Pilot Profile: Ben Storick

Ben is 13 and is a Field Rep for Align. Ben most recently competed in the 2008 LasVegas Funfly / contest where he placed 2nd in the 600 advanced class. Click the "Read More" link for the full profile.

Ben Storick:.

We first met Ben Storick at the 2006 IRCHA NW funfly in Lehi, UT. At that time he was flying Trex450's. As we attended other events around the area we continued to come across Ben and his dad John who was there providing mechanical and financial support.

Ben at age 13

Over this time we have become good friends with them both and recently had the pleasure of having Ben come stay with us in rural Utah, for a week of flying, and hanging out. During this time we got to see how much Ben's flying had improved, and we also got a chance to check out his equipment and helis, including his new Trex 700n. As the week went on, I pressed Ben to answer a few questions for this profile page.

Heres what he had to say.

Tell us a little about yourself, how old are you now, and where do you live?

I'm 13 yr. old now, and I live in LasVegas, Nevada.

How old were you when you got interested in RC?

I got started flying planes at age 7 and at age 11 I started flying helis (helis are a lot more fun!)

Who Helped you get going?

I acually started by my self and my dad thought the rc stuff was cool so i taught him to fly.

When did you get interested in helis?

I was interested in helis when i just turned 11 and my dad got me a blade cx for my birthday. That CX was my first RC Helicopter.

What about your Heli fleet, what do you have now?

My electric fleet now is: 2 trex 450 SE's and soon maybe trex 500.
My Nitro fleet now is: a trex 600 Nitro PRO and a Trex 700 Nitro PRO

Ben flying the 600n at our local soccer field/heliport

Here's Ben and his latest Heli, an Align 700 Nitro Pro

What about your equipment, tell us what you use.

For Radio gear, I use a Spektrum DX7 with a AR 7000 in the 600 and 700 . On the 450's I use the AR 6200.
My blade preference is for Radix 600/95 on the 600n and 690/105's on the 700n. On the 450's I use Align CF's
I use CoolPower 30% Heli Fuel.
My gyro preference is the Spartan ds760
For Servos, I use JR 8717's on cyclic for both the 50 and 90 sized nitro helis, on the 450's I use xxx. On the 600n, I use a Futaba 9254 on rudder and 9252 on throttle, and on the 700n I'm using a 8900g on tail and again a 9252 on throttle.
I'm also using the Align 2in1 regulator on both 600n and 700n

Whats your favorite maneuver ?

A pirouetting loop

What the hardest maneuver for you to pull off?

A pirouetting figure 8

At the field, with the 600n, inverted climbout

Whats your worst crash ever?

My worst crash is when flying my trex 600 and I did a big loop. And when it was coming nose down the spindle came apart (due to forgeting to locktite the grip bolts) so the blades went bye bye and the heli went down into the ground. Let me just say it almost destroyed everything on it.

What are your future goals?

I want to be a professesional pilot.

Wringing out the new 700n

Here are some video links to Ben's flying:

Here is a video of Ben flying his 700n at our local field. The heli is new and rich still, but its still looking great. T-Rex700 92Mb
Also we have a video of Bens Noon demo flight at the April Fools funfly in St. George Utah. Noon Demo 84Mb
Here is a video on RunRyder from the LasVegas funfly / Contest where Ben placed 2nd in his class. Ben on RR

Thanks, Ben for the information and the fun we had hanging out, flying, and telling stories.

Joomla SEF URLs by Artio