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The pre-history of our firm is connected
with a series of models with a surname of RIVAL. The basis of
construction philosophy of these models was built at the end
of 1980's. The following miniaturization of RC equipment and
electrification of power units influenced with a great deal
the development of aeroplane modelling throughout the whole
world.
The Rival models were quite small, exceptionally light
and surprisingly efficient at the time of their creation. The
suggestion of their construction came from the idea " what
was not broken in a crash, that could be even possible to make
lighter". Another
constantly used construction element was a light but strong
balsa-laminat
span.
Together with the development
of the models, there were some advertising articles published,
followed by a series
of national endurance
records and a few construction sketches and
ideas were published as well...
At
the beginning of 1993, interest in the equipment of the successful
RIVALmodels gave rise to their serial
production. First, there was a production of the MAXIM
power gears for electric flights and of the WIND
propellers. The eMeR - Modely Rival firm gradually found its
way to model airfields in 15 countries and four continents.
It was thanks to our first serially produced electric model
RIVAL 9. His modification - SHORT
and STARLET - have been selling
successfully up to these days. Afterwards, the Rival FRED
endurance electric model and his modification PLUS
followed, then taking part in two World Electric Flight Festivals
in the Sunrise-Sunset competitions,
and the Rival TREND and PATER
models for leisure time flying...
A
very special place in the range of our products belongs to a
couple of Rival GOLDY models. It
is our tribute to the aviation pioneers from the beginning of
the 20th century. It is true that the development and production
of these models brought us a lot of pleasure but at the same
time shifted us towards the decision to close this interesting
though very time consuming chapter of our model initiative.
The
Rival STARTER and JUST models have been designed especially
for the World Electric Flight Festival 2000 competitions in
California. That was where the seven years of the Modely Rival
firm work were supposed to be ended and fulfilled...
But the fate
decided that it would not be like that. The FRED, PLUS and STARTER
models won a silver medal for the Rival team at this festival
and a excellent American pilot Edward added a bronze medal with
the JUST model in the Sailplane A competition.
Instead
of finishing the production, we have enlarged the production
area, installed new machines, employed more smart people...
Milan, Leo, Palo, Dodo, Lubo and me - that is the core of our
new team. We have new ideas - and we also have the energy to
carry them out.
With
the new millennium, we have started a new era of our firm history
with a new orientation and a new name
as well. Instead of the original "Rival" which evoked
the idea of emulation, competitivness and tension, our new name
is "RIVA" - the word of
a popular spanish
song (but if you want, you can also see a part of our original
name and history in it...). This new word in our firm's logo
should evoke the
feelings of lightness, comfort and delight...just like the models
which we want to produce for your as well for our pleasure,
for relaxing after hard work - simply, for your entertainment.
First
of the range of our new models for entertainment is an acrobatic
Rival EUROPE model. It continues
the tradition of its smaller predecessor - Rival PATER, and
it is mainly the brushless PHASOR and AXI motors that give this
model surprisingly pleasant flying qualities.
But we remain faithful
to our principles and therefore keep on developing models
for competitive flying. We have innovated the power gear
and altered a couple of construction details of our first serially
produced Rival SHORT model. The model now has a bigger capacity
in both motor running and gliding phase, and it will be produced
under a new name of Rival STARLET.
After the success of
our endurance models at the Electric Flight Festival in San
Diego, we transformed the "special" Rival STARLET
a bit so that it could be serially produced. Nowadays under
a new name of Rival SILVER
we are testing both its variants - one of them is powered
by a "tin" PRO 480 motor (a classic ferrit one), the
other one by a brushless AXI one.
For the new
F5J 400 competition category, we have developed a Rival
SENSOR model and we consider it a big success that two
of these models went through to the finals at the First Electric
Soaring World Challenge 2001 in Arizona. We continue improving
some of the construction details and with the use of a model
altimeter, we try to find the most suitable position
for the individual components of the model. We also look forward
to the next competitions!
We do not forget modellers
who only begin with radio controlled planes, and "older"
gentlemen who come back to their hobby after many years and
look for a model to help them relax. For this purpose, we have
developed a small and simple Rival TENDER
model and its serial production is just about to start.
At the beginning of July 2002 - which collided
with the celebration of the tenth anniversary of our company
- we made another big change. We moved the company headquarters
together with its workshops to a new place. We made new production
and business contacts. We are currently working on an area close
to the workshops which can be used as a company practice airport...
If you want to know more please write to us or visit us...
We
would be very happy if you could try our models in action. We
would like to believe that afterwards, you will become fond
of our trademark, our construction and pilot philosophy and
maybe a friend of our firm as well.
Our
company web site should always provide you with latest information
about us, our models, our plans for the future, but it should
also provide space for your opinions concerning the previous
topics.
Palo LISHAK
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