Ah yes, the awesome 80's and 1980's RC helicopters. Remember what it was like, or wondering what it was like? If so, here's a 1986 promotional video by GMP showcasing their lineup of helicopters.
I recall this video playing on a looping VHS tape at our local hobby shop next to the GMP heli display. While I was only flying RC airplanes at the time and certainly couldn't afford an RC helicopter in my mid teens, I was always captivated watching that video. For better or worse, the seed was planted and the dark side was calling! I finally acquired my first RC helicopter as a young adult in 1989 a Miniature Aircraft XCell 40 and have loved this hobby ever since.
Such great memories from a very fun and enjoyable time in RC aviation. Pure line of sight flying with no BS to distract. FM & PCM radios. The smells & sounds of nitro hanging in air. An equal mixture of frustration & fun. Just mastering the noseinhover for many of us was cause for celebration.
A time before easy to fly drones for the masses started polluting the skies; pigeonholing and forcing nonsensical restrictions & regulations on traditional line of sight RC aviation worldwide. This has taken so much fun out of the hobby as we continue to lose flying fields and permissions, while having to jump through a growing number of hoops to keep what few remaining privileges we have.
Rant aside, while we can't go back in time, we can at least appreciate the many fond memories from this much simpler time in RC aviation.
If you are interested in RC helicopter history, you may enjoy the Heli History page on my website: https://www.rchelicopterfun.com/rche...
Time Chapters:
00:00 Intro & GMP Cricket
00:52 GMP Cobra
02:55 GMP Competitor
03:38 GMP Cobra Jet Ranger
05:21 Hirobo SST Jet Ranger
06:10 Hirobo Shuttle
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