QUUUFItT ItFLI1 MES FIRST An RCtip Transmitter discipline flying field keystone safe operations John Preston WITH appearance column will have completed first year contributing editor Model Aviation sat down typewriter first time wondered going find material fill up pages Fortunately response readers has terrific problem meeting monthly deadline has finding necessary time sit down edit correspondence column reasonable length ashamed admit some have received personal responses letters apologize also thank mail would no safety column being written August busy month recently returned Nationals Model Aviations contributors will have picked up material articles issue happy report writer saw no incidents involving safety worthy special mention did see rather large number Scale models reach end lives because breakdown communication between RC transmitter receiver Whether due external interference internal radio problems will probably never know scanners use throughout flying portion RC Scale events never picked up recognizable interference ever during flights models much 1000 ft distant 400 ft above scanners So knows what receiver picking up Since appeared problems induced radio malfunction responsible Nats crashes since Ihadjustreturned local flying field unable take photographs new model belonging friend because radio failure put tree before arrived perhaps discussion radio interference order months safety topic doubt RC clubs appreciable size dont have some form frequency control flying fields common system uses color-coded clothes pin must ones possession prior turning ones transmitter method works well time relies selfdiscipline member club make work Most us sooner later going have lapse memory turn transmitter before gaining possession all-important clothespin Perhaps should ask ourselves whether something else can prevent lapse occurring think first lets look some incidents have happened have involved frequency conflicts following account comes news letter Staten Island Modelers really did fellas broke cardinal rule RC flying practicing landing approaches zigged should have zagged ground came up hit plane placed transmitter ground near flight box walked across field retrieve bird came back flight line took frequency pin off collapsed antenna placed transmitter back impound area never checked transmitter see off wasnt As result shot down Kougar Luckily just after takeoff plane severely damaged Moral story take frequency pin off transmitter check double check check again Make sure turned offi Believe its rotten feeling knowing youre responsible damaging someones equipment story fliers normal routine altered landing accident Presumably being able taxi model off runway flier left transmitter until retrieved model able turn off receiver However returning pit area turning off transmitter forgotten Although flier blames himself subsequent shootdown opinion flier shot- down model should also shoulder some blame might ask reread account will notice transmitter impound area use firm believers such practice because puts transmitters flying field place before taking s own transmitter flight session can easily check see another transmitter same frequency has left described incident done good measure have another frequency conflict story comes Hear Ye newsletter Valley Forge Signal Seekers Brent Sickles editor club regularly features Safety Board Report its newsletter Perhaps others should take heed follow suit Heres story-i Conditions Clear weather 8-10 fliers field 2-3 spectators wind west Flier set up east end field just finished flying Flier B arrived field set up west end B got correct frequency pin started engine taxiing east end field take off airplane went out control turned right went group fliers around Reason Flier same frequency Flier B left transmitter Bs plane vicinity own transmitter seemed nothing wrong taxiing Bs signal got weaker As signal got relatively stronger caused interference Ironically plane actually hit Flier Luckily seriously injured really hurt could have much worse wonder readers would have blamed accident VFSS Safety Board Report blamed both Flier leaving transmitter Flier B checking flightline others frequency make sure no else turned easy job crowded flying field unless trans mitter impound area being used report did indicate such case So prevent incidents type just described Again turn clubs news letter answer time Slip stream newsletter Tri City Aeromodelers editors L C Daniels Tommy Ward safety tip presented May club meeting check radio interference turn transmitter receiver move controls extreme turn off transmitter no interference control surfaces airplane should remain stationary radio same frequency left its controls neutral positions control surfaces airplane will return neutral Hows simple check generally turn receiver before turning trans mitter practice aimed preventing transmitter shooting down another fliers model doesnt tell us another transmitter controls neutral sitting someones field box part simple frequency clip clothespin provides protection against fre quency conflicts transmitter impound adds measurable amount additional protection top two practices add turn-on/deflect controls/turn-off routine will never again either shoot down shot down Correct No Im really naive just optimist end column month would like throw some limellght onto ever-popular contest officialsthe judges Maybe never considered judges job hazardous Although opened saying no safetyrelated incidents observed Nats forgot about extremely rapid evacuation chairs part five judges RC Scale flight lines Two gallant fellows failed escape actually struck model whick some unaccount able reason veered off runway during takeoff ran full-bore judges Fortunately pusher minor bruises resulted rm sure Scale contestants have time another received static scores less enchanting However no reason seek revenge flight line Flight judges dont like get scared forced vacate seats have habit drawing little circles score sheets Have care fellows generally great job John Preston 7012 Elvira Court Falls Church VA 22042