WORLD'S LARGEST RC HELICOPTER FUN-FLY
IRCHA JAMBOREE DRAWS RECORD ATTENDANCE
by Mark Fadely
The AMA’s International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) made RC history this past August by hosting the largest single-category event in the world. RC helicopter pilots made it happen at the helicopter-only get-together they call the International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA) Jamboree. IRCHA is a 23-year-old Special Interest Group recognized by AMA’s governing body. IRCHA president Dave Millner has dreamed of breaking the 1,000-pilot mark since recent years’ attendance had been hovering in the 900-plus range. This year that dream became a reality. The record was shattered when 1,050 registered pilots showed up for the 2012 event! The organizers were not expecting a double-digit percentage increase during a down economy, but it shows that RC helicopters are important to their pilots. The increase sheds a positive light on the IRCHA staff and volunteers.
How can one describe the IRCHA Jamboree? It is a helicopter city with many neighborhoods and suburbs where everyone you meet is friendly and like-minded. That sounds like a utopia for RC heli pilots, and it truly is. In the same way bees return to the hive and give all of the other bees directions to the best flowers, heli pilots from faraway places come to visit IRCHA and then return home to tell their friends about the magical experiences they have had.
The sprawling 1,000-acre flying complex has all the room needed for multiple types of helicopter flights to take place concurrently. Everything from Scale contests, FAI Nats, team trials, Speed Cup racing, and autorotation contests to beginner setup clinics were going on simultaneously. I caught up with a fun group of pilots that made the long trip from Australia to attend the IRCHA Jamboree. They proudly drove their golf cart around with a blow-up kangaroo on the roof and an Australian flag flying from the back. Pilots from 25 countries assembled in Muncie, Indiana, to kick off the biggest all-helicopter party ever! And if that isn’t enough to quench your rotary desires, you could take a ride in one of the two full-scale helicopters on site for this year’s gathering.
Kickin’ It at Stage Center
The center of the half-mile-long flightline is the focal point of the IRCHA Jamboree. Each day the central flying station—Stage Center—is abuzz with manufacturers’ demonstrations, free prize giveaways, contests, and many other fun happenings. Rauf Buxhowitz and his wife, Inga, generously handed out prizes during the Mikado Power Hour.
Sponsoring helicopter companies were allotted an hour each day to show off their products at Stage Center. This was one of the most popular attractions for spectators. There are seminar tents behind Stage Center where you can learn about everything from building your first heli to programming a computer transmitter. There are plenty of top pilots hanging around, too. They are usually friendly and helpful if someone has questions about any aspect of helicopters.
There is a special noontime event at Stage Center each day building up to the ONE contest on Saturday. The ONE contest is an invitational event sponsored by Empire Hobbies and Gaui for a selected group of top international pilots. Seven competitors have seven minutes each to put on a flying performance to wow both a judging panel and the crowd. In fact, a decibel meter is used to record crowd noise and that figure is added to the competitors' scores. The highest combined score wins and the lucky flier gets his or her name on a permanent trophy along with a briefcase containing $7,000! That makes for a great incentive to see the super-radical flying everyone loves.
The huge crowd gets into the competitive spirit by clapping, yelling, and whistling during the flights. There have even been occasional full dance sessions break out among the crowd. It is the most exciting display of unbridled 3-D flying in the world.
This year, Nick Maxwell put his Thunder Tiger G4 heli and Futaba radio equipment through the paces and was crowned the ONE immediately following his extraordinarily creative and thrilling flight. Way to go, Nick!
A new competition was added as a Stage Center attraction this year. Horizon Hobby showcased its new Blade 500 X helicopter by inviting any unsponsored pilot age 14 or older to send a video of his or her flying for consideration. After the pilots were selected, each was given a Blade 500 X helicopter and a Spektrum DX18 radio one day before the event. Each competitor had only one day to become accustomed to the heli and prepare to fly in front of thousands of spectators. The stakes were high because the winners would receive both the helicopter and the DX18 radio.
This format leveled the playing field among the entrants. Spectators enjoyed seeing how identical machines could be flown uniquely by different contestants. Clay Payne won first place, Jordan Horwitz took second, and Sergio Marchalian finished third. Congratulations to all of the pilots and the Horizon people for seeing a great idea through to fruition. It was fun and entertaining to watch.
The party at Stage Center doesn't stop when the sun goes down, either. Jack Burnside of Empire Hobbies/Gaui resembles a professional party planner when it comes to serving people and making sure everyone is having a great time. Jack invites everyone into his tent for free beverages and games. Some say Jack's party is the main reason they come to IRCHA! Several other groups have festive get-togethers on site each night as well. You don't have to worry about not knowing anyone when you attend IRCHA for the first time. When you go home you will have made a bunch of new friends. Then you can begin your own IRCHA Jamboree tradition as so many others have done.
Remembering Our Friends
Unfortunately, we lost a couple of longtime IRCHA friends in 2012. Paul Giles was an avid RC helicopter pilot and was a member of Team Horizon. Paul passed away on April 20. He will be remembered for how he brought smiles to everyone he was in contact with. Paul's wife, Sue, remains involved in the hobby and carries on the Giles tradition of helping others.
Mike Swift was suddenly taken from us on July 10. Mike had attended every IRCHA Jamboree for the last 20 years. He was well known for his shirtless 3‑D flying on hot days. Mike was with Team Futaba and worked hard to help other pilots enjoy RC helicopters. Mike's wife, Ruth, spent many days on the flightline at various RC heli events. In Mike's memory, Ruth has set up a scholarship fund with the AMA for students who are interested in aviation.
We will miss Paul and Mike. They were involved during the fastest pace of development our hobby has ever seen. People acknowledged their experienced voices, and their contributions will live on in us and the machines we fly.
Other Attractions
IRCHA has a great Scale tent near Stage Center with the top scale helicopters in the world on display. This is a must-see presentation. The Scale pits on the flightline are busy with inquisitive people waiting for their turn to talk with the world-class builders of these fine machines. Fantastically detailed and appointed models have to be squeezed in side-by-side because there are so many.
Some of the realistic helicopters in this area take months or even years to build. If you appreciate fine craftsmanship, make sure to stop by the Scale heli display and the special flight station reserved just for these machines.
Ray Stacy held the Autorotation Contest and Santiago Panzardi organized the popular Speed Cup. Read more about those two contests in the "RC Helicopters" column in this issue.
It goes without saying that the IRCHA Jamboree is the highlight of the year for the RC heli community. If you have an interest in rotary craft, make an effort to see this spectacle at least once. There is a reason pilots and nonpilots alike return each year to enjoy every aspect of this mega event. I hope to see you there in 2013.
—Mark Fadely [email protected]
SOURCES:
- IRCHA — www.ircha.org
- Mike Swift Scholarship Fund — www.modelaircraft.org/supportama/supportdescr.aspx#giving
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
