It's September 2010 with the Phoenix

As the “Leedies” were not engaged with ball games at ETSA Park on the night of our latest Indoor Flying, we were able to fly from 7.45 p.m. thanks to Adam, the duty manager of the stadium, who gave the ok to start unloading and rigging models. It suited the Phoenix as the Angaston Annual Show Society representatives had arrived early to view my “now infamous” Roadtrain which has been booked for their show in February. They returned to Angaston apparently quite contented with their viewing on the night.

With the onslaught of the combat helicopters, the FHX and MH-35 Heli's, which were released to the public on that night, my first picture is of the delightful little machine, the first change one notices from other Micro contra-rotating blade setups, being what appeared to be a back-to-front exhaust box sticking out the front of the machine. In actuality, that is the “machine gun.” In some of the pictures you will also notice two orange buttons on the underside of the transmitter, which operate the guns.

Brenton & Jamie Concentrating

Model Flight’s Managing Director, Michael O’Reilly had envisaged up to a dozen combatants in the air at one time and, after their first official outing, this seems well within the realms of possibility, when eight of them flew together on this first occasion. I had the enormous pleasure of joining 7 Model Flight Staffers in combat and whilst the mass battle continued, few other fliers were in action as most interest was in the little micro copters spinning whenever a “direct hit” was registered against it. Brenton and Jamie are seen in heavy concentration during one of their “battles.”

Klaus and Jenny arrive

I found it quite easy to snap Jenni and Klaus Rudloff (that’s Jenni on the left without the beard) when they arrived at the stadium. Under their normal clothes, they were wearing suits of armour for they had come prepared to do battle with the enemy, eagerly displaying their red or blue light to identify them as either friend or foe. If you look at the photo of Brenton, with his barely visible combat model, you can plainly see the orange firing buttons on the transmitter, which is included in the fascinating kit. These little models brought a new life to and a new interest in, our indoor flying movement in Adelaide. Retailing at just $169 it is a cheap method of having a great night’s entertainment.

An interesting young 16-year-old is Matthew Chapple who is shown demonstrating a tail stand with his foamie. Matthew is a certificated full-size pilot but another outstanding feature of this pleasant-mannered young gentleman is that he and his dad, Trevor, drove down from Waikerie, especially for our indoor evening. Matthew flew for most of our two hour flying period which, I might add, costs ten dollars, then he and Trevor got back in their car and drove the 2-hour journey back home again. The four-hour combined trip displays the enthusiasm of two people to take part in another two hours that is spent at the ETSA Park Netball Stadium on Railway Terrace, Mile End on the third Thursday of each month. Our official flying hours are normally from 8.30p.m. to 10.30p.m. but, as shown on this occasion, we are often granted a generous start by the Manager on duty.

Finally, dear friends, I must mention the quite large, spidery contraption that Peter brought with him. I say spidery for it did remind me of “Spiderman” climbing up a tall building with arms and legs outstretched. The difference in this piece of fascinating machinery is that three E-Flite electric brushless motors are mounted on the end of each arm, which, in fact, began life as the tail booms of model helicopters. This is a Tri-copter and to say that it rises in ultra-steady flight in Peter’s hands, would be an understatement. I did take a couple or more shots of this model in flight but its absolute “stelth” appearance made the images quite useless to use in this epistle. You may recall seeing Peter’s delightful r/c rocket which rose from a vertical tail stand, leveled out, did a few circuits and then slowly and gracefully lowered back onto the tail for landing. This tri-copter joins Peter’s collection of “amazing machines.” There is another on the building board but you will have to keep your eye on the Phoenix columns to hear of it.