AMA Member Sets Electric Helicopter World Record

Ken Jennings with his record-setting model.

    October 15, 2005, AMA member Ken Jennings (McDonald OH) set a world speed record for FAI electric-powered helicopters (class F5C). He achieved this feat at the Hubbard Wingsnappers flying field located in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania. Ken is the first American to set any FAI helicopter record.

     He flew his purpose-built helicopter to an average speed of 75.32 mph throughout the 200-meter course (one upwind and one downwind run). For this record the model is required to maintain an altitude of 5-35 meters during the runs and the 100-meter run-in zone.

     With winds gusting 15-25 knots, the speed difference between the upwind and downwind legs of the run was more than 26 mph. There is no doubt that the record speed would have been even higher had the wind conditions been better.

     The machine weighed 4,214 grams and was driven by a Neu motor and used Li-Poly batteries as a source of power.

     Ken is somewhat of a legend at the IRCHA (International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association) Jamboree, winning the helicopter drag-racing unlimited class last year with an electric-powered machine against .90-size internal-combustion-engine-powered helicopters.

     AMA congratulates Ken on this achievement. The record was so significant that the NAA (National Aeronautic Association) has selected it as one of the most memorable aviation records of 2005, earning Ken the same honor given to other notable records such as the speed-around-the-world record set by Steve Fossett and the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer. MA

—Steve Kaluf
Technical Director
 

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