The best place for your RC Helicopter daily news, heli deals, new products and RC helicopters events. HeliDaily.com – RC Helicopter News around the world.

Father And Son Interview – Dave And Kyle Dahl

Ron Tossman | Mar 09, 2012 | Comments 0

Kyle Dahl is a team pilot for Mikado and competes regularly in the 3D Masters, XFC, One competition etc. and is one of the leading pilots in the world. His father, Dave, is with him at all events and competitions, and has become a prominent character in the world of RC helicopters. We had the opportunity to interview the two and get to know the men behind the names. Enjoy:

Dave:

Question: Who brought you into the hobby of RC helicopters?

Answer:

I started flying radio controlled models in 1968 (sailplanes). In 1978 a modeling friend showed-up at the field with a Kavan Bell Jet Ranger. Once I saw it hover (that’s about all you could do with one back then), I became interested in the challenges of R/C helicopters, and have more or less been at it ever since.

Question: How would you sum up the passing year?

Answer:

Stressful. The process of prototyping Mikado’s Logo Xxtreme 800 under a strict time line, preparing Kyle’s machines for all the major competitions using a new and unproven model, and having to go through those competitions and major events with the whole world watching to see if the XXtreme was all it was supposed to be, frankly, wasn’t fun. But looking back on it, it was necessary to prove to the heli community that Mikado was on track with the first fully 3D capable 800 class heli.

Question: What was your proudest moment as a father when it comes to Kyle’s career?

Answer:

There are lots of proud moments for me with Kyle, but I guess if I had to pick one as standing out over the rest, it would be Kyle’s first big win of a major world-class 3D competition, which was the 2010 XFC. It was the first time a Mikado heli had won the competition, it was the first time a smaller 600 class heli had won (Kyle flew the Logo 600), and as I recall, it was the first time an electric had won. Kind-of a grand-slam when it came to firsts.

Question: How many hours a week do you estimate you spend on the hobby?

Answer:

We live in a latitude that allows for flying most of the year, so Kyle and I fly almost daily. With keeping multiple machines and lots of support equipment in top shape, and the time I spend on the forums supporting Mikado helis, I’d say I spend 2-3 hours everyday involved in some way with the hobby.

Question: What are your thoughts concerning the new XXtreme?

Answer:

The Xxtreme is quite a unique heli, in that it really breaks new ground in the hobby and the industry. Never before has an 800 class heli been purposely designed for full tilt 3D flying. As a result, most pilots when they first see an XXtreme in person, are taken back by its size and presence. There’s no getting around it, it’s a BIG heli. But due to Mikado’s design attention to the demands of such a large heli performing aggressive 3D flight, the machine flies with precision, power, and frankly, nothing really compares to it. Now I’m not saying 700 class and smaller machines don’t fly well. Of course they do. But the experience of flying such a large and powerful machine, with the presence and sound that an Xxtreme has, well, as I said, there’s no comparison.

Question: What are your plans for the coming year?

Answer:

Kyle is planning on doing much the same thing in 2012 that he did in 2011, which will be flying, competing, and showcasing Mikado’s helis, including some new stuff as you might expect. My plans are to support Kyle in all this as I’ve done in the past.

Question: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Answer:

Five years? Well, the future is hard to predict. But by then Kyle will be out of college, will be his own man doing who knows what, and I just might revert back to being a regular hobbyist. Sounds kind-of boring though – HA!

Question: Who do you consider are the people who affected you most in the hobby?

Answer:

From the early days, I always looked-up to the consistent competitors, like Curtis Youngblood, Wayne Mann and the F3C type guys (3D flying hadn’t arrived yet). So I have always respected precision in flying styles, even after 3D flying became the rage. I think this is why Kyle’s style of precision and smoothness in his 3D flying came about. From the start, I was always encouraging Kyle to make his maneuvers centered, symmetrical, smooth, and to have a beginning and an end.

Question: What difference do you see in the flying style over the last few years?

Answer:

Well, most pilots can discern the difference between the wild and unconstrained “smack” style of 3D flying, and a pilot who can fly all the 3D maneuvers, but in a more precise and skilled style. From what I’ve seen in the past two years, it seems to me that “smack” is becoming less of the rage, as it is often the same set of low level maneuvers repeated over and over again, making it less enjoyable to watch. I’d much rather watch a pilot practice a relatively simple low level funnel 8, in all eight variations, than see an pilot piro flip, collective pump, ground stop, and then repeat it seven more times.

Question: What do you foresee as the next big thing in the heli products or technology?

Answer:

I’m not good at foreseeing what’s coming next. But mechanics and motors seem like they are about at their limit for the moment, or well on their way to being so. I’m hoping for a major break-through in battery technology. That, and I’d like to see all the electronics on the heli (radio, BEC’s, ESC’s flybarless control systems, data loggers…anything electronic that has an adjustment on or in it), fully integrated, data linked, and adjustable from the transmitter. One can dream can’t they.

Question: What was your favorite period in the hobby?

Answer:

For me, it was the insatiable appetite in the early days for learning to hover, fly circuits, the first aerobatics and auto rotations. It’s a magical time for anyone learning the hobby. And watching Kyle go through the same period when he was a youngster was immensely satisfying for me as well.

Question: In what way, do you think, did the hobby affect your relationship with your son?

Answer:

The hobby and my relationship with Kyle are almost one in the same. We have been doing it together for some long now, it’s almost like the hobby is the relationship, and the relationship is the hobby. One thing is for certain, kids are so much better off if the son and the dad have something in common they can do together. Almost guarantees the kid will by-pass all the bad stuff out there as he grows up.

Question: Give us a link to your favorite video (of Kyle’s flying)

Answer:

This is a video from the 2010 German Heli Masters Finals Flight to Music. It’s not well known, but it is one of my favorites. Kyle was pressed for time to get ready for the event, and had to work really hard and long to get this flight routine down before the competition. I recall the headaches and frustrations he went through trying to get the choreography set to the music. But he pulled it off, and the result to me goes down as a “Kyle classic”.

Kyle:

Question: When did you start flying RC Helis and who brought you into the hobby?

Answer:

My dad has been doing R/C modeling most of his life, and I just grew-up around R/C in general. Since I can remember, my dad always took me to the flying field with him, and I was flying by age 7. But I didn’t decide to do just helis until I was 13.

Question: How would you sum up the passing year?

Answer:

2012 was a good year for me, having made the podium at the XFC, 3D Masters, and winning the IRCHA “ONE” Competition. But the year was more stressful than usual. Taking on a new machine (the Mikado XXtreme 800), and trying to prepare for the major competitions and events while still trying to figure out what battery, motor, pinion and ESC all work well together on a totally new class and size of heli, plus prototyping the mechanics, was not very fun to be honest. It’s hard enough when you’re working with a proven machine and power system. But making it all up as you go, what a headache.

Question: What is the biggest difference you felt when flying (and competing) with a 800 machine?

Answer:

Flying the XXtreme 800 is a different experience. Now I’m not going to say it flies better in EVERY aspect over a smaller class of heli, for one thing, due to its size and weight (those pesky laws of physics), it’s not as quick in collective acceleration as a hot 700 class heli turning at a mega high head speed. But when you get behind the sticks of one, the power and presence of such a large model having the quickness and performance it has, combined with the sound, precision and stability that only comes from a larger model, makes the experience quite unique. I haven’t met anyone yet who’s flown one that doesn’t like it. And now that the machine is available to the public, the reviews of the model as guys get them flying, have been universally positive.

Question: What are your thoughts concerning the new XXtreme?

Answer:

The conversation for the past year has often been about whether Mikado was off base and headed in the wrong direction in the market place by introducing a purposely designed fully 3D capable 800 class heli, especially when battery, motor, ESC and blade manufacturers weren’t at the time producing the components needed for such a machine. Everyone was hoping Mikado would just offer a 700 class heli like everyone else. But the people at Mikado are innovators, followed their own hearts, and by all indications, the XXtreme 800 has broken open a whole new market, and the industry is following suit.

Question: Will you be competing in the new FAI F3N league?

Answer:

Probably not. F3N has not taken root at all in the U.S. at this point, and it would be practically impossible for me to be a consistent competitor from a continent away.

Question: What are your plans for the coming year and what events are you planning to attend?

Answer:

I’m going to be attending and competing at the Rotor Live show in Germany, the XFC and IRCHA in the U.S., 3D Masters in the Netherlands, and possibly the German Heli Masters as well. There are of course some more local but very large and well attended fun-fly events here on the west coast of the U.S. like the Southern California HeliFreak Fun-Fly in the Fall, as well as the Orlando Heli Blowout in Florida this winter, and possibly some others I can figure out how to attend as the year unfolds.

Question: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Answer:

I will just have gotten out of college, probably trying to find and secure a job, but I imagine I will still be flying. Not sure with what, with who, or where, but still flying something. It’s in my blood I think, and thus going to be a part of my life regardless of how the future unfolds.

Question: Who do you consider are the people who affected you most in the hobby?

Answer:

In 2007 (I was age 13 then), I was at a heli fun fly with my dad and saw for the first time up close and personal an R/C heli flying aggressive 3D, and the pilot was Allen Szabo. I could 3D a little at that time, but after seeing that, something clicked with me, and that’s when I decided to I wanted to excel at 3D heli flying and start competing. As it turned out two years later, I out-scored Allen flying in the Masters Class at the Align Ultimate 3D Competition in Las Vegas. But if it wasn’t for him, I may have never seriously got started down the “3D” road.

Question: What difference do you see in the flying style over the last few years?

Answer:

When I got serious about learning to fly 3D helis, “smack” was emerging as the “king” of flying styles. But my dad pressed me to fly with precision, learn all my maneuvers in both directions and multiple orientations, not to perform repetitive maneuvers, and to fly smooth and controlled. So I never became a great “smack” pilot, but excelled in flying to music and flying difficult “skill” maneuvers. I think “smack” has run its course, and guys are starting to work towards a more precise version of 3D flying, which is actually more difficult to learn to do well, but much more entertaining to watch. But, a blend is best, as some “smack” is good to have in every routine. It just should not be the dominant theme of your flying style (of course, that’s just my opinion). One thing I can say for certain, is if you want to compete and make the podium at the major competitions, you can’t just be a “smack” pilot and get there.

Question: What do you foresee as the next big thing in heli products or technology?

Answer:

Being an electric only heli pilot since 2008, my heart is set on the next major battery technology break-through. Imagine batteries at ½ the weight for the same capacity, or twice the capacity at the same weight. And life spans of maybe a thousand flights, vs. the hundreds we’re hoping for (but rarely get), with the batteries we have now.

Question: What was your favorite period in the hobby?

Answer:

I think the present is my favorite period in the hobby. With all the innovation of maneuvers, and the progression of 3D, I find it really entertaining to see, and participate in.

Question: In what way, do you think, did the hobby affect your relationship with your father?

Answer:

The hobby, and specifically the preparations for competitions we’ve done over the years, has made my dad and I pretty close. That doesn’t mean we don’t knock heads sometimes, but the truth is, we really are a team. No way I would be where I am today if it wasn’t for my dad’s help, guidance and coaching, and on the other hand, my dad admits he’s lived some of his dreams of being in and around the competition scene and excelling in the hobby, but has done it vicariously through me. So we have each helped the other achieve things in the hobby we couldn’t have done so without the other. That’s makes for a pretty cool relationship.

Question: Give us a link to your favorite flight

Answer:

One flight that I particularly enjoyed was my Ircha ONE Competition flight 2011. The whole season had been stressful with prototyping the XXtreme and competing at the same time, so that flight I just went out and had some good fun, so I really enjoyed it: