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141 Model Aviation JANUARY 2016 www.ModelAviation.com
Anyone involved in our hobby for any
length of time has seen many changes
throughout the years: single-channel
radios to proportional; 72 MHz to
2. 4 GHz; fixed-wing aircraft with
reciprocating engines are now electric
or turbine powered; helicopters to
multirotors, and more.
A new trend in the competition area
is FPV racing. These events are gaining
popularity nationwide, and I am happy
to report activity in District III. Our
Akron/Canton, Ohio, area associate
vice presidents, Lisa and John Zoldak,
compete in FPV racing, and Lisa offered
the following report on a recent event
in Ohio.
The Quad Racing Group of Ohio
(QRGO) is a group from northeast
Ohio, flying quadcopters using FPV.
The QRGO, a chapter of MultiGP,
was formed in 2014, to encourage and
promote the new sport of quadcopter
racing.
Four competitors race heads up on a
course laid out with flags and air gates.
The first to complete the designated
laps wins. Most of the quadcopters
that are raced have carbon-fiber bodies
and are built by the pilots. With a
little wiring and soldering, a quad can
be built for roughly $250. The FPV
equipment needed can run from $75
up.
The QRGO held its first race April
19, 2015, and ended the season with
the Fall Classic race on October 4.
QRGO member Rob Maggoire hosted
the event on his private property in
Carrolton, Ohio. Twenty-two pilots
from three states competed for prizes
donated by great sponsors such as
Buddy RC, RunCam, and See3D.
The group regularly practices at
Wingfoot Lake State Park in Suffield,
Ohio, but can be found in many area
parks throughout northeast Ohio.
Thank you to John and Lisa for
educating me and others about this new
and exciting racing event. I look forward
to giving this type of flying a try.
In my March 2015 column, I wrote
about the value of clubs displaying
models at local shopping malls and how
this seemed to be a dying trend. To my
surprise, I heard from clubs that do this.
The Flying Aero Sport Team (FAST)
club from Brookville, Ohio, and the
WACO Historical Society Barnstormers
in Troy, Ohio, have put together a show
at the mall in Piqua, Ohio, for more
than 25 years.
The event was held February 27-28
and March 1, 2015, with more than
25 aircraft displayed and two flight
simulators for people to give flying a
try. Free magazines and literature were
distributed as well as AMA and club
applications.
I again encourage clubs to talk to their
local shopping malls about displaying
models and promoting their club and
model aviation. Maybe this would be
an excellent time and place to promote
safe flying of all the sUAS (aka drones)
sold during the holidays. Think about
the possibilities of the positive exposure
that your club can receive.
Associate Vice Presidents: Randy Adams, Fairfield OH; (513) 484-3318 ; R1rcpilot@aol.com; Mike Barbee, Delaware OH; (740) 362-5545; Mabarbee@aol.com; Jeff Black, New Oxford PA; (717) 965-5634; jrblack1964@
gmail.com; Dave Brown, Hamilton OH; (513) 738-1576; dbrown@dbproducts.com; Nelson Gould, Macungie PA; (610) 395-9159; at6snj@ptd.net; Tony Husak, Hartsgrove OH; (440) 283-7447; racer749@gmail.com; Dan
Luchaco, Sayre PA; (570) 888-1856; pafflyer23@gmail.com ; Jim Martin, Franklin OH; (937) 260-0143; hooitelovesremy@yahoo.com; Al Myers, Canfield OH; (330) 506-6194; ajm486@hotmail.com; Leo Rodriguez, New
Stanton PA; (724) 925-0159; lrodriguez44@verizon.net; Matthew Turowski, Nescopeck PA; (570) 379-2014; mturowski@pa.metrocast.net; Joseph Vislay, Monclova OH; (419) 878-8843; jvislay@buckeye-express.
com;John Zoldak, Ravenna OH;(330)554-9455; jzoldak@neo.rr.com;Lisa Zoldak, Ravenna OH; (330)348-4543; lzoldak@neo.rr.com. CL/FF/RCCoordinators: Nelson Gould,1340 Oak Dr., Macungie PA 18062;(610)
395-9159; at6snj@ptd.net; Sheila Nitsch, 5650 Boyd Rd., Grove City OH 43123; (614) 877-3453; tnitsch@columbus.rr.com. Webmaster: Roger Luther, Johnstown, PA; (814) 266-2630; raluther@atlanticbb.net.
Mark Radcliff
Vice President
District III—Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
mradcliff@suddenlink.net
199 Heron Dr., St. Marys WV 26170
Tel.: (304) 684-2133
A great model display by the FAST and the
Barnstormers clubs at the mall in Piqua, Ohio.
FPV quads are agile and fast while flying
through the air gates.
AMA President Bob Brown is among those who
enjoy this new form of racing competition.
Until next time, fly safely—fly AMA!
The FPV racing contestants who flew in the Fall Classic Race on October 4, 2105.
