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DavidH
03-16-2008, 10:14 PM
I really don't know where to start. 175 registered pilots total . We had 125 registered by 5PM on Friday. I thought with the weahter forecast for Saturday morning that we may get 2 or 3 more to register on Saturday. But the skies cleared around noon and 50 more pilots stepped up to register.
What a weekend, as for the weather, as usual we had a little bit of it all. LOL But still the flying was great Friday and Saturday from about noon on till dark each day. We had some pilots attend that had never been to the Ditch before. They said they would definitely be back. One of the highlights on my weekend was when Henry Caldwell headed up the giving of a Compass Knight electric 600 to Jeremy Harvey ( LithiumStatic). Henry gathered everything up , Heli with motor, Castle Creations ESC, GY 401 gyro, Flight Power battery and presented it at the noon pilot raffles, All that was needed to get the heli completed was some servos for the swash. Birmingham Helicopter Modelers along with Clint Akins ( Clintstone) came forward and provided 3 brand new Futaba 9252 servos for the heli. All we asked in return was that we see the heli fly on Sunday. Well Jeremy and Wayne Brown and couple of others worked on the heli. And Sunday morning about 10 AM we were all rewarded with seeing LithiumStatic fly the heli. Thanks to everyone that contributed to the most generous gift I have seen to someone in a while. Everyone involved really showed there true feelings towards a fellow modeler with the there heart.
Jeremy it was great to meet you in person. Your a true gentleman and your an inspiration and motivator for all of us.

Now also thanks to all the manufactuers and vendors that provided product for the pilot raffle. We gave away about $5-6 K in merchandise. 3 heli kits, engines, governors, fuel, batteries, t shirts, blades, tools.
I believe every registered pilot got something from the pilot raffle. So please let the manufactuers and vendors that donated to the raffle how much you appreciate it by supporting them.

I really appreciate every one of you that attended and enjoyed the event. We just provide the place and the time for the event. The pilots and people that attend it are what makes the event so special to me. Everyone was getting along and having a great time together and sharing lots of laughs. There was hardly a time that I walked the whole pit area that I did not hear someone just laughing and having a great time. Veteran pilots helping noobies get there helis set up and flying correctly. All of the comraderie that was taking place. This is one of the reasons I have kept having the event each year.
I really hope everyone that attended, had a great weekend like I did.
Well I could go on and on, but it is finally time for me to relax here at home for a couple of days. LOL
Thanks again to everyone that came to the event. Hope to see you again soon at another event.

David Harkey

oldskool
03-16-2008, 10:20 PM
Thank YOU, David!

This was my first event since getting back into the hobby and it was a doozey! Man it was great to see/meet some of the guys that you feel like you know so well already from here on HF. Seeing awesome flying from HC, Maxwell, Beast, Watts, and others was just a plus! I hardly flew all weekend because of having too much fun watching fabulous flying and spending all my $$$ at the vendor's tents.

Thanks again to everyone for a great event!

Jason

bb4532
03-16-2008, 10:26 PM
David as usually put on a great event. We really had missed seeing all our friends this winter and this was the perfect time to get to see everyone. We had a great time. Thanks again Dave.

SlowWhite
03-16-2008, 11:02 PM
My first time out and was everything I expected and more can't wait till next year.

lags376
03-16-2008, 11:32 PM
Thank you David and those who helped you put on a great fun fly.I had a blast.
A speacial thanks to B&B Hobbies for having a very particular part i needed and digging thru the "warehouse"(truck) to get me this part so i could fly.And Thanks to all the new people i met.

Kinger
03-17-2008, 08:19 AM
Thanks for hosting such a fantastic event David. This guy from Columbus, OH definitely enjoyed the spring weather in the South and it was a great way to kick off the 2008 flying season.

fr8brkr
03-17-2008, 08:36 AM
Many thanks David ! Looking forward to number 15 next year.

Billigan
03-17-2008, 10:02 AM
David, Thanks for hosting such a great event! Cindy & I had a blast.
Will & Bob....What can I say......Glad you made it home OK.
Dan...the "RIBS" were awesome!..beverage service A+!
Thanks to all who bought Shirts from us. (Heli Freak & Event shirts)
We are going to print some more "EVENT SHIRTS" Tomorrow!
If anyone wonts one they are going to be $18.00 ea./shipped
Please PM me ASAP if you won't one.

Were already working on the art for Hodges Hobbies Spring Heli Event shirts.
Hope to see everyone there!
.

Carey
03-17-2008, 10:11 AM
I just wanted to say thanks again for the best event I have been to yet. It was worth more than the 15 hour drive each way. Hell some guy came from eastern Europe for the fun!

Going to ask my local field boss about a small ditch. :)

Thanks to MinAir, TT, and the other teams that were there. It really was a real kick in the pants watching all these high end guys lay it down!!

Gimbal Lock
03-17-2008, 10:57 AM
Big thanks to DavidH and all the sponsors for an absolutely kickass event.
Off the hook flying, good friends and all kinds of vendors made for a great time.


having that md500 newschopper stop by was a very nice addition, whoever set that up deserves a special thanks.

This was my first time to Bham, it really is a can't-miss deal!

cbergen
03-17-2008, 09:19 PM
The reason that I attend each year is the hospitality and friendship from all others who attend.

I show up late on Friday night, within 5 minutes people are pushing some awesome Steak strips at me, there's Ribs from the "Dawg", there's wings being cooked over here, introductions all around to the new guys and getting acquainted with old buddies all over again.

It's good to get away from the cold Michigan weather for Harkey's funfly, but the truth is I get a bigger kick out of hangin' with you guys.

I completely missed the buildup for Jeremy, but it does not surprise me in the least. This crowd, The Helifreak crowd, is one of the best for doing exactly that sort of thing. Excellent job.

Thanks David, another one to remember for a long time to come.

WayneBrown
03-17-2008, 09:45 PM
Rodney and the Compass/Infina Models crew kicked butt getting that heli ready for Jeremy. Greg Alderman and Charley Stevens soldered the battery and electronics up as my wimpy travelling soldering iron wasn't up to the 12 guage leads.
Special thanks go out to Dave Mathewson, our new AMA president for offering Jeremy a 90 day membership free of charge; However what Jeremy got was a full year Fedex'ed priority overnight in time for the event!
If any of you that attended feel that the AMA should have a fee waiver or discount to help folks with a disability, Please email your district VP before the 19th of this month to get it on the agenda for the next Executive council meeting. (Tony Stillman of District 5 has already commited)
The majority of folks I talked with over the weekend felt it should already be in place, here's your chance to help folks on a limited income and disability to participate in our sport.
I was moved and honored to have Jeremy as my guest, and look forward to many more events in his company!
David, thank you for the hospitality and one chaotic weekend! Many props go to all the folks that fed Jeremy and I as well.
While I declined to take from the pilots raffle, I got one hell of a gift in a new running partner.

gmohr
03-17-2008, 10:12 PM
KUDOS to David!. This was my first Birmingham event and I was blown away. It definitely will not be my last.
Jeremy is an amazing pilot. I had the pleasure of spotting him on Saturday while he flew his mini Titan. I
only hope that I can one day fly as well as he does. To those who donated the Knight and the pieces to
complete it karma is coming your way.

Here is a link showing Jeremy receiving the Knight from MR. H to the C himself, as well as the "Love". One of
David presenting Jeremy with a HeliFreak Cap.

http://helifreak.com/showpost.php?p=593104&postcount=307

LITHIUMSTATIC
03-17-2008, 11:49 PM
Sorry I've not been able to get on here until now, I'm still a bit wiped out over the long drive.

Henry Caldwell.... THANK YOU sir for the wonderful helicopter, gathering all the parts and saying such nice things about me during the presentation. That really meant a lot to me.

Thank you Rodney at www.infinamodels.com (http://www.infinamodels.com/) and Compass Helicopters for the Knight 3D Electric!! It's beautiful and flies like a dream.

Flightpower... Thank you for the Evolite 8s 4270!!

Thank you Birmingham Helicopter Modelers along with Clint Akins (clintstone) for providing the 3 brand new Futaba 9252 servos for the heli.

Castle Creations... Thank you for the HV-85 ESC!!

A big thank you to all the guys that assembled the Compass Knight 3D Electric so I could fly it Sunday!!! You guys are awesome!:thumbup:

Dan (Debian Dog) for the best ribs I've ever ate in my life!! :)

Wayne Brown for being a great friend and making everything fall into place so I could attend this event and have a great time. Dude you rock!!!:noteworthy

Thank you Dave Mathewson for the AMA membership!!

Charley Stephens... Thank you for the two new 3s 2100 Outrage Lipos and Rhino Pinions!!!

Greg Alderman... Thank you for staying up late to solder my heli.

Bill (fr8brkr) with Erickson Flight Skool for letting me fly his chopper

Thank you Will James and all the Heli Freak crew for making me feel so welcomed. You guys are awesome!

Last but not least, David Harky thank you for a AWESOME event so we can all come together and enjoy this great hobby!! I can't wait until next year!:clappp

LITHIUMSTATIC
03-18-2008, 04:01 PM
:thumbup:

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc183/lithiumstatic/Knight600EPost.jpg

fr8brkr
03-19-2008, 09:11 AM
Thats one fine looking helicopter Jeremy ! The Erickson Flight Skool was honored to have you fly one of its flagships !! I will never forget the look on your face Sunday morning after your maiden flight with your Knight !! Priceless.
Safe flying,
Bill

LITHIUMSTATIC
03-20-2008, 11:42 PM
I will never forget the look on your face Sunday morning after your maiden flight with your Knight !! Priceless.
Safe flying,
Bill

Yea I think I was a little more than entranced. :YeaBaby: