Author: Dave Gee
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/08
Page Numbers: 92,93,94
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Safety Comes First

Dave Gee | [email protected]

Leaking phalanges: a touching propeller story

From Dale Gunter:

“I'm sending this story while it is fresh in my mind, whatever is left of it. I had spent the morning shooting the breeze and putting my airplane together; then it was time to fly. I was down on my knees and doing the engine-choke thing. It popped and it was ‘choke off.’

“After it started and warmed up, I wanted to lean the idle a bit. I closed the throttle and hit the kill switch. It was hard to see into the front of the engine because of the screen I always put in the cowl openings.

“At my field they use in-ground sockets as plane holders. You just put a steel post with a foam bumper into the sockets. These go in front of the stab to hold the plane. I couldn’t see well so I picked up the plane and turned it into the sun. Here is where things went bad.

“I finished my adjustment and the 4.8 cubic-inch twin Brison started on the first flip of the 24 x 10 prop. I was surprised when it started to come after me and I put my left hand out to stop it. That had never happened to me before.

“You see, I neglected to put the plane back in the chocks before starting it. Oh, and yes you can stop a big twin with your hand—once.

“I never once got hurt before, but today I got my first ambulance ride, first visit to the emergency room, and my first amputation. I lost the tip of my left pinkie at the first knuckle.

“My ring finger looks like it might survive but it broke the bone in two at the tip. Both fingers were badly mangled. No fingerprint left on the ring finger and the doctor had to put a pin in it so it wouldn’t move around for a while. Lesson learned: $16,000 for the hospital, doctor, anesthesiologist, ambulance, etc.

“My advice is to take a deep breath when you’re looking at that prop and make sure that you stick to your routine. Do things the same way, in the correct order and you’ll do them right.”

Routine and checklists

Dale’s day ended very differently from the relaxing time at the field he had planned. A moment’s distraction from his routine made all the difference. He is correct that a safe routine is a lifesaver. Full-scale pilots use written checklists to ensure that they don’t skip a step. Our aircraft are smaller and less complex, but that routine is just as vital.

Model fliers frequently make written checklists and keep a laminated copy handy in the pit area. I think this started with the jet pilots, but it can be a useful tool for everyone, especially a beginner or any pilot with a large or complex flying machine. At the field we are usually with our pals, having a fine time and chatting or kidding around as we prep our models. Having a procedure, written or not, can be a big help. In my case it would read, “Start, launch, duck, fetch dustpan.”

ParkZone advertisement and neighborhood flying

The AMA staff in Muncie, Indiana, forwarded me an e-mail regarding the ParkZone advertisement in the May 2010 MA on pages 118–119. This eye-catching but controversial ad has provoked much discussion. The e-mail came from Brian Chan, who wrote a well-considered statement of concern about the image within the ad. It shows the line of ParkZone Ultra Micro RC models and a suburban home with the words, “They see a sidewalk. You see a runway.”

Brian had researched and discussed the matter carefully and wrote, “I think this advertisement gives people the wrong idea that we can fly our models anywhere and everywhere we see fit.” He argued that an ad mentioning flying RC aircraft from “backyards, picnic tables, parking lots and, yes, even your own sidewalk” might give the wrong impression about proper locations for safe flying.

Disclaimer: the opinions in this column are my own and are not official AMA policy unless I specifically note that they are.

Brian and I corresponded briefly, and I could see that he had been thoughtful and that he had a valid point. I admit to being a huge fan of the little RTFs that ParkZone and others sell. My Vapor often travels with me and I've flown it in classrooms, schoolyards, convention centers, gyms, auditoriums, and, yes, in my front yard.

The airplanes in the ad weigh less than an ounce and have little kinetic energy in flight. I think that they are suitable for sidewalk flying if there are no people or vehicles nearby. The difference between Brian's position and mine might be because of our different experiences and backgrounds. He sees things from the runway of his home field, where the aircraft are absolutely not right for neighborhood use. If a newbie bought a model second-hand and read that ad, it is possible that he or she might indeed get the wrong idea about where to fly.

I grew up with rubber-powered free-flight models, which never flew anywhere but front lawns and schoolyards. They weighed roughly the same as the ParkZone aircraft, though my building skills were lacking. If reasonable care is taken to keep such small, lightweight models away from people and moving vehicles, I think the danger is minimal.

Brian responded that the issue might not be the actual injury from an impact, but the distraction to a driver. He asked, “Were you ever hit by a fly or a bug when you were riding a bicycle?” A valid point, but neighborhood flying must be done away from pedestrians, vehicles, pets, etc.

Those little airplanes would be hazardous at most RC fields because of their slow-and-close flight envelopes. They are designed to fly indoors or in calm weather at small, informal fields. My part of California offers enough open space for “park flyers” to live up to the name. Brian wrote from San Mateo, which is more congested, and that also might lead to our viewpoints being different.

My Air Hogs Aero Ace remains stuck in a tree near my daughter's place, coincidentally also in San Mateo, which seems to validate Brian's position. Maybe I'd better drop the matter after all.

I appreciate it when readers contact me. There are many wise and experienced people in our hobby, but new fliers often see issues that get past us old-timers. If you have a question, comment, or safety story, please drop me a line.

Reader projects and club activities

Damon Atwood sent some great photos of his newly test-flown model. He began the project many years ago, and after many adventures it has finally taken flight.

Damon designed an old-timey-looking model for a 150cc gas engine, but after he was well into construction he realized the airframe was unsuitable for the vibrations of that power plant. The big model, with its 193-inch wingspan, went into storage.

Time passed, and motor development caught up to the large, unfinished airplane in his attic. A smooth-running electric power system became available for the 70-pound aircraft. The airframe acquired a motor and the name Emmaselle, after the charming young lady in the photo. Damon’s daughter, Emma, looks pleased to have such a fine aircraft named after her.

The model was well above the 55-pound limit, so Damon knew it would have to fly under the AMA Experimental Aircraft rules. Some buddies suggested he just say it was under the limit, but he is a stand-up guy and wanted to do things right. In the end it was all worthwhile: inspector Ron Ballard found a couple of loose bolts that could have made trouble. Video of this beautiful model in flight shows a real achievement.

The Antelope Valley Tailwinds club in California operates within sight of Edwards Air Force Base. Tim Williams contacted me about his club's opportunity to display and demonstrate models at the local fairground during a well-attended swap meet.

He had arranged for a large room where we could fly RC and FF models, and a shaded area outside for showing off larger aircraft. The highlight for me was a pylon race using ParkZone Vapor RTFs. They are not exactly speedy; the spectators needed a calendar to track the race. At the last moment the leaders got into a massive midair, and two laps later I chugged past for the win.

Tim ran his flight-safety plan past me beforehand, and his careful planning made the event a success. Club members met the public and answered questions during the day. We had balsa gliders for the kids to decorate and fly. This was a win for both the club and the event sponsors—the modelers served as an added attraction and had a chance to make a good impression on the community.

My wife, Sweet Deidra, did her part to make the swap meet a success by buying a bunch of junk while I was having fun flying.

Remember the story some months ago about my father Ralph and new builder Joe Van Meter working together on a scratch-built indoor model? The airplane was finally finished after 21 weeks of sessions. Best of all, it flew perfectly and got rousing applause from the excited crowd.

Sources

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.