Dear Hobbyists,

Its that time of the year again when I used to get grossly involved with Wings India team in planning "Aamby Valley International Aeromodeller's Meet" every year, since last 7 years. Unfortunately, this year, organizers have decided to take a break. So sad new is, no Aamby Valley this year ...or even if Wings India Meet happens, it may be on a very small scale and it will not be in Aamby...so no witnessing world class flying, no interactions with renowned international flyers, no peek at the setup and more importantly, no learning, atleast for me.

Now the good thing is, I am very happy to announce that HFAA (HI- FLYERS Aeromodeller’s Association ), a very prominent club in Surat, Gujarat, has organized "H.F.A.A. Aeromodelling Meet 2012" at CK Pithawalla college of Engineering near Surat, Gujarat, India. The meet is scheduled from 2nd until 5th of February' 2012. As the official invite is yet to come and announcements yet to be made on website, below are few very exciting activities that will happen in the said meet;

1. Its focused more on the giving recognition to national flyers than international one. There will be competitions in all the categories for various flying levels like novice, intermediate and expert. There will be a fair system of judging where known aeromodellers from around the country have volunteered. If I am not mistaken, this will be one of its kind competition happening in India.
2. organizers are more poised to conduct the meet for the "Masses" rather than for the "Class".
3. There are expected international participation but it will be very very limited.
4. There will be night flying and maybe night flying competition also.
5. A separate category for small electrics, spads and experimental models.
6. there will spaces provided for local hobby shops to put up their stalls.
7. the meet is open for localites to come and witness. hence, loads of local spectators expected.

this and a lot more....a bit late announcement though, but this meet is sure to be a turn on and probably a stepping stone for propelling local competitions in our country.

More details about the meet will be available soon. As and when I get any update, I will keep it posted.

On behalf of the organizers, I request all the hobbyists to be a part of this exciting and most promising event ever.

Wasi

[Admin Note] Direct link to event details :  http://www.growel.com/hfaa/hfaa2012.html

count me in wasi, building CARF YAK, might get to airlift it to AAE thinking of bringing my Addictions and other aeroplanes depending on the competitions, had a chat with Doc and Varun

Great going Wasi.  Beautiful beginning. Team Indore should be there if all works out. When would the competition format be out? Would it be a fair competition, or just a lot of fun flying. If it is what I have understood from your post, I must say  to the organizers for doing what they are doing for the betterment of the hobby.
Waiting impatiently for further details. I hope the registration charges are not too high, considering that a lot of new comers would be interested in the competition.
 

Doc

Wasi, is this a meet or a competition. If a competition do change the subject line to "HFAA Aeromodelling Competition 2012.

Waiting for the format.

Doc

hey wasi when the format will be out , im eagerly waiting for ur reply

Dear Akshat,

The format is out on the website www.hi-flyers.in....

Dear Sir Augustinev,

We are grateful to you for having accepted our invitation. It shall be our pleasure to have you amongst us and we look forward to it. Other details coming to you soon...

Doc,

thankyou so much for those encouraging words but if it hadn't been you, the competition sequence would not have come in effect...thank you so much for your time and efforts....it will be great to have you and your team with us....and you please come prepare, u know for what....

so far "meet" and "competition" is concerned, lets keep it as meet only....its for ppl who will participate probably not to compete, but more importantly, to make it a success....in the true spirit of the hobby sir....hope u buy my point here....!!!

will keep troubling you so far this meet goes....pls dont mind...

Wasi

WOW, Fabulous initiative. The schedule looks great and there's something for every one.
When do the registrations open?
Hope the online registration link becomes functional soon.
Does the 1st person registering get some added incentive?   

Best wishes

Doc

Guys out of personal experiance i can say confidently that team HFAA did a awesome job in 2009 on each and every front ie host, setup, events etc etc etc

Over 3 days we had 15,000 + visitors with all of them clamouring for more !!

Hope to be there with all the members of team HFAA !! and have a flying time over the weekend in feb !!
BTW team HFAA u need a compare for the 3 days !! ( im not reporting for that job !! )

Hi but I am in saudi....

Hi
 Its great Wasi but now I am in saudi may be I come there.
 Wasim Ahmad

i can pitch in, whenever you need a water / beer break
PS
Alas! Surat is dry and only i have access to such stuff

@ punit sir...... .....u dont have that authority....the three monkeys already decided who will compare....i spoke to you already about this thing....no one can replace you.. ...

Sir Augustine....

Thank you so much...

btw, this "dry" thing has bothered so many ppl....wished there was a way out...

doc,

name changed to "Competition"....so its HFAA Aeromodelling Competition 2012...

Wasi, You are such a darling.

Sounds so much better.

Guys what do u say now, 3 days of hard core competition for any and everyone, after nearly a gap of 30 yrs (I hear that such kind of National level competitions used to be held way back in the '80's). I hope the online registrations start soon so that everyone can register at the earliest.

I believe that this event would be a forerunner for a National circuit of competitive flying in the years to come and maybe sometime soon we would have some talented flyers going for International events. This event being open to all classes of flyers and also being one which would have a fair judging pattern, would be a great event to be in.

Hoping to see some inputs from the senior members on the forum.
Regards
Doc

Jagfab, any event without your voice and without ur twin engines seems so dry. Missed hearing ur voice the last time we were in Aamby. Can't miss it again. The mantle to compere will always be with you. I don't know who the 3 monkeys are but at the end of the day, the 3 monkeys are always correct. 

i heard there are four monkeys

  .....dat will keep me engaged for the whole day.....haha....

Gusty !!!!......  . ....  

 

Changed the topic name from "Meet" to "Competition"....

"Let the games begin!"

Now, that seems so much better. The ball is rolling and the fun times start soon.

Hey the online registration form is online. The first guy to register gets a ...










 



From my side.

Doc

Gusty..... Lets pool our stock and have a party. I'm sure between the two of us we can take care of a substantial number of guys.

@ doc @ augustine !! appreciate the kind words !!
looking forward to seeing and meeting all of you guys !!
@ doc we had better carry our own respective stock since there are 2 parties every day
party one at the field
party two after party one ends !!

Doc
might get an airlift for my birds, ....Some (Honey)bees can join in too...then all of'em can do Birds and the Bees, if you please..

PS
Jokes apart , sent you the points that needs to be covered by Mr Pithawala while writing to my top brass, Sponsorship , Goodies, prizes , should be done. i don't see any problem in that, Only thing i foresee is, if the Mizo Meet dates clash, then i will opt out, because i feel mizo meet will give  big boost to the hobby in NE, esp Mizo , Manipur, Naga and Tripura. Besides Mr PU Lalthanhawla is extremely excited about this, so i heard, irrespective of my attendance, whatever my org can do will reach the scene. i sincerely hope and pray i reach the scene too, with all the Birds and the Bees

Done Puneet. Will carry enough stock for both parties and for all 4 days. Hope the registrations start pouring in soon.

Gusty still to get ur mail. Waiting.

@Gusty

Got the mail and forwarded the same to Wasi for needful. I hope the letter would be ready today. It should be couriered max by Monday.

What is the status of registrations?

Doc

Dear Flyers,

HFAA is pleased to announce foreign participation from Ali Machinchy, Al's Hobbies, UK.

+++ Gusty Surprise to know that our Chief Minister is Excited

very intelligent man to talk to, knew a lot about VOR,  ILS than any civilian and a politician at that i have come across

Great, I really hope and wish we`ll have a successful RC event mizo rc flyers will try our best.

Got the forms and now getting to register our Valsad team.

It will be a great fun !!! :-) time to practice for the competition.

See u guys there !!

welcome and see you there

Just came back from a 7 day holiday to Rajasthan. Met up with Mr. Sharma and his two sons (Sharma Models). They would be hopefully making it to Surat. Great guys and what an awesome workshop.

Any registrations from the other parts of India?

Doc

Hello Flyers,

[Category Update]
A new separate category "Only for chuck/catapult glider" has been introduced. .....So....Trim your HLG's/DLG's as well as your arm to get the maximum flight time.

.....and....It's not over yet......A new much awaited category of Pylon Racing for electric models will surely supercharge you.

[Lodging Update]
The Gateway Hotels is providing good discounted rate only for event delegates.

Please visit www.Hi-Flyers.in for registration and further information.

Hey that sounds good. More people would be interested, including school children, Keep going HFAA.

@Gusty, Wingco whats the scene with the Mizo event? Hope the dates are not clashing.

Very little being talked about this event? Hope all izz going as per plan. What is the registration strength now?

Looking forward to hearing from the organizers.

Doc

As per organizers site is the meet program details:

Meet Program for 4 days:

2nd February 2012 (Day 1)
7 Am onwards                       Registration
07.00 – 09.00                       Free for all.
09.00 – 11.00                       Competition - Fomies, Scratch build, SPAD, Experimental less than 36”
11.00 – 12.00                       Public Demo / Tea
12.00 – 13.30                       Free for all.
13.30 – 14.00                       Lunch
14.00 – 17.00                       Competition - Fomies, Scratch build, SPAD, Experimental 36” & above 
17.00 – 18.00                       Public Demo
18.00 onwards                      Free for all

3rd February 2012 (Day 2)
07.00 – 08.00                       Free for all. (Engine tune ups for less than .91)
08.00 – 11.00                       Competition - Props less than .91
11.00– 12.00                        Public Demo / Tea
12.00 – 13.30                       Flying Slot – Jets / Props
13.30 – 14.00                       Lunch / Flying slot – Free for all
14.00 – 14.30                       Competition Props .91 to 30 CC / Remaining less than 90 size
14.30 – 17.00                       Competition - Props .91 to 30 CC
17.00 – 18.00                       Public Demo
18.00 – 19.00                       Free for all
19.00 – 20.30                       Competition - Night Flying
20.30 – 23.00                       Barbeque and dinner – Contributory at the field.

4th February 2012 (Day 3)
07.00 – 08.00                       Free for all (Engine tune up for Heli)
08.00 – 09.30                       Competition - Heli (Lining of Jets for competition)
09.30 – 11.00                       Competition - More than 30 cc
11.00 – 13.30                       Public Demo (1100 – 1200) / Competitions – Jets
13.30 – 14.30                       Lunch / Flying Free for all / Engine tune up for free style
14.30 – 17.00                       Competition - Freestyle
17.00 - 18.00                       Public Demo
18.00 – 19.00                       Free for all         
19.30 – 20.30                       Night flying Display (Only display models allowed to fly)
21.00 – 00.00                       Prize distribution followed by dinner at The Gateway, Surat

5th February 2012 (Day 4)
07.00 – 09.00                       Free Slot For all.
09.00– 10.00                        Pylon Racing for Electric Models.
10.00– 11.00                        Chuck & Catapult Gliders.
12.00– 13.30                        Powered Glider (1 min power flight->max glide->spot landing)
13.30 onwards                      Free for all.

Doc
Just discussed with my general, we might send out a team, will send some aeromodellors for sure, have you told them to write to Air Marshal Gogoi ? he might send a team too, in any case Surat is under him . my coming looks doubtful , i am at delhi for what ? i have PMed you. i really feel sad , still i am hopefull , let us see

Hi all,

sorry to be out of scene. had a long long travel which ended with JON (Jets Over Nagpur) yesterday. One amazing get together, amongst few of the primes in our country. Thanks to Anurag Saraf for hosting such an event and in such a wonderful way. Thanks to Mark Hinton (an amazing jet pilot from England), I got to learn a lot from him. Out and out, four days went like a breeze. had fun flying with such wonderful people.

Coming back to the HFAA competition, things are going good...about 40 confirmed participants and over 60 planes registered until now. Major participation still coming from local gujarat and mumbai. Few members from Pune, delhi, indore will also join.

details regarding lodging and boarding has already been posted on the website. I think organizers have done a great job in getting rock bottom rates so far stay is concerned. It caters to almost all genre of people, starting right from 5 star to a medium 2-3 star and going as low as a dormitory.

Transport has been taken care of too, to quite an extent. Participants coming from flight or train, arrangements has been made to pick them and their stuffs from the airport/station until the venue. HFAA has done a good job until now.

Would love to see more and more participation happening...fingers crossed...

Alis participation is a great news....for people who dont know him, he is the owner of Als hobbies (alshobbies.com), UK...a very very well reputed and respected aeromodeller worldwide and a kicka#s jet flyer....trust me guys, its a treat to watch this guy fly jets.....simply awesome....I assume if everything goes fine, we will get to see one the finest jet flying ever happened in our country....also, organizers has limited the foreign participation only to Ali and no other, as they are more concerned about the local participation and dont want the locale interest to fly at the meet go for a toss due to foreign flyers....i think thats a great move.....

requesting again to all, to be a part of this meet as this meet is not a display, its a competition, where every aeromodeller in our country has a slot to participate in.

Wasi

Doc, things looks set as far organizing is concerned...talking to the organizers to post the prize money involved soon, as it may end up in attracting more participation. Also, awaiting the competition routine.

Gusty, all the letters, as suggested has been forwarded to concerned. Hope they revert. I really wish to see you at the meet. Please try to come.

wasi,
i am hoping to, even in this cold -5 to -7 deg i am going in the morning for my practice, looping lomcevak people thought isn't possible, i am working on it, atleast got the upper half going, all for the meet. hope god i make it.

Dear All,

Participants desirous of availing the Club's transport facility from airport / Station to the venue and back, please give your names and necessary details to Mr. Chintan Gandhi so as to enable proper scheduling. There will be buses from HFAA ferrying to and fro from airport and station to the venue...

That's more like it, now things seem to be looking up. I really hope there are more registrations from the rest of India.

Doc

guys we have pulled in TAJ THE GATEWAY, Surat as our hospitality partners... for bookings mail on hfaa2012@gmail.com will revert you with the tariffs... cheers

guys...

just got news from one of my friend that there are only 18 rooms left in Gateway...almost all the other hotels in close vicinity are full as its supposedly a marriage season in that part of the world....people wanting to attend the event, please catch hold of Chintan and freeze on acco else it will become a major hassle later...

How many people registered for the event? Any facilities for Lunch at the field? Wow just 10 days left for the event to begin.

Doc

i guess there is no lunch served at the field ,,,btw how many from this forum gonna be present

lets take attendance ,,roll no 1
                               roll no 2
                               roll no 3

Lunches are served on the field..... arrangements for packed lunch boxes made for the participants.... apart from this, there will be around 10 food stalls at the venue....

Competition schedules have been put up on the website www.hi-flyers.in

wow its a complete weekend package , who would want to miss it

That's the way to do it.
Great schedule and very well made for the Novice and Intermediate classes.

Can't wait to meet fellow aeromodellers and have a ball in surat.

8 days to go and counting.............

 

It seems that a lot of people would not be able to make it to Surat this year, most, waiting to see how it goes, so that they can plan for the next year. I was wondering if there could be some way, that those, unfortunate enough, to not be able to attend the event in person, might be able to see the event. Maybe, Youtube videos or maybe there could be a live coverage and broadcast of the event over the net.

Hope something can be worked out.

Doc

Without doubt the best event in the last couple of years that I have been to.
The arrangements, the hospitality, the level of flying by the flyers and the love for the hobby are something to be seen and felt.

Hats off to the whole organizing team for having organized this event.

The best part of flying on day 1 was a breath taking quartet of hovering, and that too, spontaneously. Wasi and Varun Gajjar took off to do some synchronized hovering. A minute later Biren joined them and then Aaron followed him a few seconds later. It was a sight to see 4 planes hover within a few feet of each other. Ali Machincy who was kind enough to grace the event, was delightfully surprised by the level of flying by the four flyers.

Day 2 was an equally fun day with Wasi and Ali doing some great sync flying on two identical 100 cc composite Yak 55's (if I am not wrong). Varun brought the biggest plane of the meet, a 50% Decathalon. A very graceful flyer and a plane which can do some amazing aerobatics.

Wasi's flying is without doubt breathtaking.

Ali Machincy, on the ultra Bandit is like a demon possessed. One has to see him doing knife edge figure of 8's a couple of feet above the ground, with the Ultra Bandit. Wasi on the J 10, was a sight to see.

The love and friendship on and off the field, is really Heartwarming. The bonds made here, will surely last a lifetime. Biren, a beautiful person that he is has blown all of us off by the gracious host that he has been. He and his team of friends have left no stone unturned, to make this event a memorable, and unforgettable  one. All the people on the field including the spectators were very much at home and there is not a thing that has not been thought of and taken care of by the superb team.

Competitions start on day 3 of the event and they too would be a feast, I'm sure.

  and  to the organizing team.

Doc

hip hip hurrray for those on the field
seems i missed a good one this time .
lets hope people are taking good videos for everyone to see.

Just a teaser for many more to come.

Feast your eyes on the quartet of hovering on day 2 (Wasi, Varun, Biren and Aaron) and then of 6 planes on day 3 (Wasi, Varun, Biren, Aaron, Harveer and Ali Machincy).