The Annual RDRC FLY FOR TOTS - Sept. 20th-21st, 2008

2008 Fly For Tots Sponsored & Team Pilots

This is a list of who will be performing live during the Noon Time Demos and flying with everyone during the 2008 Fly For Tots. Check back often, as this list will be growing regularly!

->Andy Kane - Andy Kane currently flies one of the first Composite-ARF Yak 55SP and he loves "big and powerful". He is a JR Team member, has been a modeler for over 33 years and has held a private pilots license since 1975. Andy has attended the Joe Nall Fly In for the last 10 years, competed in every World Aerobatic Masters, now the Don Lowe World Aerobatic Masters since 1996, and has competed in the IMAC Nationals in the Unlimited category for numerous years. See Team JR's Andy Kane and his HUGE Bill Hempel Cub and Composite ARF's at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Lee Morey - Lee is sponsored by JR, Horizon Hobby, Extreme Flight RC. Lee is an excellent 3D pilot and put's on an awesome wing tip to weed dragging show with his Extreme Flight 110" Yak! See Team Extreme's Lee Morey and his transmitter workouts at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Josh Bunn - Josh is sponsored by East R/C, Vess Aero and is the District IV IMAA Director. He is an avid IMAC competitor, competing in the Sportsman Class and is also an awesome 3D pilot. Josh can make a 40% Carden walk the dog. See Josh Bunn bending some gimbles at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->David Hayes - Mr. Top Gun 2008! David started flying R/C with RDRC in 1973 and has been competing in scale contests since 1975. He moved to Roanoke Rapids, NC in 1980 and worked as an A&P mechanic for 12 years before working in the wind tunnel model and RPV building business. David has won the coveted title of Mr. Top Gun this year (2008) and has won countless awards with his highly detailed scale masterpieces, including the Master Class at Top Gun 2005 and was crowned "Grand Champion" in designer class at the 2003 Scalemasters' Championships. His award winning Rockwell Thrush "Crop Duster" with functional sprayers is a museum piece and is a model that has to been seen in action to be believed. He was one of the original members of the AMA Chartered 95th Squadron MAC Inc and currently holds the position of President /CEO. See David Hayes spraying for pests at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Elton Fairless - Elton is a Team Futaba pilot and has accomplished a lot in his many years of R/C activity. He is an impeccable precision and 3D pilot. A former XFC and Don Lowe Masters competitor, graduate of NC State University under Professor Robert Vess, Elton is now a Senior Aerospace Engineer at Cherry Point NC for the Navy/Marine C-130 and Fire Scout UAV programs. For 2008 Elton will be flying a Great Planes 38% Extra 300S powered by a DA-150 with Vess Prop and guided by a Futaba 14MZ with the 2.4G FASST module. See Elton Fairless wringing out his 38%'er at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Jeff Holsinger - Jeff is a Team JR Pilot and has been a heavy duty contributor to the hobby industry and community for many years. In 2006, Jeff won the acclaimed Joe Nall Award for his excellence in community, hard work and dedication to the sport. Jeff is known the world over for his extensive flying abilities, vast equipment knowledge and for installing model jet engines (YES, REAL Turbines) into models that aren't normally powered this way. His workmanship is second to none and to see his turbo prop QuiQue 35% Yak and Giant Turbo Shaft Helicopter in action is mechanical mastery you'll not soon forget. See Jeff Holsinger wowing the crowd with his turbine induced contrails at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Jeff Foley - Jeff has been an expert modeler and pilot for over 44 years. His accomplishments include Mr. Top Gun 2000 & 2003, 5 Time Top Gun Master Class winner, 5 Time US Nationals Designer Class winner and is a Team JR and Team Horizon Pilot. Jeff is also involved with UAV/RPV development and is an excellent full scale pilot. It has become the norm to be treated by a fly-by or two by Jeff and his beautiful Stearman Bi-Plane. He also includes a free airplane ride in his vintage beauty in our raffles every year! See Jeff Foley Flying models from the ground and in the real thing at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->R.J. Gritter - RJ is 17 years old and lives in Greensboro, NC. He is a full time student, Full-scale private pilot (holding a few records), has been flying RC for 5 years and competing for 1.5 years. RJ is sponsored by Hacker Brushless Motors, Fancy Foam Models, 2DogRC and is an AMA Turbine waiver holder. One heck of an Indoor F3P flyer and a tremendous 3D/IMAC pilot, he has competed in the ETOC 2007 and 2008, Arizona EF-Expo Invitational, 2008 Futaba XFC 2008 IMAC, including many others! See RJ's 1-Wing Landings at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Robert Vess - Robert is a Team JR pilot and is sponsored by JR, Horizon, Duralite, Vess Aero and several others. A former Professor of Aerodynamics at NCSU and an excellent 3D/Precision R/C pilot, Robert has been involved in almost every aspect of aircraft design, working with many full scale aircraft manufacturers and designers like Cirrus, NASA, etc. and model aircraft manufacturers and designers like BVM, Jerry L. SMith, etc. Robert has also been heavily involved with aerodynamics work with NASCAR for Chip Ganassi, Felix Sabates and Petty Enterprises, among others. His work on the Cirrus Vision SJ50 has changed the thinking of aerodynamics in full scale aviation forever. Robert is also known the world over through the success of his high efficiency propellers for giant scale modellers. He is also the "VOICE" of the RDRC Fly For Tots, keeping the crowd well informed of the events activities. See Team JR's Robert Vess and his hard pulling Vess Props at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Kenny Thompson - Kenny Thompson is a Team Pilot for Beam Helicopters. He regularly competes in local area RC helicopter fun fly competitions. His numerous top 3 finishes is highlighted by a recent 1st place finish in the Carnage 450 Helicopter Pylon Races at the 2008 IRCHA Helicopter Jamboree in Muncie Indiana. He has been a fan of RC modeling for his entire life but has been a dedicated 3D helicopter pilot for the last 5 years. On weekdays Kenny makes as an artist developing Xbox 360 video games. However, on weekends a switch is flipped and he can normally be found sharpening his 3d helicopter piloting skills at his home field, RDRC, or the closest helicopter fun fly. Spectators should expect to see nothing less than a down on the deck, 3d smack down, helicopter demo that will push his machine to the ragged edge of its physical capabilities.

->Team Outlaw - Team Outlaw is comprised of Jay Benson, Larry Lewis and Robert Vess! These guys can do things with the Jerry L. Smith designed Extreme Flight OUTLAW that defy all of the laws of physics. Performing maneuvers like 140mph dives-pulling out at the last second, the "WAD", the infamous "Kentucky Pile Driver" and much more. You'll likely get to witness upwards of 10 of these hair raising delta wings flying at once at this years FFT. There may even be a surprise pilot in store for everyone! See Team Outlaw fighting gravity at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Al Young - Al Young is the owner and chief designer at JTEC/Radiowave and flies for Futaba. His designs are extremely popular in the giant scale 3D realm and IMAC competition. See Al Young taking his designs for a mind boggling ride at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Chris Mulcahy - Chris is co-owner of Evil R/C Products and is an intense helicopter pilot, as well as accomplished aerobatic airplane pilot. Chris can make a helicopter do things that it should physically be incapable of and can flip a switch to put it through extremely graceful maneuvers, as well. See Chris Mulcahy flying his rotor wing inverted, 3 inches on the deck at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Matt Richards - Matt is a 3DHobbyShop.com pilot and became interested in flying while attending the 2005 Fly-for-Tots. He learned to fly shortly thereafter with a Kadet LT40 and began flying 3D aerobatics. His first contest was the '06 Youth Masters, finishing 3rd of 8 in the Basic class. He also placed 2nd of 7 in Basic at the '06 Fayetteville IMAC contest. He moved up to Sportsman for the ’07 season, and placed 2nd in the freestyle event at the '07 Fayetteville IMAC contest. This year, Matt attended the Youth Masters and placed first in the Advanced class. Matt Flew the opening noontime demo flights at SEFF '07, flying the 3DHS Katana. He also flew the opening demo flight at the '07 Fly-for-Tots with his 3DHS 50cc Extra 260 prototype. Matt can fly anything put in his hands and excels in precision and 3D flight arenas. Matt has been a featured pilot in several Higher Plane Productions promotional and quick-take videos and has been featured in local and national publications, not to mention he can pluck a six stringer. See Matt Richards gettin' dirty with his 3DHobbyShop.com 50cc Extra 300 at the 2008 Fly For Tots.

->Josh Mathews - Josh is sponsored and employed by K/C Hobby in Archdale, NC. Josh is an incredible pilot and excels in almost every aspect of R/C. He is an expert Glider, Heli and 3D Pilot. Many of you may remember his vertical stab dragging antics with a J-3 Cub at last years Fly For Tots. See Josh Mathews wringing out his new 30% Hangar-9 Carden Edition Yak 54 at the 2008 Fly For Tots.