70 MODEL AVIATION
THE GORGEOUS LITTLE Ford Flivver in the photo is the
work of George Crabtree. Old-fashioned stick-and-tissue
construction can be challenging, and although you sure can’t tell
from looking at his models, George has to work a little harder
than average at aeromodeling.
He flies with a club in California that comprises mostly
retirees, many of whom made a living in machine shops, aviation
manufacturing, or in other mechanically inclined careers. If you
visit this fine group, you might notice that a disturbing number of
members have various hand injuries from industrial accidents
throughout the years.
And George? He lost several fingers in a power-tool accident
long ago, when industrial safety standards were comparatively lax
and such injuries were (sadly) common. Workers nowadays are
unaccustomed to such high risks, and it can be shocking to see the
results of a less-regulated era. The previous generation’s
industrial safety standards look weak compared to current
measures.
Many of us joked about the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration when it was established (remember the OSHA
cowboy cartoon?), but tool-users these days are measurably safer
than in years past. The goal of a “zero-defect world” can be
exasperating until you realize that you may be one of the people
who was not injured thanks to some onerous safety precaution.
Since our hobby implements are simply miniature versions of
industrial equipment (well, okay, the Giant Scale modelers use the
real thing), we have all profited from improvements in operator
safety. My points?
1) George Crabtree can outbuild me despite my alleged
advantage in dexterity.
2) We should take a second look at those annoying safety
features on our equipment. Use all the protection the tool
provides; the designers had our best interests in mind.
This column needs all sorts of useful information, anecdotal
tales, warnings, slick shortcuts, and anything related to keeping
our hobby safe. Please drop me a card, a letter, or an E-mail
message with your pet peeve or the sordid account of a close call
so that the rest of us can benefit from your experience.
As you may know, there is a long lead time in the magazine
biz, so your correspondence may not show up here for a while.
Please don’t let that dissuade you from
helping your fellow modelers! Contact me
at the address in the column header or at
[email protected]. Thanks!
Indoor RC is all the rage. New systems
and models are coming out faster than I
can write checks. Unfortunately, not all of
the airplanes are compatible with all of the
flying sites, and the established Indoor
community is not always eager to move
over and share the limited access we
modelers have to indoor venues. And guess
what? It’s a safety issue, so we can discuss
it here and perhaps improve the situation.
AMA has published a set of safety rules
for indoor RC flying. I’m interested in
hearing how these guidelines are working
out in the real world. Sometimes we have
Dave Gee
S a f e t y C o m e s F i r s t
Box 7081, Van Nuys CA 91409; E-mail: [email protected]
George Crabtree built this tidy rubber-powered Ford Flivver. It’s
nice, but how does it relate to safety? See text.
Tim Nanson’s well-designed RC model does a slow flyby in a
rather small indoor site. The airplane is stable and controllable.
Try a “job observation” at your local RC facility. You may be surprised! Text contains
details, proper jargon, and suggested field-research beverage.
11sig3.QXD 8/23/04 12:19 pm Page 70
the use of a giant building in which there is
plenty of room for flightlines and spectator
zones, but more often, an indoor meet is
held in a gym that might be fine for
MiniSticks but is perhaps a bit cramped for
large RC models.
It’s hard to lump all indoor RC models
into one category since they run the gamut
from 2-gram microfilm airplanes to 4-foot
Scale models, not to mention the popular
3-D foamies. (I have a newly released RTF
which will happily operate in my living
room on throttle-only control. What fun!)
This part of our hobby is growing with
amazing speed, with new systems and
model types emerging constantly. The
most successful indoor RC models I’ve
seen have low wing loadings and are quite
compatible with FF Indoor models such as
Embryos and Peanuts. I’m glad that the
trend seems to be toward smaller and
lighter; this makes the safety officer’s job
easier.
Indoor RC design seems to be going in
two broad directions. One is an offshoot of
classic FF Indoor models and might have
magnetic actuators and perhaps infrared
control in lieu of radio. Rubber or CO2
power is sometimes used instead of
electric systems.
The other type is essentially
downsizing outdoor gas-model techniques.
These aircraft will feature tiny servos and
a lightened structure that might still bear a
resemblance to “regular” RC models.
These divisions are blurring now as the
two schools of design grow closer.
There have been more than a few
spirited discussions about sharing the
indoor air. Spectator safety is only one part
of the controversy, but I think it should be
the overriding factor when decisions are
made.
A definite line must be drawn between
outdoor slow flyers and indoor models. In
the early days of indoor RC, I saw various
highly skilled pilots trying to fly airplanes
that were too big for the room and get
away with it, but it was clearly an iffy
proposition, and the fliers generally
learned a lesson and brought lighter
models next time.
At the very least, a model should be
able to perform figure eights in the venue
with room to spare. If you can barely make
a racetrack course and are always
skimming the walls, perhaps your aircraft
(and the spectator beneath it) longs for the
great outdoors.
Look at the photo of Tim Nanson’s
indoor RC model. This is a cutting-edge
design for such airplanes. It is large—
spanning 36 inches—but only weighs 10
ounces. That big undercambered wing lets
it fly at extremely low speeds, and Tim has
a geared motor so that the propeller spins
slower. Large tail surfaces allow him to
maintain good control at low speeds.
The power system has a breakaway
mounting. This model would have minimal
“energy transfer” in an impact, thus it is a
safely designed craft. The covering is
plastic kitchen wrap, and Tim says it keeps
the airplane fresh and crispy.
Those of you with experience with
and/or opinions on these matters, please
speak up. AMA rules are becoming
inadequate, and we can help the situation
by pooling our knowledge to suggest some
updates.
Anyone up for some buzzwords?
Industrial safety personnel sometimes talk
about the “root cause” of accidents. Not
the moment when something went wrong,
but the circumstances that led up to it—the
decisions and situations that set up the
problem.
When you figure that out, you get
“upstream measures.” That is where action
is taken before an accident happens to
avoid the set of circumstances that could
lead to misfortune. It pays off big-time in
industry and works at home as well.
Sometimes a “job observation” is used
to analyze current practices in hopes of
heading off future problems. A worker’s
technique and procedures are carefully
watched with an eye toward potentially
hazardous situations. It is not easy to be
the watcher or the watchee, but the
benefits are worth the effort.
Being a hardworking, eager-beaver
columnist, I went to the local field to
perform a “job observation” on some
All In One
Power Panel
(PAC-MF-0502)
FIELD EQUIPMENT
$44.99
$44.99
Come with a Built-in field charger, never
miss as day’s flying because of low
batteries.This Power Panel Functions as a
regular power panel and as a field charger
for your Tx (9.6V), Rx (4.8V or 6.0 V) and
glow starter (1.2V).
Digital peak-detection, pulse-current
charger for Rx (4.8V and 6.0V)
Charges NiCd and Ni-Mh batteries.
Portable
Super Starter
(PAM-1002PP)
Small size, light weight,
big torque.
Its surprising power comes from our
unique 3:1 gear drive. The Super Starter is
easy to handle with one hand and yet it will
start engines up to 2.2 cu. In. (depending
on battery packs and state of charge). The
oversized aluminum cup and double ended
rubber cone will comfortably drive
everything from prop nuts to 5” spinners.
PAM-1002PP Super Starter with battery
holder and 2 x 7.2V 1500 mAh battery
packs, factory assembled.
Only $89.99
(For 3000 mAh batteries,
add $30.00)
Field Box
& Combo
Super Starter
Small size but high torque.
(PAM-1002B)
• Two drawer
field box
• 12v 7 amp
maintenancefree
battery
• 12v 500 mAh
charger w/LED
• Super Starter
• Standard
power panel
• Electric fuel
pump
• Glow starter
w/charger
• Glow Plug
wrench
Field Box
Combo
$139.99
• Two drawer
• Fully
assembled
• Painted and
fuel proof
• Adjustable
cradle
• Removable
power
compartment
Field Box
$39.99
This light weight Starter has a comfortable
size that fits very well in one hand.
The 3:1 geared reduction design for starting
engines up to 1.8 cu. in.
The big cup and double side rubber cone
will fit from 1/2” prop nuts to 5” spinners.
11sig3.QXD 8/23/04 12:20 pm Page 72
unsuspecting hobbyists. I left my airplanes
at home and vowed to keep my mouth
shut. (For me, that is the hard part.) I just
had a pencil and a clipboard to record the
morning’s activity.
After rereading the AMA safety
standards, I prepared for the drudgery of
field research by finding a shady seat and
opening a root beer. The sacrifices I make
in the name of science! Speaking of
which, have you heard of the scientific
principle that by merely observing an
occurrence, we change it?
Within a few minutes, all my intentions
of noninterference went out the window
when two young boys got bored and began
running and chasing each other around the
infield as a two-stroke model taxied out
toward them. The pilot was intent on his
airplane and disaster loomed.
I could see the headline—“Doofus
Safety Columnist Fails to Intervene,
Watches Accident Happen While Sipping
Soda”—so I leaped to my feet and
hollered, nearly spilling my beverage. So
much for covert observation!
The dads and pilot took appropriate
action and all was well, but during my
brief visit I jotted down dozens of
violations—mostly minor but some
serious. The fliers were generally
experienced and skilled, and most were
carefully using proper procedures, but the
job observation was revealing. On paper,
the field looked like a minefield of near
misses! So why wasn’t it knee-deep in
bandaged bodies? Good question!
I think the reason why most RC fields
don’t look like the set of a Sam
Peckinpaw movie, despite the fact that
various safety rules are routinely bent, is
that these rules generally lower a risk
rather than directly prevent an injury
(propeller procedures excepted). If you
touch a hot stove, you will get burned. But
if you fail to clear a frequency, you are
more likely to get hit.
The problem is that it teaches us the
wrong message: you got away with it
before, so you’ll probably be okay again.
Our good sense must overcome this
subconscious foolishness!
I want to point out that the field I
visited is extra busy because some popular
nearby flying sites have been shut down in
recent years. (Don’t get me started on
this.) The local clubs have some go-getter
members who have improved the facility
and made a delightful model airport.
There are areas for helicopters, park
flyers, and even some fine CL circles. (For
those who are new to our hobby, CL and
RC flying are somewhat similar. The main
difference is that with RC, all the wires
are coiled up in the transmitter; in CL,
they are stretched out straight and lead
from my hand to the crash site.)
A good science experiment can be
duplicated. Try it! Read the AMA safety
rules (how long has it been?), and then take a
good look at operations at your local model
airfield. Root beer is optional. MA
74 MODEL AVIATION
11sig3.QXD 8/23/04 12:20 pm Page 74
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/11
Page Numbers: 70,72,74
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/11
Page Numbers: 70,72,74
70 MODEL AVIATION
THE GORGEOUS LITTLE Ford Flivver in the photo is the
work of George Crabtree. Old-fashioned stick-and-tissue
construction can be challenging, and although you sure can’t tell
from looking at his models, George has to work a little harder
than average at aeromodeling.
He flies with a club in California that comprises mostly
retirees, many of whom made a living in machine shops, aviation
manufacturing, or in other mechanically inclined careers. If you
visit this fine group, you might notice that a disturbing number of
members have various hand injuries from industrial accidents
throughout the years.
And George? He lost several fingers in a power-tool accident
long ago, when industrial safety standards were comparatively lax
and such injuries were (sadly) common. Workers nowadays are
unaccustomed to such high risks, and it can be shocking to see the
results of a less-regulated era. The previous generation’s
industrial safety standards look weak compared to current
measures.
Many of us joked about the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration when it was established (remember the OSHA
cowboy cartoon?), but tool-users these days are measurably safer
than in years past. The goal of a “zero-defect world” can be
exasperating until you realize that you may be one of the people
who was not injured thanks to some onerous safety precaution.
Since our hobby implements are simply miniature versions of
industrial equipment (well, okay, the Giant Scale modelers use the
real thing), we have all profited from improvements in operator
safety. My points?
1) George Crabtree can outbuild me despite my alleged
advantage in dexterity.
2) We should take a second look at those annoying safety
features on our equipment. Use all the protection the tool
provides; the designers had our best interests in mind.
This column needs all sorts of useful information, anecdotal
tales, warnings, slick shortcuts, and anything related to keeping
our hobby safe. Please drop me a card, a letter, or an E-mail
message with your pet peeve or the sordid account of a close call
so that the rest of us can benefit from your experience.
As you may know, there is a long lead time in the magazine
biz, so your correspondence may not show up here for a while.
Please don’t let that dissuade you from
helping your fellow modelers! Contact me
at the address in the column header or at
[email protected]. Thanks!
Indoor RC is all the rage. New systems
and models are coming out faster than I
can write checks. Unfortunately, not all of
the airplanes are compatible with all of the
flying sites, and the established Indoor
community is not always eager to move
over and share the limited access we
modelers have to indoor venues. And guess
what? It’s a safety issue, so we can discuss
it here and perhaps improve the situation.
AMA has published a set of safety rules
for indoor RC flying. I’m interested in
hearing how these guidelines are working
out in the real world. Sometimes we have
Dave Gee
S a f e t y C o m e s F i r s t
Box 7081, Van Nuys CA 91409; E-mail: [email protected]
George Crabtree built this tidy rubber-powered Ford Flivver. It’s
nice, but how does it relate to safety? See text.
Tim Nanson’s well-designed RC model does a slow flyby in a
rather small indoor site. The airplane is stable and controllable.
Try a “job observation” at your local RC facility. You may be surprised! Text contains
details, proper jargon, and suggested field-research beverage.
11sig3.QXD 8/23/04 12:19 pm Page 70
the use of a giant building in which there is
plenty of room for flightlines and spectator
zones, but more often, an indoor meet is
held in a gym that might be fine for
MiniSticks but is perhaps a bit cramped for
large RC models.
It’s hard to lump all indoor RC models
into one category since they run the gamut
from 2-gram microfilm airplanes to 4-foot
Scale models, not to mention the popular
3-D foamies. (I have a newly released RTF
which will happily operate in my living
room on throttle-only control. What fun!)
This part of our hobby is growing with
amazing speed, with new systems and
model types emerging constantly. The
most successful indoor RC models I’ve
seen have low wing loadings and are quite
compatible with FF Indoor models such as
Embryos and Peanuts. I’m glad that the
trend seems to be toward smaller and
lighter; this makes the safety officer’s job
easier.
Indoor RC design seems to be going in
two broad directions. One is an offshoot of
classic FF Indoor models and might have
magnetic actuators and perhaps infrared
control in lieu of radio. Rubber or CO2
power is sometimes used instead of
electric systems.
The other type is essentially
downsizing outdoor gas-model techniques.
These aircraft will feature tiny servos and
a lightened structure that might still bear a
resemblance to “regular” RC models.
These divisions are blurring now as the
two schools of design grow closer.
There have been more than a few
spirited discussions about sharing the
indoor air. Spectator safety is only one part
of the controversy, but I think it should be
the overriding factor when decisions are
made.
A definite line must be drawn between
outdoor slow flyers and indoor models. In
the early days of indoor RC, I saw various
highly skilled pilots trying to fly airplanes
that were too big for the room and get
away with it, but it was clearly an iffy
proposition, and the fliers generally
learned a lesson and brought lighter
models next time.
At the very least, a model should be
able to perform figure eights in the venue
with room to spare. If you can barely make
a racetrack course and are always
skimming the walls, perhaps your aircraft
(and the spectator beneath it) longs for the
great outdoors.
Look at the photo of Tim Nanson’s
indoor RC model. This is a cutting-edge
design for such airplanes. It is large—
spanning 36 inches—but only weighs 10
ounces. That big undercambered wing lets
it fly at extremely low speeds, and Tim has
a geared motor so that the propeller spins
slower. Large tail surfaces allow him to
maintain good control at low speeds.
The power system has a breakaway
mounting. This model would have minimal
“energy transfer” in an impact, thus it is a
safely designed craft. The covering is
plastic kitchen wrap, and Tim says it keeps
the airplane fresh and crispy.
Those of you with experience with
and/or opinions on these matters, please
speak up. AMA rules are becoming
inadequate, and we can help the situation
by pooling our knowledge to suggest some
updates.
Anyone up for some buzzwords?
Industrial safety personnel sometimes talk
about the “root cause” of accidents. Not
the moment when something went wrong,
but the circumstances that led up to it—the
decisions and situations that set up the
problem.
When you figure that out, you get
“upstream measures.” That is where action
is taken before an accident happens to
avoid the set of circumstances that could
lead to misfortune. It pays off big-time in
industry and works at home as well.
Sometimes a “job observation” is used
to analyze current practices in hopes of
heading off future problems. A worker’s
technique and procedures are carefully
watched with an eye toward potentially
hazardous situations. It is not easy to be
the watcher or the watchee, but the
benefits are worth the effort.
Being a hardworking, eager-beaver
columnist, I went to the local field to
perform a “job observation” on some
All In One
Power Panel
(PAC-MF-0502)
FIELD EQUIPMENT
$44.99
$44.99
Come with a Built-in field charger, never
miss as day’s flying because of low
batteries.This Power Panel Functions as a
regular power panel and as a field charger
for your Tx (9.6V), Rx (4.8V or 6.0 V) and
glow starter (1.2V).
Digital peak-detection, pulse-current
charger for Rx (4.8V and 6.0V)
Charges NiCd and Ni-Mh batteries.
Portable
Super Starter
(PAM-1002PP)
Small size, light weight,
big torque.
Its surprising power comes from our
unique 3:1 gear drive. The Super Starter is
easy to handle with one hand and yet it will
start engines up to 2.2 cu. In. (depending
on battery packs and state of charge). The
oversized aluminum cup and double ended
rubber cone will comfortably drive
everything from prop nuts to 5” spinners.
PAM-1002PP Super Starter with battery
holder and 2 x 7.2V 1500 mAh battery
packs, factory assembled.
Only $89.99
(For 3000 mAh batteries,
add $30.00)
Field Box
& Combo
Super Starter
Small size but high torque.
(PAM-1002B)
• Two drawer
field box
• 12v 7 amp
maintenancefree
battery
• 12v 500 mAh
charger w/LED
• Super Starter
• Standard
power panel
• Electric fuel
pump
• Glow starter
w/charger
• Glow Plug
wrench
Field Box
Combo
$139.99
• Two drawer
• Fully
assembled
• Painted and
fuel proof
• Adjustable
cradle
• Removable
power
compartment
Field Box
$39.99
This light weight Starter has a comfortable
size that fits very well in one hand.
The 3:1 geared reduction design for starting
engines up to 1.8 cu. in.
The big cup and double side rubber cone
will fit from 1/2” prop nuts to 5” spinners.
11sig3.QXD 8/23/04 12:20 pm Page 72
unsuspecting hobbyists. I left my airplanes
at home and vowed to keep my mouth
shut. (For me, that is the hard part.) I just
had a pencil and a clipboard to record the
morning’s activity.
After rereading the AMA safety
standards, I prepared for the drudgery of
field research by finding a shady seat and
opening a root beer. The sacrifices I make
in the name of science! Speaking of
which, have you heard of the scientific
principle that by merely observing an
occurrence, we change it?
Within a few minutes, all my intentions
of noninterference went out the window
when two young boys got bored and began
running and chasing each other around the
infield as a two-stroke model taxied out
toward them. The pilot was intent on his
airplane and disaster loomed.
I could see the headline—“Doofus
Safety Columnist Fails to Intervene,
Watches Accident Happen While Sipping
Soda”—so I leaped to my feet and
hollered, nearly spilling my beverage. So
much for covert observation!
The dads and pilot took appropriate
action and all was well, but during my
brief visit I jotted down dozens of
violations—mostly minor but some
serious. The fliers were generally
experienced and skilled, and most were
carefully using proper procedures, but the
job observation was revealing. On paper,
the field looked like a minefield of near
misses! So why wasn’t it knee-deep in
bandaged bodies? Good question!
I think the reason why most RC fields
don’t look like the set of a Sam
Peckinpaw movie, despite the fact that
various safety rules are routinely bent, is
that these rules generally lower a risk
rather than directly prevent an injury
(propeller procedures excepted). If you
touch a hot stove, you will get burned. But
if you fail to clear a frequency, you are
more likely to get hit.
The problem is that it teaches us the
wrong message: you got away with it
before, so you’ll probably be okay again.
Our good sense must overcome this
subconscious foolishness!
I want to point out that the field I
visited is extra busy because some popular
nearby flying sites have been shut down in
recent years. (Don’t get me started on
this.) The local clubs have some go-getter
members who have improved the facility
and made a delightful model airport.
There are areas for helicopters, park
flyers, and even some fine CL circles. (For
those who are new to our hobby, CL and
RC flying are somewhat similar. The main
difference is that with RC, all the wires
are coiled up in the transmitter; in CL,
they are stretched out straight and lead
from my hand to the crash site.)
A good science experiment can be
duplicated. Try it! Read the AMA safety
rules (how long has it been?), and then take a
good look at operations at your local model
airfield. Root beer is optional. MA
74 MODEL AVIATION
11sig3.QXD 8/23/04 12:20 pm Page 74
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/11
Page Numbers: 70,72,74
70 MODEL AVIATION
THE GORGEOUS LITTLE Ford Flivver in the photo is the
work of George Crabtree. Old-fashioned stick-and-tissue
construction can be challenging, and although you sure can’t tell
from looking at his models, George has to work a little harder
than average at aeromodeling.
He flies with a club in California that comprises mostly
retirees, many of whom made a living in machine shops, aviation
manufacturing, or in other mechanically inclined careers. If you
visit this fine group, you might notice that a disturbing number of
members have various hand injuries from industrial accidents
throughout the years.
And George? He lost several fingers in a power-tool accident
long ago, when industrial safety standards were comparatively lax
and such injuries were (sadly) common. Workers nowadays are
unaccustomed to such high risks, and it can be shocking to see the
results of a less-regulated era. The previous generation’s
industrial safety standards look weak compared to current
measures.
Many of us joked about the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration when it was established (remember the OSHA
cowboy cartoon?), but tool-users these days are measurably safer
than in years past. The goal of a “zero-defect world” can be
exasperating until you realize that you may be one of the people
who was not injured thanks to some onerous safety precaution.
Since our hobby implements are simply miniature versions of
industrial equipment (well, okay, the Giant Scale modelers use the
real thing), we have all profited from improvements in operator
safety. My points?
1) George Crabtree can outbuild me despite my alleged
advantage in dexterity.
2) We should take a second look at those annoying safety
features on our equipment. Use all the protection the tool
provides; the designers had our best interests in mind.
This column needs all sorts of useful information, anecdotal
tales, warnings, slick shortcuts, and anything related to keeping
our hobby safe. Please drop me a card, a letter, or an E-mail
message with your pet peeve or the sordid account of a close call
so that the rest of us can benefit from your experience.
As you may know, there is a long lead time in the magazine
biz, so your correspondence may not show up here for a while.
Please don’t let that dissuade you from
helping your fellow modelers! Contact me
at the address in the column header or at
[email protected]. Thanks!
Indoor RC is all the rage. New systems
and models are coming out faster than I
can write checks. Unfortunately, not all of
the airplanes are compatible with all of the
flying sites, and the established Indoor
community is not always eager to move
over and share the limited access we
modelers have to indoor venues. And guess
what? It’s a safety issue, so we can discuss
it here and perhaps improve the situation.
AMA has published a set of safety rules
for indoor RC flying. I’m interested in
hearing how these guidelines are working
out in the real world. Sometimes we have
Dave Gee
S a f e t y C o m e s F i r s t
Box 7081, Van Nuys CA 91409; E-mail: [email protected]
George Crabtree built this tidy rubber-powered Ford Flivver. It’s
nice, but how does it relate to safety? See text.
Tim Nanson’s well-designed RC model does a slow flyby in a
rather small indoor site. The airplane is stable and controllable.
Try a “job observation” at your local RC facility. You may be surprised! Text contains
details, proper jargon, and suggested field-research beverage.
11sig3.QXD 8/23/04 12:19 pm Page 70
the use of a giant building in which there is
plenty of room for flightlines and spectator
zones, but more often, an indoor meet is
held in a gym that might be fine for
MiniSticks but is perhaps a bit cramped for
large RC models.
It’s hard to lump all indoor RC models
into one category since they run the gamut
from 2-gram microfilm airplanes to 4-foot
Scale models, not to mention the popular
3-D foamies. (I have a newly released RTF
which will happily operate in my living
room on throttle-only control. What fun!)
This part of our hobby is growing with
amazing speed, with new systems and
model types emerging constantly. The
most successful indoor RC models I’ve
seen have low wing loadings and are quite
compatible with FF Indoor models such as
Embryos and Peanuts. I’m glad that the
trend seems to be toward smaller and
lighter; this makes the safety officer’s job
easier.
Indoor RC design seems to be going in
two broad directions. One is an offshoot of
classic FF Indoor models and might have
magnetic actuators and perhaps infrared
control in lieu of radio. Rubber or CO2
power is sometimes used instead of
electric systems.
The other type is essentially
downsizing outdoor gas-model techniques.
These aircraft will feature tiny servos and
a lightened structure that might still bear a
resemblance to “regular” RC models.
These divisions are blurring now as the
two schools of design grow closer.
There have been more than a few
spirited discussions about sharing the
indoor air. Spectator safety is only one part
of the controversy, but I think it should be
the overriding factor when decisions are
made.
A definite line must be drawn between
outdoor slow flyers and indoor models. In
the early days of indoor RC, I saw various
highly skilled pilots trying to fly airplanes
that were too big for the room and get
away with it, but it was clearly an iffy
proposition, and the fliers generally
learned a lesson and brought lighter
models next time.
At the very least, a model should be
able to perform figure eights in the venue
with room to spare. If you can barely make
a racetrack course and are always
skimming the walls, perhaps your aircraft
(and the spectator beneath it) longs for the
great outdoors.
Look at the photo of Tim Nanson’s
indoor RC model. This is a cutting-edge
design for such airplanes. It is large—
spanning 36 inches—but only weighs 10
ounces. That big undercambered wing lets
it fly at extremely low speeds, and Tim has
a geared motor so that the propeller spins
slower. Large tail surfaces allow him to
maintain good control at low speeds.
The power system has a breakaway
mounting. This model would have minimal
“energy transfer” in an impact, thus it is a
safely designed craft. The covering is
plastic kitchen wrap, and Tim says it keeps
the airplane fresh and crispy.
Those of you with experience with
and/or opinions on these matters, please
speak up. AMA rules are becoming
inadequate, and we can help the situation
by pooling our knowledge to suggest some
updates.
Anyone up for some buzzwords?
Industrial safety personnel sometimes talk
about the “root cause” of accidents. Not
the moment when something went wrong,
but the circumstances that led up to it—the
decisions and situations that set up the
problem.
When you figure that out, you get
“upstream measures.” That is where action
is taken before an accident happens to
avoid the set of circumstances that could
lead to misfortune. It pays off big-time in
industry and works at home as well.
Sometimes a “job observation” is used
to analyze current practices in hopes of
heading off future problems. A worker’s
technique and procedures are carefully
watched with an eye toward potentially
hazardous situations. It is not easy to be
the watcher or the watchee, but the
benefits are worth the effort.
Being a hardworking, eager-beaver
columnist, I went to the local field to
perform a “job observation” on some
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11sig3.QXD 8/23/04 12:20 pm Page 72
unsuspecting hobbyists. I left my airplanes
at home and vowed to keep my mouth
shut. (For me, that is the hard part.) I just
had a pencil and a clipboard to record the
morning’s activity.
After rereading the AMA safety
standards, I prepared for the drudgery of
field research by finding a shady seat and
opening a root beer. The sacrifices I make
in the name of science! Speaking of
which, have you heard of the scientific
principle that by merely observing an
occurrence, we change it?
Within a few minutes, all my intentions
of noninterference went out the window
when two young boys got bored and began
running and chasing each other around the
infield as a two-stroke model taxied out
toward them. The pilot was intent on his
airplane and disaster loomed.
I could see the headline—“Doofus
Safety Columnist Fails to Intervene,
Watches Accident Happen While Sipping
Soda”—so I leaped to my feet and
hollered, nearly spilling my beverage. So
much for covert observation!
The dads and pilot took appropriate
action and all was well, but during my
brief visit I jotted down dozens of
violations—mostly minor but some
serious. The fliers were generally
experienced and skilled, and most were
carefully using proper procedures, but the
job observation was revealing. On paper,
the field looked like a minefield of near
misses! So why wasn’t it knee-deep in
bandaged bodies? Good question!
I think the reason why most RC fields
don’t look like the set of a Sam
Peckinpaw movie, despite the fact that
various safety rules are routinely bent, is
that these rules generally lower a risk
rather than directly prevent an injury
(propeller procedures excepted). If you
touch a hot stove, you will get burned. But
if you fail to clear a frequency, you are
more likely to get hit.
The problem is that it teaches us the
wrong message: you got away with it
before, so you’ll probably be okay again.
Our good sense must overcome this
subconscious foolishness!
I want to point out that the field I
visited is extra busy because some popular
nearby flying sites have been shut down in
recent years. (Don’t get me started on
this.) The local clubs have some go-getter
members who have improved the facility
and made a delightful model airport.
There are areas for helicopters, park
flyers, and even some fine CL circles. (For
those who are new to our hobby, CL and
RC flying are somewhat similar. The main
difference is that with RC, all the wires
are coiled up in the transmitter; in CL,
they are stretched out straight and lead
from my hand to the crash site.)
A good science experiment can be
duplicated. Try it! Read the AMA safety
rules (how long has it been?), and then take a
good look at operations at your local model
airfield. Root beer is optional. MA
74 MODEL AVIATION
11sig3.QXD 8/23/04 12:20 pm Page 74