Radio Control: Helicopters
MY report on the 1989 Toledo show mentioned that Gorham Model Products was working on a new Helicopter featuring noncollective, Hiller-only steering aimed at the novice Helicopter pilot market. The Rebel now being shipped (August 1989) to GMP dealers has undergone considerable evolution from the prototype shown at Toledo. I know that a lot of you are going to be leery of reverting back to ancient technology, but while it's simple, the Rebel is very easy to build and fly. By looking backward towards simplicity with the experience we have today, GMP has been able to achieve a classic mix of old and new and has succeeded in its quest for producing a low-cost, high-quality, rugged airframe suitable for training. A particular goal was to satisfy the aircraft modeler who already has a .40-size engine and a spare four-channel radio available.
RC Helicopters
PAGING THROUGH this magazine, it quickly becomes evident that it's the annual Model Aviation Nats issue and that they did, in fact, fly RC Helicopters at the Nationals. For those of you familiar with the AMA Rule Book and National Championship outline, you know that there are four classes of RC Helicopters flown at the Nats. These are Novice, Intermediate, FAI, and Scale. The first three classes are separated based on pilot proficiency and encompass progressively more difficult maneuvers. Scale, of course, is just what it says; this event combines static scoring as well as flying.
Radio Control: Helicopters
CONTINUING where I left off in the August 1989 column, let's finish discussing the new Kyosho Concept 30. As you may recall I was very impressed with both the product and its spare parts/information support. The Concept 30 is available in two variations: the DX for novices, and the SE for aerobatics. The test machine I received was a ready-to-fly version of the DX which comes complete with an OS .28 FSR engine installed. My first impression on opening the kit box was very favorable because of the obvious extreme attention to detail that Kyosho has exhibited in the design, fabrication, and packaging of the Concept 30.
Radio Control: Helicopters
KYOSHO. There's no mistaking that name. Recognized worldwide as manufacturers of high-quality, high-production hobby products, Kyosho is perhaps the world's leader in numbers of hobby items sold annually. The company is long recognized as innovators of prefabricated RC cars, planes, and other related hobby items, so it's not surprising that Kyosho would turn its attention to RC Helicopters. The company has been a longtime friend of the aeromodeling hobbyist with emphasis on the needs of the sport flier. Admittedly, most of the products have been in the sport or toy category; however, its cars have gone right to the top of the competition scene. Kyosho's cars show excellent engineering and wonderful molded, glass-filled nylon parts.
AMA Nats: RC Helicopters
THE SITE that the Nats Planning Committee picked for RC Helicopters at the Tidewater (VA) Nats was not suitable. You know I don't like to pick on the Nats organizers, but let's face it: If you promote a contest and expect people from all over the country to attend, you should at least have a usable site. Modern Helicopters do more than bounce around on the ground on training gear. Intermediate and FAI Pilots are flying around and performing aerobatics. Helicopters, just like conventional airplanes, need some room to accelerate and set up for each maneuver. The original site came complete with uneven ground terrain, not to mention a light pole that was centrally located and equipped with Helicopter-crashing wires overhead. I doubt that guys looking for a place to sport fly would have even considered the original site.
