Just returned from Vegas, the flying show was great, not to many entries but still good. Chip did excellent so did Sergio. There was a kid there ( 15 years old from Sacramento, his name was Josh, he flew a 40% Carden Edge, he might be the new Chip) Now on to the trade show, what a bummer 50%cars, 30% trains and 20% planes, oh well here we see where the industry goes. None of the big players there, no DA, no 3W nobody. Wasnt immpressed at all. just my opinion.

So was this event the TOC replacement?
I guess there must be another venue that will bring out the big boys.
Maybe the Xtreme event hosted by Frank Noll will be it.

It was the Hobby Visions trade show. When it was first proposed, there was to be a Totally Outrageous Challenge with a $15K purse. This was to be an XFC-type event.

But the financial support for that dried up, and they put together a RC demo potporri of about 50 demos, 5 minutes or so each. Hardly a TOC, but attaching the now-defunct name of the most recognized RC competition on the planet to a trade show is a great way to attract attention.

Josh Glavin is a buddy of mine from Sacramento California. I was going to go up with him but wasn't able to due to some things back home. We have a website www.cafreestyle.com and we will be posting full coverage of this event in the coming week including videos and tons of photos.

sharp looking website, look forward to seeing it get populated with content

Thanks, he is coming home today and hopefully by tommorow we will start getting the pictures and video posted up. It will probaby take awhile as he will have to edit each individual video.

Josh Glavin is the son of our very own RCU moderator, Michael Glavin. Josh might also get his first sponsorship from RC Universe from what I'm hearing about him!

Josh - you should be very proud of what you have accomplished so far at such a young age. I've heard from a few now that were very impressed with your flying. Way to go!

Shortman - if you want to write that article up with photos and videos for the RCU magazine we would enjoy having it posted as an official RCU Magazine article. Sounds like you got a lot of good footage and material and the members would certainly enjoy it. (I can save you some bandwidth!)

Marc, sounds good... Its all Josh's call though. Right now our site isn't much and could benefit I think a lot from this. If you got time sometime we can chat or talk about it thats cool.

I was there and seen him fly, pretty awesome!

Josh and I had a great time at the Hobby Visions Trade Show, flight demonstration. It was very well coordinated with Frank Tiano at the reins. There were no losses, lots of different aspects of the hobby represented, i.e. several awesome helicopter demos by Alan Szabo Jr., Chip flew the Double Vision biplane powered by a DA 50 and his PL Products 40% Edge, Josh Glavin 3D'd our Carden 40% Carden Edge (Josh's Extra is not quite finished), Mike McConville flew H9's Funatana and GS Ultimate Bipe, Mark Leesburg flew a Godfrey Extra and was very impressive, Sergio Testa flew the wheel pants of the Planes Plus-Mecca Models brand new 40% Edge ARF and he also demo'd Planes Plus/Mecca Models new jet ARF, Combat flying by the Killer Bees, Jason flew his electric powered Funatna and pattern model, Jason Sommes flew a monster BVM TigerCat, Jeffery Szeuber put on a great show with his Stans Katana, Jeff Green helo, Yuri Higuchi flew his CA 40% Extra and wowed the crowd, Joe Hunt with a Carden 40% Extra, Fabio Trenta with an AeroWorks Extra, RCU's Tony or YNot flew his Hype 3D and there were more, my memory is a little vague it was a fast and furious week...

Electric models were awesome lil biplanes to large Funtana and patterns models, small park flyers, Gliders were carried aloft, GS freestyle, Helo freestyle, Precision Aerobatic, Jet demos, large gas powered C-310 twin, .40 size freestyle, Chip flew his biplane while sitting on a chair with his toes, Mike McConvile flew the Ultimate better than many would be able to; with the TX behind his back and more.

The trade show went off very well. As mentioned above, however was not biased toward aircraft at all. Primarily general hobby related but was very interesting.

We have some video and pictures. Unfortunately not as much as I would have liked. Seems the cameraman was also the pit boy and enjoyed watching more than filming. The crowd was great as was the local club, LVRC of the TOC Bennet Field. I am always overwhelmed by all involved in our great hobby, what a great group of people, one could not ask for a more rewarding experience...

PropWash Video will offer a video of the days events.

DIY attendend the event, they filmed and interviewed pilot's. A show about the Hobby Vison event is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.

More pictures

And more.

The show was great. Every type of R/C aircraft was represented.

A couple of more pics.

Firstly

Thanks for all your kind words everyone

I really enjoyed the event, Frank Tiano did a wonderful job organizing it.

The pilot's there were amazing, and all the flying was impressive.

Marc- I will send you some video so you can watch it for yourself

Thanks again to Frank Tiano, and all the pilots that attended, that made this a really enjoyable event!

Josh Glavin

Hey, who is that?

hehe, there was alot to see

more

some pics didnt turn out as good as I had hoped...

The air show TOC part we enjoyed. All I ever went to the TOC for was the freestyle and the noon show. For me the all day show was great. left with a new sunburn and smiles.
The Convention/show at the Venetion (Sands Expo Center) I found interesting and informative. A little disappointed that some companies Great Planes for one only had a display in the for the trade only section. I always thought these kind of shows were to show the modeling public what was new and to answer all our stupid questions.
Many smaller companies selling ARF's and kits didn't know how to get in on the airshow. I was informed by the ones I asked that they had contacted the right people to be in next years show.
For a first time event this was impressive.

hi all, just wanted to say that (as a newbee) all the pilots were awesome..
--Josh-- you are a great pilot and i hope you can get RCU, i wish i would of had something to get your autograph..but at-least you had time to just say hello back..keep up the good work..spooner

John did you fly up with Fly Falcons?

Yep

Id gladly send you an autograph, I just dont see why everyone wants MY autograph [&:]
LOL

Thanks for the kind words

Josh

Hey Josh might as well send me one to, so a few years from now I can say I know that Champ from earlier when he was a kid. Thanks

a few pics

I feel that had it not been for the efforts of the gang that put on the flight demos, the whole thing was a waste of time for R/C airplane guys.
One of the plane manufacturers told me that a fair portion of the companies listed in the promo ads never showed up, and most of the few planes guys that were there won't be back, including him.

I hope these promoters don't continue to use the TOC acronym in their future dealings and efforts to attract us R/C airplane modelers, cause it just ain't right to capitalize on the TOC legend of Bill Bennet by failing to measure up to his standards. The failure of the persons responsible to have the $15,000 prize money there as promoted in the ads is a perfect example of the " all talk, no walk" that is a common portion of this hobby.[:-]

As a hobby shop owner, I want to let all of you demo pilots at the flying field know how grateful I am to have seen you guys do such a great job promoting R/C AIRPLANES...

Rick Giannini
Major Hobby