2005 Los Angeles Hobby Show

[John Kim]

I attended International Hobby Show held in Los Angeles over the weekend.

The biggest exhibitor was Kyosho, followed by Horizon Hobby, GWS, Cermark, Hitec, Airtronics, JR. Missing were two major mail order houses, Hobby People and Tower Hobby and Futaba.

No high performance glider and electro sellers showed up. Major disappointment. RC-Direct had a booth but Opus was not exhibited. It is out of stock now. More than a half of exhibits were occupied by car and train. There were a few helicopter exhibits. No swap meet either.

Pres. Lin of GWS (pink transmitters for girls .... remember?) welcomed me to his booth and we took a picture together.

My biggest harvest from the Show was seeing the first spread spectrum radio for airplane from Horizon Hobby, which made its first debut. For detail of this radio, please see my article posted under Radio sub-forum.
Web page: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430166#post4488336

[GWS4CEO]

Dear John, it's my pleasure to have this chance to met you during 2005 iHobby at GWS booth.

You are welcome anytime to see GWS USA if your time is avalible. :)

[John Kim]

GWS CEO Lin,

Thank you for your kind invitation. You are most generous.
The success of GWS you achieved in such a short time is a surprise to me.
You have successfully exploited niche market with advent of small electric foam park flyers. GWS is now a dominant marketer in the field.
Many congratulations.

[GWS4CEO]

Thanks for your support. :)

GWS will keep going on the next stage for brushless motors and ESC to be very affordable.

More better airplanes to come. :)

We keep listen to you. The sucess of GWS is belongs to all of you, not just ourselves. ;)

[John Kim]

Mr. Lin, GWS,

You have a very good business sense. The next area GWS should exploit is brushless motor and ESC (and Li Po batteries).
I think they are overpriced and out of reach for average guys.
If you bring out a line of products more affordable, I am sure it will make a hit.

[GWS4CEO]

Formosa-II take off weight about 0.7~0.8Kg. :)

The slope glider version GWS Formosa-II without power system will cost only $43.75 in USA. ( May be less expensive among Asia countries )

$68 for come with EPSD350C power system for 3 cells Li-po at about 1.2kg thrust.

$80 for come with EPS400BL power system for 4 cells Li-po at about 1.6Kg thrust.

$85 for come with EPS480BL power system for 4 cells Li-po at about 2+Kg thrust.

Formosa series will continiously make more bigger size models for F3A and TOC trainning purpose at very affordable cost for RC flyers who wish to go heading on F3A hard practices at minimun cost. :cool:

I hope some day GWS can make full size Formosa for real pilots. :cool:

[Steph280]

TOC size foamie! That would be impressive!

[John Kim]

林社長,

Full scale Formosa for real pilots in foam? You must be dreaming. What happen to the real pilot if the foam wing breaks? You will need a big liability insurance.

Did you see the mishap to A380 Airbus during its maiden flight, posted by xeviousclub? Structural failure will be a problem with such a giant foam plane.

[Steph280]

Actually after seeing what's available now a days, I would say anything is possible.

Just couple years ago who would of thought foamie planes can look so nice and fly so well? If anybody knows foamie it would be Mr. Lin. Of course I would not want to sit in one though. :)

[John Kim]

Mr. Lin, if he really means it, had better collect much data from the builder of the giant A380 Airbus in Korea.

Is he going to sell it or ride it himself using it as his private jet? :D