ARCCHS Q&A
ARCCHS – A new (2024) model helicopter SIG (Special interest group).
Model helicopters have been part of the RC hobby/sport for decades. I began seeing them in the mid 1970’s in a very small capacity at local flying fields and events (New York). At that time, simply having a model helicopter lift off, under its own power, was impressive.
Almost 50 years after seeing my first helicopter model (sort of) fly, technology (electrical and mechanical) has evolved into literal works of art capable of performance Igor Sikorski could not have imagined.
If any of us just visit a flying event (or look up online): “model helicopters” we are likely to see a medley of flying commonly referred to as 3D – a style that rapidly displays the flight envelope of modern model helicopters; some of which are unimaginable.
ARCCHS (American Radio Control Competition Helicopter Society) is a brand-new SIG for AMA. Many of the model aviation disciplines have developed their own group to best support its’ modeling community and provide AMA a conduit to that group. While it’s not “common” for a model aviation “area of interest” to have more than a single SIG; it is not unusual.
I’m honored to be able to have an interview with the new leadership of this new SIG. I have known all the inaugural team for many years (decades) and find them to all be dedicated in the advancement of model helicopter competition.
The “collective” board of directors have been kind enough to answer a few questions:
Question 1: Since it is a little out of the “norm” for a model aviation community to have more than a single SIG; can you tell us what the differences are, and do they each work independently or is one a parent organization?
IRCHA was formed in 1989 and has been the SIG to the AMA for helicopters since AMA started their SIG program. IRCHA started out with mostly competition pilots, as Don Chapman, the founder of IRCHA, was a competition pilot. As with any organization, IRCHA has focused their efforts to service most of their membership, which has evolved to the 3D style of helicopters. IRCHA and ARCCHS are separate organizations, and we will have a great relationship with each other due to this mutual desire to see helicopters continue to grow.
Question 2: Who started ARCCHS ?
Tom Dooley. All the ARCCHS Board saw that the competitive side of the hobby was shrinking and wanted to step up to reinvigorate this part of our hobby. From his perspective, the competition side has provided him with lifelong friends and enjoyment, and it just seemed right to try to restart the competition side so more people can enjoy a similar lifelong experience as well.
Question 3: Who is on the Board of the American Radio Control Competition Helicopter Society (ARCCHS)?
The Board is comprised of Tom Dooley (President), Mike Goza (Vice-president), Nick Maxwell (Secretary) and Cliff Hiatt (Treasurer). All members of the Board have been on a USA FAI Team, with most having represented the USA multiple times. Many of the Board have also served as Team Manager for a USA FAI Team. Everyone on the Board has a super strong passion for the competitition side of the hobby.
Question 4: What disciplines does Competition cover for your AMA Special Interest Group (SIG)?
We (ARCCHS) are the SIG for AMA and have responsibility for AMA Precision Aerobatics, AMA Scale and FAI Helicopter Competitions in the US. AMA Precision Aerobatics include the 3 classes of Sportsman, Advanced and Expert. AMA Scale includes the 3 classes of Precision Scale, Sport Scale and Team Scale. The FAI classes are F3C and F3N.
Question 5: What types of competition is ARCCHS focusing on?
Our initial focus is on the AMA and FAI competition events for Precision aerobatics and Scale. We do have plans to develop fun events that are task oriented to work in conjunction with all events. We hope to get more pilots to show up and compete in these task-oriented events and learn more about the AMA and FAI competition events.
Question 6: Do I need anything special to compete?
Nope! Just your transmitter, helicopter, and charged batteries/fuel. ARCCHS is an AMA SIG so all contests do follow AMA sanctioned event regulations. While there are many products designed/branded as “F3C” or “FAI” they are not required to fly any class. As you practice, you may find certain products that fit your preferences; there are lots of options available designed with this style of flying in mind to try out and compare notes with friends.
Question 7: How do I choose which class to enter (AMA-FAI – Scale)?
Anyone can enter any class! While the AMA class structure is divided into levels or difficulty, each class is self-chosen and designed to push the pilot into the next level so that everyone can reach the highest level. The best method for choosing which class to start competing with would be the list of maneuvers which you can consistently complete without requiring to stop mid maneuver to restart due to loss of orientation.
Question 8: What is the initial focus of ARCCHS?
The critical foundation pieces, like making sure that the organization is properly registered and is in compliance with the state and federal agencies, as well as is able to do business with needed services like banking. That’s all-in place, so now we can shift our focus to the fun parts like flying, but we won’t forget the maintenance of the administrative side. Our next two significant focuses is on the US NATS and the US Team Trials to select the 2025 USA F3C and F3N Teams to represent the USA in the 2025 World Championships. The third significant focus is on developing and supporting more competitions on the regional and local levels so more pilots have access to more competitions. There are literally a dozen or more other projects that we all want to get to, but we have to prioritize and execute successfully. Things like getting more existing pilots involved in the organization to fly in competitions, attract and retain young pilots, have fun mini-events within other events, have competition clinics to help developing competition pilots, have how to videos on helicopter setup and trimming, and gosh, a lot more.
Question 9: What else would you want pilots to know about ARCCHS?
I would like pilots who want to have fun and improve their helicopters to fly as good as they can perform, competition is certainly a way to see the results of incremental changes. ARCCHS plans to have clinics, set up videos, hints and kinks and other ideas to help fine tune how your helicopter performs and how the pilot performs. A pilot does not need a fuselage to be a contest pilot. A pod and boom helicopter can be very competitive. You don’t have to have Brand X equipment, as most all equipment out there is capable of being very competitive. ARCCHS hopes we can get many pilots involved in competition that fly the different Brands and they can be the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to help the up can coming competition pilots with their brand of equipment. ARCCHS wants to be the catalyst to help pilots see the fun and challenge in competition flying. Whether it’s Precision Aerobatics or Scale, there are different classes to meet and develop your skill level.
Question 10 – How can people learn more about competition flying (equipment, set up, best way to practice, etc.) and get involved in the organization (why should I get involved in the organization?).
Currently, the ARCCHS Facebook Group ((https://www.facebook.com/groups/1404184663477694/) is the vehicle for communications as the web site is being developed. Hopefully, the web site will be up and running by the time this article is published and you will be able to go to ARCCHS.ORG and find the information that people need to get help and advice on competition flying. Obviously, all web sites are work in process (WIP) so the web site will be growing and have increased content to help pilots to the competitive side of our hobby. We will have Committees with a Chairperson that pilots will be able to reach out to learn and volunteer to help drive that committee to be more productive and fun. At the end of the day, we want the pilots to have fun and enjoy the competition flying side of the hobby.
ARCCHS.ORG 