RC Helicopters in HamiltON 26-28 Feb 2010

[Efliernz]

Many here have no doubt been involved with model planes and helis.
The local shop put on a private bash (no public, no osh or public-event paperwork) called "Down Under Heli Smack Down 2010

This was a huge r/c helicopter flyin at Hamilton, Feb 27 + 28th. Well over 50 pilots got way too much sun.

Eight top 3D Pilots from Australia (+ 2 Pit Crew) were there to show us 3D Smack Down Aussie style.
Activities included drag racing and night flying.
The weather was perfect. Calm with the odd thermal. Night-flying had a full moon which makes the photos lighter than what it actually was.

A small gallery is here

[Splitpin]

Pete, what a great weekend.....do they ever gather down here in the south?
The shots are great to, the night ones are amazing. Is the aerial shot at the start yours as well?

I hate to think how much money is involved with those choppers, but what a great hobby.........Im still at the rubberband stage

Thanks for shareing that pete, might contact you soon about a couple of the photos.......

Cheers

[Efliernz]

All are my photos but I did get a clubmate to man the camera rc transmitter while I concentrated on flying the heli.

The night shots would have been better if it hadn't been a full moon behind us. It was very dark but the moon light makes a difference on shots where the shutter was apen for more than a second. Several of the shots were shot for 20 seconds or more. It was my first time at a night-fly.
It is the one time I would have liked a high-iso $20K camera instead of my $3K camera. The difference is mainly in the quality / noise when the light is low.

The machines ranged from $400 up to $5K for the odd exotic machinery. Most are $1K kits with another $1K of radio.
This bash was organised by the local shop but they have the odd get-togethers down south too.

This was different to most flyins as it was a "closed event". It was also based around 3D / aerobatics. I'm more of a boring scale with the odd loop / inverted bloke myself.

[Ian Warren]

It s a hell of a fun way to mow your lawns yeah yeah ... someone had to say it

[HamiltonWest]

cool Photos From Last Year:

Down Under Heli Smack Down 2011
12-13th Feb 2011 Hamilton MAC field Collins Rd Hamilton
http://www.hobbyhangar.co.nz/events/down-u...011-p-5124.html

[Ian Warren]

With the fear off going back into hospital , i went brought myself a laptop from Calder Electronics , o well .... But one thing i did spot was this helicopter (outside jobby) saying to me , buy me Ian , Buy me .. maybe my back to work prezzie

[HamiltonWest]

Blades of Glory
http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/video-remote-co...rs-2-40-4023579