Safety Comes First
Dave Gee | [email protected]
An old axiom could lead to a loss of flying venues
We all have pet peeves, and one of mine is the phrase, "If it saves just one life, it's worth it." Maybe I agree with whatever the proposal is or maybe not, but those words are often trotted out when someone has run out of good reasons. Just getting out of bed in the morning is dangerous business, never mind visiting the bathroom (where many home injuries occur) and then going for a drive. Most of us agree that the many benefits of motor vehicles outweigh the chances of being struck by one, but we're still taking our chances. If we really wanted to save just one life, we'd all do much more walking and our world would be different. The save-one-life-at-any-cost people often seem to be pushing fairly unpopular ideas and need to sound like they hold the moral high ground.
This rant was inspired by an activist trying to stop other people's recreational activities. As with any outdoor pursuit, there had been occasional minor incidents at a public facility. Those were blown out of proportion and used as arguments to end everyone's fun to prevent the fatal accident that was "bound to happen." Hearing that I realized how vulnerable we, as aeromodelers, might be to a similar attack. To an outsider our airplanes and helicopters look like they could be dangerous—unless they look at the facts. There are very few serious injuries for the thousands of hours modelers spend building, flying, and repairing their aircraft. Most fliers take great care with their models and pride themselves on being as safe as possible in every aspect of their sport.
Risk and site safety
Statistically we're much less likely to be injured at the flying field by a model helicopter or airplane than from some mundane accident involving a gopher hole or lawn mower. I'm not kidding about that. Accident reports show that we are in much more danger from everyday hazards common to outdoor recreation than we are from the larger perceived dangers of our models. I've received e-mail from many AMA members who understood this and took a careful look around their flying sites beyond checking flight safety. They found and eliminated potential problems that were unrelated to models but just as dangerous for whoever might get hurt. Has your club done this?
For instance, there are different standards for such things as lawn-tool storage. The haphazard way I do it in my garage might be inadequate for a well-used RC field, where unsupervised kids might find their way into the shed. Yes, youngsters shouldn't be running around loose at the field, but it happens sometimes and we should make things tamper-proof if possible.
Also, work on removing trip hazards, marking boundaries clearly, and securing sheds and tools. Think like a parent when setting up the field: assume kids will get in, and make it safe for them.
Teaching and learning: kids vs. adults
While on the topic of sharp kids, I met quite a few recently at the National Science Teachers Association convention in Saint Louis, Missouri. AMA's Education Committee had a booth there to promote a program for using model airplanes to teach middle-school physical science and math. We had plenty of rubber-powered models for the teachers to fly, and every kid in the place seemed to be there too. As I spent the days teaching teachers to wind, adjust, and launch the simple little airplanes, an interesting fact became clear: the kids picked it up much quicker than the grown-ups. AMA held flight-duration contests for the conventioneers, with models and classroom materials as prizes. Young boys and girls consistently finished ahead of many of the highly motivated, well-educated adults. Several science teachers ended up cheering for their sons or daughters, knowing that their kids stood a better chance of winning than they did.
I have two theories to explain this. One is that youngsters have more time to fool around with things and gain expertise. While dad is at work, junior might spend the afternoon mastering video games and Internet jargon. At the convention several kids spent the whole day at the flying area because they were fascinated with learning how to get the longest flight possible under the convention-center rafters. They put up dozens of flights, experimenting for hours and gaining knowledge while their parents were busy with other things.
My other theory is something from which we can learn a lesson: the kids were better at learning to fly models because they are more open-minded toward new ideas and information. They are in a "learning mode" at school and carry that attitude into other areas of life. If you are reading this magazine, you know that hand-launching a model airplane requires a particular motion and feel. If you do it wrong, your aircraft ends up crashed at your feet.
When shown how to launch a rubber-powered model, the convention kids accepted the information immediately and tried it. In contrast, the adults filtered the demonstration through their preconceived notions and then often ended up making several awkward launches. Independence makes it hard to accept what is obviously a superior method unless I thought it up myself. Is there anything dumber than that? We should try to get into that "learning mode" when appropriate. Being too set in our ways to accept good advice is a hard way to do things.
Be open to advice and maintain equipment
When someone offers safety advice, we sometimes dismiss it because we think we already know better. But taking that approach can be dangerous.
Another area often overlooked is equipment maintenance. Small issues like frayed wires, cracked fuel lines, or loose control linkages can lead to mishaps. Regular inspections and preventive maintenance are simple steps that reduce risk significantly.
Recommended basic safety checks:
- Inspect control linkages, wiring, fuel lines, and structural glue joints before each flying session.
- Keep tie-down knots visible and check them before and during engine runs.
- Secure tools and lawn equipment in locked sheds; assume kids may access them.
- Remove trip hazards and clearly mark pilot and spectator boundaries.
Pictures and highlights
This month's pictures include a boy holding a Sky Streak—John Ryan, a science teacher's son—whose 34.2-second flight set the record for Indoor Rubber Duration in the Saint Louis convention center. John flew an off-the-shelf model with an upgraded Tan Super Sport motor. A fine launch technique, good flight trimming, and some luck with the ceiling girders contributed to his superb flight. His mom took home a classroom-materials prize pack; I advised him to remind her of that fact whenever they passed an ice-cream stand.
Brianna Keller is shown flying her MiniStick indoor model. Dad has taught her well, as you can see by her expert hand launch. John and Brianna are examples of how kids are open to learning new skills and take instructions to heart, unlike many of us stodgy adults.
I also photographed the Tuf-Grind display at a model trade show. This is an excellent product designed to have high resistance to shattering and breakage. Working in tight spots while building and repairing our models can put odd stresses on these tools, so it's nice to have an extra-strong wheel. I have broken many discs, but never one of these. Tuf-Grind products are available from many hobby suppliers.
Reader letters and plans
I get a lot of great e-mail, but not too many old-fashioned paper letters—at least not until I offered plans for the Creature MK IV asymmetric rubber ROG (rise-off-ground) model a few months ago. I was deluged with letters containing SASEs and had to make three printings of the plans to cover the demand. All this for a horribly ugly model! I'm still glad to get letters with your stories and suggestions at Box 7081, Van Nuys CA 91409, and I even have a few copies of the Creature plans standing by.
A cautionary tale: Bob Mandeville
Bob Mandeville of Brockton, Massachusetts, e-mailed me about an adventure he had. See if Bob's story doesn't give you the willies. He wrote:
"I just dodged a big bullet, so I thought that it might be a good idea to write while it was still fresh in my mind. It was a simple error that I got away with, and it was a little dumb, but I thought it might be of interest to you.
"I was breaking in an engine on my tried-and-true LT-40, right in my backyard (with understanding neighbors). I lashed the tail of the LT-40 to a fence with some nice, strong 1/4-inch line and set about making several short engine runs over the course of the afternoon.
"After the last tankful I went to untie the airplane, and guess what? It was already untied! It must have just finished loosening up when I had stopped the engine for the last time. The knot was underneath the airplane where I could not see it and the vibration and propeller blast must have conspired to undo it while I wasn't looking.
"'Wasn't looking' was the key here, I think. I had tied the model off, and then never gave it another thought as I concentrated on the engine runs.
"Thankfully I stayed behind the airplane each time (except for starting), so the worst thing that could have happened was that it would have chased one of my wife's cats.
"The moral of the story is that if you use line to tie down your airplane, keep those knots where you can see them and check them before (and during) each run. A quick glance is all you need."
It was great of Bob to share this tip, and I'm glad it was only a close call for him and his cats. He also mentioned that even a sturdy tie-down depends on the stabilizer glue joint, which can work loose without much of a visible sign. That's another good reason to preflight our models.
Bob is a versatile flier who uses electric power during winter and gas in the warmer months.
Safety comes first. Respect your models and fellow flyers by adopting best practices, keeping an open mind, and maintaining your equipment.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
