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Helping hands
One of the neat things about the Hirobo Cup is the "clinic." Altech sets up a large tent with many work tables under it. They bring a bunch of very qualified helicopter people to man it. It's quite a sight; people bring in their helicopters, and the experts help them with their problems-- whether assembly, adjustment, or flying. Many folks benefited from this during the weekend; there's nothing like a frown turned to a smile by some expertise thrown into the mix.
The guys providing that expertise seemed tireless. Bob Neal (right) was helping some guys get their Hirobo Vertols flying. These twin-head helicopters are very complex in their setup but offer a unique sort of flying machine that's worth the effort.
Randy Kubacki seemed to spend his weekend as a Hirobo Shuttle mechanic. I don't know how many helicopters he worked on during the weekend, but it was a bunch. Other guys were helping beginners get into the air. and I simply stood for a while and watched, remembering my first steps into helicopters. They're still fond memories of discovery and excitement, and you could see that on the faces of the new fliers, some of whom saw their helicopters fly for the first time.
Jeff Green spent time in the clinic as well, helping guys with their 3D setups, even flying their machines for them to assess the setup. Even for the basics, having an experienced heli guy fly your machine is an invaluable experience, as they can notice so much more than someone who has less experience. But then, that's what the members of the helicopter community are all about; they help one another have fun.
It would be really great if more of the industry folks held clinics like this one. Providing expertise brings success, and success brings repeat business. It was great to watch this process work so well for Altech.
Copyright Air Age Publishing Feb 1999
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