DIY Network

RC HobbyVisions: "Totally Outrageus Challenge" Flight Demo From "Special Presentation" episode DHBV-S

Figure A

In this DIY 1-hour special Chris Chianelli, host of DIY Radio Control Hobbies, attends the HobbyVisions® Hobby and Toy Show in Las Vegas and gets a first-hand look at some of the latest products and developments from the world of radio-controlled models. RC models in every genre are on display at HobbyVisions, including practically every scale and variety of flying machine imaginable -- from planes to helicopters to turbine-powered jets (figure A).

In this segment, Chris goes to the nearby William Bennett Field for the to check out some of the high-flying action at the highly anticipated RC flight demo known as TOC -- the "Totally Outrageous Challenge." This demonstration, hosted by the Las Vegas RC Club, not only brings together some of the top manufacturers of RC aircraft, but also some of the world's top RC pilots.

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One of the most exciting flight demonstrations of the day features a fast-growing segment in RC flying known as 3D aerobatics. Large-scale RC aircraft are controlled by advanced pilots and made to do things that "planes were never supposed to do" such as inverted stalls and stationary hovers (figures B and C).

Figure B

Figure C

Chip Hyde (figures D and E), one of the best RC pilots in the world, makes these feats look easy. Chip started flying model planes when he was four years old and has won the U.S. National Championship twelve times in four different categories, including the especially challenging helicopter category. He competed in his first national championship at age five and had his first win at age ten.

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

RC helicopters are another sophisticated genre of radio-controlled aircraft. Allen Szabo is only 17 years old but has won just about every national and world helicopter-flying title there is. With a skilled operator like this, these aerodynamically correct replicas are capable of maneuvers and stunts that bewilder onlookers and appear to defy the laws of physics -- such as the low-altitude inverted hover (figure F) and pirouetting flips.

Figure G

At the end of the day at the Totally Outrageous Challenge, you may think you've seen it all. You haven't. The Killer Bees are an RC club whose members (figure G) fly large-scale RC planes that they specialize in crashing into each other.

Each plane is outfitted with a 30-foot trailing streamer. The objective for each pilots is for his plane to do battle in attempt to cut of his opponent's streamers while retaining his own. The plane that still has its streamer when all the others are gone is the winner. And when these planes crash in mid-air and at high speeds, it's just -- well -- part of the contest. When possible, the pilots pick up the pieces and put them back together to fly another day. One of the Bees estimates that for every three intact planes he brings to one of these competitions, he may take home one.