In 1981, I was asked to fly my Byron F-16 in the Movie Blue Thunder. John Simone was the National Helicopter Champion then and owned and operated the company called Impact Effects, Inc. They blew up models in the movies. I had plenty of experience with my F-16, and Frank Johnson devised a set of retracts for it, thus making it perfect for the movie, so I was hired. John Simone also owned and operated the first RC helicopter manufacturing plant in the USA, called American RC helicopters. They made the Mantis and the Eagle. He was the first known person to attempt and successfully loop a RC helicopter. Only a couple of full size, specialized helis could do that, as it was not a practical maneuver for helicopters, and still isnt. He also taught me to fly helicopters, for which I am grateful.Now we have RC Helicopters that will hover upside down. We have come a long way since 1981. Hope you enjoy this and are enlightened. Now days it is all done with computers.
