IRCHA Jammin' - 2009/12

16 MODEL AVIATION
by Mark Fadely
Doug Shelar pilots his “new” GMP Legend. It is from a 20-year-old kit he bought from a friend just
before the event; the model’s box was unopened! The late Robert Gorham founded GMP (Gorham
Model Products). His brother, Michael, is on the left.
Looking east from the west end of the flightline. The IRCHA staff ordered perfect weather, and it was delivered. Temperatures in
the mid-80s and calm, dry air prevailed throughout the five-day spectacle.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:12 AM Page 16
December 2009 17
978
A bov e : E mpire R C
owner Jack Burnside
is a ll sm iles as th e
Gaui helicopter team,
w h ich he m an ages,
perform s d u ri n g its
“P o w e r H o ur. ” Gaui
took 300 of its new 425
kits to the Jamboree and
so ld them for $49 each;
the normal price is $249!
Jac k also o r g aniz e d t he
popular “Casino Night” for
pil ots and p u t on a
helicopter night show with
fireworks.
Kyle Stacy and Art Hughes demonstrated the new Miniature Aircraft Furion 50’s 3-D
ca pabiliti es in tandem flig ht. The model is l ight and strong, w hile mai ntaining the
company’s high quality standards. A revi sed frame and servo placeme nt pro vide a
nearly perfect geometric layout.
Close to 1,000 pilots
c e l e b r a t e 2 0 y e a r s
of helicopter fun
Left: Jamie Robertson flies
his amazingly powerful
electric T-Rex 700. He is only
16, but it looks like he has
been flying for 20 years! Jamie
won the 2009 XFC helicopter
this year and is the starting
quarterback on his high school
football team.
SOME THINGS IN life have to be
experienced to be fully appreciated.
That was never so true as it was at
this year’s IRCHA (International
Radio Controlled Helicopter)
Jamboree.
RC rotary-wing fanatics swarmed
the AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center like a
plague. Well, maybe that is a bad
word choice. I mean that
hundreds of dignified, courteous
helicopter pilots attended the
event. Yeah, right!
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:14 AM Page 17
18 MODEL AVIATION
Is it full-scale? No, but it looks like Bill Pirschell’s 7-foot
long Huey is ready to pounce. He painstakingly built this
beauty in a four-year period. It uses a real turbine engine
with all the sounds and smells that accompany it.
Adam Tashjian won the Scale contest with his stunning,
electric-power ed EC 135. It has a realistic Fenestron
shrouded tail rotor and four-blade main rotor head—
identical to the full-scale helicopter.
N ic k M axwel l (L ) wo n t he
N i gh t Fl y co m p e t iti on f o r
th e sec o nd year in a ro w.
Ch arles Anderson (R) a nd
Jack Burnside hand the $500
chec k to a d eserving pilot ;
his f l i g h t s lef t spe cta t or s
speechless.
The 1/2-mile-long flightline is reflected in “Big D”’s glasses, and
MRC’s Greg Gomes is behind him. Darrel Bell travels from his
Detroit MI home to attend many events during the year. He
knows the top pilot s and bri ngs insightful creat ivi ty to hi s
entertaining monologues as an announcer.
Tom Rolfson was fresh from a stellar performance at the XFC, where
Darrell “Big D” Bell dubbed him “The Viking.” Tom’s sponsors
include Team Thunder Tiger and Curtis Youngblood Enterprises.
Photos by the author except as noted.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:16 AM Page 18
December 2009 19
Team Mikado pilots multicolored-LED-illuminated Logos during the Night Fly contest. Andy
Rummer organized the surreal-looking display and choreographed an exotic light show that put the
duo in contention for the win—until a crash occurred late in the routine.
Right: Rick Vinas holds his Miniature Aircraft Furion and Futaba radio. Bobby
Watts helped him get into the hobby. “I am kind of like Bobby’s spiritual
advisor,” said Rick. “He helps me on all the heli technical stuff and I am his
Guru Sensei.”
Brandon Firoante won the 2009 IRCHA Amateur Nationals. Empire RC
sponsors this unique event, in which unsponsored pilots compete to win a
full sponsorship. It is a great way to find new talent. Andy Panoncillo (L)
handles the contest’s logistics.
This is how heaven looks to RC helicopter pilots. Mikel Graham locks his T-Rex 700 into a low
inverted hover to enjoy the last few minutes of light late Saturday evening. This was 23-year-old
Mikel’s first trip to the AMA site. When asked what he thought of the event, he said “I love it!”
cept as noted.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:18 AM Page 19
20 MODEL AVIATION
Emile Sheriff’s Bell OH-58B flew realistically in the Scale contest. The 50-size
Century JetRanger kit houses Raptor 30 mechanics, and it is highly detailed for a
sport-size machine. This capable model won Emile a third-place finish.
Paul Giles, who has be en i n the hob by for decades. pilo ts his cute little GMP
Cricket during its maiden flight. He built i t using many bi ts and pieces from a
1980s vintage model.
Kyle Dahl trekked from his home in Bakersfield
CA to lay down some West Coast smack. His
flying style includes incredible precision and ultrahard-
core 3-D. Kyle and his dad, David, make a
fantastic team to represent the Mikado helicopter
company.
Manabu Hashimoto showed his stuff by 3-Ding his
FAI model during a demo. The crowd was
surprised to see him go low inverted with this
contest machine. Manabu finished fourth in the
F3C World Championship.
Left : (L- R ): Brett W alker, Dave Millner,
Claudia C hap m an—t he w idow o f IRCHA
founder Don Chapman—Charles Anderson,
and Shannon Lloyd. Monte Brock photo.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:20 AM Page 20
December 2009 21
20p9 two-line cutline goes here
Right: Darrell Sprayberry gets a
workout carrying his 40-pound Bell
206 Je tRang er. He m ade ma ny
modifications to the original Vario
kit, to enhance its appearance. The
model has a n AXI 5342 motor,
Castle Cr eations HV -11 0 speed
control, and four Flight Power 6S
5000 mAh battery packs.
Richard Schultz flies his updated HH-65C Dolphin Coast Guard helicopter in
Scale. It has new engines and a longer nose. The body contains Hirobo
mechanics. Richard works for the Coast Guard, so he gets to see the full-scale
version of this model every day.
925l
Yukihiro Dobashi (L) and
K a z u y u k i S e nsu i lo o k
p l eased f o l lo wing thei r
tandem de mo fli g h t on
Fr id a y. T hese Team
Futa b a p ilot s ma d e the
l ong tr e k f r om A s ia to
c om p e t e in th e F 3 C
Wo r l d Cham p i ons h i p
that was held just before
the Jamboree.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:21 AM Page 21
The queen bee of the fly-in—IRCHA President Dave Millner—
had the logistics running like a well-oiled machine. That’s no surprise,
since most of us helicopter types own several oily machines anyway.
Speculation early this year had many believing that the crowd
would be a bit thin at the helicopter mecca. This marked the 20th
anniversary of IRCHA, which is an AMA SIG, but the economy was
down. (The 2009 Extreme Flight Championships [XFC] helicopterclass
winner, 16-year-old Jamie Robertson, was not even born until
the Jamboree was in its fifth year.)
The organizers waited with fingers crossed during the last few
days before the fly-in got underway, and good news prevailed. It
looks to the IRCHA staff like the final pilot count shattered every
other event record, with a total of 954 registered!
Dave Millner shook hands and kissed babies when the number
leaked out Saturday afternoon. That information is not typically
revealed at the Jamboree until the Saturday-evening awards
ceremony.
The news of the Jamboree’s breaking attendance records was
learned only a few days after the Joe Nall Fly-In—a premier airplane
event—had been deemed the “world’s largest RC event,” with 810
registered pilots. (The Joe Nall event included
helicopters and airplanes this year, while
IRCHA was a helicopter-only gathering.)
The 1,000-acre AMA flying field was split
into three areas during the Jamboree, to
accommodate the various types of helicopters
and flying styles. Signage guided pilots to the
appropriate areas during the week.
The Red Field was the main location for
most of the activities. The White Field hosted
FAI-style flying, FAI seminars, and set-up
clinics, and there was an area for hovering
only, with buddy-box flying and novice set-up
clinics. The Blue Field was allocated for the
last two days of F3C (FAI RC helicopter)
World Championship flying.
A day was added to the Jamboree this
year. It officially started Wednesday August
12 and ran through Sunday August 16.
Pilots from around the globe seasoned this
year’s event with a rich flavor. Many of the
internationals who competed in the F3C
contest stuck around to enjoy Jamboree week.
The camaraderie between pilots with a like
interest broke language barriers as new
friendships were kindled.
Never had there been so much
international talent concentrated on one flying
field. Everyone was treated to unique flying
styles from lands far away. Pilots shared ideas
and techniques, which they could introduce to
fliers in their home countries.
Pilots are willing to drive and fly
inconceivable distances to see the best our
hobby has to offer. Whether you were into the
finest Scale helicopters, superb contest
machines, or down-and-dirty wicked 3-D
models, this event had it.
P.J. Harte hails from Ireland’s west coast;
this year marked his third trek across the pond
to join the fun times at this event. I asked P.J.
what inspires him and a few of his close
friends to pack up their helicopters and make
the long journey to the IRCHA Jamboree. He
said:
“I started flying RC airplanes about 61/2
years ago. I enjoyed it, but when I saw an RC
heli fly, I knew I had to have one. I’ve been
flying helis exclusively for the last four years.
I love 3-D flying and have helped organize the
22 MODEL AVIATION
Contests
2009 Jamboree
Contest Winners
Class 1 Contest: Dave Canfield
Autorotation: J.C. Zankl
450 Pylon Racing: Ken Jennings
Scale: Adam Tashjian
Night Fly: Nick Maxwell
Common Sense RC
u-neak Designs
Inov8tive Designs
RC Hobbies & More
Xerogear
RC Heli magazine
SwitchGlo
Glowire
Magnum Fuels
RunRyder
B&B Hobbies
New Vision
Zurich
Tech Bond Solutions
ElectroRC
HeliProz
Prontow Custom Products
QuickWorldWide
Veltye
HeliProz South
TrueRC
RC Heli Resource
NovaRossi
ChopperShots/Minicopter
Phantom Hobby
HeliFreak.com
Heli-Tote
Vincennes University
Aviation Technology Center
V Blades
Mid Atlantic R/C Helicopters
RCHeliWorks
KBDD
PowerHelis
East Coast Scale
Gyro Hobbies
RCBooya
BIZmodel
Grex Airbrush
Wildcat Fuels
Model Helicopter World
Fly RC
2009 Jamboree Sponsors
2009 Jamboree Vendors
Platinum
JR/Spektrum
Ace Hobby/Thunder Tiger
Avant
Gaui/Empire Hobby
Gold
Mikado Helicopters
Bergen Helicopters
Miniature Aircraft
Hirobo/MRC
Rotor Rage
O.S./Futaba
Outrage RC/HeliDirect
Esprit Model
Castle Creations
Heli Wholesaler
Silver
Advantage Hobbies
Ready Heli
Thunder Power RC
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:22 AM Page 22
3DX Ireland, the premier 3-D contest in
Ireland, in recent years.
“Three years ago, a friend of mine asked
me if I would like to travel with him to the
USA to see IRCHA. I said yes, and after I
experienced IRCHA once, I knew I would
come back.
“I love to compete, but I also love to just
hang out with my buddies and fly helis in a
relaxed, no-pressure atmosphere. That’s what
IRCHA is all about for me.”
The Jamboree venue featured 10 200-footwide
flight boxes available at the main (Red)
field. The center-stage flight station was
reserved for manufacturers’ demonstrations
and the popular noon exhibitions.
The IRCHA committee invited midday
demo pilots, and they put on quite a show!
The best fliers in the world performed
consecutively for this special display. If you
are looking for new and innovative
maneuvers to add to your aerobatic
repertoire, this is the place to gain exposure
to them.
Getting around the massive facility by
foot is daunting. The IRCHA staff teamed
with AMA to provide a shuttle service that
whisked you off to your next point of interest.
The 15-passenger vans stopped at designated
points around the site and ran constantly
during the Jamboree.
Empire Hobby sponsored the second
annual IRCHA Amateur Nationals (IAN)
during the Jamboree. This competition gives
unsponsored pilots the opportunity to earn
recognition, with both a one-year Empire
sponsorship and a potential invite to the
prestigious XFC. Eager pilots lined up to fly
their choreographed four-minute flights to
music.
Jack Burnside runs Empire Hobby, and he
organized the IAN. Young Brandon Fiorante
was declared the winner after flying against
the other finalists at show center on Saturday.
All of this year’s contestants put in amazing
3-D flights.
Jack took a few minutes to explain the
IAN. He said:
“Every 3-D pilot wants to be sponsored,
and they constantly ask, ‘How do I get
sponsored?’ The IAN competition we
developed is one way for them to do that.
“We take applications for around four
months prior to IRCHA[’s Jamboree]. Pilots
are required to send in a video flown to music
with their application. Then we hold the
competition at IRCHA.
“We try to find a spot on the flightline that
is not too busy, but once we get started, a
crowd always forms to watch these pilots
throw down their best 3-D. Empire provides a
one-year sponsorship for the winner, and the
XFC committee gives consideration for the
next year’s contest.
“Empire Hobby also sponsored a ‘Casino
Night.’ Real gaming tables were brought in
and the Gaui girls made sure everything was
taken care of. No real money was exchanged,
but instead all winnings were kept track of
and then those amounts were donated to MS
[multiple sclerosis]. What a great cause!
“IRCHA includes a catered dinner on
Saturday evening. This year the food was
better than ever. ”
Ray Stacy of Rockford, Connecticut,
organized an autorotation contest for this
Jamboree. The rules were changed, to
shake things up a bit. In years past, the
competitors flew their helicopters up to a
safe altitude and then shut off the power
for an autorotation to a marked spot. The
winner was the person whose model
landed closest to the spot.
Ray decided it would be cool to try a
duration autorotation. The 2009 rules allowed
each machine to climb for 15 seconds, and
then the unpowered descent was timed.
Those guidelines were somewhat
controversial, but many seemed to enjoy the
new twist.
J.C. Zankl won that event with an
amazing one-minute flight. To top it off, he
used a borrowed helicopter that he had never
flown.
Scale and vintage helicopter aficionados
had a lot to get excited about this year. Two
large tents were erected on the flightline, to
house both types of models. The tents were
near stage center, so everyone could check
out the awesome machines on display
without having to walk far.
The first thing I noticed in the vintage
tent was the sheer number of antiques;
roughly 50 vintage helicopters covered the
tables. Kirk Nelson took and flew 27 of them!
Several of the world’s top builders/
pilots were in these tents during the event.
They are approachable and have a passion
for constructing and flying these models. It
was amazing to see all of the 30-year-old
machines in the corral.
A few 90-size electric-powered
helicopters were debuted at the Jamboree
this year, along with a host of other new
machines and accessories. The Avant team
put one of its Aurora EPs up for grabs as a
grand prize in the pilot raffle.
Daniel Jetschin flew the electric Aurora
in the noon demos. It looked fantastic as it
delivered plenty of smokeless power for
Daniel’s aggressive flying style. Electric
power has been extremely popular for
smaller models, but some limitations have
kept battery power from being used in the
largest 3-D helicopters.
Curtis Youngblood, a champion pilot,
held a seminar covering the aspects of F3C
contest flying. The FAI is the governing
body for that type of competition. At the
F3C World Championship, which preceded
the Jamboree at the AMA site, many
countries’ competitors vied for honors.
There was also a minicontest held for
beginner pilots after Curtis’s seminar.
It is a testament to IRCHA, the AMA, and
the volunteers that this megaevent ran so
smoothly and, most important, safely. There
were no accidents this year. The IRCHA
staff gave gentle reminders to people who
put themselves in risky positions.
When the Jamboree ended Sunday
evening, there were scores of sunburnt,
worn-out pilots. The gathering was a total
success, and it was fun to be a part of it.
Make sure you attend next year! MA
Mark Fadely
[email protected]
Sources:
IRCHA
www.ircha.org

16 MODEL AVIATION
by Mark Fadely
Doug Shelar pilots his “new” GMP Legend. It is from a 20-year-old kit he bought from a friend just
before the event; the model’s box was unopened! The late Robert Gorham founded GMP (Gorham
Model Products). His brother, Michael, is on the left.
Looking east from the west end of the flightline. The IRCHA staff ordered perfect weather, and it was delivered. Temperatures in
the mid-80s and calm, dry air prevailed throughout the five-day spectacle.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:12 AM Page 16
December 2009 17
978
A bov e : E mpire R C
owner Jack Burnside
is a ll sm iles as th e
Gaui helicopter team,
w h ich he m an ages,
perform s d u ri n g its
“P o w e r H o ur. ” Gaui
took 300 of its new 425
kits to the Jamboree and
so ld them for $49 each;
the normal price is $249!
Jac k also o r g aniz e d t he
popular “Casino Night” for
pil ots and p u t on a
helicopter night show with
fireworks.
Kyle Stacy and Art Hughes demonstrated the new Miniature Aircraft Furion 50’s 3-D
ca pabiliti es in tandem flig ht. The model is l ight and strong, w hile mai ntaining the
company’s high quality standards. A revi sed frame and servo placeme nt pro vide a
nearly perfect geometric layout.
Close to 1,000 pilots
c e l e b r a t e 2 0 y e a r s
of helicopter fun
Left: Jamie Robertson flies
his amazingly powerful
electric T-Rex 700. He is only
16, but it looks like he has
been flying for 20 years! Jamie
won the 2009 XFC helicopter
this year and is the starting
quarterback on his high school
football team.
SOME THINGS IN life have to be
experienced to be fully appreciated.
That was never so true as it was at
this year’s IRCHA (International
Radio Controlled Helicopter)
Jamboree.
RC rotary-wing fanatics swarmed
the AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center like a
plague. Well, maybe that is a bad
word choice. I mean that
hundreds of dignified, courteous
helicopter pilots attended the
event. Yeah, right!
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:14 AM Page 17
18 MODEL AVIATION
Is it full-scale? No, but it looks like Bill Pirschell’s 7-foot
long Huey is ready to pounce. He painstakingly built this
beauty in a four-year period. It uses a real turbine engine
with all the sounds and smells that accompany it.
Adam Tashjian won the Scale contest with his stunning,
electric-power ed EC 135. It has a realistic Fenestron
shrouded tail rotor and four-blade main rotor head—
identical to the full-scale helicopter.
N ic k M axwel l (L ) wo n t he
N i gh t Fl y co m p e t iti on f o r
th e sec o nd year in a ro w.
Ch arles Anderson (R) a nd
Jack Burnside hand the $500
chec k to a d eserving pilot ;
his f l i g h t s lef t spe cta t or s
speechless.
The 1/2-mile-long flightline is reflected in “Big D”’s glasses, and
MRC’s Greg Gomes is behind him. Darrel Bell travels from his
Detroit MI home to attend many events during the year. He
knows the top pilot s and bri ngs insightful creat ivi ty to hi s
entertaining monologues as an announcer.
Tom Rolfson was fresh from a stellar performance at the XFC, where
Darrell “Big D” Bell dubbed him “The Viking.” Tom’s sponsors
include Team Thunder Tiger and Curtis Youngblood Enterprises.
Photos by the author except as noted.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:16 AM Page 18
December 2009 19
Team Mikado pilots multicolored-LED-illuminated Logos during the Night Fly contest. Andy
Rummer organized the surreal-looking display and choreographed an exotic light show that put the
duo in contention for the win—until a crash occurred late in the routine.
Right: Rick Vinas holds his Miniature Aircraft Furion and Futaba radio. Bobby
Watts helped him get into the hobby. “I am kind of like Bobby’s spiritual
advisor,” said Rick. “He helps me on all the heli technical stuff and I am his
Guru Sensei.”
Brandon Firoante won the 2009 IRCHA Amateur Nationals. Empire RC
sponsors this unique event, in which unsponsored pilots compete to win a
full sponsorship. It is a great way to find new talent. Andy Panoncillo (L)
handles the contest’s logistics.
This is how heaven looks to RC helicopter pilots. Mikel Graham locks his T-Rex 700 into a low
inverted hover to enjoy the last few minutes of light late Saturday evening. This was 23-year-old
Mikel’s first trip to the AMA site. When asked what he thought of the event, he said “I love it!”
cept as noted.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:18 AM Page 19
20 MODEL AVIATION
Emile Sheriff’s Bell OH-58B flew realistically in the Scale contest. The 50-size
Century JetRanger kit houses Raptor 30 mechanics, and it is highly detailed for a
sport-size machine. This capable model won Emile a third-place finish.
Paul Giles, who has be en i n the hob by for decades. pilo ts his cute little GMP
Cricket during its maiden flight. He built i t using many bi ts and pieces from a
1980s vintage model.
Kyle Dahl trekked from his home in Bakersfield
CA to lay down some West Coast smack. His
flying style includes incredible precision and ultrahard-
core 3-D. Kyle and his dad, David, make a
fantastic team to represent the Mikado helicopter
company.
Manabu Hashimoto showed his stuff by 3-Ding his
FAI model during a demo. The crowd was
surprised to see him go low inverted with this
contest machine. Manabu finished fourth in the
F3C World Championship.
Left : (L- R ): Brett W alker, Dave Millner,
Claudia C hap m an—t he w idow o f IRCHA
founder Don Chapman—Charles Anderson,
and Shannon Lloyd. Monte Brock photo.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:20 AM Page 20
December 2009 21
20p9 two-line cutline goes here
Right: Darrell Sprayberry gets a
workout carrying his 40-pound Bell
206 Je tRang er. He m ade ma ny
modifications to the original Vario
kit, to enhance its appearance. The
model has a n AXI 5342 motor,
Castle Cr eations HV -11 0 speed
control, and four Flight Power 6S
5000 mAh battery packs.
Richard Schultz flies his updated HH-65C Dolphin Coast Guard helicopter in
Scale. It has new engines and a longer nose. The body contains Hirobo
mechanics. Richard works for the Coast Guard, so he gets to see the full-scale
version of this model every day.
925l
Yukihiro Dobashi (L) and
K a z u y u k i S e nsu i lo o k
p l eased f o l lo wing thei r
tandem de mo fli g h t on
Fr id a y. T hese Team
Futa b a p ilot s ma d e the
l ong tr e k f r om A s ia to
c om p e t e in th e F 3 C
Wo r l d Cham p i ons h i p
that was held just before
the Jamboree.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:21 AM Page 21
The queen bee of the fly-in—IRCHA President Dave Millner—
had the logistics running like a well-oiled machine. That’s no surprise,
since most of us helicopter types own several oily machines anyway.
Speculation early this year had many believing that the crowd
would be a bit thin at the helicopter mecca. This marked the 20th
anniversary of IRCHA, which is an AMA SIG, but the economy was
down. (The 2009 Extreme Flight Championships [XFC] helicopterclass
winner, 16-year-old Jamie Robertson, was not even born until
the Jamboree was in its fifth year.)
The organizers waited with fingers crossed during the last few
days before the fly-in got underway, and good news prevailed. It
looks to the IRCHA staff like the final pilot count shattered every
other event record, with a total of 954 registered!
Dave Millner shook hands and kissed babies when the number
leaked out Saturday afternoon. That information is not typically
revealed at the Jamboree until the Saturday-evening awards
ceremony.
The news of the Jamboree’s breaking attendance records was
learned only a few days after the Joe Nall Fly-In—a premier airplane
event—had been deemed the “world’s largest RC event,” with 810
registered pilots. (The Joe Nall event included
helicopters and airplanes this year, while
IRCHA was a helicopter-only gathering.)
The 1,000-acre AMA flying field was split
into three areas during the Jamboree, to
accommodate the various types of helicopters
and flying styles. Signage guided pilots to the
appropriate areas during the week.
The Red Field was the main location for
most of the activities. The White Field hosted
FAI-style flying, FAI seminars, and set-up
clinics, and there was an area for hovering
only, with buddy-box flying and novice set-up
clinics. The Blue Field was allocated for the
last two days of F3C (FAI RC helicopter)
World Championship flying.
A day was added to the Jamboree this
year. It officially started Wednesday August
12 and ran through Sunday August 16.
Pilots from around the globe seasoned this
year’s event with a rich flavor. Many of the
internationals who competed in the F3C
contest stuck around to enjoy Jamboree week.
The camaraderie between pilots with a like
interest broke language barriers as new
friendships were kindled.
Never had there been so much
international talent concentrated on one flying
field. Everyone was treated to unique flying
styles from lands far away. Pilots shared ideas
and techniques, which they could introduce to
fliers in their home countries.
Pilots are willing to drive and fly
inconceivable distances to see the best our
hobby has to offer. Whether you were into the
finest Scale helicopters, superb contest
machines, or down-and-dirty wicked 3-D
models, this event had it.
P.J. Harte hails from Ireland’s west coast;
this year marked his third trek across the pond
to join the fun times at this event. I asked P.J.
what inspires him and a few of his close
friends to pack up their helicopters and make
the long journey to the IRCHA Jamboree. He
said:
“I started flying RC airplanes about 61/2
years ago. I enjoyed it, but when I saw an RC
heli fly, I knew I had to have one. I’ve been
flying helis exclusively for the last four years.
I love 3-D flying and have helped organize the
22 MODEL AVIATION
Contests
2009 Jamboree
Contest Winners
Class 1 Contest: Dave Canfield
Autorotation: J.C. Zankl
450 Pylon Racing: Ken Jennings
Scale: Adam Tashjian
Night Fly: Nick Maxwell
Common Sense RC
u-neak Designs
Inov8tive Designs
RC Hobbies & More
Xerogear
RC Heli magazine
SwitchGlo
Glowire
Magnum Fuels
RunRyder
B&B Hobbies
New Vision
Zurich
Tech Bond Solutions
ElectroRC
HeliProz
Prontow Custom Products
QuickWorldWide
Veltye
HeliProz South
TrueRC
RC Heli Resource
NovaRossi
ChopperShots/Minicopter
Phantom Hobby
HeliFreak.com
Heli-Tote
Vincennes University
Aviation Technology Center
V Blades
Mid Atlantic R/C Helicopters
RCHeliWorks
KBDD
PowerHelis
East Coast Scale
Gyro Hobbies
RCBooya
BIZmodel
Grex Airbrush
Wildcat Fuels
Model Helicopter World
Fly RC
2009 Jamboree Sponsors
2009 Jamboree Vendors
Platinum
JR/Spektrum
Ace Hobby/Thunder Tiger
Avant
Gaui/Empire Hobby
Gold
Mikado Helicopters
Bergen Helicopters
Miniature Aircraft
Hirobo/MRC
Rotor Rage
O.S./Futaba
Outrage RC/HeliDirect
Esprit Model
Castle Creations
Heli Wholesaler
Silver
Advantage Hobbies
Ready Heli
Thunder Power RC
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:22 AM Page 22
3DX Ireland, the premier 3-D contest in
Ireland, in recent years.
“Three years ago, a friend of mine asked
me if I would like to travel with him to the
USA to see IRCHA. I said yes, and after I
experienced IRCHA once, I knew I would
come back.
“I love to compete, but I also love to just
hang out with my buddies and fly helis in a
relaxed, no-pressure atmosphere. That’s what
IRCHA is all about for me.”
The Jamboree venue featured 10 200-footwide
flight boxes available at the main (Red)
field. The center-stage flight station was
reserved for manufacturers’ demonstrations
and the popular noon exhibitions.
The IRCHA committee invited midday
demo pilots, and they put on quite a show!
The best fliers in the world performed
consecutively for this special display. If you
are looking for new and innovative
maneuvers to add to your aerobatic
repertoire, this is the place to gain exposure
to them.
Getting around the massive facility by
foot is daunting. The IRCHA staff teamed
with AMA to provide a shuttle service that
whisked you off to your next point of interest.
The 15-passenger vans stopped at designated
points around the site and ran constantly
during the Jamboree.
Empire Hobby sponsored the second
annual IRCHA Amateur Nationals (IAN)
during the Jamboree. This competition gives
unsponsored pilots the opportunity to earn
recognition, with both a one-year Empire
sponsorship and a potential invite to the
prestigious XFC. Eager pilots lined up to fly
their choreographed four-minute flights to
music.
Jack Burnside runs Empire Hobby, and he
organized the IAN. Young Brandon Fiorante
was declared the winner after flying against
the other finalists at show center on Saturday.
All of this year’s contestants put in amazing
3-D flights.
Jack took a few minutes to explain the
IAN. He said:
“Every 3-D pilot wants to be sponsored,
and they constantly ask, ‘How do I get
sponsored?’ The IAN competition we
developed is one way for them to do that.
“We take applications for around four
months prior to IRCHA[’s Jamboree]. Pilots
are required to send in a video flown to music
with their application. Then we hold the
competition at IRCHA.
“We try to find a spot on the flightline that
is not too busy, but once we get started, a
crowd always forms to watch these pilots
throw down their best 3-D. Empire provides a
one-year sponsorship for the winner, and the
XFC committee gives consideration for the
next year’s contest.
“Empire Hobby also sponsored a ‘Casino
Night.’ Real gaming tables were brought in
and the Gaui girls made sure everything was
taken care of. No real money was exchanged,
but instead all winnings were kept track of
and then those amounts were donated to MS
[multiple sclerosis]. What a great cause!
“IRCHA includes a catered dinner on
Saturday evening. This year the food was
better than ever. ”
Ray Stacy of Rockford, Connecticut,
organized an autorotation contest for this
Jamboree. The rules were changed, to
shake things up a bit. In years past, the
competitors flew their helicopters up to a
safe altitude and then shut off the power
for an autorotation to a marked spot. The
winner was the person whose model
landed closest to the spot.
Ray decided it would be cool to try a
duration autorotation. The 2009 rules allowed
each machine to climb for 15 seconds, and
then the unpowered descent was timed.
Those guidelines were somewhat
controversial, but many seemed to enjoy the
new twist.
J.C. Zankl won that event with an
amazing one-minute flight. To top it off, he
used a borrowed helicopter that he had never
flown.
Scale and vintage helicopter aficionados
had a lot to get excited about this year. Two
large tents were erected on the flightline, to
house both types of models. The tents were
near stage center, so everyone could check
out the awesome machines on display
without having to walk far.
The first thing I noticed in the vintage
tent was the sheer number of antiques;
roughly 50 vintage helicopters covered the
tables. Kirk Nelson took and flew 27 of them!
Several of the world’s top builders/
pilots were in these tents during the event.
They are approachable and have a passion
for constructing and flying these models. It
was amazing to see all of the 30-year-old
machines in the corral.
A few 90-size electric-powered
helicopters were debuted at the Jamboree
this year, along with a host of other new
machines and accessories. The Avant team
put one of its Aurora EPs up for grabs as a
grand prize in the pilot raffle.
Daniel Jetschin flew the electric Aurora
in the noon demos. It looked fantastic as it
delivered plenty of smokeless power for
Daniel’s aggressive flying style. Electric
power has been extremely popular for
smaller models, but some limitations have
kept battery power from being used in the
largest 3-D helicopters.
Curtis Youngblood, a champion pilot,
held a seminar covering the aspects of F3C
contest flying. The FAI is the governing
body for that type of competition. At the
F3C World Championship, which preceded
the Jamboree at the AMA site, many
countries’ competitors vied for honors.
There was also a minicontest held for
beginner pilots after Curtis’s seminar.
It is a testament to IRCHA, the AMA, and
the volunteers that this megaevent ran so
smoothly and, most important, safely. There
were no accidents this year. The IRCHA
staff gave gentle reminders to people who
put themselves in risky positions.
When the Jamboree ended Sunday
evening, there were scores of sunburnt,
worn-out pilots. The gathering was a total
success, and it was fun to be a part of it.
Make sure you attend next year! MA
Mark Fadely
[email protected]
Sources:
IRCHA
www.ircha.org

16 MODEL AVIATION
by Mark Fadely
Doug Shelar pilots his “new” GMP Legend. It is from a 20-year-old kit he bought from a friend just
before the event; the model’s box was unopened! The late Robert Gorham founded GMP (Gorham
Model Products). His brother, Michael, is on the left.
Looking east from the west end of the flightline. The IRCHA staff ordered perfect weather, and it was delivered. Temperatures in
the mid-80s and calm, dry air prevailed throughout the five-day spectacle.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:12 AM Page 16
December 2009 17
978
A bov e : E mpire R C
owner Jack Burnside
is a ll sm iles as th e
Gaui helicopter team,
w h ich he m an ages,
perform s d u ri n g its
“P o w e r H o ur. ” Gaui
took 300 of its new 425
kits to the Jamboree and
so ld them for $49 each;
the normal price is $249!
Jac k also o r g aniz e d t he
popular “Casino Night” for
pil ots and p u t on a
helicopter night show with
fireworks.
Kyle Stacy and Art Hughes demonstrated the new Miniature Aircraft Furion 50’s 3-D
ca pabiliti es in tandem flig ht. The model is l ight and strong, w hile mai ntaining the
company’s high quality standards. A revi sed frame and servo placeme nt pro vide a
nearly perfect geometric layout.
Close to 1,000 pilots
c e l e b r a t e 2 0 y e a r s
of helicopter fun
Left: Jamie Robertson flies
his amazingly powerful
electric T-Rex 700. He is only
16, but it looks like he has
been flying for 20 years! Jamie
won the 2009 XFC helicopter
this year and is the starting
quarterback on his high school
football team.
SOME THINGS IN life have to be
experienced to be fully appreciated.
That was never so true as it was at
this year’s IRCHA (International
Radio Controlled Helicopter)
Jamboree.
RC rotary-wing fanatics swarmed
the AMA’s International
Aeromodeling Center like a
plague. Well, maybe that is a bad
word choice. I mean that
hundreds of dignified, courteous
helicopter pilots attended the
event. Yeah, right!
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:14 AM Page 17
18 MODEL AVIATION
Is it full-scale? No, but it looks like Bill Pirschell’s 7-foot
long Huey is ready to pounce. He painstakingly built this
beauty in a four-year period. It uses a real turbine engine
with all the sounds and smells that accompany it.
Adam Tashjian won the Scale contest with his stunning,
electric-power ed EC 135. It has a realistic Fenestron
shrouded tail rotor and four-blade main rotor head—
identical to the full-scale helicopter.
N ic k M axwel l (L ) wo n t he
N i gh t Fl y co m p e t iti on f o r
th e sec o nd year in a ro w.
Ch arles Anderson (R) a nd
Jack Burnside hand the $500
chec k to a d eserving pilot ;
his f l i g h t s lef t spe cta t or s
speechless.
The 1/2-mile-long flightline is reflected in “Big D”’s glasses, and
MRC’s Greg Gomes is behind him. Darrel Bell travels from his
Detroit MI home to attend many events during the year. He
knows the top pilot s and bri ngs insightful creat ivi ty to hi s
entertaining monologues as an announcer.
Tom Rolfson was fresh from a stellar performance at the XFC, where
Darrell “Big D” Bell dubbed him “The Viking.” Tom’s sponsors
include Team Thunder Tiger and Curtis Youngblood Enterprises.
Photos by the author except as noted.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:16 AM Page 18
December 2009 19
Team Mikado pilots multicolored-LED-illuminated Logos during the Night Fly contest. Andy
Rummer organized the surreal-looking display and choreographed an exotic light show that put the
duo in contention for the win—until a crash occurred late in the routine.
Right: Rick Vinas holds his Miniature Aircraft Furion and Futaba radio. Bobby
Watts helped him get into the hobby. “I am kind of like Bobby’s spiritual
advisor,” said Rick. “He helps me on all the heli technical stuff and I am his
Guru Sensei.”
Brandon Firoante won the 2009 IRCHA Amateur Nationals. Empire RC
sponsors this unique event, in which unsponsored pilots compete to win a
full sponsorship. It is a great way to find new talent. Andy Panoncillo (L)
handles the contest’s logistics.
This is how heaven looks to RC helicopter pilots. Mikel Graham locks his T-Rex 700 into a low
inverted hover to enjoy the last few minutes of light late Saturday evening. This was 23-year-old
Mikel’s first trip to the AMA site. When asked what he thought of the event, he said “I love it!”
cept as noted.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:18 AM Page 19
20 MODEL AVIATION
Emile Sheriff’s Bell OH-58B flew realistically in the Scale contest. The 50-size
Century JetRanger kit houses Raptor 30 mechanics, and it is highly detailed for a
sport-size machine. This capable model won Emile a third-place finish.
Paul Giles, who has be en i n the hob by for decades. pilo ts his cute little GMP
Cricket during its maiden flight. He built i t using many bi ts and pieces from a
1980s vintage model.
Kyle Dahl trekked from his home in Bakersfield
CA to lay down some West Coast smack. His
flying style includes incredible precision and ultrahard-
core 3-D. Kyle and his dad, David, make a
fantastic team to represent the Mikado helicopter
company.
Manabu Hashimoto showed his stuff by 3-Ding his
FAI model during a demo. The crowd was
surprised to see him go low inverted with this
contest machine. Manabu finished fourth in the
F3C World Championship.
Left : (L- R ): Brett W alker, Dave Millner,
Claudia C hap m an—t he w idow o f IRCHA
founder Don Chapman—Charles Anderson,
and Shannon Lloyd. Monte Brock photo.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:20 AM Page 20
December 2009 21
20p9 two-line cutline goes here
Right: Darrell Sprayberry gets a
workout carrying his 40-pound Bell
206 Je tRang er. He m ade ma ny
modifications to the original Vario
kit, to enhance its appearance. The
model has a n AXI 5342 motor,
Castle Cr eations HV -11 0 speed
control, and four Flight Power 6S
5000 mAh battery packs.
Richard Schultz flies his updated HH-65C Dolphin Coast Guard helicopter in
Scale. It has new engines and a longer nose. The body contains Hirobo
mechanics. Richard works for the Coast Guard, so he gets to see the full-scale
version of this model every day.
925l
Yukihiro Dobashi (L) and
K a z u y u k i S e nsu i lo o k
p l eased f o l lo wing thei r
tandem de mo fli g h t on
Fr id a y. T hese Team
Futa b a p ilot s ma d e the
l ong tr e k f r om A s ia to
c om p e t e in th e F 3 C
Wo r l d Cham p i ons h i p
that was held just before
the Jamboree.
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:21 AM Page 21
The queen bee of the fly-in—IRCHA President Dave Millner—
had the logistics running like a well-oiled machine. That’s no surprise,
since most of us helicopter types own several oily machines anyway.
Speculation early this year had many believing that the crowd
would be a bit thin at the helicopter mecca. This marked the 20th
anniversary of IRCHA, which is an AMA SIG, but the economy was
down. (The 2009 Extreme Flight Championships [XFC] helicopterclass
winner, 16-year-old Jamie Robertson, was not even born until
the Jamboree was in its fifth year.)
The organizers waited with fingers crossed during the last few
days before the fly-in got underway, and good news prevailed. It
looks to the IRCHA staff like the final pilot count shattered every
other event record, with a total of 954 registered!
Dave Millner shook hands and kissed babies when the number
leaked out Saturday afternoon. That information is not typically
revealed at the Jamboree until the Saturday-evening awards
ceremony.
The news of the Jamboree’s breaking attendance records was
learned only a few days after the Joe Nall Fly-In—a premier airplane
event—had been deemed the “world’s largest RC event,” with 810
registered pilots. (The Joe Nall event included
helicopters and airplanes this year, while
IRCHA was a helicopter-only gathering.)
The 1,000-acre AMA flying field was split
into three areas during the Jamboree, to
accommodate the various types of helicopters
and flying styles. Signage guided pilots to the
appropriate areas during the week.
The Red Field was the main location for
most of the activities. The White Field hosted
FAI-style flying, FAI seminars, and set-up
clinics, and there was an area for hovering
only, with buddy-box flying and novice set-up
clinics. The Blue Field was allocated for the
last two days of F3C (FAI RC helicopter)
World Championship flying.
A day was added to the Jamboree this
year. It officially started Wednesday August
12 and ran through Sunday August 16.
Pilots from around the globe seasoned this
year’s event with a rich flavor. Many of the
internationals who competed in the F3C
contest stuck around to enjoy Jamboree week.
The camaraderie between pilots with a like
interest broke language barriers as new
friendships were kindled.
Never had there been so much
international talent concentrated on one flying
field. Everyone was treated to unique flying
styles from lands far away. Pilots shared ideas
and techniques, which they could introduce to
fliers in their home countries.
Pilots are willing to drive and fly
inconceivable distances to see the best our
hobby has to offer. Whether you were into the
finest Scale helicopters, superb contest
machines, or down-and-dirty wicked 3-D
models, this event had it.
P.J. Harte hails from Ireland’s west coast;
this year marked his third trek across the pond
to join the fun times at this event. I asked P.J.
what inspires him and a few of his close
friends to pack up their helicopters and make
the long journey to the IRCHA Jamboree. He
said:
“I started flying RC airplanes about 61/2
years ago. I enjoyed it, but when I saw an RC
heli fly, I knew I had to have one. I’ve been
flying helis exclusively for the last four years.
I love 3-D flying and have helped organize the
22 MODEL AVIATION
Contests
2009 Jamboree
Contest Winners
Class 1 Contest: Dave Canfield
Autorotation: J.C. Zankl
450 Pylon Racing: Ken Jennings
Scale: Adam Tashjian
Night Fly: Nick Maxwell
Common Sense RC
u-neak Designs
Inov8tive Designs
RC Hobbies & More
Xerogear
RC Heli magazine
SwitchGlo
Glowire
Magnum Fuels
RunRyder
B&B Hobbies
New Vision
Zurich
Tech Bond Solutions
ElectroRC
HeliProz
Prontow Custom Products
QuickWorldWide
Veltye
HeliProz South
TrueRC
RC Heli Resource
NovaRossi
ChopperShots/Minicopter
Phantom Hobby
HeliFreak.com
Heli-Tote
Vincennes University
Aviation Technology Center
V Blades
Mid Atlantic R/C Helicopters
RCHeliWorks
KBDD
PowerHelis
East Coast Scale
Gyro Hobbies
RCBooya
BIZmodel
Grex Airbrush
Wildcat Fuels
Model Helicopter World
Fly RC
2009 Jamboree Sponsors
2009 Jamboree Vendors
Platinum
JR/Spektrum
Ace Hobby/Thunder Tiger
Avant
Gaui/Empire Hobby
Gold
Mikado Helicopters
Bergen Helicopters
Miniature Aircraft
Hirobo/MRC
Rotor Rage
O.S./Futaba
Outrage RC/HeliDirect
Esprit Model
Castle Creations
Heli Wholesaler
Silver
Advantage Hobbies
Ready Heli
Thunder Power RC
12sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/23/09 9:22 AM Page 22
3DX Ireland, the premier 3-D contest in
Ireland, in recent years.
“Three years ago, a friend of mine asked
me if I would like to travel with him to the
USA to see IRCHA. I said yes, and after I
experienced IRCHA once, I knew I would
come back.
“I love to compete, but I also love to just
hang out with my buddies and fly helis in a
relaxed, no-pressure atmosphere. That’s what
IRCHA is all about for me.”
The Jamboree venue featured 10 200-footwide
flight boxes available at the main (Red)
field. The center-stage flight station was
reserved for manufacturers’ demonstrations
and the popular noon exhibitions.
The IRCHA committee invited midday
demo pilots, and they put on quite a show!
The best fliers in the world performed
consecutively for this special display. If you
are looking for new and innovative
maneuvers to add to your aerobatic
repertoire, this is the place to gain exposure
to them.
Getting around the massive facility by
foot is daunting. The IRCHA staff teamed
with AMA to provide a shuttle service that
whisked you off to your next point of interest.
The 15-passenger vans stopped at designated
points around the site and ran constantly
during the Jamboree.
Empire Hobby sponsored the second
annual IRCHA Amateur Nationals (IAN)
during the Jamboree. This competition gives
unsponsored pilots the opportunity to earn
recognition, with both a one-year Empire
sponsorship and a potential invite to the
prestigious XFC. Eager pilots lined up to fly
their choreographed four-minute flights to
music.
Jack Burnside runs Empire Hobby, and he
organized the IAN. Young Brandon Fiorante
was declared the winner after flying against
the other finalists at show center on Saturday.
All of this year’s contestants put in amazing
3-D flights.
Jack took a few minutes to explain the
IAN. He said:
“Every 3-D pilot wants to be sponsored,
and they constantly ask, ‘How do I get
sponsored?’ The IAN competition we
developed is one way for them to do that.
“We take applications for around four
months prior to IRCHA[’s Jamboree]. Pilots
are required to send in a video flown to music
with their application. Then we hold the
competition at IRCHA.
“We try to find a spot on the flightline that
is not too busy, but once we get started, a
crowd always forms to watch these pilots
throw down their best 3-D. Empire provides a
one-year sponsorship for the winner, and the
XFC committee gives consideration for the
next year’s contest.
“Empire Hobby also sponsored a ‘Casino
Night.’ Real gaming tables were brought in
and the Gaui girls made sure everything was
taken care of. No real money was exchanged,
but instead all winnings were kept track of
and then those amounts were donated to MS
[multiple sclerosis]. What a great cause!
“IRCHA includes a catered dinner on
Saturday evening. This year the food was
better than ever. ”
Ray Stacy of Rockford, Connecticut,
organized an autorotation contest for this
Jamboree. The rules were changed, to
shake things up a bit. In years past, the
competitors flew their helicopters up to a
safe altitude and then shut off the power
for an autorotation to a marked spot. The
winner was the person whose model
landed closest to the spot.
Ray decided it would be cool to try a
duration autorotation. The 2009 rules allowed
each machine to climb for 15 seconds, and
then the unpowered descent was timed.
Those guidelines were somewhat
controversial, but many seemed to enjoy the
new twist.
J.C. Zankl won that event with an
amazing one-minute flight. To top it off, he
used a borrowed helicopter that he had never
flown.
Scale and vintage helicopter aficionados
had a lot to get excited about this year. Two
large tents were erected on the flightline, to
house both types of models. The tents were
near stage center, so everyone could check
out the awesome machines on display
without having to walk far.
The first thing I noticed in the vintage
tent was the sheer number of antiques;
roughly 50 vintage helicopters covered the
tables. Kirk Nelson took and flew 27 of them!
Several of the world’s top builders/
pilots were in these tents during the event.
They are approachable and have a passion
for constructing and flying these models. It
was amazing to see all of the 30-year-old
machines in the corral.
A few 90-size electric-powered
helicopters were debuted at the Jamboree
this year, along with a host of other new
machines and accessories. The Avant team
put one of its Aurora EPs up for grabs as a
grand prize in the pilot raffle.
Daniel Jetschin flew the electric Aurora
in the noon demos. It looked fantastic as it
delivered plenty of smokeless power for
Daniel’s aggressive flying style. Electric
power has been extremely popular for
smaller models, but some limitations have
kept battery power from being used in the
largest 3-D helicopters.
Curtis Youngblood, a champion pilot,
held a seminar covering the aspects of F3C
contest flying. The FAI is the governing
body for that type of competition. At the
F3C World Championship, which preceded
the Jamboree at the AMA site, many
countries’ competitors vied for honors.
There was also a minicontest held for
beginner pilots after Curtis’s seminar.
It is a testament to IRCHA, the AMA, and
the volunteers that this megaevent ran so
smoothly and, most important, safely. There
were no accidents this year. The IRCHA
staff gave gentle reminders to people who
put themselves in risky positions.
When the Jamboree ended Sunday
evening, there were scores of sunburnt,
worn-out pilots. The gathering was a total
success, and it was fun to be a part of it.
Make sure you attend next year! MA
Mark Fadely
[email protected]
Sources:
IRCHA
www.ircha.org