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Main Discussion > Do you want demos and events at Fun Flys or not?

Augusto
rrAdvertiser
Location: San Diego, CA

I wanted to know what most people like.
To me the main reason to go to a fun fly is to see the demo pilots and their new machines in action and to either participate or watch the events but that's only my personal opinion.

What's your?

Avant Aurora Ultimate

01-22-2002 Over year old.

1UP
Key Veteran
Location: Claymont DE.

YES,YES,YES, I WHAT TO SEE ALL THE NEW DEMO AND MACHINES I CAN

AND IF I CAN GET MY HANDS ON ONE TO SEE HOW IT FLY, ALL THE BETTER

J.C. (T.N.T.)

01-22-2002 Over year old.

Dragon2115
Key Veteran
Location: New England

I prefer for demo pilots to fly like everybody else and to be available to answer questions on how they do certain things or to offer opinions about new stuff. If there is an oppurtunity such as during a lunch break then that is a good time for a short demo flight or two.

When I go to a Fun Fly and pay a landing fee I expect to fly. And it's a good time for you and people you only see at Fun Flys to show off what they've learned since you last saw them.

Besides, the event is being called a Fun Fly not a Demo Day.

01-22-2002 Over year old.

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gyroman
Senior Heliman
Location: Pasadena, CA

how many people other than Jason Krause are you gonna see doing knife edge tictocs five feet off the gorund,

, that is part of the reason i go to funflys!!!

01-22-2002 Over year old.

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Maxx
Key Veteran
Location: Shreveport Louisana

My friend Ron and I both agreed we would rather go to smaller FF events than the "SuperSized" ones! We get to discuss the things we're interested in with the folks of like mind and fly without the constant invasion of "our" airspace (as defined by the CD at the Pilot Briefing) by some Sponsered Hotshot that rips past me at 3 feet doing rolling backwards flips at MY eye level! At Mt. Pleasant two years ago I was doing autos at a flight station near the center of the runway, just going up and down right out in front of myself and remaining between my marking cones as we had been asked by the CD. The guy (team Jr.) who came out and set up on my right (after I had been flying about 5 minutes) proceeded to do a monster 3F blast off into MY airspace ( and I mean 6 feet in front of me!) as I was getting ready to complete a rolling auto...needless to say; the auto sucked but I didn't break anything and I shut down and went back to my pit...slightly shakey and VERY Pizzed! I spoke to the CD and he said the other fellow was in the wrong; then I saw the same guy do the same thing twice the following day! This isn't meant to bash those lucky and good enough to be sponsered, I just believe they should have to abide the same airspace limitations as the rest of us, unless they are doing a scheduled demo with cleared suroundings. I love watching Curtis or Todd or David or any of a dozen others really cut loose and put on a show...but I have never seen them cut thru anyone elses space and cause a problem, maybe they know there's a difference between putting on a show and just showing off... Chris

01-22-2002 Over year old.

SemiArticulate
Veteran
Location: On Location

I went to IRCHA for the first time last year. The announcer guy pointed out the boundary of the pilot flying areas. All the pilots were gathered around and I assume were listening. Ok, we stay in the orange cones, I got it. I was one of the first to fly and no sooner was I in the air then another pilot went into my airspace and pretty much took it as their own. This was pretty much how the whole show operated. I think I was the only one that made any attempt to stay in the box. I didn't really care because I thought the boxes were too small anyway. I also don't fly like that. My field has up to four pilots (airplanes and helis) stand a few feet apart and go nuts. So my policy at the show was if they violate my airspace that means I can violate theirs. I don't know who was a rep, demo pilot, or just there for fun because I don't really keep track, but as soon as they entered my airspace they were fair game. Yes there were some close ones, but it felt like home. I know at one point I had five helis (including mine) in my box at the same time. I personally was more impressed with those that could do their thing and stay in their box at the same time, but those seemed rare. But it was fun and I'll try to go back. As far as demo pilots, I like them but you can over do it. I see a few and then they start looking the same. I did learn a few new tricks.

01-22-2002 Over year old.

Apache
Heliman
Location:

It may not be called demo day but I sure like to see a show like gyroman said.
That's why I like noon demo shows. At that time I can get lunch and see the solo demo pilots push the limits without space contrains.
If while at the regular flying time you have a demo pilot or a hotshot come into your space jut tell him. Most of the times it's just that they can't judge how much space they have available. Everytime I told them I never I had any complains only apologies. Where else can I see top pilots fly like that and at the same time show off if not at fun flys?

01-22-2002 Over year old.

heliman41
Key Veteran
Location: Valparaiso IN. USA

I didnt make last yrs Muncie Jamboree because of illness(strepp),
but I did go to the Ohio show the yr. before and I too was shocked by how close some of the pilots fly right at face level and SO close!
Personally I love watching anyone who can demonstrate such quick mental/thumb skills but I do not and never will trust my equipment or anyone elses that much as to let them fly that way and that close to my face. A good example of what can happen is this: At the 3D Lafayette funfly CY took off got maybe 30-40' altitude and suddenly the mainshaft split with the mains going 1 way and the heli going the other. If that had been right in front of his face well you get the idea, if it happens to him it can happen anytime to anyone. Anyway, I kinda like my face the way it is so I dont screw around close to me or any other pilots, we have 1 fella that flies too close like that and he was reamed well by all of us and he aint no CY that for sure. I didnt notice the demo pilots being any worse for space stealing then the usual pilots, everyone was pretty much doing it that could do 3D anyway. It looked like everyone just trusted everyone elses skills I guess, Im not that good so I didnt even bring a heli as I knew it would be a madhouse and it was. It was worth the 5hr drive tho. Anyway, I feel the more demo pilots and highly skilled 3D and scale pilots the better off any flyin will be, if one dosent feel completly secure with his/her flying skills flying that close then watch and enjoy and learn, looking at the cool machines and talking to the owners is 1/2 the fun to me anyway, my.02

01-22-2002 Over year old.

ed vega
Key Veteran
Location: nyc, queens

should always have all segments of the hobby represented .. demo's, drag races, show and tell, contests, displays, raffles, the hole ball of wax .. oh yea forgot the most important segment ..

food, food, and more food and drinks ..

01-22-2002 Over year old.

Dragon2115
Key Veteran
Location: New England

Quote
Gyroman; how many people other than Jason Krause are you gonna see doing knife edge tictocs five feet off the gorund.

At the fun flys I attend pilots like Ray St-Onge, Mike Swift, and Jeremy McGrane (just to name a few) are there all the time and they put on quite a show. When they aren't flying they're answering questions and helping people do setups or troubleshoot problems with their helis. Jeremy and Mike have even brought me, as well as others, out to the flight line with them so they could explain how they were doing certain maneuvers as they happened. Talk about control, try doing a piroetting tumble at eye level, while explaining your control inputs and little tricks to make it easier. And they still take their turn on the flight line just like everybody else. These folks make it seem like it's more important for you, the common guy, to get out and fly and/or learn something new than it is for them to fly. Besides, they still do lots of showing off, they just do it during their turn and within their designated airspace.

To me, that's what makes a Fun-Fly fun.

01-22-2002 Over year old.

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Augusto
rrAdvertiser
Location: San Diego, CA

I think we are missing the point.

The reason why I posted the poll was because there is talk about one of the fun flys to be just for people to get together and fly without any scheduled demos or competitions.

So if you're a factory demo pilot just do your demo if you want/can in one flight station and if you want to participate in an event then compete in one flight station.

If that was the case I wouldn't waste my time or money going there. When I go to a Fun Fly I also want to see a show.

Also I think that if you tell a vendor that his demo pilot can't do a safe full blown demo because they're limiting him to a single flight station he would think twice before becoming a sponsor.

Avant Aurora Ultimate

01-22-2002 Over year old.

Blair
Key Veteran
Location: Republic of Canuckistan

Demos

I think there should only be one featured demo pilot for each FF or each day. And that Dude or Dudette only flys the field closing demo ONCE per day (Lunch time?).

Competitions are fun as long as they are quick and don't tie up the flight line. At our fun-fly we set up three stations and have the guys move through them one after the other. Typically this only takes about an hour (or less) out of the second day.

The crowd (non-heli flyers or Muggles) really enjoy this as long as someone is on the PA explaining what the hell is going on.

My two cents (Canadian).

Blair

01-22-2002 Over year old.

Dragon2115
Key Veteran
Location: New England

I think the point being missed here is in the definition of what a Fun Fly is. The name Fun Fly is tagged to just about every gathering it seems now. But Fun Flys are, or were, typically smaller local events and that's the type of thing I'm referring to in my posts. For these type of events I agree with Blair's opening sentence.

As for a manufacturer sponsoring an event, the matter of their demo pilot flying or not really doesn't figure much into the equation. As a matter of fact it's more advantageous to them if their pilot doesn't fly. In that case they don't risk having to replace the machine in the event of a mishap. Instead their machine sits on a table with people ogling at it.

The real deciding factor on a manufacturer sponsoring an event is how much will their name be displayed and how many people drawn to the event to see it. It's a numbers game, the more people you put the ad in front of the more sales you'll get. You don't have the numbers then it's a waste of time for them to be there.

01-22-2002 Over year old.

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Augusto
rrAdvertiser
Location: San Diego, CA

I think the matter could be solved by posting what the program is ahead of time so people like me that won't go to a fun fly without demos know before hand and don't waste their time/money going to one that won't have them.

Avant Aurora Ultimate

01-23-2002 Over year old.

SemiArticulate
Veteran
Location: On Location

About demo pilots attracting people, heck ya. I refused to watch any CY videos because I wanted to see him fly in person first. Everyone at my field talked about his ability but videos often don't do justice since you don't get all the spatial references. IRCHA Jamboree was my chance. He was there, but no 3D. ARGH. I saw him fly a little at the Worlds. Guess I'll need to get a video in order to see what the gold standard of RC helicopter flying is supposed to be.

01-23-2002 Over year old.

steve9534
Key Veteran
Location: yakima, wa.

demos

Yeah, I like to see a show, too. What I don't want is for the field to be closed down. Most fields big enough to host a fun fly have enough room to allow the demo guys to fly center stage and still allow flying at the edges. There's no real need to close the whole field so one guy can fly. As far as the competitions, I don't have any real urge to compete, and would be just as happy if they were eliminated altogether. I've driven a hundred miles to a FF, then spent the day waiting as the pilots went one by one hovering through a maze made of sticks. No time was allowed for general flying, and I figured it was a pretty much wasted day. Thanks. Steve.

01-23-2002 Over year old.

shamoo
Senior Heliman
Location: Springfield, Missouri

fun fly

yes yes would love demo and pilots to be at fun fly there is nothing cooler then to see what those pilots can do it gives me inspiration and the urge to learn noting like seeing tick tocks or inverted inches above the ground ITS AWESOME

BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ALLOW FOR OPEN FLYING AND SOME EVENTS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS

01-23-2002 Over year old.

Optech
Key Veteran
Location: Vista/Oceanside, CA.

I guarantee if I went to a FunFly and saw X manufacturers heli on some bench all day and then saw Y manufacturers heli put through its paces.... Guess which one I'm going home with a lasting impression of???

I think a manufacturer is shooting himself in the foot by being there and not having some hotshot fly the pants off his product. Even if that guy crashes its still better than not flying at all. We all know anyone can crash but at least a taste of what the heli can do is cool.

I'm from a small town so I don't get to see the stuff you big town guys get to take for granted. I learn so much from every FunFly I go to. I get to fly a little, talk a little, meet new people, spend alot of money and see and learn new stuff. If all I wanted to do is fly all day I'd stay home and do that. Its the WHOLE experience that makes a good FunFly. So the Flight line gets shut down for a while.... big deal, go get lunch and kick back for a bit. I do agree that the competitions should be done at the edges so as not to interrupt the flying as long as proper frequency management is in place.

Mike

Viva La Airtronics!

01-23-2002 Over year old.

ed vega
Key Veteran
Location: nyc, queens

without a show or sponsored flyers etc.. what you have a local fly in get together .. more like going to your local field .. uneventful with the exception of a few crashes here and there ..

it always good to have the local national guard and police full scale heli's come in for show and tell .. remember this was a exciting aspect of the funflys we attend , everyone stops what they are doing just to see the full scale come in or demo the real machine .. very impressive to say the least ..
3d demos tend to get boring when it's the same people over and over again .. the demo pilots may have a different heli every time but their routines don't change much ..

we need new ideas and exciting ways to entertain the average flyer at fun flys .. so lets get the party started ..

01-23-2002 Over year old.

Dragon2115
Key Veteran
Location: New England

A little reality.

Oh please, does anyone out there actually believe that they can tell how good a new product is based on how it preformed in the hands of a factory demo pilot? If so then it's time for a reality check. People like Curtis, Jason, Todd, and the likes can make a Nexus with a 153 mechanical gyro look good. Does that mean you're going to trade in your Nova or Vigor for the new CY edition Nexus? I didn't think so. Why not just be honest, if you like to watch them fly then just say so and leave it at that. Watching how a new product performs in their hands and using that as a basis for buying one or not is like basing a decision to buy a new car by standing on the sidewalk and watching someone else test drive it. The only thing it will tell you is that if you buy one and it doesn't perform for you like it does for them, it either isn't setup right, or you aren't as good as they are.

01-23-2002 Over year old.

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