Safety Comes First
Dave Gee | [email protected]
Also included in this column:
- Hone your skills with a simulator
- Science teachers get a chance to promote aeromodeling
- Unusual clubhouse safety issues
- A helicopter radio function warning
Time for a rant
Check out the photo of the demonstration pilot flying a blue indoor RC airplane at a convention. I watched as he made passes much closer than this over onlookers' heads.
He is a skilled and experienced pilot and should have known better than to place a spinning propeller so close to spectators. Even a lightweight model has a powerful motor, and you wouldn't want that airscrew to touch your head or hands.
I've been to hobby shows where the RC demonstration area was enclosed by strong floor-to-ceiling netting and other shows where there was a clear flightline so models were kept a safe distance from the crowd. Not here!
Even a minor incident under these circumstances could do great harm to our hobby, not to mention the forehead of a victim. Some readers may contact me in defense of this situation; I'll listen and possibly print your responses.
Okay, ranting is done.
Flight simulators: hone your skills
All photos this month were taken at trade shows. The three good-looking fellows are the Shields family; the son, dad, and granddad fly RC. I was glad to grant their request for a bit of fame because it leads into a discussion about RC flight simulators.
Computer programs are becoming more popular by the nanosecond, and even hardened, old RC instructors are beginning to admit that virtual RC is not only fun, but is also good practice. Fliers who find their fields snowed under in winter are especially glad for a way to hone their skills without wearing mittens. Did I mention that helicopter pilots are included? I have yet to master the art of simulated rotary-wing flight, but at least the sign-on screen no longer reads, "Not you again."
Several competing companies make these programs—with differences in price and features—so pick one that suits your budget and your computer capacity. I confidently recommend all these popular products, having destroyed airplanes on each of them at various times. My preference is for the Dave Brown Products flight simulator. The program has been upgraded and improved throughout the years, just like my newer computer which no longer runs on coal. Not that it has helped me, but at least my digital crashes are easier to clean up.
The other picture was taken at a large convention of science teachers. The AMA Education Committee presented workshops about using model airplanes to help teach science, math, and physics. There was an AMA booth with hands-on building and flying instruction for attendees. This is a thinly camouflaged plot to get youngsters involved with aeromodeling, and it seems to be working. Every possible means needs to be used to bring new modelers to our hobby or we will literally die off. Getting science teachers to push this agenda in their classrooms is a devious idea. I like it.
The photo shows a gaggle of teachers watching a young man launch his rubber-powered Sky Streak, which he modified for top performance in the convention hall. Twenty-second flights were routine, and some were much longer. A few airplanes disappeared into the rafters. The adults were competing for prize packs of classroom supplies (airplane kits, winders, etc.), so they paid close attention to the expert.
The skills and knowledge our hobby brings can benefit a child tremendously. I meet many youngsters who have never made anything with their hands and lack the coordination to assemble a simple glider.
From a safety standpoint, we are doing a great favor to kids by helping them master small-motor skills and giving them a head start toward the safe use of implements such as scissors and chopsticks.
Unusual clubhouse safety issues — the boxcar winch
David Barker of the Red Baron R/C Modelers, Ltd. sent me the following letter about a safety issue he recently experienced concerning an old surplus railroad boxcar being used as a storage shed and "clubhouse." While this particular incident was not related to model aircraft use of any sort, I offer the information as a general warning to all AMA clubs.
The boxcar was long ago converted into a storage shed/clubhouse. Several guys gathered around the end, talking about a winch or hoistlike mechanism that was mounted nearly level with the roof of the boxcar. This circular-shaped contraption was approximately 1½ feet in diameter and had a short length of chain extending from the lower portion of the casing.
Discussion turned to speculating as to what the winch had been used for and then to possible uses for it now. One of my friends climbed up the end of the boxcar, which was easily accomplished using the handrails and deep corrugations of the metal construction.
The chain was found to be immovable and my friend proceeded to climb down. Having jumped off the boxcar from a height of approximately 2 feet, my friend was slightly off balance and took a couple quick steps backward in order to catch his balance.
Without warning, the heavy winch broke free from the boxcar and fell to the ground, but not before glancing off my friend's head as he was stepping backward to catch his balance. Although he was knocked to the ground, the path of the winch was not altered because of its great size and weight.
First-aid was immediately applied and my friend was rushed to the emergency room for treatment, requiring approximately 20 stitches to close the wound. Witnesses agreed that had he not been stepping backward away from the boxcar when the winch fell, it would have likely struck him directly on top of his head.
It is my opinion that this was just a very good example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is also a good example of something that can be easily overlooked when establishing a 'safe' area. I recommend that clubs carefully examine the areas around their buildings looking for potential hazards that could, under certain circumstances, become a danger to the people nearby.
To sum up:
- Walk around your facilities and look for items attached to buildings or hanging overhead that may present a hazard;
- Inspect these items for solid attachment; and
- If in doubt, remove the hazard.
The club in question has installed a bracket to catch the winch in the event it breaks loose in the future. Of course, to prevent such a problem in the first place, they have now disconnected and removed the winch.
Additional details: the winch was approximately 16 inches in diameter and weighed roughly 200 pounds. Later analysis showed that besides years of rust, only a single bolt had been holding the winch onto the boxcar. While the bolt and winch had held our friend's weight when he grabbed onto the chain, his weight had apparently caused the failure, which released only after he had climbed down and was on the ground.
Lessons learned: if you have an old boxcar, have any overhanging items inspected or removed. This could have easily been a more serious injury, if not a fatality.
Thanks to David for passing this along. It is a good reminder that a little forethought can prevent a serious injury—and the resulting publicity that could jeopardize our hobby.
Do you remember AMA President Dave Brown's message in the March 2006 "President's Perspective" column regarding poorly marked driveway barrier chains? Keep that mind-set, and maybe you'll notice a situation that can be corrected before an accident happens. You will have saved someone just as if you had pushed him or her out of the way of a falling winch, which David's friend undoubtedly would have preferred.
Helicopter radio function warning
Another quick item: I received an e-mail from a reader who cautioned pilots about using a helicopter's gyro "throttle hold" or "collective pitch hold" mixes. They can trap the pilot into situations where the throttle or collective can be held in a position that might spin the blades up or allow the model to drop if not properly set. Make sure you understand your radio mixes and test them on the ground in a safe, restrained way before attempting flight.
Letters: John Arbogast — a hard-won lesson
Getting mail from MA readers is a delight; I really enjoy your comments, mockery, wit, and close-call stories. Use the E-mail address at the top of this column or send letters to "Dave, Here's One You Ain't Heard Yet," Box 7081, Van Nuys CA 91409.
John Arbogast did, and following is his tale of hard-won wisdom.
"I've been flying RC for 50 years but am fairly new with electric helicopters. Today I was caught by a hazard that I knew existed, but apparently I was not being careful enough.
"The 'idle up' function on the transmitter of my collective-pitch helicopter produces full throttle at both ends of the travel of the throttle stick while moving the rotor pitch from negative to positive for aerobatic maneuvers.
"The potential hazard of this configuration lies in the fact that the throttle can be in the full down 'off' position for normal flight and an accidental flip of the 'idle up' switch will produce instant full throttle.
"This happened to me when my transmitter fell over while I was setting my aircraft down for takeoff. By the time I figured out what had happened and got things shut down, the carbon-fiber aftermarket rotors had given me three good 'whacks,' which weren't really serious, but the one on my thumbnail still hurts like the dickens and is turning all sorts of colors. The rotors were unscathed.
"I opened the transmitter and saw there are two wires to the 'idle up' switch, and in normal configuration the switch is open. This being the case, I unsoldered and wrapped one of the leads so that I am always in 'normal' throttle function no matter which way the switch is positioned.
"If I ever advance to the place where I want 'idle up,' I will replace the connection and cut off the switch arm from its present 3/4 inch to roughly 1/4 inch so an accidental change will be substantially less likely.
"The rather long switch arm seems to be somewhat susceptible to accidental activation. On the other hand, a short switch arm might be too difficult to find when needed."
I'm not a fan of modifying transmitters—and not just because I am inept at electronics. John's transmitter will serve him well, but a customized rig can cause problems if it gets into another pilot's hands. There can be other serious unintended side effects of such alterations as well. Manufacturers frown on such tinkering, but what do they know? They just design and build the things.
Meanwhile, my workbench features a disassembled Aero Ace transmitter in the throes of modification. Maybe I better shut up.
That's all for now; fly safe. —MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
