I985 NATS: RC Helicopters
GOOD SHOW. This year's National Helicopter Championships was held July 31 through August 2 at Chicopee, Massachusetts. Horace Hagen acted as event director and, with the help of his able crew of East Coast volunteers, ran a fine contest. Despite a rough field and variable weather conditions, four rounds of competition were completed. The contest site was located some distance from contest headquarters, and it appeared to be an antenna farm for the Air Force when it wasn't being used as a helipad. While the site was adequate, it was an unprepared field, rough and surrounded by trees on all sides. Contest entries were lower than expected, considering that the RC Helicopter World Championships had just finished the week previously (in Canada), and it was thought that many of the foreign entries might stay and take in our Nats as well.
Radio Control: Helicopters
TIME FLIES. As I began thinking about this month's column, I realized that it would be published in the December issue. I couldn't believe how fast the months fly by; of course, it didn't help that this was being written in September! Anyway, I wish all of you a happy holiday season and a happy, healthy 1986 filled with many happy flying days. The GMP Shuttle. As promised a few months back, this is the report on the new GMP Hirobo Shuttle. Two weeks ago, John Gorham called and asked if I'd like to try one out. Apparently, he had received a few samples and had been flying his for a few days.
Radio Control: Helicopters
FLY-INS. September 28-29 was the date of the third annual West Coast RC Helicopter Fly-In at Merced, CA. I had the opportunity to visit this meet and was very impressed with the turnout. My hat's off to Chuck Winter, one of the co-sponsors and spark plug of this event. In three years, this has grown to the largest chopper get-together in California-maybe even in the U.S. While I was there, on Sunday, I counted 125 machines and about 70 pilots. Perhaps one of the reasons for this meet's success is the general feeling of fellowship exhibited by both the fliers and the hosts. I am reminded of the objectives of the fly-in as stated on their flyer: "To encourage and expand the safe and successful flight of model radio-controlled Helicopters."
Radio Control: Helicopters
New Airtronics Helicopter radio. The folks at Airtronics kindly supplied us with one of their new Module 7HI radios to look at. This new offering is a member of their top-of-the-line Module family. The Module 7H is available in two styles, with the major difference being that with the 7HI you trade one of two pitch-curve options for the Invert function. How would you know which version to choose? If you are a serious FAI flier, you would probably choose the 7H. This is because its two separate pitch curves allow far more flexibility in setting up your machine. Before going too much farther into the functions this radio has, I'd like to point out that it is supplied with one of the finest instruction manuals I've read: it's written in simple English, so that even the novice Heli-pilot should be able to read and understand it.
First International F3H Contest
Frikkie Roos' third-place model goes up on tow. Model has a fiberglass fuselage and built-up Eppler 374 wings-a fine model that only lacks a little dihedral (which Frikkie Intends to modify). Already a top F3B pilot, Roos is certain to do well in F3H. Note the cows sharing the field. Left: Top three finishers. L-R, Frikkie Roos, R.S.A., 3rd; Larry Jolly, U.S., 1st; Charles Rudnick, R.S.A., 2nd. All three models spanned 4.5 meters. Right: Victorious U.S. team. L-R, Ian Fynes-Clinton, driver; Ken Findlay, team captain; Larry Jolly, pilot; and Andy Kell, copilot.
