Flying radio control helicopters is a worldwide phenomenon and with the UK FIA team jetting off to the US in a few weeks time to do battle at the World Championships, there can be no better time to take at peek at what’s happening in the world of RC helicopters across the pond.
Most of this info was gleaned from the pages of Runryder (http://runryder.com), which is the place to go for all news relating to remote control helicopters in the USA and Canada. At first glance it is very in your face – crowded out with banners and club ads - but this simply reflects the US attitude towards RC helicopters in general.
In America, flying RC helicopters isn’t a hobby – it’s a cult religion. The good news is, it’s a very friendly cult to belong to.
Just as in the UK, clubs revolve around their social events – it’s just that there’s a lot more of them and everyone is invited. From micro electric helicopters to Turbo Giant 950 RCs - the Runryder pages are crammed with fly-ins and ‘friendlies’ from Arkansas to Wyoming. Serious competitions are scattered throughout, but they’re never allowed to get in the way of the fun.
Let’s see what we have for the coming month…
Well, on May Day we can head across the border for the Western Canadian kick-off event at Saskatoon - otherwise known as SHAG 09. So far, so British. But in Kennett Missouri there’s a boot heel heli funfly on the 2nd, with particular emphasis on the fish fry supper and barbecue.
May 9th sees the Cini Heli Smackdown, which sounds like a good ‘ol boys knees-up, until you discover that it is, in fact, a rather sedate “heli clinic” in Cincinnati.
May 15th is “all about helis … and having FUN” in Havelock, MD. This is a family fun weekend, using RC helicopters in ways you never thought possible. Like the Chew - Whistle - Limbo – Land event, which involves chewing a peanut butter cracker, giving a whistle and limbo-pole flying … among other things.
And that’s just the first fortnight.
I’d like to say the US is just the same as the UK when it comes to electric helicopters, but I’d be wrong. The best advice I can give is if you’re flying to the States this year, take your whirly bird along – you’ll be made welcome.