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Probably my favorite story from working on the E-flite Boeing 787 Dreamliner project happened during the Boeing licensing process.

We had submitted photos of the model for approval, and Boeing’s lawyers came back to us thinking we had sent them photos of the full-scale 787.

I got the pleasure of telling them, “Actually... those are our photos of the model.” 😂

I remember thinking, well, I guess our photography team just passed the ultimate scale-detail test!

Working through all the licensing, details and approvals with Boeing was a really interesting experience and something I’m glad I got to be a part of. There’s a lot more that goes into bringing a licensed airplane like this to market than most people ever see.

Now that the E-flite 787 is out there, I’m curious: How do you guys think we did? What’s your favorite detail on the airplane?

One of the coolest parts of my job is getting to help bring helicopter products like the Blade Bell 206 to life. As someone who was involved with this project from the beginning, it's been awesome to see the community's reaction now that it's in pilots' hands.

What I love most is that it delivers a scale experience that normally comes with a much bigger price tag. The Bell 206 looks incredible in the air, is approachable for a wide range of pilots, and doesn't require the investment or complexity that many scale heli projects demand.

I'm curious...what's your favorite part of the Bell 206?

🚁 The scale appearance? 🚁 The flight performance? 🚁 The value? 🚁 Something else?

And for the scale heli crowd: what do you think is the toughest helicopter to beat in this price range?

#BladeHelicopters #Bell206 #RCHeli #ScaleHeli #Rotorhead #HorizonHobby #RCPilot

After much internal debate and input from the RC community, at large, I decided to rewrite the entire HeliStorm platform and integrate it with RCMarket.com and the functional elements of RCChecklist. The result is a community for all those who fly and all those who place a high value on being able to efficiently share and find things relative to our hobby.

On RCPilot, scale helis has a head start, so if you know someone who flies other RC stuff (or if you do), please feel free to contribute!

Hey Guys, most of you who know me understand that I despise the countless selling areas on Facebook and forums simply because they fragment an already small market. A week or so ago, I launched RCMarket.com, a central market for ALL RC stuff. The market is amazingly simple to use and it has powerful filters and mobile capabilities. Since I wrote the software, I can adapt it as needed to user feedback.

The Buy & Sell link here on HeliStorm now link to RCMarket. It's free so please use it! The only way a market works is if people use it!

Hello guy's, I'm Norbert and proud to present my model at HeliStorm. It's an cooperation from Norbert Schürz and Egon Hubmayer from Austria/Europe and built from scratch! I's been realized very different to any oder RC-helicopter. Detaillied description you can find in pictures section below. Currently two of them are built, but we would build further three on demand.
If you like it give me a hug 😄

I have to give a shout out to Mark Smith and HELIWORKSHOP because the level of service I’ve gotten, especially during my Lama rebuild odyssey, is simply outstanding. I purchased a HF tail rotor system and received it quickly. It was configured backwards but one call to Mark and I had an answer the next day. Over the past month, I’ve ordered a number of miscellaneous parts and an engine—everything is tracked and packed perfectly. These might seem like small things but it takes someone who really gives a sh$t to make it happen. And when you are in the thick of a build, that kind of service and support keeps the process running smoothly.

One of Eurocopter's latest models is the X3, which features forward thrust propellers. Alterbaum has reproduced the X3 in a 2.5 meter model that is sure to stand out everywhere. It runs on a Jakadofsky Pro 6000 (main rotor) and a 3.6 kw Plettenberg HP 430 V63 electric motor for the propellers. It requires 14s lipos so the bird weighs in at 35 kg / 77 lbs. To fly this beast in the US, you'll need to get one of the 5 Large Model Helicopter inspectors to sign off on it!

From Heli-Tec web site:

Dear customers,
First of all, we wish everyone a happy new year!
The year 2024 will also begin with changes for us:
After more than 20 years, we have decided with a heavy heart to stop producing rotor blades at the end of the year. We are already looking for a successor who would like to continue rotor blade production. The successor would take over all rotor blade shapes (several 100 pieces), original models, raw materials, and stocks of finished and salable goods from us. We also disclose a list of our purchasing sources upon acquisition. After the takeover, we are happy to call for a limited period of time. to be available for advice. If a successor can be found who already has experience in building rotor blades, that would be great. At least it should be someone who is no stranger to dealing with fiber composites.
If you are interested, please send us an email to info@derblattschmied.com.
In the coming days we will reopen our shop so that you can order all sets again - initially only in light gray.

The interest in ScaleHeliStorm 2025 is amazing! We have a committee of 8 planners and pilots who are meeting this Sunday to discuss everything from promotion to participation from non-scale pilots (ooooh, controversy)!

We have commitments from major industry players You can see them at

We are updating the proposed site layout. All I can say is that the flying area is HUGE.

Plus, we are arranging a catered, private, after-hours tour of the National Air Force Museum the evening of May 22nd. If you've never been there, it's a real treat.

More details to come!

Hey, folks!

I have just one question that I seem to never get an answer to:

Why does the Hajime company of RC Aircraft NOT ship their products to the U.S.? I've seen three of the below models that they offer - yet - they don't ship to the U.S.! In my mind, they're losing customers by not doing this. The models I saw were:

Airwolf
Redwolf (Airwolf II)
Bell 206 JetRanger (Santini Air)

I would LOVE to have the above three models but...Hajime does NOT ship to the U.S. and I can't get an answer directly from them as to why.

What does everyone else think might be the reason??

Any possible answers are acceptable.

Thanks, ya'll!

Sincerely,
Tony Trout

Apple App Store Link:

Google Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kranitz.scaleheli...

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We have been slowly but steadily growing our membership here! That said, many pilots still frequent Facebook to interact with members of our hobby. I get it; we all get into our habits. But if we really want to grow the hobby AND preserve the knowledge that we are all sharing, FB is the LAST place we want to be. What you post today is buried in a week or two and largely undiscoverable. WHY put in all of that time and energy just to get a few likes? If your aim is to contribute to the hobby and other pilots, post your content here (you can always share it on FB if you want) where other pilots will be able to benefit from your knowledge, experience, humor, whatever for years to come.

To help pilots make the transition, we invested heavily in a downloadable mobile app that notifies you when someone comments on your post, sends you an instant message or when we post a bulletin. You can also get notices when pilots you follow create new posts. This will keep the hobby front and center for you. Just tap the app icon and get to it.

I hope you will encourage your friends in the hobby to join Scale Heli Pilot and help support the ONLY site that delivers this level of service and functionality FREE for our community. FB doesn't care about our hobby -- only the ad dollars we can generate for them. C'mon over and be part of a permanent home for scale heli pilots worldwide.

If you are an administrator of a group on FB, please message me directly. We will get you set up here (where you don't have to constantly weed out spammers, monitor posts and generally work for nothing).

Spinblades review.

Well, Where do I start?
I don't like doing this, but I don't want others to go down the same road I did, but if you do, this could happen to you.

On the 20th September 2022, I purchased a 5 blade set of Spin blades for my 60-90 Size MD500E from Germany. After looking around for a very long time at different options, and what is available on today's market, the main thing I was looking for was a scale look.

The Spinblades did it for me because they are 40mm wide blade, long and skinny like a true MD500E. I got them to cut them down to 680mm for an extra 50Euro's, I asked if they could also paint them. They advise, yes not problem for another 50 Euro. As this saves me doing it. As we all know that a 5 blades set is busy in regards to CG, Weight, and then you need to track them etc.

I was told approximately 4 weeks to have them completed and I paid DHL world express to get them fast as it was coming up to Christmas. After 6-7 week I sent Spinblades a message on What'sApp and they said yes, all going well, the blades are in the proceed of being painted and will send them out soon. I replied, Thanks sounds good. Then 3 month later I got my blades and from the photo's below you can see the lack of quality and workmanship of the Spinblades.

In summary the blades are S**t and as you can see and Spinblades won't give me my money back because they are custom built blades, ( all their blades are custom built ) They said, send them back to us at your cost and we will look at them and IF they need to be fixed we will do it, and then we will send them back to you, and you will need to pay shipping again.

I am very disappointed with the quality of these blades and they lack of service.

WT :blowup:

Sorry what?
To be honest, I dont want to send them back because what the hell am I going to get the second time around, if this is what I get as a first time customer. NOT A GOOD LOOK. The blades with shipping cost me $445USD. SO VERY DISSAPOINTING SERVICE SPINBLADES.

The decades old Warbirds Over The Rockies event, hosted by Brian O’Meara, handed out an award, for the first time ever, to a scale helicopter! Best Post WWII went to my recently acquired HeliClassics Mi-171, which I flew in front of a jam-packed crowd at Arvada Associated Modelers field in Colorado.

What is remarkable to me is the fascination and interest by grizzled jet veterans! More of us need to show up at these events and expose the cool models we fly. I think we can grow this segment of the hobby just by revealing what is possible. There are many skilled pilots in the US who can turn heads with their models and flying skills.

The BIG Chinook will be coming soon.
Mark Smith and Kirsten Zodtner attended the Jets and Props event in Donauwörth Germany where Vario showed their new project - a Chinook with 2,3m rotor disc. This project was started in Holland with Theo van Houten. Theo created this detailed model helicopter and he supplied interested modelers in limited quantity. Theo searched for a partner to develop a product to make it accessible to even more people in the future.
Vario will do this development within the next year. Besides the new mechanics, Vario will also create adapted heads for this model. The mechanics will be for electric mainly, but Vario will also foresee the potential installation of a turbine for people who are interested. For the electric version the goal is to stay below 25kg (55lbs)
It is not yet decided if the model will have all the rivets like Theo van Houten supplied the fuselage in the past. It is 1/7.5 about 7 1/2 feet electric and turbine version. The new mechanics and rotor heads will be going under testing for several months so we’re looking at about 12 months before the complete kit is ready. If you own the smaller Vario chinook then you know how smooth and well they fly. Expect the same flight characteristics but much larger.

THE NEW JAKADOFSKY PRO 7000 is here!

I've been flying Jakos for more than 14 years and the new Pro 7000 is the best yet! It's the same size as the Pro 6000 and Pro 5000 (great for retro fitting) but has higher RPM than the 5000 (100,000 rpm main turbine shaft and 19,700 at the clutch pinion). But the magic is in the newly engineered high pressure compressor wheel (5-axis CNS machined) that provides more power at lower EGT's! If you have read my article on the effects of density/pressure altitude on turbines, you know that I really care about the new EGT benefits!

The 7000 has a different sound to it! Peter Jakadofsky likens it to "the full size Turbomeca Artouste" engine. Like other Jako engines, this one sips fuel at a rate of 185 ml/min. The 7000 also starts as easily as earlier models because of the exceptional software programmed into the ECU. The engine is designed for 2-3 meter helicopters and is ready for purchase!

In the U.S. you can get one from:

https://tylergraymodels.com

Grab one of these fun ScaleHeliPilot t-shirts free! All you need to do is show up at the scale tent during the IRCHA Jamboree (on August 12th or 13th) and if you've joined the site and made at least ONE INTELLIGENT POST (not something dumb like "See, I posted"), I will reward your effort to help unify our hobby on the best online platform for scale heli pilots! Limit 10 so get your ass out to IRCHA and find me!

Check out the proto type RCD (Remote Control Dolly)
This unit was made with (2) wheel chair motors, 2" aluminum frame, 1/2" plywood and gum rubber sheets. It was designed (over engineered) for 1/6-1/3 helicopters. Others custom sizes will be available to fit your weight, size and specific needs.

Design - Heli Workshop
Fabrication - Unique Aircraft
Specifications:
Size - 48"x 48"
Weight - 60lbs
Capacity - 300lbs
Motor - (2) wheel chair
motor controller - Saber tooth 2x60
Battery - (2) 6S lipo - parallel
RC - mini 4 channel car radio 2.4 HZ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrznvPttobs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lJFiFtYQbE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBImNRddtuU&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjjCx36HfIE

The first in the S-series at Vario Helicopter was the Baby Robinson. New now is the Baby Kamov with 530 mm blade length. Vario has thus taken after Fenestron, Notar, Tandem and tail rotor the 5th dimension of torque compensation in the program.

There are 2 complete kits (everything except the electronics) to choose from. They are both identical in terms of coaxial mechanics, rotor head components, rotor blades, scale landing gear and 3D scale parts.

Ord.No. 3200 is the version with unpainted fuselage without cutouts, which allows individual painting.
Ord.No. 3210 is already red colored and cut out. A decal sheet is included. This takes all the dusty and tedious work off the (workshop) table.

Optional accessories add to the beauty of the model - notably the free-swinging wheel-insertion protection, the pitot tube and the Kamov lights.

The drive recommendation comes again from Kontronik and is Pyro 600-11 and Kolibri 90 LVi. This combination is tuned for 6S LiPo.

The Kamov KA-32 is due to its coaxial mechanics especially suitable for technically experienced Vario fans who are looking for a new challenge.

The FAA's TRUST test is EASY and NECESSARY. Even though the test appears geared toward drones, anyone flying model aircraft needs to get a certificate and have it available when flying. Although the likelihood of getting questioned for this is low, understand that the entire point of this is to COOPERATE with the program and demonstrate (as we have as a hobby for 75+ years) that we understand how to safely operate our models.

For anyone who would say, "I'm not doing what the MAN tells me to" I'd simply respond that it's better for the hobby overall to take 15 minutes to answer some INCREDIBLY EASY questions so the AMA can represent to the FAA that we, as a group, can be trusted to act responsibly. This is NOT about YOU or your INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. We are far more powerful as a group.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the AMA Chatter or FAA Chatter sections of the RCPilot!

To take the test or learn more, visit

Helicopter designed by AMA member makes historic flight on Mars

—by Rachelle Haughn, rachelleh@modelaircraft.org

“I would never have imagined as a kid having something that I built land on another planet,” Matt Keennon, project manager for AeroVironment, Inc., said from his office in Simi Valley, California. Matt helped design, test, and build Ingenuity, a roughly 4-pound helicopter that made its first flight on Mars April 19, 2021, at 3:34 a.m. EDT.