Vegas Funfly Report

[EricLarson]

Hi all,

Well the helifreak crew was represented in Las Vegas pretty darn well. Chris Bergen has some pictures they will post that we took of the crew.

The weather Thurs and Fri was great. Sat sucked with 15mph winds gusting to like 25mph.

Matt Boto's was flying very well and had a great weekend. All of the Bergen crew flew the heck out of the turbines even on the windy ass day! I am always very impressed with how they are making those turbines work. They are a great bunch of guys and they just don't fireup their machines at events to hear them run...... THEY FLY THE CRAP OUT OF THEM!! Nick from Florida had some good flights in also. We saw Bert and the crew at the field and had a great time out in the evening including some electric heli flying inside of our hotel..... I flew a bit over a gallon but had a mishap on Sat. I was backward downwind and pulled up for a wall to enter a hurricane and forgot the blades extended past the canopy :) Oh well it was a good crash with fairly minor damage. I was due! The best thing out of it was that the Radix blades lost NO parts. The blades hit in full idle up at 1900 rpm and the lead was the only thing still attached to the last 6 inches or so. I am sure there will be some pics but that is a huge safety improvement when the heavy parts of the blades stay attached in a crash.

Well I also have to give props to the video's and quality of those video's that Mark Ryder took. We may have our disagreements on some policies but since things have been laid on the table and we know where each other stands, I do understand his positions and respect that it is his business to run. The quality of the video's are very impressive and and I do thank him for putting video's up of all of the flying from the weekend for those who could not make it.

We all had a great time at the event and Vegas is one FF that I sure plan to return to.

[ATLProfessor]

Awsome....sounds like everyone had a great time. :D

[ChrisLaFollette]

and forgot the blades extended past the canopy :)

:lol:

[Shortman]

Just got back this morning at about 2am. Awesome fun fly. The level of flying was so high I can't even compare it to anything I've seen before. You would look down the runway and see 4 helicopters piro flipping 5 feet off the deck. Made you real humble, thats for sure :).

[Kinger]

Eric - The vid Mark posted of your flight was absolutely fantastic. Same with Pete's..... Wish he could have done that for Curtis as well since he's always fun to watch.

I know what you mean about the level of flying Shortman. When I attended my first FF I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by what some guys were capable of with their machines and this was 4 years ago. Now it's even more amazing because so many people are now capable at the sticks. Just makes you work harder to keep up with the Joneses so to speak :)

[00boto]

Awesome Vegas report Eric!
I had a great time in Las Vegas! Eric had some outstanding flights as well as Bert Kammerer, and Nick Defelici!! Can't wait to see the rest of the videos, there were about three or four cameras shooting video on the flight line all day!
It was very nice meeting some of the west coast pilots, I hope to see you all again very soon!

Matt

[cbergen]

Eric and Matt certainly showed the guys out west what Smackdown REALLY means!! Eric says Matt doesn't like flying in the wind, but you wouldn't have guessed that by the serious hurtin' he was puttin' on the Stratus :noteworthy

Fast Lad from UK put on a spectacular showing as well. He'll be tough to beat at 3D Masters.

We certainly had fun with the Turbines, Power and stability, with the added weight (17 Lbs ready to fly), makes 'em fairly easy to fly in the wind. I don't know how you guys do it with the 9.5 lb lightweights :wink:

Fun, Friendship, and Respect, just like it says at the top, A lot of fun was had by all.

[EricLarson]

I am waiting for the guys to post the video's of Matt's flying. He had some seriously aggressive flights that looked very good and will look so awsome with that background.

Mark has a serious camera. Considering he is not a pro camera guy, he did a good job with it. I am sure he will continue to improve and those video's look damn nice.

Anyway, great event and I had a great time.

[SteveL]

Eric I saw the one of your flight and all I can say is wow. That was some seriously aggresive flying.
Looked great.

[3D-DUDE]

Last week was a wake up call! It was nice to meet everyone at the funfly and talking to a great bunch of guys! A big hand goes to all who helped put this together! It was great to see alsome pilots one after another! I will never be the same! Going to check my notes and buy faster servos, better blades,better motors and spend more time flying and less time BSing! Hope everyone can make it to Sunny San Diego second annual "Helis Buzzin The Border" Fun Fly
September 15th 16th and 17th.

Doug Rubin

FLY IT LIKE THE SIMULATOR!

[helibird]

What a great FF!! It was a little too windy for my rookie flying but I was blown away with how the "pros" were flying! I shouldn't go to these things, everytime I think I'm doing ok with my flying I go there and realize how much I have to learn.

Eric that's some of the best flying I've ever seen! I gotta give you some props for how you handled your wreck. No *****ing about the wind or anything, you simply said "I was a little early on my collective."

Also I'd say that MA was very well represented, Eric seemed to be up flying all the time and Matt Botos threw out some excellent flights. I saw Matt do an auto that was incredible, he came straight down and I swear I could see the individual blades the whole way down, thought for sure he wouldn't have enough at the bottom. I wasn't there the whole time (later Friday-4:30 on Saturday) but I only saw Alan go up once and that was his wreck. MA and Avant seemed to be represented much better.

That Bert from the UK was incredible! Is he a TT rep? If he isn't he should be!!

Thanks for all those that came out and to Rockie for putting on a great event. Maybe next year will be better weather!

I missed the Mid-air by 15 minutes! :arggg: :arggg: I was told it was quite impressive.

[Bert Kammerer]

The guy from the UK is Steven Gerrard, not Bert. I wish Bert had the same skills :D

I had an excellent time in Vegas. Matt was "killing the Stratus" like I say. His flights on Saturday were absolutely awesome. Eric also showed impressive skill and control with a very aggressive routine in 30 Mph winds.

Unfortunately we left my tool bag at the field Sunday and didn't notice until it was time to disassemble the helis at the hotel to pack them and go to the airport. This caused us to loose our flight since we didn't have enough time to buy tools. It was actually good in a way though as we had an opportunity to go back again to the field Monday and do some more Vegas flying :D When we got to the field on Monday, a nice guy showed up with our tool bag. He had found it and saved it for us. I don't remember his name, but I want to thank him for such a nice gesture. It is awesome to know that our heli community is comprised of really good and honest people!

Bert

[Buckey]

WOO WOO WOOO

I got back in about 2am this morning.. I am WORE out.. :)

Was great to see everyone out there this weekend and YES these guys certainly DID lay some Smack on the Buffet Bar of Vegas!! Great flying guys!! and can't wait to see you at the next one!!!!

Bob...

Ohhh and I'm mad... Would have loved to have known who you were Bert!! :)

[stevengerrard]

hi Eric awsome flying at the weekend .

also Matt Botos was flying awsome and was a cool person ...

i had a great time in Las Vagas and used alot of fuel..

helibird..
i aint a TT rep..

thanks to everyone invloved in organising the event and for looking after us Brits.. :D :D


Steven Gerrard

[Buckey]

Dern Brits!! :)

At least you kept Chris in line!!! And we thank you for that Steve!! :)

Bob...

[Adam Turner]

Hay Steve and Chris,
Glad you enjoyed yourselfs, I will catch up with you guys at Charmouth FF.
Next time I will see if I can come along with you guys.

You thinking of going to the IRCHA jamboree? Im definatly going to that.

Adam

[00boto]

Steven,

Nice flying yourself! You were letting that raptor have the beating of a lifetime!
Hope to see you at other US events this year!

Matt