Modeling Spoken Here - 2006/01

segment of our hobby/sport that
does not get nearly enough
coverage in MA is helicopters. In
the world of model aviation the
helicopter is almost unique. Except for a
few free-flight helicopters that have been
produced throughout the years, modelhelicopter
flying has been strictly an RC
activity. And it is unlike any other RCaircraft
modeling activity in a couple of
ways.
Helicopters are capable of forward and
reverse flight, as well as hovering. They can
fly sideways and pirouette. Naturally this
type of flight envelope requires specific
control mechanisms and a somewhat
different pilot skill set than RC-airplane
flying does.
The machines themselves are not
constructed from balsa and plywood like an
airplane, but rather from alloy tubing, alloy
plates and other metals, reinforced nylon,
and composite bits and pieces. They are
truly engineering masterpieces.
I must confess that I have not yet
learned to fly a model helicopter. I did try
once many years ago, but that was in the
infancy of the sport and long before gyros
were adapted.
I was able to get the craft to hover a few
inches off the ground for seconds at a time,
but all of my cerebral circuits were in
overload condition. I’m quite certain that I
would have totaled the model if I had tried
to do even one more thing with it.
The experience gave me great respect
for those who could fly the model
helicopters seemingly effortlessly. I have
recently tried to fly some helicopters on
modern simulators and have had moderate
success, so I guess the time is right to bite
the bullet and go to the field with an
instructor and get involved.
MA’s Associate Editor Michael Ramsey
is a journeyman RC helicopter pilot, and I
spoke with him before writing this piece
about helicopter flying. What Michael had
to say made sense, and I want to share it
with you in his own words.
“There are a number of rules we’re
taught when learning to fly an aircraft. One
of the more important ones is that power
equals altitude and pitch equals airspeed. If
you’ve taken instruction on how to fly a
full-scale aircraft, you’ve surely heard your
instructor make this exact statement a
number of times.
“The meaning of this statement is no
better demonstrated than with a model
helicopter. For a helicopter to lift from the
ground it must have power in the spinning
blades to gain altitude. As for airspeed, a
helicopter must pitch the rotor forward to
transfer the momentum of the rotor into
forward flight. When you’ve seen a
helicopter in forward flight, it carries a
Aeromodeling Editor Bob Hunt
You might find a whole new
world of modeling enjoyment.
Modeling Spoken Here
A
Published by The Academy of Model Aeronautics
Rob Kurek
Director of Publications
Editorial offices: (765) 287-1256,
extension 224 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays)
Fax: (765) 281-7907
Contributing Editors
Dave Brown
President
Doug Holland
Executive Vice President
Staff
(765) 287-1256 | www.modelaircraft.org
Fax: (765) 289-4248
Advertising Representative
Mark Lanterman, Airborne Media, 7414
Burton Dr., Liberty Township OH 45044
(513) 755-7494 | Fax: (513) 755-7495
AMA Staff Director Joyce Hager
NAA Representative David Ivey
Model Aviation is an official publication of The Academy
of Model Aeronautics, Inc., an associate member of the
National Aeronautic Association (NAA). NAA is the official
U.S. representative of the Fédération Aéronautique
Internationale (FAI), the world governing body for sport
aviation, and represents the U.S. at FAI meetings. NAA
delegated to the AMA supervision of FAI-related
aeromodeling activities such as record attempts,
competition sanctions, and selection of U.S. teams for
World Championships. (ISSN 0744-5059, USPS 087-930
Publications Agreement No. 40688541) is owned
exclusively by The Academy of Model Aeronautics, Inc., a
nonprofit organization, and published monthly at 5161
East Memorial Drive, Muncie IN 47302. Periodical rate
postage paid at Muncie IN and at additional mailing
offices. Canadian return address: Station A, PO Box 54,
Windsor ON N9A 615
6 MODEL AVIATION
Account Executive Angela Martin
Administrative Assistant Yolanda Jones
Aeromodeling Editor Bob Hunt
AMA News Editor Elizabeth Helms
Art Director Carla Hart Kunz
Associate Editor Michael Ramsey
Editorial/Art Intern Jennifer Clark
Graphic Designer Sarah Shaw
Managing Editor Shelia Ames Webb
Production Associate Jennifer Orebaugh
Stan Alexander
Darwin Barrie
Bill Boss
Kurt Bozarth
Paul Bradley
Sal Calvagna
Curt Contrata
Dave Garwood
Dave Gee
Greg Gimlick
Eric Henderson
Jim Hiller
James Holland
Mike Hurley
Louis Joyner
John Kagan
Mike Keville
Rich Lopez
Dave Mark
D.B. Mathews
Dennis Norman
Richard L. Perry
Dave Robelen
Greg Rose
Red Scholefield
Gene Smith
Ray Stacy
Joe Wagner
Technical Editor Bob Aberle
noticeable ‘nose-down’ attitude.
“Pilots who take the opportunity to learn
how to fly helicopters often learn at the
same time how to become better fixed-wing
pilots. Not just in the power vs. pitch
example, but also in advancing their
aptitude of the eye-hand skills necessary to
become a more confident pilot.
“With an aircraft, pilots have the security
of knowing that their model is always flying
forward. Because of this, students are often
taught to rely on inputs from just the right
stick to control the aircraft. Only later are
they taught to integrate the left-stick inputs.
“With a helicopter forward flight isn’t
the only option, and therefore its pilot is
more focused on all the controls.
Realistically, this means the helicopter pilot
works much harder. However, the high level
of concentration required is typically
rewarded with an aptitude gained at a faster
rate.
“The skills learned flying a helicopter to
coordinate turns and control the airspeed
and altitude are directly transferable to
fixed-wing aircraft. Likewise, when a
helicopter is in forward flight, it acts much
like an airplane, so those fixed-wing pilots
who want to try a helicopter will find at
least part of the experience not so
unfamiliar.”
Thanks for those thoughts, Michael.
When explained in a logical manner, the
whole thing does not seem so daunting!
There were a couple of significant
happenings in the model-helicopter world
this past summer, and we have reports on
them for you in this issue. One was the F3C
Helicopter World Championships, in which
Modeling Spoken Here continued on page 196
the US team presented itself very well
indeed, capturing the Silver Medal in team
competition. Team Manager Mike Goza
prepared a report about the team’s
excellent adventures in Zamora, Spain.
The other big RC helicopter happening
was the International Radio Controlled
Helicopter Association Jamboree, which is
known in the sport simply as the “IRCHA
Jamboree.” MA helicopter columnist Ray
Stacy attended this affair, and his report is
included.
By the way, Ray also took the fantastic
cover photo for this issue. Dramatic, isn’t
it?
The IRCHA Jamboree was a huge affair
with 467 registered pilots. And it was an
international affair, with pilots coming
from as far as Australia, Germany, and
England! This event was held at AMA’s
International Aeromodeling Center in
Muncie, Indiana. In fact, it was the largest
single-discipline event ever held at the
site!
We took this opportunity to add a
couple more helicopter articles and turn
this into a mini theme issue.
Bob Fiorenze converted his Century
Models Bell 222 ARF helicopter to electric
power. He used the mechanics of
Miniature Aircraft’s new electric Ion,
which was designed by Chris Stephenson.
Bob provided a photo essay of his
conversion, and we have included it here.
Finally, we are presenting two
helicopter reviews, one of which is a report
by Michael Ramsey on the E-flite Blade
CP (collective pitch) from Horizon Hobby.
This well-engineered RTF electric offering
is attractively priced to get more modelers
involved with RC helicopter flying.
AMA Technical Director Steve Kaluf is
an accomplished helicopter pilot, and he
chose to review the Hirobo XRB SR (Sky
Robo) Lama. This is an electric-powered
RTF helicopter that is designed with the
new model-helicopter pilot in mind.you are an RC airplane pilot who is
looking for a new modeling experience,
why not give helicopters a try? You might
find a whole new world of modeling
enjoyment.
Each year the SEFLI club, which is based
on Long Island, hosts the world’s largest
electric fun-fly in the beautiful Catskill
Mountains region of New York. Last year
this affair was literally washed out by the
remnants of hurricane Ivan.
This year the weather was much
improved, and the Northeast Electric
Aircraft Technology, or NEAT, Fair once
again welcomed electric modelers from
around the globe to three days of great
fun-flying, fabulous flight demonstrations,
and informative technical symposiums.
This publication and AMA were well
represented at this year’s NEAT Fair by
MA Technical Editor Bob Aberle,
Associate Editor Michael Ramsey, Sport
Aviator editor Frank Granelli, and myself.
Bob is a member of the SEFLI group and
assistant event director of the affair. He
and Event Director Tom Hunt co-founded
the NEAT Fair concept.
I was very honored to have been asked
to come to the NEAT Fair and give a
demonstration flight of my electricpowered
Genesis Extreme CL Precision
Aerobatics model. I wasn’t sure how this
would go over among the predominantly
RC group, but I was pleasantly surprised
that many took the opportunity to
welcome me and chat about their own CL
experiences. Many also indicated that they
would like to give electric-powered CL a
try.
Michael Ramsey has written a report
about this year’s NEAT Fair for this issue.
If you want to contact me, I’m usually