Radio Control Helicopters-2010/08

August 2010 109
This is common at the Jamboree. Pilots get to know each other and
long-term friendships are formed every summer. The Internet helps
keep the lines of communication open during the year until they meet
again in the unlikely town of Muncie, Indiana.
It is interesting and enlightening to see various types of helicopters
from other parts of the world—and you get to see top pilots fly them.
Factory demonstrations are one of the most popular activities at the flyin.
It is a different experience to see the
models fly in person as opposed to in a video
online.
The Jamboree is also a family event. Do not
hesitate to bring your spouse and kids. There is
a lot to do in the festive carnival-like
atmosphere.
Last year Empire Hobbies sponsored a
casino night, where popular games such as blackjack and craps were
played. (Okay, that’s not really for the kids.) Some excellent vendors
also attend, to serve state fair-style food. (Almost everybody loves ice
cream.)
If your child is interested in RC helicopters, he or she can get help
on-site during the event. There are simulators to use and even real
WELCOME TO helicopter headquarters, everyone. August is the
biggest month of the year for us. Why? Because the biggest RC event
in the world happens this month, and it is for helicopters only.
I am referring to the IRCHA (International Radio Controlled
Helicopter Association) Jamboree. AMA’s National Flying Site is the
place to be starting August 8. This year the AMA RC Helicopter Nats
is scheduled to start that day, and then the IRCHA Jamboree will begin
on Wednesday August 11. It wraps up on
Sunday the 15th.
The Nats is a formal competition with
various classes, so pilots of all skill levels can
enter. The Jamboree is one huge fun-fly; the
emphasis is certainly on fun.
Last year nearly 1,000 pilots from around
the world registered at the Jamboree.
Enthusiasts are drawn from such faraway
places as Asia and Australia. There has always been something special
about this event that keeps pilots coming back year after year.
One great part of this hobby is friendships made along the way.
Some friends you may only see once a year, but that does not make
them any less important.
It’s back!
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Helicopters Mark Fadely
Also included in this column:
• Saw you at the Weak Signals’
R/C Expo
Andy Panoncillo (center) chums it up with Nick Maxwell (L) and
Alex Rodriguez, veteran pilot, at the Toledo Show. Helicopter
products have more of a presence at the event these days.
The IRCHA booth is always packed at Toledo. IRCHA President
Dave Millner (center), Alex Rodriguez (R), and RC Event
Promotion Expert Roger Seward were interrupted while talking
about the coming season.
Heli Wholesaler General Manager Jeff Green (L) entertains guests all weekend during the
Toledo R/C Expo. Sponsored pilots also occupy the four-booth-wide spot.
Horizon Hobby unveiled the JR 11X,
which is loaded with tons of new features
for helicopters. The author strongly
recommends that readers check it out.
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110 MODEL AVIATION
The IRCHA Jamboree Night Fly contest is spectacular. Last year’s
edition included top Mikado pilots flying their electric-powered
machines.
Alan Szabo’s model streaks down the flightline at the 2009 IRCHA
Jamboree, while his spotter, Lukas Riva, keeps things safe. Topname
pilots such as these guys are everywhere at this mega-event.
models with buddy boxes, to give aspiring pilots a feel of the sticks.
With a half-mile-long flightline, many things at the Jamboree might
catch your interest. The last several years, there has even been a group
of ladies that does basket weaving at show center! There is something
for everyone.
The area where the fly-in is held is designated Site 4 on the
International Aeromodeling Center grounds. It is large! In the past,
many pilots arranged to have golf carts delivered to the site. There
have been hundreds of golf carts in use each year.
This year IRCHA management has arranged for a golf rental
company to provide carts on-site. This will enable anyone older than
18 to rent transportation for their stay. There is so much to see and the
area is so large that a cart is nearly a necessity.
The Jamboree used to be mainly a social event because of the long
wait times to fly when our radios were using 72 MHz frequencies. That
problem went away with the new 2.4 GHz systems.
In recent years, more flying is done by more pilots than ever. The
flightline can accommodate 20 flight stations. I said it was big!
If you make it to the event this year, you must stay for the Saturday
Night Fly competition. If you have never seen helicopters fly in the
dark, prepare to be amazed.
There is typically a prize of at least $500 for the Night Fly winner.
The pilots hold nothing back, and spectacular night crashes are
common.
Small LEDs are attached to the models’ fuselages and even the
blades. The machines light up like fireworks as they fly through the
sky. Sometimes the AMA’s neighbors call the police and report UFO
sightings during this event.
I look forward to seeing you all at this year’s IRCHA Jamboree.
My good friend, Andy “Pinoy” Panoncillo, was able to spend all three
days (April 9-11, 2010) at the Weak Signals R/C Expo, better known
as the “Toledo Show.”
Here’s his helicopter side of the story.
“Every year for about 6 or 7 years I’ve been visiting the Toledo
Show in Ohio. In the past it has been dominated mainly by fixed wing
related items. I really don’t mind that due to the fact that I’m a big
supporter of fixed wing aircraft anyway, but at the same time I’ve been
wishing for more RC helicopter participation too.
“In the past you would be lucky to see a few helicopters and a
couple of vendors with helicopter stuff. That was not true this year
though.
“This time the Toledo Show amazed me with good participation in
RC helicopters not only in display tables but also with Distributors,
Vendors, and RC helicopter pilots.
“Besides that, even fix wing vendors had everything from batteries,
speed controls, electric motors, servos, rotor/tail blades and numerous
parts (replacements/upgrades) in support of the growing helicopter
interests. They were really catering to RC Helicopter buyers.
“Before this year you would go thru several aisles and wouldn’t see
anything that had to do with RC helicopters but this year almost every
other aisle you would find something. I guess my wishes are starting to
come true.
“This is also one of the few times that my family and I spent three
days in Toledo to enjoy the show and this year we all enjoyed it more
than ever. The only drawback was the temptation to keep getting your
wallet out.
“With all the helicopter vendors, displays and distributors it is
certainly something to think about in terms of putting this event on
your next year’s calendar as a ‘must attend.’ With this trend you know
there will be even more good additions next year.”
Thanks for sharing the information about the Toledo Show with us,
Andy. It seems like helicopters are hovering everywhere these days.
Ha! Ha!
I hope all of you make it to the IRCHA Jamboree in a couple of
weeks. It is one trip I think you will remember forever.
I’ll be back here next month. MA
Sources:
IRCHA Jamboree
(937) 845-9301
www.ircha.org
Weak Signals R/C Expo
www.toledoshow.com
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