. The flightline and “Vendor
Row” extended in both directions for as far
as I could see. I was suddenly glad I had
reserved one of the golf carts for the
weekend!
I think almost every top model-helicopter
company was represented on Vendor Row,
and that was certainly the place to get the
deals. We quickly found a spot for our tent
and unloaded our belongings.
IRCHA President Ron Kummer and his
staff did a great job of organizing the process
to register. There were two lines for signing
in: one for pilots who preregistered and one
for those who did not. The pleasant Holly
Swartz was there to make sure everyone
16 MODEL AVIATION
IRCHA Jamboree
How is this for a gorgeous flying site? The flightline stretches for almost as far as you can see!
Century pilot Kam Wyatt and gas-engine expert Bill Meador return after
an excellent demo with the Century Predator.
Every morning IRCHA President Ron Kummer started with a pilots’ meeting. This was to
go over the day’s agenda and discuss all rules for safe flying.
A number of golf carts were available for transportation.
The flightline was so long that it was almost a necessity.
Mr. IRCHA—Ron Kummer—prepares to
present one of the four Futaba MZ radios
that were given away.
January 2005 17
According to the author, his whole childhood is represented in
this replica hobby shop located in the AMA museum.
18 MODEL AVIATION
IRCHA Jamboree
Alan and Danny Szabo did a great job of keeping the crowd on its
feet with spectacular Raptor 90 demonstration flying.
Scale-event winner Tim Dawson (L) prepares the Puma for a
near-perfect flight.
This picture was taken in the early afternoon! The storms in
Muncie roll in fast, but the sun comes back almost as quickly.
Have sound; will travel. This cart carried sound equipment to
allow practicing choreographed routines to music.
Jeff Swartz and Mike Fortin visit along the flightline in their
“Electric Cadillac.” Enjoying friends is one of this event’s lures.
found his or her way into the proper line.
After we signed in and received our
badge and IRCHA Jamboree shirt, we were
directed to the radio impound, which was a
significant operation in itself. Dan Monroe
and his crew did a fantastic job of
coordinating this station; keeping 467 pilots
and their respective frequencies straight is no
easy task. Dan has developed a software
package that, in conjunction with AMA’s
equipment, handled the frequency control
beautifully.
Once your radio was checked at one end
of the impound trailer, your name and
frequency were entered into the computer
database. To check out your radio, you went
to the other end of the trailer where they
brought up your pilot number to see if your
frequency was available.
If it was, you were given your radio and a
pager to keep with you. If your frequency
was unavailable, you could see how much
time the person with your channel had left
before search began. Pilots who had
synthesized systems could get a report of all
open channels and pick the one of their
choice. Dan’s system will even show you, on
the fly, which frequencies are used the most.
Once you had the pager and transmitter,
the 30-minute clock started and you were
free to fly. At the end of the half hour, the
pager was activated, meaning it was time to
return your radio and pager to the impound.
If you did not come back, you were paged on
the public-address system. I know this from
personal experience!
During the busy times the 30-minute
periods could be too short; you might have
been called back before you were even able
to get to a flight station to fly, but those
instances were rare. There were a few times
when getting the pager and radio backawesome Bergen turbines owned by Greg
Alderman.
Throughout the day those present were
treated to demonstrations by some of the
best pilots in the world. One of my favorites
was the “Triple Threat” performed by Jeff
Swartz, Mark Fadely, and Matt Botos.
They executed a choreographed routine
with their helicopters that was amazing to
watch. At one point they had two
helicopters in a Hurricane, with the third
doing low-level flips in the middle. Later I
heard one of the pilots say, “Imagine how
good it would be if we actually practiced”!
The raffle prizes were the most
impressive lineup of helicopter
paraphernalia ever assembled! I saw Futaba
14MZ radios, JR radios, Airtronics radios,
Hirobo Evo 90 helicopters, Raptor 90
helicopters, Bergen Intrepid helicopters,
Century helicopters, engines, support
equipment, and more. It was huge. There
was more than $10,000 in prizes. Ron
Kummer did a great job of keeping things
running, and he passed out prizes
throughout the day.
Yes, the jamboree is one big fun-fly
event, but there is still a bit of friendly
competition. A Scale contest was held, in
which we got to see some of the bestlooking
helicopters in the country. Tim
Dawson won with his beautiful
Aérospatiale Puma. His scale building skills
are exceptional. I was disappointed to see
that Tim did not bring his trademark top
hat.
The next event was a drag race hosted
by Ron Lund of Rick’s R/C. This is
exciting to watch—from a distance!
There was also a Class I competition
scheduled, but I believe it had to be
canceled because of some nasty weather
that came through. It was amazing to this
northern boy to see how quickly a storm
could come up, dump rain and wind all over
the place, and then leave!
The event also featured engine clinics,
radio clinics, setup clinics, and more. There
was something for everyone.
Many of us took advantage of the rain to
check out the AMA museum. This is a
“must-see” attraction if you are ever in the
area. I got to relive my entire childhood in
the replica vintage hobby shop and see most
of the stuff I played with as a kid in fully
restored condition. It was great fun sharing
all the memories with my young son.
I still need to contact the museum and
see if AMA is interested in putting my
father’s original Schluter Huey Cobra on
exhibit. Tim Dawson has even offered to
restore it for display. That’s an offer we
can’t pass up.
Back on the flightline, the Raptor line
appeared to be the most popular helicopters.
At one point all Raptor pilots were asked to
bring their models to center stage for a
group picture. I am going to guess that there
were more than 150!
After the picture Jeff Fassbinder, Jeff
Swartz, and Alan Szabo tossed Thunder
Tiger shirts and hats into the group. Nice
gesture, guys!
When the sun went down we were
treated to some fantastic night-flying,
which must be seen to be appreciated. The
same exciting maneuvers performed during
the day are even better at night, and
sometimes—well, the pilots don’t know
exactly where the ground is!
And if that weren’t enough, back at the
hotel there was a group of guys flying their
Trex and Blade helicopters out in the
parking lot under the streetlights. Those
who attend the Jamboree really don’t want
to stop.
Sunday was the day to start to wind down.
Ron Kummer had a quick IRCHA meeting
and then gave away more prizes until he got
to the granddaddy of them all. The final
prize was a package consisting of a Hirobo
Evolution 90 helicopter, a Futaba 14MZ
radio, and an O.S. engine!
That alone made it worth the trip!
Congratulations to all the winners.
If you didn’t make it to the IRCHA
Jamboree this year, clear your calendar for
next year and plan on attending.
became a challenge, but you might expect
that with this many pilots.
I think every type of model helicopter was
represented at the Jamboree, ranging from
the tiny electric-powered Trex up to the