Nick Maxwell Products is an all in one location to find the latest news on current and future product releases related to my own designs and companies that I represent.
My name is Nick Maxwell, currently residing in Huntsville, AL. I am originally from Fort Wayne, IN where I grew up flying model airplanes with my father since the age of 4. My father, an avid modeler himself, introduced me to the hobby; he taught me how to fly on his 60 size aero master biplane which I solo’d on after turning 5 years old. I learned to fly at the Fort Wayne Flying Circuits field where my father is still a member and flies regularly.
After learning to fly, I started to take interest in my father’s chosen discipline, which was RC pylon racing. I was driven to the speed and precision of pylon racing, but at a younger age did not quite have the drive to be competitive yet. And at the age of nine, I started watching one of our local pilots, Ron Goodyear, fly his helicopter and began taking an interest in RC helicopters. That was something that my father and I could learn together and that I could actively fly at home, rather than always having to visit the flying field. At the age of ten, I got a Century Hawk 30 as my first model. My father and I built the model, and tried to get it flying right. We attended a heli fun fly at the end of 1999 in Northern Indiana, and I was hooked.
After attending some smaller events, my first IRCHA was in 2001 (the year that the F3C world championships were held in Muncie before IRCHA). This was the year that Curtis Youngblood won his third WC, after seeing that, I immediately knew I’d like to compete in helicopters. In 2002, I competed in the helicopter precision nationals with a Hirobo Freya 60.
Although I scored poorly, I recieved a lot of help and met a lot of people that I am still currently friends with to this day. I began to take an interest in 3D flying and in 2005 started to get serious about 3D competition taking a short break from precision flying. In 2009, I returned to F3C flying as well.
In 2009, I got the opportunity to move to Texas to work for Curtis Youngblood full time as a test and demo pilot. I really enjoyed living in Texas and being able to fly year round. The help from Curtis and his father is something I can never repay them for and I appreciate all the help over those years.
In 2011, I decided that I really missed Indiana, so I moved back home. I also decided to branch out and began developing my own line of products, under the name Nick Maxwell Products. The first product line was a set of 695mm and 715mm 3D and F3C rotor blades specifically designed to take advantage of flybarless and electric power. The tip and airfoil shape were very unique and worked in combination to get a feel and responsiveness that is still almost unmatched in today’s market. The blades were manufactured by Vic Campbell of V-Blades. Vic also produced a 3-Bladed rotor head that was released later with a very special 3 rotor blade set.
Since flying RC is not a common hobby, finding ways to help youth pilots succeed and have opportunities to communicate with other pilots their age is a big thing. I remember being that age and not having someone my age to communicate with about the hobby. In 2011 I was able to help the AMA develop Camp AMA; this camp has given youth pilots a great opportunity to meet other kids their age and spend a week flying with each other each summer in one central location at AMA headquarters. Although I have not been active in the camp in a couple years due to work obligations, that was a big part of my modeling career for several years.
Over the years I have been honored to fly with and up against the best pilots in world, many of which have become great friends over the years. Meeting people around the world is an experience that I will never take for granted, it was a dream come true to make my hobby my career and I can’t say thank you enough to my parents, friends, and sponsors for all their support.
I look forward to meeting more great people in the hobby, and seeing everyone out at the field sometime!!
