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.
Radio Control: Helicopters
WELCOME back. This month's column will be devoted to the Kalt Cyclone II distributed here in the U.S. by Hobby Dynamics and available at your local hobby shop. Anyone who has been in the hobby for any length of time is familiar with Kalt Helicopters. I believe Mr. Oki was the second to form a company to manufacture RC Helicopters. Starting with a smaller version of Schluter's Cobra, Kalt has been in business ever since. This gives the company over 20 years of RC Helicopter experience. Kalt has always been known for high-quality Japanese-style machines, consequently its products have always been popular in Japan.
Radio Control: Helicopters
First one for .30s: As I mentioned last month, we are going to take a look at the First Annual Kyosho RC Helicopter Challenge that took place June 9-10, 1990 in Champaign, IL. As far as I know, this was the first contest limited to .30-size machines (machines designed to be powered by engines in the .30-cu-in, displacement range - Ed.) in the U.S., although they have been held in Japan. This well-attended competition was jointly sponsored by Kyosho and Model Builder magazine. A big thanks to both of you, and congratulations on a good idea. The contest was well organized and ran very smoothly (smoother, in fact, than some Nats I have attended). Contest Director Tim Lampe did a great job of both running the contest and staying busy on the public address system enlightening the crowd as to what was going on.
Radio Control: Helicopters
ONE of the biggest Helicopter fly-ins ever! That's how I would have to describe the 6th Annual West Coast Radio Control Helicopter Fly-In which took place October 1-2, 1988 in Merced, CA. Imagine a flight line over a quarter-mile long. Over 250 machines were present, with over 120 pilots registered. We had people flying in from all over the U.S. as well as Canada, Hawaii, and Japan. I was amazed at both the numbers of participants and the quality of the machines, but I was especially amazed with the overall enthusiasm. Helicopters were in the air from early morning to sunset, and boy! Can you guys fly!
Radio Control: Helicopters
REVIEWING GMP'S Legend: Welcome back. This month we're going to take a look at John Gorham's latest effort, the new GMP Legend. Instead of going into the standard, "the kit arrived in a well-packed, colorful box" routine, let's skip that for a few minutes and get right to the heart of the Legend. The machine features a flybarless rotor and is, straight from the box, without a doubt the best all-around Helicopter I have ever flown. In the hands of an average chopper pilot, the Legend is capable of incredible aerobatic flights. In the hands of an expert like Robert Gorham, the Legend gives demos that will leave others envious.
