by Robert Vess | Aug 5, 2015 | Pylon Racing
Now that the smoke has cleared and I’ve recovered from my trip to the AMA Pylon National Championships held during the week of July 10-16 at the International Aeromodelling Center in Muncie, IN, I can think back about all the great action and present my account. While this “week of speed” included Club 40 (for the first time!) and AMA 424 classes, I didn’t arrive until they were completed. I trust that they will be covered elsewhere. But I was present for the rest of the week and personally joined the battle in the AMA 426 (Super Sport Quickee) and AMA 422 (Q40) classes. And I also enjoyed the intense action of the yet unofficial EF-1 class that ran during our airframe safety inspection day on the first Sunday, July 12. EF-1 is the newest racing class that has been introduced by the pylon special interest group, NMPRA, in an effort to get more people interested in competitive racing. It’s the only class to feature electric-power using stock hardware and thus eases the perceived need to be an “engine guru” to be competitive. There are also quite a number of cool and fast ARF’s available to get one involved with minimal effort. The final results after the six round event are presented here. And be sure to check out the fantastic photos from this and all the racing classes on the AMA Pylon NATS Flickr page. Congrats go out to Texan Jerry Small who is the 2015 EF-1 National Champion flying his co-designed (with Dan Kane) “Estrellita”. These two are also main players in the creation and development of the EF-1 class! And I’m...
by Robert Vess | Jun 16, 2015 | RC Jets
On May 20-24, 2015, the Wilson Industrial Air Center in Wilson, NC became one of the busiest airports in the country. RC jet enthusiasts from across the country descended upon this airport to fly off it’s huge main runway and over the wide open expanse of obstacle-free property that once served as a military training base. Event organizers Larry Lewis (CD) and myself once again worked with very supportive city/airport officials and a crack team of hard working volunteers to plan and execute this well orchestrated jet fly-in. The photo to the left shows the perfect layout that the venue promotes. The wide, center taxiway stretching from the FBO to the runway was flanked with pilot tents and their aircraft lined the edges of the pavement so that the public could stroll by and examine them up close. A barrier fence kept non-pilots a safe distance from startup area and flight line but bleachers positioned at show center kept them up front with an unobstructed view of the action. This was most appreciated by our guests whom we introduced to our awesome hobby with professionalism and flair. Jeff Stubbs’ complete video from which the image was taken can be found by clicking this link. The weather was beautiful and the pilots kept the six flight stations busy for nearly the entire five days. The number and variety of jets was stunning as was the skill that was demonstrated in their flight. The equipment and airframes have evolved to a level that promotes frequent, safe operation of these high performance aircraft. And this adds up to many, many trouble-free and impressive flights. It also turns the event into an “airshow” for the crowd who, frankly, were...
by Robert Vess | May 13, 2015 | RC Jets
May is a busy month for big RC events and one more to add to the list is the fantastic “First in Flight” RC Jet Rally in Wilson, NC. This large and exciting event draws pilots from across the country to the Wilson Industrial Air Center, which has gained the reputation for being a remarkable venue for such a gathering. Jets are flown from the 4500 x 150 foot main runway over the expansive airport grounds that almost makes it a dream experience for the participants. With full support of the City of Wilson and the airport management, event organizers Larry Lewis and myself are given “carte blanche” to make it a safe and memorable event for pilots and spectators alike! We are expecting over 100 pilots again this year and with 300 or more jets in one place you can count on non-stop flying action. We are also looking forward to hosting our AMA Executive Director Dave Matthewson and District IV VP Jay Marsh as our special guests. You can count on some post-event coverage here in the near...
by Robert Vess | Apr 21, 2015 | Pylon Racing
Liberty, NC will soon become “the place” for pylon racing in the country as Mike Langlois’ vision of the perfect racing site is realized on his new property there. Construction is quickly progressing on this fantastic facility that will be complete with a large paved runway, race start pad, fully reversible course setup, judge stations, and many other amenities that will make this one remarkable place for RC racing. Mike and CD Jim Katz have also secured the bid to host the huge 2015 NMPRA Championship Race as the inaugural event at the course later this Fall. You can find out more about racing with this NC group at their “Old Julian Airport” website. ...
