112 MODEL AVIATION
The aeromodeling community mourns the passing of Addie Naccarato
Safety Comes First Dave Gee | [email protected]
Also included in this column:
• FF field safety
• The dark plot to suppress
Scale modeling
• Get turned on to motor
“arming switches”
Hugo Yaccouci built this variable-pitch mechanism for his Indoor
Embryo Rubber model, and he took the picture!
Cessna has joined aircraft makers that want royalties from scalemodel
kit producers. What will become of Scale modeling?
Hall of Fame modeler Addie Mae Naccarato, shown with son Tony, has passed away.
Note cluttered workbench—an indication of genius at work. Russ Naughton photo.
SAD NEWS: Model Aviation Hall of Fame
member Addie Mae Naccarato has passed
away. I had the good fortune to grow up
within bicycle-riding range of her hobby
shop in Burbank, California, and developed
a deep respect for her vast experience and
kind willingness to share aeromodeling
knowledge.
The mother-son team of Tony and Addie
Naccarato personified the cutting edge of
model airplane development for many
decades, especially with electric power.
Addie was not physically imposing, but her
dynamic personality and gregarious nature
made her larger than life.
She deserves special mention in the MA
safety column because of her
uncompromising attitude toward the hazards
of our hobby. A dangerous situation being
tolerated instead of corrected could arouse
her fiery temper, and few could oppose a
riled-up Addie.
Her friends joked that cowboy-movie
saloon fights with bodies thrown through
windows were tame compared with the
righteous indignation of this otherwise
mild-mannered woman. She is survived by
her equally famous son Tony, his wife
Marylou, and their son Ryan.
I got a little riled up myself about a serious
situation that threatens to virtually end
Scale modeling. No, I’m not kidding! Some
full-scale aircraft manufacturers have
prevented model airplane replicas of their
products from being sold without royalty
payments from the kit makers.
Here’s how bad it is: I wanted to
06sig4.QXD 4/20/07 2:24 PM Page 112
purchase a pair of Dumas Cessna 120 kits
(since the ones I built for FF and RC flew so
sweetly), but they had been removed from
the market at the behest of Cessna lawyers.
Lockheed has already put such a damper on
those who produce P-38 models that they
are being sold under names such as “Twin-
38.”
If all brands follow this trend, it will
become impossible to purchase scale RTFs,
kits, or plans. The hobby industry’s profit
margin is just too small for such payoffs,
never mind the expense of fighting lawsuits.
Legislative efforts such as the Military Toy
Replica Act are currently stalled, and other
negotiations have ceased.
I’m mentioning this shameful situation
here because one of the justifications given
by corporate attorneys was that,
theoretically, if a model of a company’s
aircraft crashed and did harm to someone or
something, the full-scale aircraft
manufacturer could be sued for damages.
I’m no lawyer, but that sounds
ridiculous. My research did not uncover any
instance of this situation ever occurring.
I spoke with Doug Oliver, the director of
corporate communication for Cessna, and
described the fond feelings modelers have
for Cessna aircraft. There is nothing like a
sleek, high-wing cabin monoplane to make a
nice-flying model.
I added that countless modelers had
gone on to fly and purchase full-scale
aircraft. The positive impression builders
of miniature versions have retained has
surely contributed to sales of current
Cessna products.
Doug agreed with those points but said
that the leadership of Cessna and its parent
company Textron were committed to
protecting the “intellectual property” of
their aircraft designs—even those that have
been out of production for many decades. I
understand that argument but do not agree
that it should apply to miniature historical
replicas sold for personal recreational use.
I think it makes Cessna and other
companies look bad!
Will this disgraceful policy affect the
purchasing decisions of a current or former
modeler who is shopping for corporate
transportation? I know it will run through
my mind when faced with a choice of
which brand of lightplane I will ride in.
On a more positive note, machinist Hugo
Yaccouci kindly sent me a photo of the
custom-built variable-pitch propeller
assembly he built for his Indoor Embryo
Rubber model. He knew it wasn’t legal for
competition, but he was curious whether or
not it would give an advantage in duration.
After countless hours of construction
and much flight testing, he says the answer
is “Maybe.” I’ve seen this gadget in
operation, and it really works!
Hugo is a meticulous craftsman, and he
uses the same thoroughness with his
power-tool safety precautions. He can
wiggle all 10 digits at you to prove it!
I am delighted to receive so many great
E-mails and letters, and I am sorry that I
cannot print them all. Nevertheless, most
of the items you see here originated as
suggestions from readers.
Please continue to fill my mailbox with
topics and helpful thoughts. If you lack a
computer, send a note to me at Box 7081,
Van Nuys CA 91409.
Ron Roudon opened a line of
communication with the following
excellent idea.
“I have been a fuel power airplane and
helicopter flier for about 25 years and have
just recently started to convert to electric.
A big concern I have with electrics is the
fact that once the battery is plugged in the
model is ready to go. One misstep with the
transmitter and your model is under full
power.
“Having a fuel background means that
the throttle stick is of little concern until
you are ready to start the engine. Not so
with electrics.
“Here is a very simple solution to this
problem: an in-line on/off switch in the
power circuit to the motor. With this
switch off you would be free to check
control surface throws and direction on
airplanes and rotor pitch on helicopters
without fear of the motor coming on. When
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114 MODEL AVIATION
06sig4.QXD 4/20/07 2:01 PM Page 114
it’s time to fly, simply turn it on.
“I don’t know why no one has brought
this up before, but it seems to me to be a good
solution to a big problem.”
This is an old idea that perhaps should be
revived. An “arming switch” was originally
a common sight on electric-powered models,
but early electric systems were short on
power and the extra resistance of contacts
and connections cut into the available thrust.
Nowadays we have power to spare and a
switch would cost no performance.
Recovering gas-power fliers are
notorious for making impromptu test flights
across the workshop when a throttle control
is nudged. Some pals of mine suggested
clipping a “remove before flight” flag to the
switch so it would not be forgotten, and then
we realized that an additional reminder was
probably not needed since there would be a
severe lack of thrust with the switch in the off
position.
I got a great E-mail from Grant Carson,
who had some thoughts about FF field safety.
He initially claimed that there are only three
safety rules for FF.
First, launch 100 feet downwind of cars
and spectators. Second, don’t launch if there
are spectators where you are. Third, use a
snuffer tube for your DT fuse (rapidly
becoming obsolete because of the new
flameless timer systems).
We discussed the matter and decided that
there may be a few more things to watch out
for at an FF site.
“When retrieving with a motorbike, keep
your eye on the ground ahead at least as
much as on the model,” wrote Grant. “Losing
the model isn’t as important as a broken leg,
unless you really love that model.”
116 MODEL AVIATION
(I am a Motorcycle Safety Foundation
certified RiderCoach and Site Coordinator,
and I urge anyone who is even thinking of
getting on a motorcycle of any type to
seriously consider taking a motorcycle safety
course!
Check with your state’s Department of
Transportation to find out how to enroll in the
15-hour Basic Rider Course class that the
Motorcycle Safety Foundation
offers/sponsors. In my state—Pennsylvania—
there is no charge for resident to take this
course, and we even supply the motorcycles
and helmets for free for the students!
—Bob Hunt)
Models that are launched without a
remote-control system have built-in
unpredictability, but Grant and I agreed that
there are probably more injuries at the field
from motorbike crashes, tool incidents, and
other “great outdoors” hazards than from
being struck by models, although that does
occasionally happen.
Ron Pettit responded to my essay about
deliberately dangerous RC pilots whose
flying threatens fellow fliers. He took a strict
legal position since that is his professional
area of expertise.
He writes:
“Sounds like a problem that could
happen anywhere. Issues like this need to be
dealt with by the club and not an individual.
The club should talk with the people and
explain that their actions could lead to
someone getting seriously injured if not
fatally killed by what they are doing. They
are harming the whole club, not just that
person.
“Ask them if they are prepared for the
lawsuit and if they want to cover the
liability and medical costs. Some of these
could go as far as manslaughter if they were
warned and did nothing about it.
“Always put them on written notice and
have several witnesses available—a club
board of directors would be good. If you
can, get them to sign a written discipline
notice and have it be progressive in nature.
“The first warning can be verbal with a
signature that puts them on probation for six
months or however long you want it to be.
The second notice would be a formal
written notice that bans them from the
property for six months or however long
you want it to last. The third notice, if it gets
this far, could be a ban from the club.
“Always seek legal counsel review of
any written discipline notices. This has to be
for everyone so you do not get into
discrimination problems.”
Ron’s plan is well suited for many club
fields, but I have heard from people who do
not have such tight control over their flying
site because it is a park or other public
facility. Also, legal and criminal troubles
can lead to loss of a field when politicians
seek to eliminate troublesome budget items.
I still seek answers to this problem and will
gladly share suggestions. MA
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