AMA magazine all planks...

[Keith C.]

Well I sent my money to the Academy of Model Aeronautics to join their organization (mostly for the 2.5M liability insurance) and I just got the first issue of their mag which I think I paid extra for I don't remember. Anyway I was kinda disappointed that 99.9% of it is airplanes. I think there's one heli in the middle somewhere and an advertisement on the inside back cover. I guess that's the way it is. No real point here, I was just surprised...

[dankcincy]

it is a little disappointing that all we get is pg.110.

[im4711]

I guess the majority of the members are plank related. Also if you check it out on the plank site - those are different types. So glider pilots might complain similar to us or take the once flying jets ...
It is normal that each type of aircraft only gets a few pages - otherwise they would have to mail a larger book every time.
It is normal to get about 2-3 pages for heli's.

[wolfdown]

If they treated helis the same as planks, we would get at least 11 sections:

* nitros
* electrics
* HV electrics
* mico-electrics
* turbine
* FBL
* drag-racing
* quad rotors
* photography
* F3C
* Acrobatics/freestyle

[lazor 22]

Yep all we get is 2 pages, 1 or 2 ads that have pics of helis, and maybe a picture or 2 of a heli thrown into some planker fun fly write up.


There was a really good issue a few months ago. IRCHA write up, 3D Masters write up, and something else I forget, all in the same issue! Plus there was a heli night flying on the cover.

[dankcincy]

Originally Posted by lazor 22

Yep all we get is 2 pages, 1 or 2 ads that have pics of helis, and maybe a picture or 2 of a heli thrown into some planker fun fly write up.


There was a really good issue a few months ago. IRCHA write up, 3D Masters write up, and something else I forget, all in the same issue! Plus there was a heli night flying on the cover.

It was it was the december issue.

[Elios000]

there are a few issues on heli stuff just not as much
id like to know why IRCHA isnt at lest putting a quarterly mag like the parkflyer one
if they did id join IRCHA too

[JasonJ]

Unfortunately, while growing steadily, heli flyers are still in the vast minority. Plus, if you actually read the entire mag, you realize there isn't nearly as much to helicopters as there are to airplanes. We don't have to build frames, cover with monokote. We never had control line helicopters, there have never been pattern helicopters. We all love our helicopters and fly them with pride, but it's just a different animal, a niche segment of RC aircraft. I feel the helicopter section will grow larger over time, but will never be the size the airplane segment is. There are just too many different aspects of the airplane side of things.

[Volcano]

The magazine stinks, they dont even have real reviews, just ad copy.

[dankcincy]

Originally Posted by Elios000

there are a few issues on heli stuff just not as much
id like to know why IRCHA isnt at lest putting a quarterly mag like the parkflyer one
if they did id join IRCHA too

That is a good question. Maybe if more people joined they could afford to.

[laminarjack]

There was an issue recently that had a lot of helicopters in it, I think they covered IRCHA or something. Traditionally, it's a plank magazine but they do try to cover all aspects of the hobby, even control line and peanut scale indoor free flight, and we all know that people who participate in those disciplines are dangerously insane.

[lazor 22]

Originally Posted by Elios000

there are a few issues on heli stuff just not as much
id like to know why IRCHA isnt at lest putting a quarterly mag like the parkflyer one
if they did id join IRCHA too

+1 I want a IRCHA magazine.

[Stoats]

Btw, most of the articles are volunteer/member submitted so there's only the heli community to blame if there aren't more heli articles ... but don't let that stop a good rant.

[Mike2112]

Originally Posted by JasonJ

Plus, if you actually read the entire mag, you realize there isn't nearly as much to helicopters as there are to airplanes. We don't have to build frames, cover with monokote.... There are just too many different aspects of the airplane side of things.

I used to read their MAG years ago when I was heavy into planes. Then I got into helis cuz of lack of space. That said, MAN I just sat down after 3 strait weeks of building a new plane after almost 10 years away and I gotta say...It'll be years before I build and cover another plane!!!
My knuckles are burned, my hands are all glued with CA, my lungs are filled with saw dust, my dining room is a mess, and I kept stabbing my hand with that stupid razor...I'm sticking to helis! And no AMA Mag...only helifreak

[ErichF]

Originally Posted by JasonJ

there have never been pattern helicopters. We all love our helicopters and fly them with pride...

Ahh, but you've mistaken. There has been and still are "pattern" helicopters. What do you think FAI and AMA contest flying is all about? It's essentially pattern for helis. The JR Sylphide, Kyosho Caliber 90, and Hirobo Eagle IIIWC models can all be considered "Pattern" helis.

On topic, the heli crowd gets one or two dedicated issues per year, generally after IRCHA. Most of the disciplines covered in MA also get their star issue. To paraphrase what Jason said, it's a model AVIATION mag, not an RC Heli mag, so expect as much. There's a lot out there to cover in 12 issues a year.

[JurassicJet]

Frankly, what do you guys want??

An article about how to build another pod and boom (what most of us fly). *YAWN*
An article on setting up a head.
An article on FBL.
An article on a new battery.

I love my helis but I really enjoy the RC airplane (an airplane isn't a plank in my opinion, its just a stupid kid slang term) side of the hobby, especially the building part.

Maybe I shouldn't have had those beers before typing......oh well.

Oh, and every article i have ever read in ANY heli mag about a particular model of heli read more like a glorified ad than a true review.

Ok, whats in issue #2?

[Elios000]

If IRCHA would do a quarterly mag id like to see...
An article on FBL. namely id like to see some one do a review of the SK720 in detail and then what ever else is coming out new
An article on F3C
An article on Scale/ Scale builds for 450 to 700 size
An article on Giant Scale helis

[TheBum]

Originally Posted by Stoats

Btw, most of the articles are volunteer/member submitted so there's only the heli community to blame if there aren't more heli articles ... but don't let that stop a good rant.

This is the biggest reason. And it's not "most" as far as I know, it's "all". I don't think Mark Fadely gets paid for his column every month.

[lazor 22]

I'd write something but I wouldn't want to gotheough all the trouble just to get it rejected from the magazine.

[TheBum]

Originally Posted by lazor 22

I'd write something but I wouldn't want to gotheough all the trouble just to get it rejected from the magazine.

You'll never know until you try.