Radio Control Helicopters
Mark Fadely [[email protected]]
2010 AMA events
Thanks for stopping by the helicopter department of MA. The warm summer months are almost upon us, and there are outdoor helicopter events popping up like mushrooms everywhere.
I have explained before that one of the most enriching experiences you can have in this hobby is attending an event. Don’t let this year pass you by without going to at least one. At the bigger events you will meet a wider variety of helicopter pilots. You do not even have to bring your model to have a great time. There is plenty of time for flying when you get home, but the chances you will be around so many experienced pilots are few and far between.
If you ask any good pilot where he or she learns the most, you will usually hear, “at an event.” Get out there and make it happen this year.
AMA will host the world’s largest helicopter fun-fly in 2010. There are many fantastic helicopter happenings taking place this summer at AMA’s National Flying Site in Muncie, Indiana:
- XFC (Extreme Flight Championships): June 11–13 — an invitational event showcasing top helicopter and airplane pilots from around the globe.
- 2010 Helicopter Nationals: August 8–12 — a helicopter-focused national competition.
- IRCHA (International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association) Jamboree: August 12–15 — immediately following the Nationals.
It is so cool to visit the AMA grounds. The museum is fantastic, as is the stylish AMA Headquarters building. Right behind Headquarters lies the wide-open spaces of the flying site. You know you are looking at a special place for modelers when you gaze across the 1,000 acres of manicured grass.
If you can make it to any of these events in 2010, it will probably be well worth it for you.
I often write about meeting people at helicopter events. That is exactly how I met my good friend Tony Whiteside. Few modelers have a heart for the hobby as big as Tony’s. He and I were introduced at the Lexington, Kentucky fun-fly last September. I was immediately impressed by his attitude and willingness to help other pilots.
Tony has become a proficient flier in a short amount of time. As with many good pilots, Tony devotes much time and energy to his flying. Those around him benefit from that hard work because he freely shares his knowledge. Tony, thanks for agreeing to let me ask you a few questions for this month’s column. Let’s find out who Tony Whiteside of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, really is.
Interview: Tony Whiteside
MF: How long have you been flying helicopters? TW: Four years.
MF: Are you married or single? TW: I have been married to my wife, Melissa, for 11 years. I have a 21-year-old daughter, Sabrina, in college, and two six-month-old twins, Aliyah and Sevyn.
MF: What do you do for a living? TW: I have been a mason for over 20 years. I own New Age Construction LLC.
MF: What are your other interests? TW: I love my music and spending time with all my friends in the heli world.
MF: Tony, you have a lot of enthusiasm for helicopters. Where did that come from? TW: How could you not be excited about this...
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