It's been a while since my last newsletter, and I've had a number of emails telling me this too :), sorry about that. It's been hectic around here, getting myself and the helicopters ready for our expedition to Australia next week has been keeping me flat out!

Product Reviews Section
The former rchelicopters.org site provided a great resource where people could share their opinions about various product lines in our hobby. Now that that site has gone, I've tried to replicate it's functionality here at littlerotors.com. A system like this is only as good as the people who use it, so please feel free to get in there and use it! Click here!

WIN SONIC NITRO DVD!
Rob Gunther at Yapadu Videos has created an excellent DVD recording of the 13th Annual Maryland Funfly including pilots such as Jason Krause, Ron Osinski and up-and-comer, Kevin Ellison. You can win a copy of this DVD by answering a few simple questions! Click here!

Australian Trip
Next Thursday myself, my girlfriend Sharon, my mate Darryll and the Tempest and the CS board an Air New Zealand flight for Melbourne, Australia to attend the 3D Downunder and the Victorian State F3C Champs. This is the first time I've taken the helis overseas and has been quite an exercise in preparation. Read more about this below.

Safety First
The danger aspect of our hobby has been brought home to us all the past week with the tragic passing of Ron Kyle in the US. As I understand it, Ron was teaching a student how to fly when the student got disoriented while nose in and the helicopter flew into Ron with fatal consequences. Everyone who has ever been around helis knows just how quickly they can move when they want to. You can never tell what's going to happen even with the most well maintained machines.

I have been as guilty as anyone else by doing stunts and stupid things in places where I shouldn't, Ron's accident has given me a healthy new respect for the potential for disaster. Please keep this in the back of your head when you're next flying.

It should also be remembered however that we shouldn't over react to this incident. No doubt there will be fall out in the form of club committees taking this example and placing what could be deemed as unrealistic rules upon helicopters at their sites. No doubt we will find the full facts of this incident in due course, until then, lets continue to exercise caution when operating our machines.

Market
The Buy/Sell Market has been growing also. It should be noted that this section will accept postings from all over the world, not just New Zealand. List your items free of charge! See the market at www.littlerotors.com/market/

Articles this issue are:

Flying the Fury Tempest FAI
I've now had over 82 flights and 40 litres of fuel through my Tempest in the month it's been flying. It's had one F3C competition and I'm very happy with it so far. Here's what I have to say about it. Click here

Pilot Profile - Pete (Panos) Niotis
Pete Niotis is an up-and-coming 3D flyer in the States, he talks about starting flying in 2000 through to competing in the recent Xtreme Flight Championships. Click here

Australian Trip 03
In less than two weeks I'm off to Australia to compete in a 3D and a F3C competition being held there. This is an overview of the leadup to this trip. Click here

Introduction to the Century Predator
The Century Predator is one of the newest machines on the market and has it's sights firmly planted on Miniature Aircraft's Fury. We have a brief look at this exciting new machine, hopefully in the near future we'll have an indepth report on this new machine which looks set to take the market by storm. Click here

3D Masters 2004
Details for the 2004 round of the World's leading 3D competition have come out! Click here

Feel free to contact me at simon@littlerotors.com at any time.

Si