Karl Rickards the RC Heli fanatic - Ep 184

When it comes to commitment to practice, it doesn't come more intense than those aeromodellers that choose to fly 3D. Con Gabriel is one such aeromodeller that has embraced all things 3D flying. Con joins us to share his life in aeromodelling from starting out to be inspired down the 3D aerobatics route.

Rick Gell is one of the driving forces behind the Advanced radio range of RC electronics and the Booma RC retail business. A lifelong aeromodeller, Rick's passion for the hobby combined with his "can do" attitude has lead to the development of world class products such as the Smooth Flite gyro system, digital switches, batteries, servos, power management products and much more. Rick shares his story in aeromodelling as well as the history of the Booma RC and Advanced Radio businesses that he runs with his son. A very interesting story of a man that has driven a new era in radio control systems.

Jason Amos is a lifelong aeromodeller whose passion began in the UK, chasing model planes across open fields. After moving to Australia, his involvement in the hobby deepened. Life brought its challenges, including a battle with depression, but in our conversation, Jason shares how aeromodelling became his lifeline, pulling him through the darkness and into a fulfilling life. He opens up about his journey with mental health, recovery, and his model planes. An inspiring story from a genuine and resilient enthusiast.

Scott Bardney is a rare breed that has been involved in model flying competition for more than a decade. Joining the scale aerobatics IMAC flying scene very early in his model flying career, Scott has become a consistent face at local competitions throughout Victoria and New South Wales. Living in rural New South Wales, Scott is fortunate to be able to fly from his own property and is even scheduled to host the Australian IMAC National competition at his property later in the year. Our chat with Scott uncovers his history in model flying in what is quite a unique story.

David Mifsud has had a love for aviation for a long time and he joins us to share his life in aeromodelling. As president of his local flying association, David is busy leading the ship while also trying to get out for a fly when he can. We discuss the flying scene in South Australia and of course talk model planes.

RC helicopter flying is alive and well thanks to people like our special guest Karl Rickards. A relative newcomer to RC helicopter flying, Karl has become a true fanatic, not only now becoming an accomplished flyer but also a strong advocate for the RC heli flying. Karl joins us to talk about the Boomstrike 2 RC heli event that he is hosting which has attracted many international pilots and a big wad of cash prizes. We also discuss a new website that Karl has built to help anyone wanting to get into RC heli flying. We love talking to passionate aeromodellers and they don't come more hyped than Karl.

Jared Goudge was born into aeromodelling, but now is forging his own path in RC flying. With a passion of "getting involved", Jared join us to share his life in aeromodelling and also tell us about a new STOL event that he is organising at his home club. If organising an event was not enough, Jared is also the President of the BawBaw Radiomodellers Association. A good young gentlemen that is set to be a force within the local flying scene.

Corey Kelmel is a dedicated aeromodeller keeping the art of model building alive. Based in the Seattle region, he joins us to share his journey in aeromodelling, from his early days of model flying to his deep passion for scratch-building. He talks about his love for the Multiplex FunCub, the challenges of constructing a large model, its unfortunate crash, and the rewarding process of rebuilding it. With a strong commitment to the hobby, Corey has equipped himself with a laser cutter, opening the door to countless new projects. A passionate RC flyer, he shows no signs of slowing down in this exciting pursuit.

Some of us fly our RC models occasionally, but for Ricardo Bertuna, it's a passion he pursues every chance he gets. Ricardo joins us to share his journey in aeromodelling—from the moment he first saw a model plane fly with his dad to his current role in the IMAC aerobatics scene. We’ll dive into his rise in the hobby, his leadership as president of the Australian Scale Aerobatics Association, and his involvement with his local state flying association, the VMAA.

Flying RC jets has become a passion for Anton Koller. Starting his aeromodlling journey from a young age, Anton has definitely lived up to our saying that all roads lead to RC jets. Anton joins us to share his story in RC flight, discusses the upcoming WangJets event and more.