RC Helicopter (F3C) World Championship

A brief look back at the 1989 World Championship is rather disappointing from a technical standpoint. There were no new technical developments—only improvements and copies that were presented as innovations. About one-third of the helicopters had a speed controller from Robbe, Webra, or a homemade one installed. Rotor speeds recorded during the competition: Graber at 1,250 in hover, 1,800 in flight; Hyatt judges’ pre-flight check at 1,600; Youngblood S. at 1,600; F. 1,780, Dobashi S. 1,500, F. 1,600. The most commonly used components were plastic rotor blades, Futaba and JR radio systems, and motors from OS, Yamada, and Webra.

The Hirobo and Kalt helicopters flown by Dobashi and Sensui had been modified for the competition and no longer corresponded to the standard production models.

Urs Hanselmann