Radio Control Helicopters — 2011/12
IRCHA tradition returns
GUEST COLUMNIST Santiago "Chago" Panzardi wrote this report on the 2011 International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA) Speed Cup, held as part of the IRCHA Jamboree at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana.
Event details
On August 12, 2011, a long-standing tradition envisioned by IRCHA Jamboree founder Don Chapman returned: the IRCHA Speed Cup. Twenty-six contestants were present for the revival of the speed trials and prepared to tackle the 200-meter course.
Flying a helicopter at high speeds in a straight line pushes hardware, pilot concentration, skill, and eyesight. For this event the rules required the helicopter to enter the speed course in level flight. Pilots could choose their turnaround method so long as the helicopter was level as it reached the timing marker. Diving through the course was not allowed, and passes had to be made within the 5-to-20-meter altitude window.
At each end of the course, two judges operated electronic stopwatch triggers from behind sighting poles to start and stop digital chronometers. They also called out any diving into the course or flying too high, which could provide an unfair advantage.
Each pilot had four minutes from takeoff to landing to complete their runs. The time limit was set because of the number of entries and the desire to run up to three rounds in the three hours allocated for the event. There was a noticeable difference in time usage between internal-combustion and electric-powered pilots: gassers took more time and squeezed in as many runs as possible, while electric pilots flew aggressively in the first minute because battery power depleted rapidly.
The final score for each pilot was the average speed of their two best 200-meter passes, one in each direction, set within their four-minute window.
Classes and participation
The 2011 IRCHA Speed Cup had four official classes:
- Electric
- Nitro (glow)
- Gasser (spark ignition)
- Composite propulsion (models using the main rotor plus a second motor or mechanical system to propel the aircraft forward)
For safety, all pilots were familiar with AMA or FAI schedules. While flying the course and making turnarounds was straightforward for many, pilots accustomed only to 3-D flying in a small box found the event to be a significant challenge. The Speed Cup rewards practice and precision; something as simple as flying a straight line at high speed requires preparation.
We spent Thursday afternoon testing the course and training volunteer judges on the timing and scoring equipment. A few contestants practiced. The pilots' meeting was held Friday at 1:30 p.m., with the first run at 2:00 p.m. I flew the first run to demonstrate correct and incorrect entries, but Danny Melnik, flying a Henseleit Three Dee Rigid (TDR), set the first scorching pass at over 110 mph. The distinction between high-powered electric helicopters and the rest became obvious: many electrics posted marks near 100 mph or higher, while the best gassers and nitro-powered helis were in the mid-80s.
Rob McQuillen posted respectable first-round passes at over 100 mph and improved in the second round. But it was David Penger from Germany, flying a Minicopter Diabolo, who set a blistering 128-mph average (both directions), distancing himself from the field. The Minicopter Diabolo debuted at the event.
Bruce Thompson entered the composite class with a front-mounted electric airplane motor on his T-Rex 700 (still in development). Initially some thought the front propeller and spinner were a joke, but when he switched on the 3,000-watt Scorpion front motor and entered the course, the hybrid roared past 100 mph. Bruce's final attempt yielded a 112-mph average; he said it would go faster, but that was the fastest he felt comfortable flying.
As round one ended, most pilots waited to defend their times in round two. Shannon Schrey, Dave Ketelhut, and Rob McQuillen improved their averages to 123.7, 121.0, and 119.9 mph respectively, and Danny Melnik came very close with a 127.2-mph average. Still, David Penger's 128 mph remained the fastest overall and set the new IRCHA Speed Cup record.
New IRCHA Record Holders
- Top Gasser: Adam Mancini — 86.7 mph — SpectraG FBL (piloted by Raja Bortoch)
- Top Nitro: Dennis Groves — 88.0 mph — T-Rex 700 FB
- Top Electric: David Penger — 128.0 mph — Minicopter Diabolo
- Top Composite: Bruce Thompson — 112.0 mph — Modified T-Rex 700 FBL with tractor motor
Top 10 overall (all electric)
- David Penger — 128.0 mph — Minicopter Diabolo
- Danny Melnik — 127.2 mph — Henseleit TDR
- Timo Wendtland — 125.3 mph — Henseleit TDR
- Miles Dunkel — 124.0 mph — Minicopter Diabolo
- Shannon Schrey — 123.76 mph — Henseleit TDR
- Dave Ketelhut — 121.0 mph — Compass 7HV
- Rob McQuillen — 119.9 mph — Henseleit TDR
- Matt Finne — 117.2 mph — Henseleit TDR
- Bruce Thompson — 112.0 mph — Modified T-Rex 700 plus tractor propeller
- Justin Stuart — 98.54 mph — Avant Aurora (Rigidcore)
Thanks and sponsors
A huge thanks to IRCHA for sponsoring the event, the manufacturers that contributed prizes, judges Heath Hamilton and Douglas Krueger, and Ken Jennings for lending timing equipment and running scores throughout the event.
Thank you to the following sponsors:
- Esprit Model
- Hobbico
- Empire Hobby
- Captron Heli Command
- Bobby Jacks Small Engines & Hobbies
- Heli Wholesaler
- HeliDirect
- Castle Creations
- RunRyder (for permitting promotion of the event on its website)
Sources
- International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association — www.ircha.org
- RunRyder — http://runryder.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
