RC Helicopters at the MAC Show
Larry Jolly
The Model and Craft (MAC) Show is significant among trade shows because it offers a unique setting for helicopter manufacturers to display their products and to feature outside flying demonstrations. The 1980 show was held April 26–27 at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Venue and Atmosphere
The Convention Center is well suited for the event; the hall is large and comfortable, and outside flying demonstrations are staged over a picturesque lagoon with three islands. The audience has an elevated, safe viewing location. Flying demonstrations are a tradition at this show, and spectators respond by coming out to see the helicopters. Three times each day the pilots take their machines out to show their abilities and skills.
Catalina Channel Crossing
The outside show started a little early this year when I arrived outside the convention hall's back door to find Larry Jolly and his Heliboy. The helicopter had just completed the first such crossing of the Catalina Channel — a 30-mile all-water trip that tested pilot, helicopter, and radio.
All concerned cooperated, and the Avalon-to-Long Beach flight took only 62 minutes. The crossing was non-stop; the trusty O.S. 60 FSR used only 50 ounces of fuel. After things were put away, I walked the showroom and talked to the exhibitors.
Exhibitors and Highlights
Airtronics / Sanwa
Airtronics' new Custom Sanwa heli-radio features:
- Dual rates on aileron, elevator, and rudder
- Tail rotor/throttle mixing
- Digital-readout stopwatch
They also showed a gyro and a rotor constant-speed device. The Custom radio retails for approximately $600.
The standard Airtronics 4- and 6-channel transmitters feature:
- Exponential throw rates
- Servo reversing
- A wide range of servo choice
Airtronics radios are manufactured by Sanwa and offer interesting features at economical prices.
American RC Helicopters / Marks Models
American RC Helicopters shared a booth with Marks Models. John Simone, head of American, showed:
- The .60-size Commander
- The Revolution .40-size
- A new .40-size Mantis
The Mantis features several innovations aimed at making it a low-cost RC helicopter. Construction is mainly wood and injection-molded nylon parts. The rotor system is the proven fixed-pitch Hiller head; John told me that a collective Bell-Hiller system will also be available.
Kavan
Kavan had a busy booth with fliers Ernie Huber, John Tucker, and Kim Tucker on hand. They showed:
- Jet Ranger (popular)
- Alouette
- A new 1/6-scale Lockheed 286L rigid-rotor scale helicopter
- Glass fuselage
- Retracting skids
- Kavan's new fly-barless rigid rotor system
- Designed for a .60-size motor
- Ranger — a metal-constructed, collective-pitch, .60-size training helicopter with the profile of the Bell Jet Ranger (designed to be rugged)
Kavan is also the U.S. distributor for Webra motors and Simprop radios.
Heli-Center West / Schluter / Hirobo / Gorham
Heli-Center West is the West Coast distributor for Schluter Helicopters and the U.S. distributor for Hirobo scale helicopters and Gorham Model Products' new Cricket. On hand at the booth were:
- Dieter Schluter
- John Gorham
- Mike Cummings
- Richard Keppel
- Bill Cripes
Dieter Schluter showed his new scale Lockheed Cheyenne, featuring:
- Glass fuselage
- Autorotation clutch
- Retracting landing gear
- Collective Bell-Hiller rotor system
- .60-size motor
Accessories for the popular Heliboy included fuselages for:
- Hughes 500
- Bolkow BO 105
- Bell 222
- A new Jet Ranger fuselage
John Gorham's Schluter Jet Ranger was painted in a 1980 Bell color scheme and was particularly attractive.
John Gorham — Cricket
John Gorham's new Cricket is aimed at beginners:
- .25-size motor
- Fixed pitch, Hiller head
- Designed specifically with the novice in mind
- Priced at $175
I flew a Cricket and was very impressed. It weighs only four pounds, and with a Super Tigre .25 it responds as if it had collective pitch. It looks to be a definite winner.
D.C. Labs
D.C. Labs displayed:
- A scale Bell 222 fuselage (intended for Kavan mechanics)
- A scale AH-1G Cobra fuselage (for Heliboy mechanics)
Both fuselages appeared accurate and well made; the 222 was particularly impressive.
Radios of Interest
Several radios of interest to helicopter fliers were on display:
- Futaba showed their 5JH, which has state-of-the-art features.
- Airtronics/Sanwa radios were highlighted, including the Custom Series heli radio with dual-rate elevator, aileron, rudder, tail rotor/throttle mixing, and a digital stopwatch.
Static Competition
The static competition for helicopter showing was sparse this year, but the entries were high caliber:
- First place — Hirobo .60-size UH-1E Iroquois, finished in standard Marine markings.
- Second place — D.C. Labs Bell 222, finished in blue prototype colors.
Both machines were excellent.
Outside Demonstrations
The outside demonstrations were very exciting, each attracting audiences of over 2,000 people. Highlights included:
- American RC: 13-year-old Curtis Crocker demonstrating both the Revolution I and Commander.
- John Simone (American RC): Demonstrated the aerobatic capabilities of the Commander and flew under the bridge for the third year in a row.
- John Gorham (Heli-Center West): Demonstrated the Cricket and helicopter aerobatics with his Heliboy.
- Richard Keppel: Flew both his Helibaby and Heliboy.
- Larry Jolly: Flew his Schluter Bolkow BO 105 finished in German military colors.
- Ernie Huber (Kavan): Flew the Kavan Jet Ranger; notably turned it inverted and flew inverted around the lagoon, thrilling the crowd.
Conclusion and Invitation
The MAC Show is usually held the last week in April or the first week in May. The weather is great and the flying is exciting. Come out and join us — we can do what we like best: talk and fly RC model helicopters!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
