Indonesian Open Helicopter Competition, 2004

Tuesday - Melbourne to Bali

Simon started picking us all up from 4:30AM in Fat Albert (the commodore). We got two curtis cases and five bleary eyed blokes with gear down to the airport, where we met Gary. The Garuda bloke at checkin was nice enough, but some official looking guy wanted to ask all about the helicopters. This made us afraid as we had heard stories of some airlines not being happy with models, but everything worked out ok.

Flew on plane. Arrived in Bali, and got whisked through customs faster than expected (don't ask). Then out to the hotel, following our beloved helicopters in the back of a small truck.

Met George from Sydney, Jason Krause and Todd Bennett, ate a BBQ and told stories.

At Melbourne Airport

The car in front had our gear in it

Arriving at hotel, Hong Kong guys stuff is there also.

Wednesday - Australian Heli School

Heli school was great. First Jason spent a few hours going over a helicopter in front of everyone so we could learn to do 'the setup'. Simon volunteered his Vigor, which turned out to need a couple of tweeks. Then Jason flew it violently and about an inch above the ground. That all went well until the main blades clipped the tail blades, so he slowed it down a bit and kept going.

Next Todd took each of us for a fly on the buddy box. Adrian got the best value, having previously executed one half roll followed by an excavation, byt he end of the flight he was doing rolls, loops, flips and travelling flips. Don set out to do his first circut, but ended up doing loops.

Just before leaving I figured that I needed to run a tank of fuel through the number 1 Millennium, but found that I didn't do up the tail pinion bolts. A hard landing broke a skid and rammed the perry pump up into the C-Spec PS and melted the pump. Some late night learning about pumped engines was needed.

Jason Scoping out Simon's Vigor	Jason wrung out Simon's Vigor but slowed it down when the main blades clipped the tail blades	Jason scoping out Nigel's Millennium
Jason's TX Battery is a stack of LiPos
Andrew unloading a Millennium from the bus	Nothing to it	Andrew and Todd

Thursday - Practice Day

Simon decided that his engine was no good and that he didn't like his blades. Andrew found that the brand new Perry Pump was barfing fuel out the side. Very hot, support crew wanted to be back in the pool ordering chicken burgers.

Someone left our starter and glow driver at the field. This was bad.

Friday - Opening Ceremony

We were told that the practice field was closed for the day, and that we could have a fly at any time at the venue of the opening ceremony. We got there in the first bus to learn that it was a park outside some national monument! Simon had a new YS engine to try, I had another Perry Pump, and Gary cooly thought a hover would be a good idea. It was only now that we learnt of the missing starter, which set things back a bit.

The XCell guys borrowed a starter and had a fly, which proved to be a great photo opportunity.

Jason and Todd turned up and flew their usual amazing flights. Kazuyiki Sensui turned up with an immaculate Caliber 90 and impressed the socks off everyone. Then we sat around for hours waiting for the General to turn up to declare the competition open. Simon did a ripper flight with the Vigor to impress the crowd, before the professionals let rip for the Generals amusement.

Went back to hotel, bought cheap DVDs, sat in pool, ate chicken burgers.

Went to model check-in. We were on time, but waited around for half an hour since we were the first team and this was all new. Then went to the official opening dinner, still wearing our beach towels.

Setting up at the opening ceremony	Gary's Tempest being test flown in front of the monument	Some of the Australians, sorted by height.
Gary hovering the tempest in front of the monument
2xSchool machines, Jason, Todd, Andrew, Gary and 2x Simon machines.	Sensui's Caliber, one of the best set up and quietest models you could ever see	A sponsors sign at the opening ceremony
Jason's Demo Flight	Todd, doing a demo	Todd, doing a demo
Simon's Vigor during his excellent 3D flight	Jason Demo	More Jason Demo
Sensui giving an aerobatics demo	Todd Bennett, Kazuyiki Sensui and Jason Krause
Sensui's Caliber and Simon's Tempest	Jason Krause and Kazuyiki Sensui
Heli Lineup	Sensui's superb Caliber 90	Jason's 3D demo
Flags	Dave's Dragonfly, prior to flying it into a tree

Saturday - Competition Day 1

I finally got to test the Millennium with a working pump. This was good. Our flight order was chosen the previous night, with the Aussies placed about 5 apart except for me who was the last guy flying. This worked out well and we all put in a reasonable effort.

Four models crashed during the day. One guy crashed two Sylphides due to the tricycle retracts not providing enough support and letting the model fall over after the autorotation. An XCell rolled perfectly straight into the ground and another guy ran out of fuel and dumped it off in the paddock.

Checking out Perry Pump number 3	Setting up the last bits of the flight line	Some of the guys from Hong Kong with a Sylphide
Andrew & George with George's Tempest prior to flying	Gary Hovering	Sylphide, fallen over
A Hirobo Eagle WC2 in a Black Shark Fuse	A JR Sylphide in a Gracey Fuse	Another Hirobo Eagle WC2
Hirobo Eagle	Andrew and George with the Millennium 2, prior to flying	Simon, hovering

Sunday - Competition Day 2

Sunday was the final day of competition. As on Saturday the wind started off from the right, but ended up from the left as the morning went on. At least the flight line pointed south.

At the commencement of flying, we got all the pilots that had not nicked off to the pool and chicken burgers to line up for a photo. We then went back to the hotel, donned Kimono's and went to the official closing dinner.

Well done to Gary Watson for scoring second place.

Scores from the official site

The Sylphide, back for more	The Mille ready for another flight	An Eagle prior to flying
Simon, Andrew, Gary and George	Kimonos were the go for the closing dinner	Gary, with prizes
Todd, Jason and Kazuyiki	Todd, Andrew and Jason	Mr Sensui Snr, Simon, Mr Sensui Jnr and Gary
Simon receiving a price	Andrew receiving a prize	Gary with his 2nd place trophy

Scores, courtesy of the official site

The Aussies (plus a New Zealander) were: Adrian, Andrew Donaldson, Dave Crump, Don Dennis, Gary Watson, George Atkison and Simon Lockington.