2008 Great Planes E-Fest - It's a wrap!

[Mike Bargman]

Hey crew,

Just got home from yet another great time at the Great Planes E-Fest. I only got to spend the day on Saturday out there, but what a great time. Frank Noll and his crew did an amazing job organizing and keeping everyone in line. Kudos to the crew!

I arrived a little later than I had expected, 9am. Parking? Usually there's a place to park in front of the Armory, but this time, I had to part elsewhere. It was packed! Last I heard, there was over 370 pilots registered. I pulled into the main lot and saw Wayne walking out to his van. He said "Good Luck, try parking down the street." hehe! I got out there, fed the meter and went in to register. I didn't bring anything to fly, as I was planning on just BS-ing with some old friends and taking some pictures. I walked in and immediately was greeted by familiar faces. Kind of like walking into a family reunion.

I walked around, and made my way thru the crowds. Shaking hands and saying hi and catching up with friends. Lots and lots of flying going on. At one point, I saw someone that had a frequency scanner running and I saw 3 channels lit up...when I counted the number of airplanes/helicopters in the air, it totalled way above 5. That goes to show you how 2.4 has really taken the hobby by storm. I really was intrigued by the new Parkzone Cessna and Decathlon airplanes. They are 3 channel, 2.4ghz parkflyers and are neat as hell! They fly so well and are a lot of fun. Right before the scale competition, I caught a glimpse of a 2 year-old boy flying one of the Parkzone Cessna planes. He did a great job! Landed that thing better than most of us could land a 40%. .

As always, Bob "Biff" Sadler was on the mic doing a great job as usual and hamming it up with everybody and doing a great job announcing the event. Jason Noll won the scale competiton with a small rubberband powered monoplane converted to R/C and Brandon Chitty won the Freestyle contest with a BAD ASS freestyle. I've never seen an airplane move that fast and that crisp and NOT hit the ground. Nice job, Brandon!

I had to go home early before the combat and night flight started because of yet another family emergency, but I had a wonderful time with everyone. It was a ton of fun and great to see many great electric products being used. The Electric scene is really taking this hobby by storm and it's growing bigger than I expected. It's pretty cool, guys...scale, 3D, Precision, Heli's.....never would have seen this stuff 3 years ago...really cool stuff!

I took as many pics as I could. Check 'em out!

http://www.flyinggiants.com/gallery/...ry.php?cat=572

[DKnippen]

Hey Mike,
Thanks for the report and pictures.

[iflyrc3Dstyle]

Awesome Dude! Thanks!

[Kiwi]

Great stuff Mikey.

Looks like fun was had by all.

Great photos dude given you were there for a day only. Looks like you seen most of the day through the lens.

[Bryan Mailloux]

Looks great, Good to see some faces I recognize. Indoor is too much fun.

[PLANKBONE]

Thanks for the update. It looked like a real fun event!

[Matchless]

Just got back in to Mempho from E-Fest.

Bargman, was great to meet you in person and shoot the stuff.

Defintely was a great time. 318 registered pilots (last call I heard) is huge, but I still managed to get over 25 flights in.

Scale competition was great, and maybe next year myself and Craig Koerner will both make it to the finish line in pylon so we can actually compete! : )

Always great to see Bob and Wayne and Frank and....... (yup, I could go on and on!)

Mikey, I hope you don't mind, but I'm adding some pics I snapped at the event.

[bkflyer]

It was great to say HI Mike! Great pictures!

[Mike Bargman]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Matchless
	Just got back in to Mempho from E-Fest. Bargman, was great to meet you in person and shoot the stuff. Defintely was a great time. 318 registered pilots (last call I heard) is huge, but I still managed to get over 25 flights in. Scale competition was great, and maybe next year myself and Craig Koerner will both make it to the finish line so we can actually compete! : ) Always great to see Bob and Wayne and Frank and....... (yup, I could go on and on!) Mikey, I hope you don't mind, but I'm adding some pics I snapped at the event.

Ditto, Jeremy. Finally great to meet you in person, pal. Great to shoot it with you as well. Like I said. Lots of old friends, and lots of new ones!

	Quote: Originally Posted by bkflyer
	Great to say HI, Mike

Bruce, great seeing you too, man! Been a long time. See you soon.

[HuckinChikn]

What a killler time! The E-fest just gets bigger and better every year
Bargman, I wish i could have met you! There was so many people in that place on
saturday that i didnt know who was who if i hadent met them before. Next time for sure! Jeremy, you rock dude! great hangin out and nice flying!

[Mithrandir]

Wha'do'ya'think of the new TEAM FUTABA Shirts!?!?!? Way better then the Cal-Trans shirts from last year!!! lol

[Josh Price]

well I rolled out from e-fest at noon and pulled in the drive way at 12:30 this morning. man that was wy worth the long drive thank you frank I had a great time. I will be coming back next year and be the way the new team shirts looks awesome. very nice

[yakwrecker]

That was definalty an event worth going to. I wish i could of meet more FG guys there but between working and running around it was tough to find time to BS. I would like to thank everyone that came to Luke's RC booth we had a great time. And with all the stuff that you guys bought me and Luke didnt have to haul it all back home.

Matchless,
Nice to finally meet you and thanks for you know what. I hope it works out.

Jon

[HuckinChikn]

the new Futaba shirts are P.I.M.P! I do believe that i'll buy some FG swag
so when Im at a flying event people will know who i am

[Toro]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mithrandir
	Wha'do'ya'think of the new TEAM FUTABA Shirts!?!?!? Way better then the Cal-Trans shirts from last year!!! lol

Mike, I believe team FUTABA designed their last years shirts directly from "CDC" the California Department of Corrections INMATE uniform for the Fire Crews...

Lookin sharp this year.