The on-and-off rain this weekend did not stop planes and helicopters from racing around the Academy of Model Aeronautics in Muncie and competing to win in this year's International Extreme Flight Competition.
More than 36 remote control airplane and helicopter pilots participated this weekend, showing their skills in choreography and precision. With competitors and viewers from around the world, the annual event has become an important event for some of the world's most famous flyers.
For its ninth year, about 5,000 people attended from Friday to Sunday, event coordinator Frank Noll said. Noll started the event himself, and it has grown to become an international competition. Noll said this year's competition had seven or eight participants from around the world, but not many people from the local area participated in the event. The closest participant was from Ohio.
Competitor Kyle Dahl, from California, said he has been flying his helicopter for about four years. Dahl has participated in several national and international competitions, including ones in Las Vegas and Germany last year. Dahl said he grew up watching his father fly, and now he enjoys traveling, having his hobby as a job.
There were also spectators from around the country and the world. Felipe Echavarria and his family traveled all the way to Muncie from Medellin, Colombia. Echavarria said this was his first time attending this particular event, but he has followed remote control airplane and helicopter competitions since he was a boy.
"It's in my blood," he said. "My dad also flew airplanes and I've flown them all my life."
The three day event offered more than the international competition. There was a night flight competition Saturday night, and on Sunday afternoon there was an obstacle course race.
On Saturday, after strong winds, a storm and a fireworks display, three competitors took their illuminated helicopters and planes and flew to music.
Bobby Watts, a competitor from Baltimore, won the night flight competition. This was his fifth year participating in the international competition and he has participated in night flights, but he had never performed with a choreography as big as the one Saturday night, he said. Watts' choreography had the audience clapping and cheering as his helicopter danced and changed its lights to the music.
"I had never put something on this scale," he said. "I think this year's [choreography] has been the most pleasing to me, and hopefully for the audience."
Watts recently participated in the Coffs Harbour Helifest, held in Australia, and has participated in other events around the U.S.
The competition has grown over the past few years, and this year the competition had more participation from the foreign competitors, chief judge Will Berninger said.
"I think this year's competition was different from other years because the foreign competitors were more prepared," he said. "Competitors flew more extreme, and there were new maneuvers."
Berninger said he enjoys these competitions because they are spectator sports.
"It's a lot of fun to compete, and it's also really fun to watch." he said.
2010 International Extreme Flight Championship winners
Prizes
1st place -- $3,000
2nd place -- $2,000
3rd place -- $1,000
The other four places received $250
Airplane:
1st John Glezellis
2nd Jason Noll
3rd Gabriel Altuz
4th Seth Arnold
5th Nicolas Pinzon
6th RJ Gritter
7th Sean McMurty
Helicopter:
1st Kyle Dahl
2nd Booby Watts
3rd Jamie Robertson
4th Kyle Stacy
5th Colin Bell
6th Matt Botos
7th Nick Maxwell
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