122 MODEL AVIATION
GREETINGS AND thanks for stopping by
“Heli Central.” This month I am going to chat
with another nice young pilot. I am amazed at
the number of them that keep popping up
everywhere. It is such a great sign for the
future of our sport.
These guys are good too! They have mad
eye-hand coordination skills. All those hours
on video games are paying off with excellent
flight skills for RC.
Our subject this time is Paul Grohman. He
and his father, Steve, travel across the country
hitting fun-flys in many states. So let’s get to
it!
MF: Hi, Paul, can you give us a short
biography? Where you live, how old, how you
got into helicopters, and any other info you
think the readers would like to know?
PG: Hi, my name is Paul Grohman. I am 14
years old and I am a field representative for
Miniature Aircraft USA. I first started into the
hobby when we were over at a friend’s house
in Pennsylvania, and he took us to their local
club. He let me buddy-box with him on his
plane.
Then my dad told me that he used to fly model
helicopters back in the mid-’80s. So when we got home, he
showed me some pictures of his old helis and some old
parts.
So then we went to a local hobby shop in Vermont and
then to the flying field in Guildhall, Vermont, near our
home in Dalton, New Hampshire. We met the “heli guy”
out at that field. We ended up buying his Hirobo Shuttle
ZXX that I flew very little. This was in June 2005.
We bought a Hirobo Shuttle Plus, and it was my first
trainer. Later on we bought a Gohbee Stinger 50; this was
my trainer for 3-D. After Clintstone’s Birthday Bash fun-fly
in January of 2007, we finally bought a Miniature Aircraft
MXR Razor 600E, and I have been flying them ever since.
Paul Grohman tells MA what it takes to be a hot helicopter competitor
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Helicopters Mark Fadely
Left: Paul with his Miniature Aircraft Razor EP
50 (electric). The nitro version is the Bandit 50.
Paul has been flying since 2005, and he is 14
years old.
This was at the 2008 Birmingham fun-fly. The Alabama get-together traditionally marks
the beginning of the outdoor flying season.
Above: Paul Grohman’s new Razor. Coollooking
canopy! This model is powered by a
12S Li-Poly system, and it makes some
awesome power.
124 MODEL AVIATION
Let’s get ready for the 2008 IRCHA Jamboree! Darrell
Sprayberry’s huge Cobra patrols the west end of the flightline at
the 2007 event. It could easily be mistaken for full scale.
Michael Rose pilots his exceptional Hughes 500 at the 2007 IRCHA
Jamboree. The beautiful blue fuselage houses a Raptor 30. More
easy-to-build, great-looking scale bodies are becoming available.
Paul Grohman and his dad, Steve, help Nick Maxwell at the
Lafayette IN fun-fly. Steve holds a remote temperature monitor
and Paul has a sucker!
MF: How often do you fly?
PG: Because we travel full-time and are in a different location
every week, we get a chance to go to many flying clubs each year
and meet new people all over the country. Some weeks I will get
several flights in. And some I don’t. When I can’t fly I use the
simulator.
MF: What are your goals in the hobby?
PG: To advance in the hobby and place at the XFC [Extreme
Flight Championships].
MF: Do you like to compete?
PG: I do. It is fun to fly against others, no matter what the
competition. My first competition was at IRCHA Southwest in
Utah in 2006, where I met another good heli friend named Aeryk
Hurley. I also was the first night flier at the IRCHA 2007 Night
Fly Competition.
MF: What helicopters have you owned, and why do you fly what
you currently use?
PG: My fleet over the years has included the following: Hirobo
Shuttle ZXX, Hirobo Shuttle Plus, E-flite Blade CP and CX,
Align T-Rex 450SE, Gohbee Stinger 50, Mikado Logo 10 3D
Carbon, Miniature Aircraft MXR Razor 600E-10S, and Miniature
Aircraft MXR Razor 600E-12S.
The two Razors are my current helis that I fly. The reason I
fly Miniature Aircraft helis is because of the quality of their
machines and the reliability to hold up to today’s most radical
maneuvers.
MF: What keeps you motivated, and how do you deal with the
difficulties inherent with helicopters?
PG: As I said above, my dad encourages me to continue to
progress and try out new maneuvers and my desire to do well at
whatever I do.
MF: Where do you see yourself in five years?
PG: Hopefully standing on top of the “First Place” stand at the
XFC!
MF: Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions, Paul.
Your generation is the future of our hobby, and I can tell it is in
good hands. See you at the flying field!
The IRCHA (International Radio Controlled Helicopter
Association) Jamboree is right around the corner. This is the
megaevent held at AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana. The
dates are August 14-17.
Last year 720 pilots made the pilgrimage to Central Indiana.
Don’t miss it this year! MA
MF: There are a lot more teenagers flying helicopters, which is
great for the hobby. Why do you think there are so many more
young people flying helicopters now as opposed to 10 years
ago?
PG: I think more young people are flying helis because the
hobby has become very popular among all ages. More young
people see other young people fly, so they are inspired to either
start or continue on flying and advancing their skills. This is
what happened to me.
I saw Zak Johns of Virginia Beach, Virginia, on the 2004
IRCHA Heli Jamboree video. He must have only been around 11
years old at that time. Zak Johns and I met at the 2005 IRCHA
and have been friends ever since.
MF: I know you and your dad travel all around the country. Tell
me about your relationship with your father and how he has
supported you.
PG: Yes, we travel the United States. This lets me go to more
events and meet more people from all over. My dad has
encouraged me to continue in the hobby, and he helps me with
the mechanical and setup areas.
MF: Who is your favorite pilot and why?
PG: Wow, that is a hard one with so many awesome pilots out
there today, but I think I would have to say either Bobby
“Showtime” Watts or Nick Maxwell. I like their style of flying
and their extremely low, in-control, in-your-face, smackdowntype
flying. And I hope to one day be as good as them. I also
enjoy watching Kyle “Coolhands” Stacy fly.
MF: Explain how you do your training. Do you use a simulator
a lot?
PG: Yes, I try to fly on the simulator every day. I also enjoy
flying multiplayer with other pilots all over the world.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 122,124
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 122,124
122 MODEL AVIATION
GREETINGS AND thanks for stopping by
“Heli Central.” This month I am going to chat
with another nice young pilot. I am amazed at
the number of them that keep popping up
everywhere. It is such a great sign for the
future of our sport.
These guys are good too! They have mad
eye-hand coordination skills. All those hours
on video games are paying off with excellent
flight skills for RC.
Our subject this time is Paul Grohman. He
and his father, Steve, travel across the country
hitting fun-flys in many states. So let’s get to
it!
MF: Hi, Paul, can you give us a short
biography? Where you live, how old, how you
got into helicopters, and any other info you
think the readers would like to know?
PG: Hi, my name is Paul Grohman. I am 14
years old and I am a field representative for
Miniature Aircraft USA. I first started into the
hobby when we were over at a friend’s house
in Pennsylvania, and he took us to their local
club. He let me buddy-box with him on his
plane.
Then my dad told me that he used to fly model
helicopters back in the mid-’80s. So when we got home, he
showed me some pictures of his old helis and some old
parts.
So then we went to a local hobby shop in Vermont and
then to the flying field in Guildhall, Vermont, near our
home in Dalton, New Hampshire. We met the “heli guy”
out at that field. We ended up buying his Hirobo Shuttle
ZXX that I flew very little. This was in June 2005.
We bought a Hirobo Shuttle Plus, and it was my first
trainer. Later on we bought a Gohbee Stinger 50; this was
my trainer for 3-D. After Clintstone’s Birthday Bash fun-fly
in January of 2007, we finally bought a Miniature Aircraft
MXR Razor 600E, and I have been flying them ever since.
Paul Grohman tells MA what it takes to be a hot helicopter competitor
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Helicopters Mark Fadely
Left: Paul with his Miniature Aircraft Razor EP
50 (electric). The nitro version is the Bandit 50.
Paul has been flying since 2005, and he is 14
years old.
This was at the 2008 Birmingham fun-fly. The Alabama get-together traditionally marks
the beginning of the outdoor flying season.
Above: Paul Grohman’s new Razor. Coollooking
canopy! This model is powered by a
12S Li-Poly system, and it makes some
awesome power.
124 MODEL AVIATION
Let’s get ready for the 2008 IRCHA Jamboree! Darrell
Sprayberry’s huge Cobra patrols the west end of the flightline at
the 2007 event. It could easily be mistaken for full scale.
Michael Rose pilots his exceptional Hughes 500 at the 2007 IRCHA
Jamboree. The beautiful blue fuselage houses a Raptor 30. More
easy-to-build, great-looking scale bodies are becoming available.
Paul Grohman and his dad, Steve, help Nick Maxwell at the
Lafayette IN fun-fly. Steve holds a remote temperature monitor
and Paul has a sucker!
MF: How often do you fly?
PG: Because we travel full-time and are in a different location
every week, we get a chance to go to many flying clubs each year
and meet new people all over the country. Some weeks I will get
several flights in. And some I don’t. When I can’t fly I use the
simulator.
MF: What are your goals in the hobby?
PG: To advance in the hobby and place at the XFC [Extreme
Flight Championships].
MF: Do you like to compete?
PG: I do. It is fun to fly against others, no matter what the
competition. My first competition was at IRCHA Southwest in
Utah in 2006, where I met another good heli friend named Aeryk
Hurley. I also was the first night flier at the IRCHA 2007 Night
Fly Competition.
MF: What helicopters have you owned, and why do you fly what
you currently use?
PG: My fleet over the years has included the following: Hirobo
Shuttle ZXX, Hirobo Shuttle Plus, E-flite Blade CP and CX,
Align T-Rex 450SE, Gohbee Stinger 50, Mikado Logo 10 3D
Carbon, Miniature Aircraft MXR Razor 600E-10S, and Miniature
Aircraft MXR Razor 600E-12S.
The two Razors are my current helis that I fly. The reason I
fly Miniature Aircraft helis is because of the quality of their
machines and the reliability to hold up to today’s most radical
maneuvers.
MF: What keeps you motivated, and how do you deal with the
difficulties inherent with helicopters?
PG: As I said above, my dad encourages me to continue to
progress and try out new maneuvers and my desire to do well at
whatever I do.
MF: Where do you see yourself in five years?
PG: Hopefully standing on top of the “First Place” stand at the
XFC!
MF: Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions, Paul.
Your generation is the future of our hobby, and I can tell it is in
good hands. See you at the flying field!
The IRCHA (International Radio Controlled Helicopter
Association) Jamboree is right around the corner. This is the
megaevent held at AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana. The
dates are August 14-17.
Last year 720 pilots made the pilgrimage to Central Indiana.
Don’t miss it this year! MA
MF: There are a lot more teenagers flying helicopters, which is
great for the hobby. Why do you think there are so many more
young people flying helicopters now as opposed to 10 years
ago?
PG: I think more young people are flying helis because the
hobby has become very popular among all ages. More young
people see other young people fly, so they are inspired to either
start or continue on flying and advancing their skills. This is
what happened to me.
I saw Zak Johns of Virginia Beach, Virginia, on the 2004
IRCHA Heli Jamboree video. He must have only been around 11
years old at that time. Zak Johns and I met at the 2005 IRCHA
and have been friends ever since.
MF: I know you and your dad travel all around the country. Tell
me about your relationship with your father and how he has
supported you.
PG: Yes, we travel the United States. This lets me go to more
events and meet more people from all over. My dad has
encouraged me to continue in the hobby, and he helps me with
the mechanical and setup areas.
MF: Who is your favorite pilot and why?
PG: Wow, that is a hard one with so many awesome pilots out
there today, but I think I would have to say either Bobby
“Showtime” Watts or Nick Maxwell. I like their style of flying
and their extremely low, in-control, in-your-face, smackdowntype
flying. And I hope to one day be as good as them. I also
enjoy watching Kyle “Coolhands” Stacy fly.
MF: Explain how you do your training. Do you use a simulator
a lot?
PG: Yes, I try to fly on the simulator every day. I also enjoy
flying multiplayer with other pilots all over the world.