One day in early 1985, I saw a large hobby fuel powered model helicopter fly at a nearby RC flying field and I became instantly hooked and fascinated with RC model helicopters.

That day's field experience and my desire to develop a small electric helicopter, that could be flown indoors, at home, and in small spaces, inspired me to what started, as experimental work, to more serious present day developments and actual Kit products.   

My Engineering - Design background and love for models, kept me learning, building, testing and perfecting the design of miniature ultra-light flying helicopters.
 This became my hobby and passion and has grown into a small business.

I established MIA Designs, initially, to promote the concept of the "micro" helicopter, which at the time was not widely known. This generated a huge interest, worldwide, from regular hobby enthusiasts to companies that make hobby products. Later on, I established MIA Micro-FLIGHT to produce micro helicopters kits and related products.

• Simple Pod and Boom Experiments and Prototypes.
• Feather RB Simple Pod and Boom Design with Direct Drive and Tail Vane. Kit
• Shark RB Profile Flex Cable Drive with Belt Driven Tail Rotor. Kit
• Hughes 500 RB Semi-Scale with Direct Drive and Belt Driven Tail Rotor. Kit
• Bell 47G RB Scale Model with Direct Drive/Gear Reduction and Belt Driven Tail. Kit
• Hughes 300 and 500 Scale Models with Gear Box and Belt Driven Tail Rotor.
• Jet Ranger Scale Model with Gear Box and Belt Driven Tail Rotor.
• Free Style Designs with Gear Box and Direct Drive Tail Rotor.

• Free Style Experimental Designs and Prototypes
• Robin 350 Free Flight Pod and Boom with Belt Driven Tail Rotor. Plans

• Free Style Experimental Designs and Prototypes.
• Blue Knight Dual 05 Motor with Collective Pitch Tail Rotor.
• Astro 015 Large Electric with Collective Pitch Tail Rotor.
• Speed 400 Variations with Direct Torque tube and Belt Tail Drive and CP Tail Rotor.

• Free Style Experimental Designs and Prototypes. FP, CP, CCPM, Flybarless.
• Robin Infra Red Controlled Slow Flyer
• Sport Limited Edition Infra Red/Radio Frequency Controlled. ARF and RTF.
• Robin 280/300 Radio Frequency Controlled. Kits

• Free Style Experimental Designs and Prototypes.
• House FLY Do-It-Yourself. Internet Version. Parts and Plans.
• House FLY Series Model Hughes 300 scale. Kit
• Composites/Aluminum Limited Editions. Custom
• Bumble Bee and Falcon NEW for 2003

• Free Style Experimental Designs and Prototypes.
• The Palm-Size Series.  In progress...

My end goal and greatest challenge has and continues to be the development of smaller and realistic flying models.   My latest development, the "Palm-Size "  helicopter, is already a reality, however not quite yet practical for mass distribution.  The mechanics and equipment to make a Palm-Size helicopter function, with all the intricacies and full control of of a typical 4-channel RC helicopter, are not quite there, in terms of affordability and availability to the general public. However, soon it will be, and is certainly something to look forward to.
 

Perhaps my work with "tiny"  flying helicopters will inspire others in a similar direction for the continuance of this wonderful new hobby. I say "new hobby", because up until 1999, tiny flying  light-weight RC electric helicopters were not practical and were not on the market.  Technological advances, in part, have made such, a reality.

However, without the drive and pursuit of our dreams,  passions and the persistence of seeking the endless possibilities that could be, there would be no need for advances in technology and follow up to our visions.

During my research, experimental and professional work with models, in general, the following people have contributed to maintaining my inspiration and pursuit of new possibilities,  either by their own accomplishments in the hobby, similar fields or through personal contact.

(no specific order)

 Wright Brothers, Sikorsky, Hughes, Bell, Hiller and others,
 involved in the development of real helicopters and flying machines.

Mario I. Arguello

Updated September 1, 2003