AMCross
Aug 16, 2004, 02:00 AM
!Introduction
IRCHA is an event that needs no introduction, so I won't get longwinded and try to write one. I couldn't do it justice. Suffice it to say that if you've ever had even a tinge of interest in Helicopters, this is one event you should NOT miss. An amazing 439 pilots registered!
IRCHA is primarily a funfly, but does also include some judged contests, including scale, drag racing and an auto contest. There is also AMAZING night flying on Saturday night. Unfortunately, I was unable to stay and get video of that excitement.
<a href="http://www.rcgroups.com/4579">Be sure to visit E Zone for more indepth electrics coverage of IRCHA!</a>
@910060:This photo shows about 2/3 of the total flightline!
@910061:The assortment of prizes was amazing. MRC/Altec/Hirobo alone donated more than $5500 worth of product!
@910062:The flightline is so long and busy that between the tents and the 'dead zone' line was a 2-lane 'highway' for golf carts, mini-motorcycles, Gators (mini-pickup trucks) and more!
@910063:One of the cooler looking "pocket racer" motorcycles on site.
@910064:Some amazingly gorgeous scale birds graced the site....
@910065:as did some very interesting hybrids, test beds, and more!
!Crash Footage
What would event coverage be without at least ONE crash footage? Actually, for the # of machines flown at this massive event, it is amazing how few end up damaged. And we just happened to catch this one on close up...
+910072:An inverted "cut the grass" cut a little more than grass...including slow-mow replay!
!Half-Time Demos, Saturday
@910066:This full scale chopper was parked just off the flightline for all to see....
@910067:and provided a great demo Saturday! (The IRCHA president finagled a ride and is taking photos of the crowd.) (Unfortunately, I understand he had a minor crash on landing on Saturday.)
@910068:One of Team Hirobo's awesome gunships.
@910069:Team JR immediately after the Venture Madness demonstration!
@910070:Malorie's beautiful Bergen helicopter.
@910071:The Team RC Rotor Tech Australian scale turbines were really large and impressive.
+910073:IRCHA president rides along for an exciting full-scale demo flight, including flying a competition square in the r/c competition box!
+910074:The first demo r/c flight, Steve McFall flying a Sceadu, with lots of low-and-exciting 3D aerobatics.
+910075:The Australian scale turbines fly -- the first having a blade tracking problem, the second bird was brought immediately to the line for an impressive flight!
+910076:Zach is just 11-years old, has been flying for just a year, and yet provided an exciting 3D demo. While it was a bit repetitive and ran long, for such a young pilot, it was an impressive flight indeed.
+910077:World-class competitor Alan Szabo Jr. demonstrated a 3-D turbine heli. While it's 3D doesn't look quite like what we're used to seeing from much lighter loaded e-, nitro- and gas-powered helis, it was an exciting flight none the less, including the slowest motion kaos!
+910078:Brian Simpson of Australia demonstrates his turbine speed machine!
+910079:Malorie Zastrow puts on a fun 3d-mixed demo with her Bergen Intrepid 90 glow.
+910080:Jeff Green of Hirobo brought a pair of their gorgeous gunships -- what you see is exactly how the bodies come! -- unfortunately, while this demo was billed as a 'formation' flight, there seemed to be little formation or choreography. However, the gunships are still gorgeous and impressive to watch!
+910081:A pair of highly modified electric hornets performed some really impressive 3D!
+910082:Team JR put 5 Ventures in the air for what they dubbed "venture madness". With little apparent choreography or coordination, numerous near misses and a my-main-blade-to-your-tail-blade "tick", madness is a great title! (My apologies for video quality here...in my effort to show what all 5 were doing, I'm afraid I've zoomed out so much you can't get a good feel for what any of them are doing much of the time. But you certainly do get the 'swarm' feeling I had watching it!)
+910083:Last, but certainly not least, video of Eric Lawson flying (a borrowed!) impressive Miniature Aircraft Ion X Electric!
!A Glimpse at Fun Flying
There were hundreds of helis in the air throughout the weekend. Here's a quick look at just a few of them...
+910084:An electric 3D flight.
+910085:Several different birds, including an impressive inverted auto.
+910086:Another look at Jeff Green's gunship in flight.
!Conclusion
This is a world-class event, the likes of which is unmatched in ANY other facet of this great airborne hobby! IRCHA is truly a worldwide funfly, with amazing demo flights, a few fun competitions, but mostly amazing commaraderie and a chance to see just about anything r/c heli fly.
<a href="http://www.rcgroups.com/4579">Be sure to visit E Zone for more indepth electrics coverage of IRCHA!</a>
IRCHA is an event that needs no introduction, so I won't get longwinded and try to write one. I couldn't do it justice. Suffice it to say that if you've ever had even a tinge of interest in Helicopters, this is one event you should NOT miss. An amazing 439 pilots registered!
IRCHA is primarily a funfly, but does also include some judged contests, including scale, drag racing and an auto contest. There is also AMAZING night flying on Saturday night. Unfortunately, I was unable to stay and get video of that excitement.
<a href="http://www.rcgroups.com/4579">Be sure to visit E Zone for more indepth electrics coverage of IRCHA!</a>
@910060:This photo shows about 2/3 of the total flightline!
@910061:The assortment of prizes was amazing. MRC/Altec/Hirobo alone donated more than $5500 worth of product!
@910062:The flightline is so long and busy that between the tents and the 'dead zone' line was a 2-lane 'highway' for golf carts, mini-motorcycles, Gators (mini-pickup trucks) and more!
@910063:One of the cooler looking "pocket racer" motorcycles on site.
@910064:Some amazingly gorgeous scale birds graced the site....
@910065:as did some very interesting hybrids, test beds, and more!
!Crash Footage
What would event coverage be without at least ONE crash footage? Actually, for the # of machines flown at this massive event, it is amazing how few end up damaged. And we just happened to catch this one on close up...
+910072:An inverted "cut the grass" cut a little more than grass...including slow-mow replay!
!Half-Time Demos, Saturday
@910066:This full scale chopper was parked just off the flightline for all to see....
@910067:and provided a great demo Saturday! (The IRCHA president finagled a ride and is taking photos of the crowd.) (Unfortunately, I understand he had a minor crash on landing on Saturday.)
@910068:One of Team Hirobo's awesome gunships.
@910069:Team JR immediately after the Venture Madness demonstration!
@910070:Malorie's beautiful Bergen helicopter.
@910071:The Team RC Rotor Tech Australian scale turbines were really large and impressive.
+910073:IRCHA president rides along for an exciting full-scale demo flight, including flying a competition square in the r/c competition box!
+910074:The first demo r/c flight, Steve McFall flying a Sceadu, with lots of low-and-exciting 3D aerobatics.
+910075:The Australian scale turbines fly -- the first having a blade tracking problem, the second bird was brought immediately to the line for an impressive flight!
+910076:Zach is just 11-years old, has been flying for just a year, and yet provided an exciting 3D demo. While it was a bit repetitive and ran long, for such a young pilot, it was an impressive flight indeed.
+910077:World-class competitor Alan Szabo Jr. demonstrated a 3-D turbine heli. While it's 3D doesn't look quite like what we're used to seeing from much lighter loaded e-, nitro- and gas-powered helis, it was an exciting flight none the less, including the slowest motion kaos!
+910078:Brian Simpson of Australia demonstrates his turbine speed machine!
+910079:Malorie Zastrow puts on a fun 3d-mixed demo with her Bergen Intrepid 90 glow.
+910080:Jeff Green of Hirobo brought a pair of their gorgeous gunships -- what you see is exactly how the bodies come! -- unfortunately, while this demo was billed as a 'formation' flight, there seemed to be little formation or choreography. However, the gunships are still gorgeous and impressive to watch!
+910081:A pair of highly modified electric hornets performed some really impressive 3D!
+910082:Team JR put 5 Ventures in the air for what they dubbed "venture madness". With little apparent choreography or coordination, numerous near misses and a my-main-blade-to-your-tail-blade "tick", madness is a great title! (My apologies for video quality here...in my effort to show what all 5 were doing, I'm afraid I've zoomed out so much you can't get a good feel for what any of them are doing much of the time. But you certainly do get the 'swarm' feeling I had watching it!)
+910083:Last, but certainly not least, video of Eric Lawson flying (a borrowed!) impressive Miniature Aircraft Ion X Electric!
!A Glimpse at Fun Flying
There were hundreds of helis in the air throughout the weekend. Here's a quick look at just a few of them...
+910084:An electric 3D flight.
+910085:Several different birds, including an impressive inverted auto.
+910086:Another look at Jeff Green's gunship in flight.
!Conclusion
This is a world-class event, the likes of which is unmatched in ANY other facet of this great airborne hobby! IRCHA is truly a worldwide funfly, with amazing demo flights, a few fun competitions, but mostly amazing commaraderie and a chance to see just about anything r/c heli fly.
<a href="http://www.rcgroups.com/4579">Be sure to visit E Zone for more indepth electrics coverage of IRCHA!</a>