In this DIY special Chris Chianelli, host of DIY Radio Control Hobbies, attends the Top Gun radio-control scale-model competition held annually in Lakeland, Florida.
This segment focuses on the infamous Halftime Show at Top Gun, in which flying machines that fall into the categories of offbeat, strange and unusual are displayed and flown.
- After half of the pilots finish their flight rounds on the first day of competition, there's a break in the action. Now comes the long-anticipated half-time show where "anything and everything" are possible.
- Stunt planes perform amazing aerial rolls, loops, stalls and free-falls.
- Aerobatic plane are flown in loops and spirals, leaving smoke-trails behind them.
- Skilled trick-pilots show off their abilities to hold planes practically stationary in mid-air in a prolonged stall (figures A and B).
- Uncommon and large scale-replica planes (figure C) are flown and perform feats and maneuvers in keeping with their full-sized counterparts.
You may even see some things that you never expected, such as...
- A radio-controlled flying bird (figure D);
- Model parachutists with radio-controlled descent (figure E);
- and of course, the flying lawnmower (figure F).
If it has wings -- or even if it doesn't -- you may just see it fly during the crowd-pleasing halftime show at Topgun.
RESOURCES :
Hobbico
Manufacturer of radio controlled model planes.
Web site: www.hobbico.com
Distributed by Great Planes Model Distributors
Great Planes Model Distributors
Website: www.greatplanes.com
Bob Violett Models (Radio-Control Jets)
Bob Violet Models (Radio-Control Jets)
Website: www.bvmjets.com
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