Author: Mark Fadely
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/02
Page Numbers: 140,141
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Radio Control Helicopters

Mark Fadely [[email protected]]

Andy Panoncillo reports from the 2007 iHobby Expo and World Micro Heli Cup

Hi everyone. This month I have the pleasure of introducing my good friend and accomplished pilot, Andy Panoncillo. He is a great guy with a passion for RC helicopters. Andy flew in the Extreme Flight Championships (XFC) last year and is lucky enough to live just minutes from the AMA National Flying Site in Muncie, Indiana. Following is his report on the 2007 iHobby Expo.

Before I begin, I want to thank Mark Fadely for the opportunity to be a guest in his column. The main focus of this piece is the recently concluded iHobby Expo held in Rosemont, Illinois, just west of Chicago. The show was held October 20–21, 2007, and was hosted by Empire Hobby and other sponsors.

The international iHobby show featured a wide variety of displays, including trains, kites, RC cars, airplanes, and helicopters. There were plenty of activities for kids, such as free rides, face painting, and balsa-model kit building, so bringing the family is a great idea. I took my whole family, and after the weekend we agreed it was so much fun we wouldn't mind going back—maybe even make it a yearly event.

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center is surrounded by hotels within walking distance, and there are several restaurants ranging from fast food to fine, authentic dining. With its location close to O'Hare Airport, it is also convenient for visitors coming from farther away.

At a large trade show like this you would expect to see major distributors, including Great Planes, Horizon Hobby, Empire Hobby, Align, Thunder Power, and FlightPower. Almost all of them used the event to highlight and unveil new products.

Notable exhibitor highlights:

  • Horizon Hobby: showed the new JR 12X 2.4 GHz radio and had the Vibe 50 and Vibe electric-powered helicopters on display.
  • Empire Hobby: displayed the new Gaui 200 micro helicopter—small enough to almost fit in the palm of your hand—with a full-metal CNC head and belt-driven tail, making it 3-D-capable. Empire also carries the all-carbon, full-metal-head Gaui 550, a 30-size electric helicopter.
  • Align: introduced a new 2-in-1 regulator-and-igniter combo with an improved filter and hard-plastic cover for better protection against moisture or fuel. Align also showed a new metal swashplate and metal arms with ball bearings for the T-Rex 600, available as a combo or individually.
  • Thunder Power: well known for batteries, Thunder Power displayed its own 450-size helicopter and even raffled a "gold-plated" version of the model.
  • FlightPower: showcased new lines of Li-Poly batteries in different configurations to better accommodate various needs.

The show had many live demonstrations covering every level of the hobby—particularly the RC area. There were several dirt and carpet tracks for cars, wide tables with moving trains complete with finely detailed scenery, and a 3-D helicopter competition area.

The venue was well attended by some of the finest helicopter competitors. The World Micro Heli Cup was contested there and dubbed "The Mini XFC." It is essentially a scaled-down version of the XFC; the 2008 edition will be held at the Muncie, Indiana, International Aeromodeling Center in June.

The helicopter "Flying Cage" was aptly named. It was surrounded with curtains on each side and netting so people could see through it. The ceiling was no higher than 18 feet and, to add drama, several large I-beam-type posts were inside. Two of those beams were close to where the pilots stood and flew. That setup made several pilots look even better when flying low and around the posts; a few fliers were not so lucky.

Notable pilots in attendance included:

  • Nick Maxwell
  • Bobby Watts
  • Kyle Stacy
  • Burt Kammerer
  • Marcus Kim
  • Matt Botos
  • Steve McFall
  • Danny Szabo
  • Tyler Bonta

The two-day competition was held Saturday and Sunday. Pilots were given three required maneuvers to fly along with their 3-D routines. Flights had to be performed to music of the pilot's choice; judges looked for the ability to fly to music, and Nick Maxwell excelled in that category. Nick also flew so low that each time he executed a maneuver the crowd and pilots cheered or gasped. He finished in the top spot in the Mini Class, with Bobby "High Voltage" Watts in second place and 12-year-old Kyle Stacy finishing third. Kyle has no problem competing against some of the world's best 3-D fliers. Everybody flew great and provided the crowd with breathtaking maneuvers as well as a few crashes.

Some major helicopter brands were well represented at the event, such as Miniature Aircraft, Align, and Thunder Power. Miniature Aircraft released its new 450 helicopter called the Bandit, and the two top finishers—Nick and Bobby—flew it. Miniature Aircraft has an extensive helicopter line and a strong history of products, so it was not surprising the new model flew well and looked stable in 3-D and hovering maneuvers. It also featured unique head mechanics.

Bandit highlights:

  • Carbon grips for a strong design with hard dampening suitable for extreme 3-D and higher head RPM.
  • Larger linkages and pushrods.
  • Single-stack carbon-frame design.
  • One-piece plastic molded landing gear.
  • Belt drive.

The event went very well overall, and attendees were treated with great hospitality. There were many things to enjoy during and after the show. My family had fun visiting nearby parks and trying authentic restaurants. I encourage anyone to go next year; we certainly will.

Thank you to the iHobby Expo organizers and sponsors. It was a job well done, and I hope you continue to support this trade show. Thanks again for giving me the opportunity to contribute to MA.

That is it for this month. See you all next time. MA

Sources

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.