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| Back to Home Page | Click here for contest pictures | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mulberry Fun Fly Report | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mulberry Fun Fly November 10-11 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Well they advertised 2 FUN filled days of Radio control Helicopter Flying and that just what we all received. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Twas about 5:00 AM Saturday morning and the alarm when off which was to be the beginning of a great day of R/C Helicopter FUN. After all necessary things were accomplished I packed my helicopter and headed to my friend Rolando Perez's house which was the designated meeting place. We met up with Hank King and packed all six (6) helicopters and associated equipment into Rolando's Chevrolet Suburban. Then it was off to the FUN FLY. We were all members of the Brandon Model Flyers Club which has approximately 40 helicopter flying members. Other members of the club were to meet us at the Imperial R/C Club in Mulberry, Florida. We had all talked about this contest for months and quite a few of us planned on attending this event. I believe more than a dozen pilots from our club entered the fun fly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| We arrived at Mulberry at approximately 8:30 to a flying site full of cars, campers and flying helicopters. We quickly unloaded our vehicle, claimed the last available table and installed Rolando's tent which provided protection from the HOT Florida sun. Yes, the temperature on both days started at about 57 degrees and ended up in the mid 70's. You guys from up north can eat you hearts out. By the way, we had several contestants from outside Florida. The weather was absolutely perfect both days. Not a cloud in the sky and the wind was almost not existent. The field was wide open with no trees or other objects nearby, East/West paved runway and the Florida Sun at our back - all the components of a great flying site. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| We quickly unpacked our heli's, registered for the Fun Fly and proceeded to fly. Mike Zellars the Contest Director held a pilots meeting and described the fun events for the day. P.S. They (the events) were optional and didn't start until after lunch. There were plenty of prizes for the contestants which were donated by various vendors and local Hobby Shops. An IRCHA representative was present and held a drawing for a Raptor 30 Helicopter to IRCHA members. Raffle tickets were also sold for another Raptor 30 kit complete with radio and accessories. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registration was handled efficiently by the clubs competent personnel. Yes, we had a mere 73 (Seventy-Three) contestants. As you looked down the flight line there was almost consistently eight (8) helicopters in the air at all times. We were fortunate to have contest and demonstration pilots such as Nob Muraki, Gary Wright, Cliff Haitt, Rolando Perez, Jason Krause, Chip Hyde, Todd Bennett and others whom all put on great demonstration flights. It was like watching a three ring circus with multiple pilots performing simultaneously. These 3D guys were doing maneuvers that I didn't even know existed. Nob Muraki and Cliff Haitt each gave excellent demonstrations of the FAI schedule of maneuvers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| I met and talked over old times with Ernie Huber. He currently has a R/C Helicopter Flight School for training where prospective pilots can receive personalized training. He said he was looking through some old photos and indicated that he would possibly share some of them for the FHA Website. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| One of the highlights and crowd favorite was the Thunder Tiger Raptor 30 DEMO Helicopter. The helicopter is sponsored (Helicopter Kit, Engine, Radio, Crash Repair Parts and Fuel) by Greg Cardone owner of Farmer's Hobby Shop in Tampa, Florida. There was a constant line of potential helicopter pilots waiting for their FREE DEMO FLIGHT. Thanks Greg, for you continued support. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| As the day went on the pilots interfaced with each other sharing setup information on their favorite helicopters. At the end of the second day demonstration pilots from Miniature Aircraft and others sat on the ground like they were having a Pow -Wow while Cliff Haitt shared some of his contest experiences with fellow modelers. I know everyone there had a Ton of Fun. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Great Job by Contest Director Mike Zellars - 4523 Hillman Ln. Lakeland, FL 33813 (863) 646-1086 email:[email protected] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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