Guinness attempt at NEHC Phenom

[jgriffin_iii]

On September 14, 2013 an attempt was made to break the Guinness Record for the most RC helicopters in flight simultaneously. The attempt was made as part of our annual Heli Phenomenon in Mansfield, MA.

In total 116 pilots signed up, but only 100 participated. Although there were no collisions, 6 helicopters failed to complete the minute in the air. Since the maximum failure rate allowed by Guinness is 5%, the attempt is not considered valid.

I would like to thank all involved especially the 100 people who participated in this attempt. It was a lot of fun and an awesome sight to behold. Well done everyone!

I will be posting the names of participants who wished to be recognized as part of this thread.

John Griffin
New England Heli Crew

[jgriffin_iii]

Participating Pilots (part 1):

John Dayad, Brooklyn, NY;Khalil Nurullah, Brooklyn, NY; Mark Ryder, Ann Arbor, MI; Joseph Rennie, Sandwitch, MA; Christopher Atti, Plymouth, MA; Gary Ponte, Wareham, MA;Ben Storick, Las Vegas, NV; Gary Legee, Medway, MA; Doug Murray, Peabody, MA; Aram Badmadjian, Macungie, PA; Al Tulone, Stony Point, NY; Brandon Galther Waldorf, MD; Carlos Marin; Boynton Beach, FL;Leon Luke, Edmonton, Alberta CANADA; Jonathan Walker, Leasburg, VA; Nick Maxwell, Fort Wayne, IN; Michael Gottlieb, Commack, NY; Stephen Rose, Pawtucket, RI; Josef Grchelh, Glen Cove, NY; Shawn Grabek, Glen Cove, NY; Russell Silverstein, Homer, NY; Carlos Dacruet, Taunton, MA; Brian Copland, Raynham, MA; Al Voisine, Drumond NB CANADA; Peter O'Connell, Portsmouth, RI; Richard Daggett, Harrisville, RI; Rob Wegryh, Coventry, CT; Chris DeLeo, Naugatuck, CT; Tiago De Carvalna, Greeniwch, CT

[jgriffin_iii]

Participating Pilots (part 2):

Luis Ries, Nashua NH; Bob Yen JR, Plymouth, MA; Rick Sullivan; East Sandwich, MA; Jim Peters, Arlington, MA; Aaron Pitts, Norton, MA; Robert Moore, Franklin, MA; Steven McNally, Duxbury, MA; Cade Ciripompa, Hudson, NH; Nathan Peck, Mashpee, MA; Corey Stanco, Sagamore Beach, MA; Robert Larson, Deep River, CT; Joe Comeroski, Oakdale, CT; Andrew Robinson, Watertown, CT; Matt Graham, West Deptford, NJ; Ed Johnson, Dumont NJ; Igor Fokeev, Cedarhurst, NY; Alex Gagescu, New York, NY; Victor Malpica, Queens Village, NY; Larry Frank, Lake Worth, FL; Danick Chekn, Farmington, CT; Tyler McCormack, Sandown, NH; Kevin Moore, Windham, NH; Raymond Nunes, Westport, MA; Adam Courtemanche, Windham, ME; Mike Lewandowski, Enfield, CT; Franck Douglas Locks, Chappaqua, NY; Konstantinos Psonis, Fort Lee, NY; Mike Lepousky, Stockton Springs, ME; Jason Brown, Attleboro, MA; Scott Vickery, Plymouth, MA; Ed Streich, Conwall, NY; Shawn Leclair, Norton, MA; Dave Williams, Newark, DE; Nathan Peterson, Candenberg, PA; Frank Colombo, Port Jefferson Station, NY; Tim Blanchard, Westwood, MA; Lars McKim, Westwood, MA

[jgriffin_iii]

Participating Pilots (part 3):

Owen Morrison, Boston, MA; Stephen Faust, Groton, MA; Matt McMillin, Dracut, MA; Devon Conners, Brunswick, ME; Wesley Griffith, Elmont, NY; Art Hughes, Lakeville, PA; David Yuen, Brooklyn, NY; Rich Rendos, Port Chester, NY; Eyal Stein, Sharon, MA; Eliot Lebsack, Windham, NH; Raja Bontcosh, Franklin, MA; Jim Norris, Hopedale, MA; Al Sabatino, Farmingville, NY; David Gadomski, New Bedford, MA; Jarod Roy, Fairhaven, MA

There were 22 pilots who wished not to have their names published.


Thank you all again!

[BaconRaygun]

Well, we were close! I do believe I may have been one of the six helis to fail... I hit LVC maybe 30 seconds before everybody started landing.

Hopefully we'll get it next year.

Just a thought, next time I think we need to spread out a bit further to the ends of the field, it was really congested in the middle. At the ends, there was more room to spread out a little, and I think this would help with regards to the actual flying portion. We had a few really close calls in the middle and I'm afraid a collision can cause a domino effect due to flying parts and whatnot.

[poconnell]

Originally Posted by BaconRaygun

... I'm afraid a collision can cause a domino effect due to flying parts and whatnot.

My mantra for the whole flight was: "Don't be THAT guy."

[jgriffin_iii]

A collision would have been a bad thing, but it certainly would have added to the excitement!

[Bob O]

Man that's a bummer you guys missed it by so little.

Sent from my phone

[jgriffin_iii]

Thanks Bob, was a blast to watch... Looked like a swarm of angry bees waiting to pounce ..

[arice]

Hey all,

Here is a little video put together for the Guinness attempt at the NEHC. It was a lot of fun. Thanks John for setting this up!

[BaconRaygun]

Originally Posted by poconnell

My mantra for the whole flight was: "Don't be THAT guy."

LOL, me too! I had a sign behind where I was hovering so I just stuck my heli into that box and held it there. I had to move a little bit to avoid a collision, but I was generally OK. Lucky that the guy to my right happened to be somebody I know so that provided a little peace of mind, but that scale heli to my left made me nervous!

Awesome video!

[caralmar]

Dang, thought we had it! The guy to my right was one of the failed attempts. Unfortunately, his little Blade 450 got tangled up in the tall grass on takeoff and it tipped over right away. The guy to my left was really nervous and going side to side the whole time. I just concentrated on getting my heli high enough so that if he crossed over to my lane, it wouldn't hit my heli. You're right Igor... need more room next time!