Roger_15
08-04-2008, 10:25 AM
Ever since my “rediscovery” of helicopters, isolation, second only to elation, is what I have felt up until yesterday. My unsuccessful search for comraderie left me with the feeling that I had made a big mistake purchasing the Blade 400. If it weren’t for the excitement, even fear at times, of the whirling blades and the pure beauty of the mechanics of the bird I would have dumped the beast. A real honest-to-goodness love and hate relationship.
To make matters worse, the documentation that accompanies the 400 is sorely lacking in repair and setup information; even the web site is useless in this kind of help. It reminds me of the sixties and seventies when the general method of teaching a kid to swim was a good toss in the pool and a hardy shout, “SINK OR SWIM KID,” were the total extent of instruction. If it were not for the lifeguards of the heli world, Helifreak.com, I would have drowned weeks ago. Of course, we can’t forget Sokal when we talk about the lifeguards of Helifreak, he is our own down and dirty, speedo-wearing lifesaver.:P
Three days ago on the Internet, I can’t even tell you how I found them, I ran across a new club in my area. No more than twenty-three miles from me is a heli-only RC club. HALLELUJAH! PAY DIRT! PARTY TIME! And to top it all off, they were hosting a fun-fly that very next Sunday. How much better could it get…well, they could have been next-door but I’ll take it.:YeaBaby:
I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say it turned out to be the best possible heli field that I could imagine. It is huge, and there is even another smaller field where, I am told, I can fly some of my foam planks. I only have one really that I still love to fly, the Yak 55 by Hobby Lobby that is an absolute ball to fly. At sixteen bucks apiece, I have two more in waiting for the first one’s demise.
There were literally dozens of helis of all shapes and sizes and the talent to match. My son, Joey, and I gaped with open mouths like a couple of kids that somehow snuck into the academy awards show, only the stars were mechanical flying machines instead of pompous ever-smiling people. We did have one star that was human, and that was the one and only five-year-old Justin Chi, I had unknowingly parked beside them. Wow is all I can say.
If you don’t know who Justin Chi is, here is a good start:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PPKIBSaJkA
All the people were very helpful and the overall mood was typical of people doing what they love. Even the crashes (some were very expensive helis) were met with consolation and then humor. My son brought along his CX2 and when he broke a blade, a fellow pilot offered up a set of blades for him and would not except any money from me. And I was worried that some might make fun of his little chopper! Even Justin Chi helped him at one point.
The one thing I regret is that I didn’t take many pictures. I was just too busy flying and “finally” having the chance to make friends with real heli people. What a day.
Thank for reading.
Roger.
Edie: I was informed that I didn't give the info about the club, Sorry.
The club web site is: http://www.nehelicrew.com/
And it is located in Mansfield, MA
To make matters worse, the documentation that accompanies the 400 is sorely lacking in repair and setup information; even the web site is useless in this kind of help. It reminds me of the sixties and seventies when the general method of teaching a kid to swim was a good toss in the pool and a hardy shout, “SINK OR SWIM KID,” were the total extent of instruction. If it were not for the lifeguards of the heli world, Helifreak.com, I would have drowned weeks ago. Of course, we can’t forget Sokal when we talk about the lifeguards of Helifreak, he is our own down and dirty, speedo-wearing lifesaver.:P
Three days ago on the Internet, I can’t even tell you how I found them, I ran across a new club in my area. No more than twenty-three miles from me is a heli-only RC club. HALLELUJAH! PAY DIRT! PARTY TIME! And to top it all off, they were hosting a fun-fly that very next Sunday. How much better could it get…well, they could have been next-door but I’ll take it.:YeaBaby:
I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say it turned out to be the best possible heli field that I could imagine. It is huge, and there is even another smaller field where, I am told, I can fly some of my foam planks. I only have one really that I still love to fly, the Yak 55 by Hobby Lobby that is an absolute ball to fly. At sixteen bucks apiece, I have two more in waiting for the first one’s demise.
There were literally dozens of helis of all shapes and sizes and the talent to match. My son, Joey, and I gaped with open mouths like a couple of kids that somehow snuck into the academy awards show, only the stars were mechanical flying machines instead of pompous ever-smiling people. We did have one star that was human, and that was the one and only five-year-old Justin Chi, I had unknowingly parked beside them. Wow is all I can say.
If you don’t know who Justin Chi is, here is a good start:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PPKIBSaJkA
All the people were very helpful and the overall mood was typical of people doing what they love. Even the crashes (some were very expensive helis) were met with consolation and then humor. My son brought along his CX2 and when he broke a blade, a fellow pilot offered up a set of blades for him and would not except any money from me. And I was worried that some might make fun of his little chopper! Even Justin Chi helped him at one point.
The one thing I regret is that I didn’t take many pictures. I was just too busy flying and “finally” having the chance to make friends with real heli people. What a day.
Thank for reading.
Roger.
Edie: I was informed that I didn't give the info about the club, Sorry.
The club web site is: http://www.nehelicrew.com/
And it is located in Mansfield, MA