Flying Site Assistance
Wes De Cou | [email protected]
E-Flight: The Quiet Revolution
ELECTRIC MODEL AVIATION is the wave of the present and the wave of the future. In case you haven't noticed, electric-powered flight is revolutionizing the model aviation scene.
Every distributor of model aviation products displays a growing number of electric-powered fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft in its catalog. The shelves of local hobby shops and many "toy stores" are piled high with low-cost electric RTF kits. I've even seen electric helicopters at a gas station convenience store!
Rather than casting aspersions upon those who fly aircraft that neither sound nor smell "right," we'd be wise to join or at least accept them. The reasons involve both practicality and preservation.
Practical benefits
On the practical side, the dramatic surge in interest in electric flight has had a substantial, positive impact on flying-site growth. The number-one dilemma facing model airplane pilots today is the lack of nearby flying facilities. While having to drive long distances to fly used to be more of a "bother" factor than anything else, it has now become an economic factor. Fuel for the model hauler—be it a car, a van, or a truck—is now part of the equation.
The number-one reason for the lack of or loss of flying facilities is the perception held by site owners, local public officials, and local residents that model aviation is an inherently noisy activity. The advent of quiet, lightweight, long-duration electric model aircraft might well be the answer to the dilemma.
Because E-flight is quiet—almost imperceptible in the urban ambient noise spectrum—E-fields are being located in the midst of residential developments. This provides local park administrators with significant increases in usage statistics for their park lands. Those same usage statistics are part of the evaluation process that is used to determine how well a park administrator is doing on his or her job as well as how much consideration should be given to future park-development funding.
With new E-fields in close proximity to population centers, large numbers of children and adults—indeed, entire families—are beginning to take advantage of the educational and recreational opportunities provided by the new wave of quiet electric aircraft.
Preservation and education
From the preservation perspective, trying to get every retail RTF electric aircraft purchaser involved in flying at an organized local flying field is clearly a worthwhile objective.
Many brand-new pilots who see and buy their first RC aircraft out of a catalog or in a hobby or toy shop have no concept of frequency interference. To the extent that we can chat these folks up and get them to fly their initial missions with experienced pilots at a local field, we have the opportunity to save their special aircraft as well as our own.
With electric models being flown on many different frequency spectrums, the chance for unplanned events is significant. Even with the advent of spread-spectrum technology, we need to be sure that every pilot on the line or in the area understands radio interference. There is a huge challenge here, and it will take minds, money, cooperation, and talent to meet that challenge.
Establishing new, well-publicized E-fields is a first step. It's an opportunity to get the new pilot to a convenient site. The information the new pilot needs in order to become a safe pilot ought to be provided at that field. I expect to see AMA-sponsored initiatives in this area in the near future.
E-flight answers the majority of the objections we have heard to the establishment of new model aviation sites in urban areas. Perhaps now is the time for you to approach your local park department administrator with a well-reasoned request for a new E-field. You have all the right reasons. The AMA has a great support team and great support materials.
What to look for in an E-field
Your E-field requirements should be based on the type of aircraft you and your friends are going to fly.
- If your primary interest is with micro-electrics—very small, slow, indoor-type aircraft—then perhaps an existing facility is what you should seek. Potential venues include:
- National Guard armories
- Local school gyms
- Senior center recreation halls
- Field houses
- Aircraft hangars
- If you are a fan of the new class of park flyers (such as the Slo-V, Slo-Stik, Firebird, and others), then existing park facilities such as softball, baseball, or soccer fields are prime candidates. None of these fields is used all day, every day. Negotiate an off-peak time to use existing recreation fields on a regular basis.
- Other existing park lands such as water-retention basins or undeveloped park property are also candidates for E-fields. Closed landfills can also offer potential for a noninvasive, ecologically friendly E-field.
The crucial fact here is that the park flyer doesn't require acres and acres of property. Indeed, the infield of a baseball diamond is adequate for half-throttle, let's-learn-to-fly E-flight with most park flyers.
If your penchant is for larger E-flight aircraft—equivalent to a .40 or larger glow-powered model—then you are looking at a field the size you would use for just such a model. However, you can consider fields much closer to residential developments because of the relatively quiet electric motor. Small but very fast aircraft, such as the Zagi or Adrenalin-type airplanes, also require a larger area for safe operation.
If you already have a model airplane flying site, but it is in jeopardy because of noise complaints, consider a switch to E-flight. It could very likely be the key to saving your field.
Where to look
Determine local land ownership. Your primary sources for a new E-flight facility are private landowners and public agencies. Even on private land, it may be necessary to go through local government to get authority to fly your E-flight model. Land-use restrictions and zoning laws have to be taken into consideration.
Vacant parcels, undeveloped tracts, and fallow fields—even if close to residential developments—are targets for modelers in need of a field. Huge chunks of public land are available for recreational use at the city, county, state, and federal level. The key is to get to the appropriate individual, and to educate him or her on the subject of E-flight.
Local parks abound throughout the country. Your job is to find out who administers the park—whether it is the city, county, state, or federal government.
Within the federal government you have myriad opportunities to talk to people in positions to help in your quest for an E-field:
- Army Corps of Engineers (they have volunteer clearinghouses that match public land to proposed uses and users)
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
- National Park Service
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Forest Service
All of these agencies control large acreages that may be suitable for E-flight facilities.
How to approach landowners and agencies
If you think you've identified a potential E-field site, or if you just want to start a dialogue with someone in a position to help, the procedure is the same.
- Start by identifying your key contacts. This is the person or people who are the decision makers at the grassroots level (the landowner or the landowner’s agent for private land; the park manager, park ranger, or BLM agent for public land).
- Ask for what you want. Do a live demonstration at the actual site or a show-and-tell in an office environment.
- Work up the chain. If you start at the top and try to work down, you'll have, at best, a reluctant site manager. If the local folks can't make a decision, or decide not to allow your proposed use, ask to go up the line and then do it. Often, the boss is more understanding than the person who just turned you down.
- If you run out of ideas, contact your AMA for advice and counsel. AMA staff can provide contact ideas, presentation materials, and outlines for your presentations.
Remember: people play at parks and every park is in play. Talk to your local park administrators about E-flights as a creative use of their (your!) parks.
Contacts
Wes De Cou, Coordinator Western Region, Districts VII–XI Voice: (480) 460-9466 Cell: (480) 296-9515 Fax: (480) 460-9434 202 W. Desert Flower Ln. Phoenix, AZ 85045 E-mail: [email protected]
Joe Beshar, Coordinator Eastern Region, Districts I–V 198 Merritt Dr. Oradell, NJ 07649 Tel.: (201) 261-1281 Fax: (201) 261-0223 E-mail: [email protected]
Finding—Preserving—Maintaining
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
