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  Helicopter Contest Clinic 2002

   This past weekend marked the third time that the Seminole R/C Club has hosted the Helicopter Contest Clinic.  The clinic has been held three of the past four years as we skipped the second year due to a conflict in scheduling with several other events during the same time period.
   The event is not advertised as a "Fun Fly", but rather as a "Contest Clinic".  The purpose of the clinic is to provide hands-on help to anyone interested in r/c helicopters and competition.  All pilots are promised help with basic to advanced model setup, programming of radio and other electronic equipment, demonstration of all AMA and FAI contest maneuvers, and coaching.
   Nineteen pilots registered at this year's event although there was probably that many more people who came out to observe, ask questions, and enjoy the beautiful weather.  We had pilots from Tampa, Orlando, Birmingham, Atlanta, Jackson (MS), and Tallahassee.
   Two of the top Scale pilots in the country had indicated that they planned to attend, but at the last minute both had to cancel.  Peter Wales, who won the Helicopter class at Top Gun last year had planned to come and show of his new turbine helicopter.  Mike Robbins planned to show his ML-24.  Unfortunately, both ran into some last minute con

concessions.  We had great hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and sodas on both Saturday and Sunday.
   While the attendance wasn't quite as good as we had hoped, it was certainly an unqualified success as noted by the following quotes taken from email messages received from a two of the pilots who attended the event.  "You couldn't buy the kind of advice that I got.  The contest scene needs a shot in the arm and this has to be one of the best."  "Anyone who didn't get all the flying in that they could stand just didn't want to fly because it was a beautiful heli flying day.  Lots of wrenching and tuning all day and seems everyone was flying and testing --it was a very productive day."
   Thanks also go to those members of the SRCC who gave up use of the field for a weekend in support of this event.  You can be assured that those who attended the clinic recognized that the event could not have been held without your unselfish support and cooperation.

flicts and problems with their models that must be worked out before this year's Top Gun competition next weekend (April 23-28).
   Our event actually started late Friday afternoon with the arrival of several pilots who enjoyed the late afternoon calm and burned several gallons of fuel before dark.  A group of about ten then adjourned to Mori's Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar for dinner.  Eating Sushi on Friday or Saturday evening during a contest weekend is a long-standing tradition among a large group of heli pilots.
   Saturday brought beautiful weather and the pilots showed up and started flying around 8:00 am.  There was lots of wrenching on models and burning fuel all day Saturday until we closed the field around 6:30 p.m. and headed for Marie's Texas Steakhouse for dinner.
   Sunday was more of the same - wrenching on models, doing radio setups, flying contest maneuvers, etc.  However, before the day was over, the competition bug hit and we held an impromptu FAI contest.  We decided to have the five FAI pilots fly one round of the new FAI Schedule.  Our own Gordie Meade placed first and took the big money ($10).  Four of us agreed to judge and decided to put $5 each in the pot.  First place was worth $10, with Second and Third places worth $5.
   The event closed down about 3:30 p.m. as the out-of-town guys began to pack up and head for home.
   A big thanks is due to James, John, and Paul for handling the