www.ModelAviation.com April 2012 Model Aviation 119
rc helicoff scapleters
company find the “optimum” setup
or recommendation for the product,
you might find something that works
extremely well for you, but then in
reality you need to open your mind
a bit and also try other ways of doing
things to see how that product works in
those cases.
It can be sometimes “worrisome”
with the idea you have something
working just right and you have to take
it apart or change it to try something
else. It can also benefit you as well if
you find a method that you prefer more
in that testing. But it’s always hard at
first getting yourself to change what is
already going well.
MF: How much can a top team pilot
expect to make in this hobby?
NM: That is a very hard question to
answer directly. A lot of it depends
upon your responsibilities with the
company you fly for. As just a pilot, you
can’t expect much. But getting involved
in things like product development,
learning how to draw model parts, and
H i all, and welcome back. I will not take much room
for introductions. I am fortunate this month to have
one of the world’s top pilots with me: Nick Maxwell.
Many helicopter pilots know him already, but in case
you’re not familiar with him, Nick is also a competition
model airplane pilot. I thought everyone would enjoy
hearing about Nick’s experience as a top factory-sponsored
pilot. Please give Nick a warm MA welcome.
MF: Hi, Nick. It’s good to have you back in Indiana. How was it living in Texas and
how long were you there?
NM: Hi, Mark. Hope you are doing well! Living in Texas was a blast. With the
warm weather year-round and the facilities there to fly and work on models, it
really made things fun and easy. I lived there for a little over two years.
MF: What are the main things you like about being a team pilot?
NM: The thing that stands out the most is being able to represent a brand that
you believe in and help that company grow and advance its product line. With a
team atmosphere you get to do that with other pilots who want the same for that
company as well. You end up becoming good friends with those people as you get
to know them, traveling to the same events and helping to get a product better.
MF: What are some things you dislike about the responsibilities of being a team pilot?
NM: Well, I’ll be flat out honest here; in some cases where you need to help the
A Chat with Nick Maxwell
by Mark Fadely
[email protected]
PLUS:
> Nick Maxwell
joins Team
Thunder Tiger
America
Left: Nick Maxwell won the 2010 E-Fest Heli
Smackdown competition held at the University
of Illinois Track and Field Armory, in Champaign
IL. His spectacular flight included many close
calls with the rafters.
Some may remember this cover
shot from MA’s December 2010
issue. The cool color design was
made by Nick Maxwell’s nightflying
helicopter with LED lighting.
120 Model Aviation April 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
helping with advertising are big things
that pilots, who do make this a form
of income, are involved in. With taking
on those responsibilities, it is definitely
possible to make a comfortable living.
MF: What was it like working for the
“Master,” Curtis Youngblood?
NM: It was a real pleasure. Both Curtis
and his father have helped me grow in
the hobby, flying-wise and by sharing
information from their experience,
ff scaffl escale
and more importantly, sharing ways to
learn things on my own. It was a great
opportunity to work for him, and I
thank both of them for all the help and
also just for having flying friends at the
field while living in Texas.
MF: Is there anything special about how
you prepare for a contest?
NM: The biggest difference I find in
preparing for contests is model setup.
In everyday/fun-fly type flying, I can set
rc helico pters
the model up for a specific feel, rate,
etc. that I like. In a contest model, that’s
not always possible. Sometimes the
model has to have slightly quicker rates
to hit the music you’ve selected. Or
say you have to run a slightly different
pitch range in case it becomes windy at
the contest.
In fun-fly flying, if, say, the wind hits
and the model starts to travel slower
into the wind, it’s not a big deal. While
flying to music, that could completely
Right: Nick Maxwell joins Lukas Riva for a 3-D
tandem flight during the IRCHA Jamboree’s
charity flight for muscular dystrophy. The duo
wowed the crowd and the other competitors.
Left: Nick is a great ambassador for the hobby. This 2008 shot shows him supporting the
new AMA Park Pilot program. He is always available and willing to help others.
(L-R) Bobby Watts, Jamie Robertson, and Nick Maxwell
stood on the winner’s podium in the 2009 Extreme
Flight Championships. Nick earned his second-place
finish while flying a Rave helicopter designed and
manufactured by Curtis Youngblood Enterprises.
Left: Nick has been flying RC airplanes and helicopters
since he was young. Here, he chats with helicopter
designer Tim Schoonard, previous owner of the
Miniature Aircraft company.
throw off your choreography to
the music, or change the speed of a
constant-speed set maneuver. I even
have to think of things that I’d normally
not pay attention to such as color
on the model (example: is it easy to
see from the judges’ position?) and
how much color is on the rotor disk
(example: too much reference from
color will show small corrections, while
a darker disk will hide that).
There are lots of small details that
could affect presentation that will
matter if the scores are very close.
Flying-wise, one difference is while just
working on models I can fly up to, say,
14 flights a day and still be having a
blast wanting to fly more.
While practicing hard, I can mentally
only make progress up to six or seven
flights. Sometimes there are exceptions
like the few days right before the
contest while trying to cram.
MF: How do you deal with the pressure
in competition?
NM: I get very nervous, questioning
if the model will mechanically work
for the whole flight, if I’ve prepared
enough, if I’m going to forget parts
of the routines; the list goes on and
on. Ha ha. In most cases though, that
nervousness really helps my flying. I
think that extra attention and focus
[on] what is going on lets you find
things you may have previously missed,
and by fixing those things [it] could
lead to a better flight.
MF: FAI contest flying is really going well
for you. Tell us about that whole realm
of flying and how it relates to the average
pilot?
NM: FAI/F3C is very neat in the idea
that everything is based around a
specific schedule of maneuvers. Every
pilot is flying that same schedule. That
being said, the goal behind F3C flying
revolves around execution and the way
a pilot presents a maneuver. In terms of
execution, precision is by far the most
important aspect.
Since the first three maneuvers of
each schedule are done on a hover
course, there is a clear reference of
just how precise a pilot is executing
things. Same with the aerobatics; each
maneuver forms a distinct shape, and so
you are always flying against the judge’s
idea of that perfect shape or position.
Although the maneuvers are not as
radical in terms of motion, they are just
as mind-boggling in terms of just how
precise a machine and a pilot can be.
For example, on a hovering course you
are trying to put the model’s main shaft
on top of a 1/4-inch pole or flag from a
position 2 meters all the way up to 6
meters from the ground, and the pilot’s
position is almost 10 meters away. The
top-level pilots can keep the model
positioned throughout a maneuver to
within 1 inch of the flag.
What is great about FAI [is that]
they are relatively “simple” maneuvers,
ones that any intermediate pilot can
complete. It all comes down to taking
those maneuvers and building on them
to start to get the exact shape, position,
and ability to do that consistently.
MF: You fly both nitro and electric. Which
is your favorite and why?
NM: Both models have their places.
During contest flying, I prefer electric
power. It is consistent, smooth, and
with the right setup can produce
amazing power. For fun-fly events and
home at the field on weekends, [I]
prefer flying glow. The glow model is
generally lighter, so for my flying style,
it fits very well. The added flight time is
nice without having to wait for charged
packs when just having fun at home.
MF: What is the main goal or
accomplishment you would like to attain
in model helicopters?
NM: In terms of contest-flying goals, I
would really like to continue to make
the USA F3C team and maybe one day
make the podium or become the F3C
World Champion. In general, I’d like to
have RC as a lifelong hobby and be able
to continue to enjoy having fun learning
about models and flying.
MF: What’s next for Nick, both in the
hobby and in your personal life?
NM: In the hobby I have recently
started a small company, Nick Maxwell
Products, LLC and will soon be
releasing some new RC helicopterrelated
products! As for personal life,
I’ve started to attend college after a
four-year break and am having a lot of
fun going back to school.
Thanks Nick. You have shared
interesting information that only an
insider could have. You have a lot of
fans in the helicopter world and we will
all be anxious to see where your next
turn in life takes you.
Good luck in the world competitions
and thanks for representing the USA
with such style.
News Flash
This is just in from Steve Kaluf
at Hobbico: Team Thunder Tiger
America is proud to announce that
Nick Maxwell has become its newest
helicopter team member. Nick joins
an already impressive roster of today’s
finest pilots, including Todd Bennett,
Gary Wright, Jim Stark, and more to
demonstrate the capabilities of Thunder
Tiger machines throughout the world.
Nick’s RC piloting credentials stretch
back to 1993, when he began flying
airplanes at the age of four. Six years
later he tried RC helicopters—and
now, still in his early 20s, Nick has a
long list of personal and professional
accomplishments to his credit.
Before focusing his interests on
precision RC helicopters and 3-D
heli aerobatics, Nick was an active
competitor in RC Pylon Racing. From
there he expanded his piloting résumé
with a continuing string of formidable
performances at heli events worldwide,
including 2010 3-D Masters Champion;
two-time World Cup Heli Champion;
2011 F3C World Team Member; twotime
IRCHA Night Fly Champion;
four-time E-Fest Smackdown winner;
Vegas Cup Champion; and a three-time
XFC podium finisher.
Nick has flown professionally for
four years and been a member of
Team Futaba since 2004. He has
presented several 3-D heli clinics, given
international flying demonstrations,
and supplied several well-known heli
manufacturers with expert product
testing.
Congratulations to Nick on joining
Team Thunder Tiger!
Sources:
International Radio-Controlled Helicopter
Association
www.ircha.org
Thunder Tiger
www.ttamerica.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/04
Page Numbers: 119,120,121,122
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/04
Page Numbers: 119,120,121,122
www.ModelAviation.com April 2012 Model Aviation 119
rc helicoff scapleters
company find the “optimum” setup
or recommendation for the product,
you might find something that works
extremely well for you, but then in
reality you need to open your mind
a bit and also try other ways of doing
things to see how that product works in
those cases.
It can be sometimes “worrisome”
with the idea you have something
working just right and you have to take
it apart or change it to try something
else. It can also benefit you as well if
you find a method that you prefer more
in that testing. But it’s always hard at
first getting yourself to change what is
already going well.
MF: How much can a top team pilot
expect to make in this hobby?
NM: That is a very hard question to
answer directly. A lot of it depends
upon your responsibilities with the
company you fly for. As just a pilot, you
can’t expect much. But getting involved
in things like product development,
learning how to draw model parts, and
H i all, and welcome back. I will not take much room
for introductions. I am fortunate this month to have
one of the world’s top pilots with me: Nick Maxwell.
Many helicopter pilots know him already, but in case
you’re not familiar with him, Nick is also a competition
model airplane pilot. I thought everyone would enjoy
hearing about Nick’s experience as a top factory-sponsored
pilot. Please give Nick a warm MA welcome.
MF: Hi, Nick. It’s good to have you back in Indiana. How was it living in Texas and
how long were you there?
NM: Hi, Mark. Hope you are doing well! Living in Texas was a blast. With the
warm weather year-round and the facilities there to fly and work on models, it
really made things fun and easy. I lived there for a little over two years.
MF: What are the main things you like about being a team pilot?
NM: The thing that stands out the most is being able to represent a brand that
you believe in and help that company grow and advance its product line. With a
team atmosphere you get to do that with other pilots who want the same for that
company as well. You end up becoming good friends with those people as you get
to know them, traveling to the same events and helping to get a product better.
MF: What are some things you dislike about the responsibilities of being a team pilot?
NM: Well, I’ll be flat out honest here; in some cases where you need to help the
A Chat with Nick Maxwell
by Mark Fadely
[email protected]
PLUS:
> Nick Maxwell
joins Team
Thunder Tiger
America
Left: Nick Maxwell won the 2010 E-Fest Heli
Smackdown competition held at the University
of Illinois Track and Field Armory, in Champaign
IL. His spectacular flight included many close
calls with the rafters.
Some may remember this cover
shot from MA’s December 2010
issue. The cool color design was
made by Nick Maxwell’s nightflying
helicopter with LED lighting.
120 Model Aviation April 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
helping with advertising are big things
that pilots, who do make this a form
of income, are involved in. With taking
on those responsibilities, it is definitely
possible to make a comfortable living.
MF: What was it like working for the
“Master,” Curtis Youngblood?
NM: It was a real pleasure. Both Curtis
and his father have helped me grow in
the hobby, flying-wise and by sharing
information from their experience,
ff scaffl escale
and more importantly, sharing ways to
learn things on my own. It was a great
opportunity to work for him, and I
thank both of them for all the help and
also just for having flying friends at the
field while living in Texas.
MF: Is there anything special about how
you prepare for a contest?
NM: The biggest difference I find in
preparing for contests is model setup.
In everyday/fun-fly type flying, I can set
rc helico pters
the model up for a specific feel, rate,
etc. that I like. In a contest model, that’s
not always possible. Sometimes the
model has to have slightly quicker rates
to hit the music you’ve selected. Or
say you have to run a slightly different
pitch range in case it becomes windy at
the contest.
In fun-fly flying, if, say, the wind hits
and the model starts to travel slower
into the wind, it’s not a big deal. While
flying to music, that could completely
Right: Nick Maxwell joins Lukas Riva for a 3-D
tandem flight during the IRCHA Jamboree’s
charity flight for muscular dystrophy. The duo
wowed the crowd and the other competitors.
Left: Nick is a great ambassador for the hobby. This 2008 shot shows him supporting the
new AMA Park Pilot program. He is always available and willing to help others.
(L-R) Bobby Watts, Jamie Robertson, and Nick Maxwell
stood on the winner’s podium in the 2009 Extreme
Flight Championships. Nick earned his second-place
finish while flying a Rave helicopter designed and
manufactured by Curtis Youngblood Enterprises.
Left: Nick has been flying RC airplanes and helicopters
since he was young. Here, he chats with helicopter
designer Tim Schoonard, previous owner of the
Miniature Aircraft company.
throw off your choreography to
the music, or change the speed of a
constant-speed set maneuver. I even
have to think of things that I’d normally
not pay attention to such as color
on the model (example: is it easy to
see from the judges’ position?) and
how much color is on the rotor disk
(example: too much reference from
color will show small corrections, while
a darker disk will hide that).
There are lots of small details that
could affect presentation that will
matter if the scores are very close.
Flying-wise, one difference is while just
working on models I can fly up to, say,
14 flights a day and still be having a
blast wanting to fly more.
While practicing hard, I can mentally
only make progress up to six or seven
flights. Sometimes there are exceptions
like the few days right before the
contest while trying to cram.
MF: How do you deal with the pressure
in competition?
NM: I get very nervous, questioning
if the model will mechanically work
for the whole flight, if I’ve prepared
enough, if I’m going to forget parts
of the routines; the list goes on and
on. Ha ha. In most cases though, that
nervousness really helps my flying. I
think that extra attention and focus
[on] what is going on lets you find
things you may have previously missed,
and by fixing those things [it] could
lead to a better flight.
MF: FAI contest flying is really going well
for you. Tell us about that whole realm
of flying and how it relates to the average
pilot?
NM: FAI/F3C is very neat in the idea
that everything is based around a
specific schedule of maneuvers. Every
pilot is flying that same schedule. That
being said, the goal behind F3C flying
revolves around execution and the way
a pilot presents a maneuver. In terms of
execution, precision is by far the most
important aspect.
Since the first three maneuvers of
each schedule are done on a hover
course, there is a clear reference of
just how precise a pilot is executing
things. Same with the aerobatics; each
maneuver forms a distinct shape, and so
you are always flying against the judge’s
idea of that perfect shape or position.
Although the maneuvers are not as
radical in terms of motion, they are just
as mind-boggling in terms of just how
precise a machine and a pilot can be.
For example, on a hovering course you
are trying to put the model’s main shaft
on top of a 1/4-inch pole or flag from a
position 2 meters all the way up to 6
meters from the ground, and the pilot’s
position is almost 10 meters away. The
top-level pilots can keep the model
positioned throughout a maneuver to
within 1 inch of the flag.
What is great about FAI [is that]
they are relatively “simple” maneuvers,
ones that any intermediate pilot can
complete. It all comes down to taking
those maneuvers and building on them
to start to get the exact shape, position,
and ability to do that consistently.
MF: You fly both nitro and electric. Which
is your favorite and why?
NM: Both models have their places.
During contest flying, I prefer electric
power. It is consistent, smooth, and
with the right setup can produce
amazing power. For fun-fly events and
home at the field on weekends, [I]
prefer flying glow. The glow model is
generally lighter, so for my flying style,
it fits very well. The added flight time is
nice without having to wait for charged
packs when just having fun at home.
MF: What is the main goal or
accomplishment you would like to attain
in model helicopters?
NM: In terms of contest-flying goals, I
would really like to continue to make
the USA F3C team and maybe one day
make the podium or become the F3C
World Champion. In general, I’d like to
have RC as a lifelong hobby and be able
to continue to enjoy having fun learning
about models and flying.
MF: What’s next for Nick, both in the
hobby and in your personal life?
NM: In the hobby I have recently
started a small company, Nick Maxwell
Products, LLC and will soon be
releasing some new RC helicopterrelated
products! As for personal life,
I’ve started to attend college after a
four-year break and am having a lot of
fun going back to school.
Thanks Nick. You have shared
interesting information that only an
insider could have. You have a lot of
fans in the helicopter world and we will
all be anxious to see where your next
turn in life takes you.
Good luck in the world competitions
and thanks for representing the USA
with such style.
News Flash
This is just in from Steve Kaluf
at Hobbico: Team Thunder Tiger
America is proud to announce that
Nick Maxwell has become its newest
helicopter team member. Nick joins
an already impressive roster of today’s
finest pilots, including Todd Bennett,
Gary Wright, Jim Stark, and more to
demonstrate the capabilities of Thunder
Tiger machines throughout the world.
Nick’s RC piloting credentials stretch
back to 1993, when he began flying
airplanes at the age of four. Six years
later he tried RC helicopters—and
now, still in his early 20s, Nick has a
long list of personal and professional
accomplishments to his credit.
Before focusing his interests on
precision RC helicopters and 3-D
heli aerobatics, Nick was an active
competitor in RC Pylon Racing. From
there he expanded his piloting résumé
with a continuing string of formidable
performances at heli events worldwide,
including 2010 3-D Masters Champion;
two-time World Cup Heli Champion;
2011 F3C World Team Member; twotime
IRCHA Night Fly Champion;
four-time E-Fest Smackdown winner;
Vegas Cup Champion; and a three-time
XFC podium finisher.
Nick has flown professionally for
four years and been a member of
Team Futaba since 2004. He has
presented several 3-D heli clinics, given
international flying demonstrations,
and supplied several well-known heli
manufacturers with expert product
testing.
Congratulations to Nick on joining
Team Thunder Tiger!
Sources:
International Radio-Controlled Helicopter
Association
www.ircha.org
Thunder Tiger
www.ttamerica.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/04
Page Numbers: 119,120,121,122
www.ModelAviation.com April 2012 Model Aviation 119
rc helicoff scapleters
company find the “optimum” setup
or recommendation for the product,
you might find something that works
extremely well for you, but then in
reality you need to open your mind
a bit and also try other ways of doing
things to see how that product works in
those cases.
It can be sometimes “worrisome”
with the idea you have something
working just right and you have to take
it apart or change it to try something
else. It can also benefit you as well if
you find a method that you prefer more
in that testing. But it’s always hard at
first getting yourself to change what is
already going well.
MF: How much can a top team pilot
expect to make in this hobby?
NM: That is a very hard question to
answer directly. A lot of it depends
upon your responsibilities with the
company you fly for. As just a pilot, you
can’t expect much. But getting involved
in things like product development,
learning how to draw model parts, and
H i all, and welcome back. I will not take much room
for introductions. I am fortunate this month to have
one of the world’s top pilots with me: Nick Maxwell.
Many helicopter pilots know him already, but in case
you’re not familiar with him, Nick is also a competition
model airplane pilot. I thought everyone would enjoy
hearing about Nick’s experience as a top factory-sponsored
pilot. Please give Nick a warm MA welcome.
MF: Hi, Nick. It’s good to have you back in Indiana. How was it living in Texas and
how long were you there?
NM: Hi, Mark. Hope you are doing well! Living in Texas was a blast. With the
warm weather year-round and the facilities there to fly and work on models, it
really made things fun and easy. I lived there for a little over two years.
MF: What are the main things you like about being a team pilot?
NM: The thing that stands out the most is being able to represent a brand that
you believe in and help that company grow and advance its product line. With a
team atmosphere you get to do that with other pilots who want the same for that
company as well. You end up becoming good friends with those people as you get
to know them, traveling to the same events and helping to get a product better.
MF: What are some things you dislike about the responsibilities of being a team pilot?
NM: Well, I’ll be flat out honest here; in some cases where you need to help the
A Chat with Nick Maxwell
by Mark Fadely
[email protected]
PLUS:
> Nick Maxwell
joins Team
Thunder Tiger
America
Left: Nick Maxwell won the 2010 E-Fest Heli
Smackdown competition held at the University
of Illinois Track and Field Armory, in Champaign
IL. His spectacular flight included many close
calls with the rafters.
Some may remember this cover
shot from MA’s December 2010
issue. The cool color design was
made by Nick Maxwell’s nightflying
helicopter with LED lighting.
120 Model Aviation April 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
helping with advertising are big things
that pilots, who do make this a form
of income, are involved in. With taking
on those responsibilities, it is definitely
possible to make a comfortable living.
MF: What was it like working for the
“Master,” Curtis Youngblood?
NM: It was a real pleasure. Both Curtis
and his father have helped me grow in
the hobby, flying-wise and by sharing
information from their experience,
ff scaffl escale
and more importantly, sharing ways to
learn things on my own. It was a great
opportunity to work for him, and I
thank both of them for all the help and
also just for having flying friends at the
field while living in Texas.
MF: Is there anything special about how
you prepare for a contest?
NM: The biggest difference I find in
preparing for contests is model setup.
In everyday/fun-fly type flying, I can set
rc helico pters
the model up for a specific feel, rate,
etc. that I like. In a contest model, that’s
not always possible. Sometimes the
model has to have slightly quicker rates
to hit the music you’ve selected. Or
say you have to run a slightly different
pitch range in case it becomes windy at
the contest.
In fun-fly flying, if, say, the wind hits
and the model starts to travel slower
into the wind, it’s not a big deal. While
flying to music, that could completely
Right: Nick Maxwell joins Lukas Riva for a 3-D
tandem flight during the IRCHA Jamboree’s
charity flight for muscular dystrophy. The duo
wowed the crowd and the other competitors.
Left: Nick is a great ambassador for the hobby. This 2008 shot shows him supporting the
new AMA Park Pilot program. He is always available and willing to help others.
(L-R) Bobby Watts, Jamie Robertson, and Nick Maxwell
stood on the winner’s podium in the 2009 Extreme
Flight Championships. Nick earned his second-place
finish while flying a Rave helicopter designed and
manufactured by Curtis Youngblood Enterprises.
Left: Nick has been flying RC airplanes and helicopters
since he was young. Here, he chats with helicopter
designer Tim Schoonard, previous owner of the
Miniature Aircraft company.
throw off your choreography to
the music, or change the speed of a
constant-speed set maneuver. I even
have to think of things that I’d normally
not pay attention to such as color
on the model (example: is it easy to
see from the judges’ position?) and
how much color is on the rotor disk
(example: too much reference from
color will show small corrections, while
a darker disk will hide that).
There are lots of small details that
could affect presentation that will
matter if the scores are very close.
Flying-wise, one difference is while just
working on models I can fly up to, say,
14 flights a day and still be having a
blast wanting to fly more.
While practicing hard, I can mentally
only make progress up to six or seven
flights. Sometimes there are exceptions
like the few days right before the
contest while trying to cram.
MF: How do you deal with the pressure
in competition?
NM: I get very nervous, questioning
if the model will mechanically work
for the whole flight, if I’ve prepared
enough, if I’m going to forget parts
of the routines; the list goes on and
on. Ha ha. In most cases though, that
nervousness really helps my flying. I
think that extra attention and focus
[on] what is going on lets you find
things you may have previously missed,
and by fixing those things [it] could
lead to a better flight.
MF: FAI contest flying is really going well
for you. Tell us about that whole realm
of flying and how it relates to the average
pilot?
NM: FAI/F3C is very neat in the idea
that everything is based around a
specific schedule of maneuvers. Every
pilot is flying that same schedule. That
being said, the goal behind F3C flying
revolves around execution and the way
a pilot presents a maneuver. In terms of
execution, precision is by far the most
important aspect.
Since the first three maneuvers of
each schedule are done on a hover
course, there is a clear reference of
just how precise a pilot is executing
things. Same with the aerobatics; each
maneuver forms a distinct shape, and so
you are always flying against the judge’s
idea of that perfect shape or position.
Although the maneuvers are not as
radical in terms of motion, they are just
as mind-boggling in terms of just how
precise a machine and a pilot can be.
For example, on a hovering course you
are trying to put the model’s main shaft
on top of a 1/4-inch pole or flag from a
position 2 meters all the way up to 6
meters from the ground, and the pilot’s
position is almost 10 meters away. The
top-level pilots can keep the model
positioned throughout a maneuver to
within 1 inch of the flag.
What is great about FAI [is that]
they are relatively “simple” maneuvers,
ones that any intermediate pilot can
complete. It all comes down to taking
those maneuvers and building on them
to start to get the exact shape, position,
and ability to do that consistently.
MF: You fly both nitro and electric. Which
is your favorite and why?
NM: Both models have their places.
During contest flying, I prefer electric
power. It is consistent, smooth, and
with the right setup can produce
amazing power. For fun-fly events and
home at the field on weekends, [I]
prefer flying glow. The glow model is
generally lighter, so for my flying style,
it fits very well. The added flight time is
nice without having to wait for charged
packs when just having fun at home.
MF: What is the main goal or
accomplishment you would like to attain
in model helicopters?
NM: In terms of contest-flying goals, I
would really like to continue to make
the USA F3C team and maybe one day
make the podium or become the F3C
World Champion. In general, I’d like to
have RC as a lifelong hobby and be able
to continue to enjoy having fun learning
about models and flying.
MF: What’s next for Nick, both in the
hobby and in your personal life?
NM: In the hobby I have recently
started a small company, Nick Maxwell
Products, LLC and will soon be
releasing some new RC helicopterrelated
products! As for personal life,
I’ve started to attend college after a
four-year break and am having a lot of
fun going back to school.
Thanks Nick. You have shared
interesting information that only an
insider could have. You have a lot of
fans in the helicopter world and we will
all be anxious to see where your next
turn in life takes you.
Good luck in the world competitions
and thanks for representing the USA
with such style.
News Flash
This is just in from Steve Kaluf
at Hobbico: Team Thunder Tiger
America is proud to announce that
Nick Maxwell has become its newest
helicopter team member. Nick joins
an already impressive roster of today’s
finest pilots, including Todd Bennett,
Gary Wright, Jim Stark, and more to
demonstrate the capabilities of Thunder
Tiger machines throughout the world.
Nick’s RC piloting credentials stretch
back to 1993, when he began flying
airplanes at the age of four. Six years
later he tried RC helicopters—and
now, still in his early 20s, Nick has a
long list of personal and professional
accomplishments to his credit.
Before focusing his interests on
precision RC helicopters and 3-D
heli aerobatics, Nick was an active
competitor in RC Pylon Racing. From
there he expanded his piloting résumé
with a continuing string of formidable
performances at heli events worldwide,
including 2010 3-D Masters Champion;
two-time World Cup Heli Champion;
2011 F3C World Team Member; twotime
IRCHA Night Fly Champion;
four-time E-Fest Smackdown winner;
Vegas Cup Champion; and a three-time
XFC podium finisher.
Nick has flown professionally for
four years and been a member of
Team Futaba since 2004. He has
presented several 3-D heli clinics, given
international flying demonstrations,
and supplied several well-known heli
manufacturers with expert product
testing.
Congratulations to Nick on joining
Team Thunder Tiger!
Sources:
International Radio-Controlled Helicopter
Association
www.ircha.org
Thunder Tiger
www.ttamerica.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/04
Page Numbers: 119,120,121,122
www.ModelAviation.com April 2012 Model Aviation 119
rc helicoff scapleters
company find the “optimum” setup
or recommendation for the product,
you might find something that works
extremely well for you, but then in
reality you need to open your mind
a bit and also try other ways of doing
things to see how that product works in
those cases.
It can be sometimes “worrisome”
with the idea you have something
working just right and you have to take
it apart or change it to try something
else. It can also benefit you as well if
you find a method that you prefer more
in that testing. But it’s always hard at
first getting yourself to change what is
already going well.
MF: How much can a top team pilot
expect to make in this hobby?
NM: That is a very hard question to
answer directly. A lot of it depends
upon your responsibilities with the
company you fly for. As just a pilot, you
can’t expect much. But getting involved
in things like product development,
learning how to draw model parts, and
H i all, and welcome back. I will not take much room
for introductions. I am fortunate this month to have
one of the world’s top pilots with me: Nick Maxwell.
Many helicopter pilots know him already, but in case
you’re not familiar with him, Nick is also a competition
model airplane pilot. I thought everyone would enjoy
hearing about Nick’s experience as a top factory-sponsored
pilot. Please give Nick a warm MA welcome.
MF: Hi, Nick. It’s good to have you back in Indiana. How was it living in Texas and
how long were you there?
NM: Hi, Mark. Hope you are doing well! Living in Texas was a blast. With the
warm weather year-round and the facilities there to fly and work on models, it
really made things fun and easy. I lived there for a little over two years.
MF: What are the main things you like about being a team pilot?
NM: The thing that stands out the most is being able to represent a brand that
you believe in and help that company grow and advance its product line. With a
team atmosphere you get to do that with other pilots who want the same for that
company as well. You end up becoming good friends with those people as you get
to know them, traveling to the same events and helping to get a product better.
MF: What are some things you dislike about the responsibilities of being a team pilot?
NM: Well, I’ll be flat out honest here; in some cases where you need to help the
A Chat with Nick Maxwell
by Mark Fadely
[email protected]
PLUS:
> Nick Maxwell
joins Team
Thunder Tiger
America
Left: Nick Maxwell won the 2010 E-Fest Heli
Smackdown competition held at the University
of Illinois Track and Field Armory, in Champaign
IL. His spectacular flight included many close
calls with the rafters.
Some may remember this cover
shot from MA’s December 2010
issue. The cool color design was
made by Nick Maxwell’s nightflying
helicopter with LED lighting.
120 Model Aviation April 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
helping with advertising are big things
that pilots, who do make this a form
of income, are involved in. With taking
on those responsibilities, it is definitely
possible to make a comfortable living.
MF: What was it like working for the
“Master,” Curtis Youngblood?
NM: It was a real pleasure. Both Curtis
and his father have helped me grow in
the hobby, flying-wise and by sharing
information from their experience,
ff scaffl escale
and more importantly, sharing ways to
learn things on my own. It was a great
opportunity to work for him, and I
thank both of them for all the help and
also just for having flying friends at the
field while living in Texas.
MF: Is there anything special about how
you prepare for a contest?
NM: The biggest difference I find in
preparing for contests is model setup.
In everyday/fun-fly type flying, I can set
rc helico pters
the model up for a specific feel, rate,
etc. that I like. In a contest model, that’s
not always possible. Sometimes the
model has to have slightly quicker rates
to hit the music you’ve selected. Or
say you have to run a slightly different
pitch range in case it becomes windy at
the contest.
In fun-fly flying, if, say, the wind hits
and the model starts to travel slower
into the wind, it’s not a big deal. While
flying to music, that could completely
Right: Nick Maxwell joins Lukas Riva for a 3-D
tandem flight during the IRCHA Jamboree’s
charity flight for muscular dystrophy. The duo
wowed the crowd and the other competitors.
Left: Nick is a great ambassador for the hobby. This 2008 shot shows him supporting the
new AMA Park Pilot program. He is always available and willing to help others.
(L-R) Bobby Watts, Jamie Robertson, and Nick Maxwell
stood on the winner’s podium in the 2009 Extreme
Flight Championships. Nick earned his second-place
finish while flying a Rave helicopter designed and
manufactured by Curtis Youngblood Enterprises.
Left: Nick has been flying RC airplanes and helicopters
since he was young. Here, he chats with helicopter
designer Tim Schoonard, previous owner of the
Miniature Aircraft company.
throw off your choreography to
the music, or change the speed of a
constant-speed set maneuver. I even
have to think of things that I’d normally
not pay attention to such as color
on the model (example: is it easy to
see from the judges’ position?) and
how much color is on the rotor disk
(example: too much reference from
color will show small corrections, while
a darker disk will hide that).
There are lots of small details that
could affect presentation that will
matter if the scores are very close.
Flying-wise, one difference is while just
working on models I can fly up to, say,
14 flights a day and still be having a
blast wanting to fly more.
While practicing hard, I can mentally
only make progress up to six or seven
flights. Sometimes there are exceptions
like the few days right before the
contest while trying to cram.
MF: How do you deal with the pressure
in competition?
NM: I get very nervous, questioning
if the model will mechanically work
for the whole flight, if I’ve prepared
enough, if I’m going to forget parts
of the routines; the list goes on and
on. Ha ha. In most cases though, that
nervousness really helps my flying. I
think that extra attention and focus
[on] what is going on lets you find
things you may have previously missed,
and by fixing those things [it] could
lead to a better flight.
MF: FAI contest flying is really going well
for you. Tell us about that whole realm
of flying and how it relates to the average
pilot?
NM: FAI/F3C is very neat in the idea
that everything is based around a
specific schedule of maneuvers. Every
pilot is flying that same schedule. That
being said, the goal behind F3C flying
revolves around execution and the way
a pilot presents a maneuver. In terms of
execution, precision is by far the most
important aspect.
Since the first three maneuvers of
each schedule are done on a hover
course, there is a clear reference of
just how precise a pilot is executing
things. Same with the aerobatics; each
maneuver forms a distinct shape, and so
you are always flying against the judge’s
idea of that perfect shape or position.
Although the maneuvers are not as
radical in terms of motion, they are just
as mind-boggling in terms of just how
precise a machine and a pilot can be.
For example, on a hovering course you
are trying to put the model’s main shaft
on top of a 1/4-inch pole or flag from a
position 2 meters all the way up to 6
meters from the ground, and the pilot’s
position is almost 10 meters away. The
top-level pilots can keep the model
positioned throughout a maneuver to
within 1 inch of the flag.
What is great about FAI [is that]
they are relatively “simple” maneuvers,
ones that any intermediate pilot can
complete. It all comes down to taking
those maneuvers and building on them
to start to get the exact shape, position,
and ability to do that consistently.
MF: You fly both nitro and electric. Which
is your favorite and why?
NM: Both models have their places.
During contest flying, I prefer electric
power. It is consistent, smooth, and
with the right setup can produce
amazing power. For fun-fly events and
home at the field on weekends, [I]
prefer flying glow. The glow model is
generally lighter, so for my flying style,
it fits very well. The added flight time is
nice without having to wait for charged
packs when just having fun at home.
MF: What is the main goal or
accomplishment you would like to attain
in model helicopters?
NM: In terms of contest-flying goals, I
would really like to continue to make
the USA F3C team and maybe one day
make the podium or become the F3C
World Champion. In general, I’d like to
have RC as a lifelong hobby and be able
to continue to enjoy having fun learning
about models and flying.
MF: What’s next for Nick, both in the
hobby and in your personal life?
NM: In the hobby I have recently
started a small company, Nick Maxwell
Products, LLC and will soon be
releasing some new RC helicopterrelated
products! As for personal life,
I’ve started to attend college after a
four-year break and am having a lot of
fun going back to school.
Thanks Nick. You have shared
interesting information that only an
insider could have. You have a lot of
fans in the helicopter world and we will
all be anxious to see where your next
turn in life takes you.
Good luck in the world competitions
and thanks for representing the USA
with such style.
News Flash
This is just in from Steve Kaluf
at Hobbico: Team Thunder Tiger
America is proud to announce that
Nick Maxwell has become its newest
helicopter team member. Nick joins
an already impressive roster of today’s
finest pilots, including Todd Bennett,
Gary Wright, Jim Stark, and more to
demonstrate the capabilities of Thunder
Tiger machines throughout the world.
Nick’s RC piloting credentials stretch
back to 1993, when he began flying
airplanes at the age of four. Six years
later he tried RC helicopters—and
now, still in his early 20s, Nick has a
long list of personal and professional
accomplishments to his credit.
Before focusing his interests on
precision RC helicopters and 3-D
heli aerobatics, Nick was an active
competitor in RC Pylon Racing. From
there he expanded his piloting résumé
with a continuing string of formidable
performances at heli events worldwide,
including 2010 3-D Masters Champion;
two-time World Cup Heli Champion;
2011 F3C World Team Member; twotime
IRCHA Night Fly Champion;
four-time E-Fest Smackdown winner;
Vegas Cup Champion; and a three-time
XFC podium finisher.
Nick has flown professionally for
four years and been a member of
Team Futaba since 2004. He has
presented several 3-D heli clinics, given
international flying demonstrations,
and supplied several well-known heli
manufacturers with expert product
testing.
Congratulations to Nick on joining
Team Thunder Tiger!
Sources:
International Radio-Controlled Helicopter
Association
www.ircha.org
Thunder Tiger
www.ttamerica.com
