88 Model Aviation May 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
safety comes first
Dave Gee
[email protected]
I found a hidden treasure last week.
While visiting a construction site in
Sylmar, California, I caught sight of
a model aircraft zooming around in a
nearby flood-control basin. A closer look
revealed a paved runway and shaded
pits. It was an RC field!
When my work was finished, I found
the entry gate and drove down into this
secluded little airport. The sign said,
“Home of the Port-a-Potti Pilots.” I had
heard about this flying site, but it was
Setting a good example
Navy test pilot Capt. Tom Huff wound up Dave’s No-Cal Space Shuttle
for Hoot Gibson to launch. This was not Hoot’s first shuttle flight. Hilly
Smith photo.
PLUS:
> Hidden RC field
> Dealing with in-flight fires
> Servo reversal destroys model
> Proper pit attire
> Our actions reflect on our hobby
> Dave builds a model that flies
really off the beaten path.
Three pilots were enjoying the
mild weather with RC airplanes
and helicopters. These gentlemen
represented their club and our hobby
well. We had a friendly chat, they
told me about their club and, when I
admired their private field, they invited
me to consider joining the organization.
They preferred to keep their names
out of print; at least until they did
something worthy of mention here.
The Port-a-Potti Pilots club has a nice, secluded flying
field. Club members are a sharp and careful bunch!
Don Smith, Black
Sheep Squadron vice
president, advises a
young pilot on launch
techniques for her
first model at AMA
Expo 2012. Barry
Dougherty photo.
www.ModelAviation.com May 2012 Model Aviation 89
It was clear how experienced and
sharp the pilots were when one of them
prepared to make a flight. He quietly
withdrew from the conversation and
concentrated on his model, doing a
good preflight inspection, although
the airplane had just been successfully
flown. These club members knew what
they were doing!
After a demonstration of skilled
aerobatics, one of the pilots performed
a maneuver that filled me with envy:
landing and taxiing in. My models don’t
usually make it to that part of the flight.
It’s a shame that we sometimes hear
about flying fields where newcomers
and visitors aren’t welcomed, or where
safe procedures are out of fashion. The
Port-a-Potti Pilots I met are quite the
opposite and an example for us all to
follow.
Fighting Fires
Seeing the dry brush behind the
paved runway in Sylmar reminded me
of a discussion Dave Laycock and I had
about which fire extinguisher to use for
a LiPo battery fire, especially one that
starts while the model is airborne. He
wondered what firefighting materials
should be kept at the flying site and
how best to deal with an in-flight fire—
after the model comes down, of course.
The fumes from a battery fire might
be more hazardous to us than a simple
brush fire, and that is concerning. We
figured that an electric-powered model
would have two fires: the battery and
the aircraft. Any standard extinguisher,
or even water, would be ineffective
against an ignited LiPo pack, but the
model itself is another matter.
It is unlikely that a battery pack
would burst and ignite while the model
is airborne. More often, these problems
occur while charging the battery. Inflight
fires are rare but not unknown,
regardless of the power type. Sometimes
the pilot can control where the model
comes down and can guide it to a
convenient spot.
When control is lost, pilots must be
prepared to go to the crash site and
extinguish the fire before it spreads. A
few buckets of sand are good to have
around the pit area, and a multirated
fire extinguisher should be handy. That
should be enough to handle most model
aircraft fires, whether they begin in the
air or on the ground.
Floor Pads
Have you seen those four-packs
of big, interlocking foam floor
pads? Hardware stores sell them for
workshop or garage floors, as a cushion
for tired feet. They are inexpensive
and work well. A reader emailed me
about how his set came in handy in a
different way.
George L. has the pads on his
workshop floor because they are
cheaper and easier to clean than
carpeting. He was transferring CA glue
to a pipette while he rocked out to a
Debbie Harry song, and accidentally
knocked a half-filled bottle of CA onto
the floor. I bet he really busted a move
to get out of the way of the falling
glue!
The foam pads were heavily splashed
with CA (forget about trying to mop
it up!) but it was far better than
having it on the actual floor, because
the pads could easily be picked up
and discarded. George says it was a
good lesson in taking extra care when
handling such substances.
We get used to CA being in a sealed
container with only a small opening,
and we seldom handle it with the
bottle top removed. It can be scary
when a large quantity of CA spills, so
extra caution is important. And to be
on the safe side, I’ll stick with smooth
Glenn Miller swing music in my
workshop.
Airplane vs. Fence
Chuck Erdahl wrote to me about
an incident involving a Giant Scale
airplane.
“A pilot landed and proceeded to
shut down the engine as he turned
in toward the pit area. Instead of
thumbing down the throttle trim
switch, he accidently hit the power
switch and turned the radio off. That
should have killed the engine, but it
went full power instead and the plane
hit the newly installed crash fence,
destroying the model and bending the
fence. Luckily, no one was hurt as the
fence did its job.”
“An investigation showed that
the throttle servo had recently been
reinstalled and turned 180°. This
required reversing the servo setting on
the radio, but somehow the failsafe did
not get reset. Thus, the engine went to
full throttle when it should have shut
off. Needless to say, fliers at the field are
rechecking their failsafe systems very
carefully.”
Wow, what a classic case! A
reversed servo not fully checked after
maintenance. What a pity that such a
nice airplane met its fate, but at least
there were no injuries. Some of our
models are getting complicated, and
there are more components to check
and recheck. This is part of the fun for
pilots who like to tinker. Getting such
a machine to properly operate in every
way is a challenge.
Chuck’s story is a good lesson for us
all, and sharing it might prevent a repeat
of that incident. If you have a similar
close-call report, or a topic you think
belongs here, please contact me. You can
be famous or anonymous, depending on
your mood and whether it was you who
goofed up or someone else.
Wardrobe Malfunctions
I received an email from a modeler
whose name is withheld to protect the
somewhat innocent. A man in his club
likes to wear shorts and flip-flops out
on the CL flying circle, and sometimes
suffers banged up shins.
He wrote:
“Why you would want to walk
around spinning propellers with shorts
and no socks is a mystery to me.”
I think that some people consider
flying time recreational, and therefore,
casual duds seem suitable. Theoretically,
if one were careful at all times, shorts
and open shoes wouldn’t matter
because the propeller would never
touch you. But things don’t always go
according to plan.
The type of model and pit area could
dictate which clothes are right. The
classic accident is a loose shirt that gets
drawn into a propeller or rotor as the
pilot bends over the model.
I frequently work around powerful,
open machinery and have learned not to
let my ensemble get caught in moving
parts. I keep my shirt tucked in, wear no
jewelry, and wear no hanging tools or
anything else that might cause trouble.
Long hair hasn’t been a problem for
me due to nature’s cruel gift of malepattern
baldness, but those with flowing
locks need to be extra careful.
These same lessons work at the model
field. Anyone who has seen a glider
winch in use knows that even if your
model has no propeller, there are still
ways to get caught up in your hobby if
you let loose clothing get in the wrong
place.
Not Safe
Doug Ensley took me to task for a
recent column in which I described a
large helicopter device that actually
lifted off with a human pilot aboard,
flying it via radio control with the
transmitter in his hands. He saw it as
giving publicity to a dangerous stunt
that could reflect badly on our hobby.
He has a valid point, and I considered
not discussing it on those very grounds.
I printed it after all, but of course it
was in the Safety column, along with
my comments about how dangerous it
appeared and what might happen to the
pilot if anything went wrong.
Doug is a conscientious guy who
wants the best for this fine sport. He
and I agree that we should all do our
best to keep a good public image for
modeling, especially in this time of
legislative threats to our activities.
Reckless stunts and deliberate risktaking
can have repercussions on a grand
scale these days, with Internet video that
can spread bad news to the entire world.
Expo in Pictures
It’s tough to find photographs that
depict “safety,” so this month I used a
couple that illustrate other concepts.
The photo of Don Smith mentoring
a young pilot with her first model is a
keeper. Don was working in the FF area
at AMA Expo 2012, teaching kids how
to wind and launch model airplanes.
Barry Dougherty’s camera caught the
teacher and student just before launch.
Transfer of knowledge is one of the keys
to keeping our sport alive.
The other shot shows my little Space
Shuttle No-Cal being launched by
retired astronaut and AMA Ambassador
Robert “Hoot” Gibson, with Capt. Tom
“Huffer” Huff, USN Naval Test Wing
Commander, watching.
Tom hung out at my club’s AMA
Expo 2012 booth as I built the model,
amused that I used no kit, plans, or skill,
and yet a twin-pusher shuttle finally
emerged. Hoot Gibson said that his
previous experience flying the full-scale
aircraft was no help in handling the
smaller version, but he did just fine and
got a nice flight. He even autographed
the wing for me!
Sources :
NORSK (Interlocking Foam Floor Mats)
(888) 443-9058
www.norsk-stor.com/2.html
Dave’s shuttle in flight
www.youtube.com/watch?v=twDBXiIEIoU
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/05
Page Numbers: 88,89,90,91
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/05
Page Numbers: 88,89,90,91
88 Model Aviation May 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
safety comes first
Dave Gee
[email protected]
I found a hidden treasure last week.
While visiting a construction site in
Sylmar, California, I caught sight of
a model aircraft zooming around in a
nearby flood-control basin. A closer look
revealed a paved runway and shaded
pits. It was an RC field!
When my work was finished, I found
the entry gate and drove down into this
secluded little airport. The sign said,
“Home of the Port-a-Potti Pilots.” I had
heard about this flying site, but it was
Setting a good example
Navy test pilot Capt. Tom Huff wound up Dave’s No-Cal Space Shuttle
for Hoot Gibson to launch. This was not Hoot’s first shuttle flight. Hilly
Smith photo.
PLUS:
> Hidden RC field
> Dealing with in-flight fires
> Servo reversal destroys model
> Proper pit attire
> Our actions reflect on our hobby
> Dave builds a model that flies
really off the beaten path.
Three pilots were enjoying the
mild weather with RC airplanes
and helicopters. These gentlemen
represented their club and our hobby
well. We had a friendly chat, they
told me about their club and, when I
admired their private field, they invited
me to consider joining the organization.
They preferred to keep their names
out of print; at least until they did
something worthy of mention here.
The Port-a-Potti Pilots club has a nice, secluded flying
field. Club members are a sharp and careful bunch!
Don Smith, Black
Sheep Squadron vice
president, advises a
young pilot on launch
techniques for her
first model at AMA
Expo 2012. Barry
Dougherty photo.
www.ModelAviation.com May 2012 Model Aviation 89
It was clear how experienced and
sharp the pilots were when one of them
prepared to make a flight. He quietly
withdrew from the conversation and
concentrated on his model, doing a
good preflight inspection, although
the airplane had just been successfully
flown. These club members knew what
they were doing!
After a demonstration of skilled
aerobatics, one of the pilots performed
a maneuver that filled me with envy:
landing and taxiing in. My models don’t
usually make it to that part of the flight.
It’s a shame that we sometimes hear
about flying fields where newcomers
and visitors aren’t welcomed, or where
safe procedures are out of fashion. The
Port-a-Potti Pilots I met are quite the
opposite and an example for us all to
follow.
Fighting Fires
Seeing the dry brush behind the
paved runway in Sylmar reminded me
of a discussion Dave Laycock and I had
about which fire extinguisher to use for
a LiPo battery fire, especially one that
starts while the model is airborne. He
wondered what firefighting materials
should be kept at the flying site and
how best to deal with an in-flight fire—
after the model comes down, of course.
The fumes from a battery fire might
be more hazardous to us than a simple
brush fire, and that is concerning. We
figured that an electric-powered model
would have two fires: the battery and
the aircraft. Any standard extinguisher,
or even water, would be ineffective
against an ignited LiPo pack, but the
model itself is another matter.
It is unlikely that a battery pack
would burst and ignite while the model
is airborne. More often, these problems
occur while charging the battery. Inflight
fires are rare but not unknown,
regardless of the power type. Sometimes
the pilot can control where the model
comes down and can guide it to a
convenient spot.
When control is lost, pilots must be
prepared to go to the crash site and
extinguish the fire before it spreads. A
few buckets of sand are good to have
around the pit area, and a multirated
fire extinguisher should be handy. That
should be enough to handle most model
aircraft fires, whether they begin in the
air or on the ground.
Floor Pads
Have you seen those four-packs
of big, interlocking foam floor
pads? Hardware stores sell them for
workshop or garage floors, as a cushion
for tired feet. They are inexpensive
and work well. A reader emailed me
about how his set came in handy in a
different way.
George L. has the pads on his
workshop floor because they are
cheaper and easier to clean than
carpeting. He was transferring CA glue
to a pipette while he rocked out to a
Debbie Harry song, and accidentally
knocked a half-filled bottle of CA onto
the floor. I bet he really busted a move
to get out of the way of the falling
glue!
The foam pads were heavily splashed
with CA (forget about trying to mop
it up!) but it was far better than
having it on the actual floor, because
the pads could easily be picked up
and discarded. George says it was a
good lesson in taking extra care when
handling such substances.
We get used to CA being in a sealed
container with only a small opening,
and we seldom handle it with the
bottle top removed. It can be scary
when a large quantity of CA spills, so
extra caution is important. And to be
on the safe side, I’ll stick with smooth
Glenn Miller swing music in my
workshop.
Airplane vs. Fence
Chuck Erdahl wrote to me about
an incident involving a Giant Scale
airplane.
“A pilot landed and proceeded to
shut down the engine as he turned
in toward the pit area. Instead of
thumbing down the throttle trim
switch, he accidently hit the power
switch and turned the radio off. That
should have killed the engine, but it
went full power instead and the plane
hit the newly installed crash fence,
destroying the model and bending the
fence. Luckily, no one was hurt as the
fence did its job.”
“An investigation showed that
the throttle servo had recently been
reinstalled and turned 180°. This
required reversing the servo setting on
the radio, but somehow the failsafe did
not get reset. Thus, the engine went to
full throttle when it should have shut
off. Needless to say, fliers at the field are
rechecking their failsafe systems very
carefully.”
Wow, what a classic case! A
reversed servo not fully checked after
maintenance. What a pity that such a
nice airplane met its fate, but at least
there were no injuries. Some of our
models are getting complicated, and
there are more components to check
and recheck. This is part of the fun for
pilots who like to tinker. Getting such
a machine to properly operate in every
way is a challenge.
Chuck’s story is a good lesson for us
all, and sharing it might prevent a repeat
of that incident. If you have a similar
close-call report, or a topic you think
belongs here, please contact me. You can
be famous or anonymous, depending on
your mood and whether it was you who
goofed up or someone else.
Wardrobe Malfunctions
I received an email from a modeler
whose name is withheld to protect the
somewhat innocent. A man in his club
likes to wear shorts and flip-flops out
on the CL flying circle, and sometimes
suffers banged up shins.
He wrote:
“Why you would want to walk
around spinning propellers with shorts
and no socks is a mystery to me.”
I think that some people consider
flying time recreational, and therefore,
casual duds seem suitable. Theoretically,
if one were careful at all times, shorts
and open shoes wouldn’t matter
because the propeller would never
touch you. But things don’t always go
according to plan.
The type of model and pit area could
dictate which clothes are right. The
classic accident is a loose shirt that gets
drawn into a propeller or rotor as the
pilot bends over the model.
I frequently work around powerful,
open machinery and have learned not to
let my ensemble get caught in moving
parts. I keep my shirt tucked in, wear no
jewelry, and wear no hanging tools or
anything else that might cause trouble.
Long hair hasn’t been a problem for
me due to nature’s cruel gift of malepattern
baldness, but those with flowing
locks need to be extra careful.
These same lessons work at the model
field. Anyone who has seen a glider
winch in use knows that even if your
model has no propeller, there are still
ways to get caught up in your hobby if
you let loose clothing get in the wrong
place.
Not Safe
Doug Ensley took me to task for a
recent column in which I described a
large helicopter device that actually
lifted off with a human pilot aboard,
flying it via radio control with the
transmitter in his hands. He saw it as
giving publicity to a dangerous stunt
that could reflect badly on our hobby.
He has a valid point, and I considered
not discussing it on those very grounds.
I printed it after all, but of course it
was in the Safety column, along with
my comments about how dangerous it
appeared and what might happen to the
pilot if anything went wrong.
Doug is a conscientious guy who
wants the best for this fine sport. He
and I agree that we should all do our
best to keep a good public image for
modeling, especially in this time of
legislative threats to our activities.
Reckless stunts and deliberate risktaking
can have repercussions on a grand
scale these days, with Internet video that
can spread bad news to the entire world.
Expo in Pictures
It’s tough to find photographs that
depict “safety,” so this month I used a
couple that illustrate other concepts.
The photo of Don Smith mentoring
a young pilot with her first model is a
keeper. Don was working in the FF area
at AMA Expo 2012, teaching kids how
to wind and launch model airplanes.
Barry Dougherty’s camera caught the
teacher and student just before launch.
Transfer of knowledge is one of the keys
to keeping our sport alive.
The other shot shows my little Space
Shuttle No-Cal being launched by
retired astronaut and AMA Ambassador
Robert “Hoot” Gibson, with Capt. Tom
“Huffer” Huff, USN Naval Test Wing
Commander, watching.
Tom hung out at my club’s AMA
Expo 2012 booth as I built the model,
amused that I used no kit, plans, or skill,
and yet a twin-pusher shuttle finally
emerged. Hoot Gibson said that his
previous experience flying the full-scale
aircraft was no help in handling the
smaller version, but he did just fine and
got a nice flight. He even autographed
the wing for me!
Sources :
NORSK (Interlocking Foam Floor Mats)
(888) 443-9058
www.norsk-stor.com/2.html
Dave’s shuttle in flight
www.youtube.com/watch?v=twDBXiIEIoU
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/05
Page Numbers: 88,89,90,91
88 Model Aviation May 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
safety comes first
Dave Gee
[email protected]
I found a hidden treasure last week.
While visiting a construction site in
Sylmar, California, I caught sight of
a model aircraft zooming around in a
nearby flood-control basin. A closer look
revealed a paved runway and shaded
pits. It was an RC field!
When my work was finished, I found
the entry gate and drove down into this
secluded little airport. The sign said,
“Home of the Port-a-Potti Pilots.” I had
heard about this flying site, but it was
Setting a good example
Navy test pilot Capt. Tom Huff wound up Dave’s No-Cal Space Shuttle
for Hoot Gibson to launch. This was not Hoot’s first shuttle flight. Hilly
Smith photo.
PLUS:
> Hidden RC field
> Dealing with in-flight fires
> Servo reversal destroys model
> Proper pit attire
> Our actions reflect on our hobby
> Dave builds a model that flies
really off the beaten path.
Three pilots were enjoying the
mild weather with RC airplanes
and helicopters. These gentlemen
represented their club and our hobby
well. We had a friendly chat, they
told me about their club and, when I
admired their private field, they invited
me to consider joining the organization.
They preferred to keep their names
out of print; at least until they did
something worthy of mention here.
The Port-a-Potti Pilots club has a nice, secluded flying
field. Club members are a sharp and careful bunch!
Don Smith, Black
Sheep Squadron vice
president, advises a
young pilot on launch
techniques for her
first model at AMA
Expo 2012. Barry
Dougherty photo.
www.ModelAviation.com May 2012 Model Aviation 89
It was clear how experienced and
sharp the pilots were when one of them
prepared to make a flight. He quietly
withdrew from the conversation and
concentrated on his model, doing a
good preflight inspection, although
the airplane had just been successfully
flown. These club members knew what
they were doing!
After a demonstration of skilled
aerobatics, one of the pilots performed
a maneuver that filled me with envy:
landing and taxiing in. My models don’t
usually make it to that part of the flight.
It’s a shame that we sometimes hear
about flying fields where newcomers
and visitors aren’t welcomed, or where
safe procedures are out of fashion. The
Port-a-Potti Pilots I met are quite the
opposite and an example for us all to
follow.
Fighting Fires
Seeing the dry brush behind the
paved runway in Sylmar reminded me
of a discussion Dave Laycock and I had
about which fire extinguisher to use for
a LiPo battery fire, especially one that
starts while the model is airborne. He
wondered what firefighting materials
should be kept at the flying site and
how best to deal with an in-flight fire—
after the model comes down, of course.
The fumes from a battery fire might
be more hazardous to us than a simple
brush fire, and that is concerning. We
figured that an electric-powered model
would have two fires: the battery and
the aircraft. Any standard extinguisher,
or even water, would be ineffective
against an ignited LiPo pack, but the
model itself is another matter.
It is unlikely that a battery pack
would burst and ignite while the model
is airborne. More often, these problems
occur while charging the battery. Inflight
fires are rare but not unknown,
regardless of the power type. Sometimes
the pilot can control where the model
comes down and can guide it to a
convenient spot.
When control is lost, pilots must be
prepared to go to the crash site and
extinguish the fire before it spreads. A
few buckets of sand are good to have
around the pit area, and a multirated
fire extinguisher should be handy. That
should be enough to handle most model
aircraft fires, whether they begin in the
air or on the ground.
Floor Pads
Have you seen those four-packs
of big, interlocking foam floor
pads? Hardware stores sell them for
workshop or garage floors, as a cushion
for tired feet. They are inexpensive
and work well. A reader emailed me
about how his set came in handy in a
different way.
George L. has the pads on his
workshop floor because they are
cheaper and easier to clean than
carpeting. He was transferring CA glue
to a pipette while he rocked out to a
Debbie Harry song, and accidentally
knocked a half-filled bottle of CA onto
the floor. I bet he really busted a move
to get out of the way of the falling
glue!
The foam pads were heavily splashed
with CA (forget about trying to mop
it up!) but it was far better than
having it on the actual floor, because
the pads could easily be picked up
and discarded. George says it was a
good lesson in taking extra care when
handling such substances.
We get used to CA being in a sealed
container with only a small opening,
and we seldom handle it with the
bottle top removed. It can be scary
when a large quantity of CA spills, so
extra caution is important. And to be
on the safe side, I’ll stick with smooth
Glenn Miller swing music in my
workshop.
Airplane vs. Fence
Chuck Erdahl wrote to me about
an incident involving a Giant Scale
airplane.
“A pilot landed and proceeded to
shut down the engine as he turned
in toward the pit area. Instead of
thumbing down the throttle trim
switch, he accidently hit the power
switch and turned the radio off. That
should have killed the engine, but it
went full power instead and the plane
hit the newly installed crash fence,
destroying the model and bending the
fence. Luckily, no one was hurt as the
fence did its job.”
“An investigation showed that
the throttle servo had recently been
reinstalled and turned 180°. This
required reversing the servo setting on
the radio, but somehow the failsafe did
not get reset. Thus, the engine went to
full throttle when it should have shut
off. Needless to say, fliers at the field are
rechecking their failsafe systems very
carefully.”
Wow, what a classic case! A
reversed servo not fully checked after
maintenance. What a pity that such a
nice airplane met its fate, but at least
there were no injuries. Some of our
models are getting complicated, and
there are more components to check
and recheck. This is part of the fun for
pilots who like to tinker. Getting such
a machine to properly operate in every
way is a challenge.
Chuck’s story is a good lesson for us
all, and sharing it might prevent a repeat
of that incident. If you have a similar
close-call report, or a topic you think
belongs here, please contact me. You can
be famous or anonymous, depending on
your mood and whether it was you who
goofed up or someone else.
Wardrobe Malfunctions
I received an email from a modeler
whose name is withheld to protect the
somewhat innocent. A man in his club
likes to wear shorts and flip-flops out
on the CL flying circle, and sometimes
suffers banged up shins.
He wrote:
“Why you would want to walk
around spinning propellers with shorts
and no socks is a mystery to me.”
I think that some people consider
flying time recreational, and therefore,
casual duds seem suitable. Theoretically,
if one were careful at all times, shorts
and open shoes wouldn’t matter
because the propeller would never
touch you. But things don’t always go
according to plan.
The type of model and pit area could
dictate which clothes are right. The
classic accident is a loose shirt that gets
drawn into a propeller or rotor as the
pilot bends over the model.
I frequently work around powerful,
open machinery and have learned not to
let my ensemble get caught in moving
parts. I keep my shirt tucked in, wear no
jewelry, and wear no hanging tools or
anything else that might cause trouble.
Long hair hasn’t been a problem for
me due to nature’s cruel gift of malepattern
baldness, but those with flowing
locks need to be extra careful.
These same lessons work at the model
field. Anyone who has seen a glider
winch in use knows that even if your
model has no propeller, there are still
ways to get caught up in your hobby if
you let loose clothing get in the wrong
place.
Not Safe
Doug Ensley took me to task for a
recent column in which I described a
large helicopter device that actually
lifted off with a human pilot aboard,
flying it via radio control with the
transmitter in his hands. He saw it as
giving publicity to a dangerous stunt
that could reflect badly on our hobby.
He has a valid point, and I considered
not discussing it on those very grounds.
I printed it after all, but of course it
was in the Safety column, along with
my comments about how dangerous it
appeared and what might happen to the
pilot if anything went wrong.
Doug is a conscientious guy who
wants the best for this fine sport. He
and I agree that we should all do our
best to keep a good public image for
modeling, especially in this time of
legislative threats to our activities.
Reckless stunts and deliberate risktaking
can have repercussions on a grand
scale these days, with Internet video that
can spread bad news to the entire world.
Expo in Pictures
It’s tough to find photographs that
depict “safety,” so this month I used a
couple that illustrate other concepts.
The photo of Don Smith mentoring
a young pilot with her first model is a
keeper. Don was working in the FF area
at AMA Expo 2012, teaching kids how
to wind and launch model airplanes.
Barry Dougherty’s camera caught the
teacher and student just before launch.
Transfer of knowledge is one of the keys
to keeping our sport alive.
The other shot shows my little Space
Shuttle No-Cal being launched by
retired astronaut and AMA Ambassador
Robert “Hoot” Gibson, with Capt. Tom
“Huffer” Huff, USN Naval Test Wing
Commander, watching.
Tom hung out at my club’s AMA
Expo 2012 booth as I built the model,
amused that I used no kit, plans, or skill,
and yet a twin-pusher shuttle finally
emerged. Hoot Gibson said that his
previous experience flying the full-scale
aircraft was no help in handling the
smaller version, but he did just fine and
got a nice flight. He even autographed
the wing for me!
Sources :
NORSK (Interlocking Foam Floor Mats)
(888) 443-9058
www.norsk-stor.com/2.html
Dave’s shuttle in flight
www.youtube.com/watch?v=twDBXiIEIoU
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/05
Page Numbers: 88,89,90,91
88 Model Aviation May 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
safety comes first
Dave Gee
[email protected]
I found a hidden treasure last week.
While visiting a construction site in
Sylmar, California, I caught sight of
a model aircraft zooming around in a
nearby flood-control basin. A closer look
revealed a paved runway and shaded
pits. It was an RC field!
When my work was finished, I found
the entry gate and drove down into this
secluded little airport. The sign said,
“Home of the Port-a-Potti Pilots.” I had
heard about this flying site, but it was
Setting a good example
Navy test pilot Capt. Tom Huff wound up Dave’s No-Cal Space Shuttle
for Hoot Gibson to launch. This was not Hoot’s first shuttle flight. Hilly
Smith photo.
PLUS:
> Hidden RC field
> Dealing with in-flight fires
> Servo reversal destroys model
> Proper pit attire
> Our actions reflect on our hobby
> Dave builds a model that flies
really off the beaten path.
Three pilots were enjoying the
mild weather with RC airplanes
and helicopters. These gentlemen
represented their club and our hobby
well. We had a friendly chat, they
told me about their club and, when I
admired their private field, they invited
me to consider joining the organization.
They preferred to keep their names
out of print; at least until they did
something worthy of mention here.
The Port-a-Potti Pilots club has a nice, secluded flying
field. Club members are a sharp and careful bunch!
Don Smith, Black
Sheep Squadron vice
president, advises a
young pilot on launch
techniques for her
first model at AMA
Expo 2012. Barry
Dougherty photo.
www.ModelAviation.com May 2012 Model Aviation 89
It was clear how experienced and
sharp the pilots were when one of them
prepared to make a flight. He quietly
withdrew from the conversation and
concentrated on his model, doing a
good preflight inspection, although
the airplane had just been successfully
flown. These club members knew what
they were doing!
After a demonstration of skilled
aerobatics, one of the pilots performed
a maneuver that filled me with envy:
landing and taxiing in. My models don’t
usually make it to that part of the flight.
It’s a shame that we sometimes hear
about flying fields where newcomers
and visitors aren’t welcomed, or where
safe procedures are out of fashion. The
Port-a-Potti Pilots I met are quite the
opposite and an example for us all to
follow.
Fighting Fires
Seeing the dry brush behind the
paved runway in Sylmar reminded me
of a discussion Dave Laycock and I had
about which fire extinguisher to use for
a LiPo battery fire, especially one that
starts while the model is airborne. He
wondered what firefighting materials
should be kept at the flying site and
how best to deal with an in-flight fire—
after the model comes down, of course.
The fumes from a battery fire might
be more hazardous to us than a simple
brush fire, and that is concerning. We
figured that an electric-powered model
would have two fires: the battery and
the aircraft. Any standard extinguisher,
or even water, would be ineffective
against an ignited LiPo pack, but the
model itself is another matter.
It is unlikely that a battery pack
would burst and ignite while the model
is airborne. More often, these problems
occur while charging the battery. Inflight
fires are rare but not unknown,
regardless of the power type. Sometimes
the pilot can control where the model
comes down and can guide it to a
convenient spot.
When control is lost, pilots must be
prepared to go to the crash site and
extinguish the fire before it spreads. A
few buckets of sand are good to have
around the pit area, and a multirated
fire extinguisher should be handy. That
should be enough to handle most model
aircraft fires, whether they begin in the
air or on the ground.
Floor Pads
Have you seen those four-packs
of big, interlocking foam floor
pads? Hardware stores sell them for
workshop or garage floors, as a cushion
for tired feet. They are inexpensive
and work well. A reader emailed me
about how his set came in handy in a
different way.
George L. has the pads on his
workshop floor because they are
cheaper and easier to clean than
carpeting. He was transferring CA glue
to a pipette while he rocked out to a
Debbie Harry song, and accidentally
knocked a half-filled bottle of CA onto
the floor. I bet he really busted a move
to get out of the way of the falling
glue!
The foam pads were heavily splashed
with CA (forget about trying to mop
it up!) but it was far better than
having it on the actual floor, because
the pads could easily be picked up
and discarded. George says it was a
good lesson in taking extra care when
handling such substances.
We get used to CA being in a sealed
container with only a small opening,
and we seldom handle it with the
bottle top removed. It can be scary
when a large quantity of CA spills, so
extra caution is important. And to be
on the safe side, I’ll stick with smooth
Glenn Miller swing music in my
workshop.
Airplane vs. Fence
Chuck Erdahl wrote to me about
an incident involving a Giant Scale
airplane.
“A pilot landed and proceeded to
shut down the engine as he turned
in toward the pit area. Instead of
thumbing down the throttle trim
switch, he accidently hit the power
switch and turned the radio off. That
should have killed the engine, but it
went full power instead and the plane
hit the newly installed crash fence,
destroying the model and bending the
fence. Luckily, no one was hurt as the
fence did its job.”
“An investigation showed that
the throttle servo had recently been
reinstalled and turned 180°. This
required reversing the servo setting on
the radio, but somehow the failsafe did
not get reset. Thus, the engine went to
full throttle when it should have shut
off. Needless to say, fliers at the field are
rechecking their failsafe systems very
carefully.”
Wow, what a classic case! A
reversed servo not fully checked after
maintenance. What a pity that such a
nice airplane met its fate, but at least
there were no injuries. Some of our
models are getting complicated, and
there are more components to check
and recheck. This is part of the fun for
pilots who like to tinker. Getting such
a machine to properly operate in every
way is a challenge.
Chuck’s story is a good lesson for us
all, and sharing it might prevent a repeat
of that incident. If you have a similar
close-call report, or a topic you think
belongs here, please contact me. You can
be famous or anonymous, depending on
your mood and whether it was you who
goofed up or someone else.
Wardrobe Malfunctions
I received an email from a modeler
whose name is withheld to protect the
somewhat innocent. A man in his club
likes to wear shorts and flip-flops out
on the CL flying circle, and sometimes
suffers banged up shins.
He wrote:
“Why you would want to walk
around spinning propellers with shorts
and no socks is a mystery to me.”
I think that some people consider
flying time recreational, and therefore,
casual duds seem suitable. Theoretically,
if one were careful at all times, shorts
and open shoes wouldn’t matter
because the propeller would never
touch you. But things don’t always go
according to plan.
The type of model and pit area could
dictate which clothes are right. The
classic accident is a loose shirt that gets
drawn into a propeller or rotor as the
pilot bends over the model.
I frequently work around powerful,
open machinery and have learned not to
let my ensemble get caught in moving
parts. I keep my shirt tucked in, wear no
jewelry, and wear no hanging tools or
anything else that might cause trouble.
Long hair hasn’t been a problem for
me due to nature’s cruel gift of malepattern
baldness, but those with flowing
locks need to be extra careful.
These same lessons work at the model
field. Anyone who has seen a glider
winch in use knows that even if your
model has no propeller, there are still
ways to get caught up in your hobby if
you let loose clothing get in the wrong
place.
Not Safe
Doug Ensley took me to task for a
recent column in which I described a
large helicopter device that actually
lifted off with a human pilot aboard,
flying it via radio control with the
transmitter in his hands. He saw it as
giving publicity to a dangerous stunt
that could reflect badly on our hobby.
He has a valid point, and I considered
not discussing it on those very grounds.
I printed it after all, but of course it
was in the Safety column, along with
my comments about how dangerous it
appeared and what might happen to the
pilot if anything went wrong.
Doug is a conscientious guy who
wants the best for this fine sport. He
and I agree that we should all do our
best to keep a good public image for
modeling, especially in this time of
legislative threats to our activities.
Reckless stunts and deliberate risktaking
can have repercussions on a grand
scale these days, with Internet video that
can spread bad news to the entire world.
Expo in Pictures
It’s tough to find photographs that
depict “safety,” so this month I used a
couple that illustrate other concepts.
The photo of Don Smith mentoring
a young pilot with her first model is a
keeper. Don was working in the FF area
at AMA Expo 2012, teaching kids how
to wind and launch model airplanes.
Barry Dougherty’s camera caught the
teacher and student just before launch.
Transfer of knowledge is one of the keys
to keeping our sport alive.
The other shot shows my little Space
Shuttle No-Cal being launched by
retired astronaut and AMA Ambassador
Robert “Hoot” Gibson, with Capt. Tom
“Huffer” Huff, USN Naval Test Wing
Commander, watching.
Tom hung out at my club’s AMA
Expo 2012 booth as I built the model,
amused that I used no kit, plans, or skill,
and yet a twin-pusher shuttle finally
emerged. Hoot Gibson said that his
previous experience flying the full-scale
aircraft was no help in handling the
smaller version, but he did just fine and
got a nice flight. He even autographed
the wing for me!
Sources :
NORSK (Interlocking Foam Floor Mats)
(888) 443-9058
www.norsk-stor.com/2.html
Dave’s shuttle in flight
www.youtube.com/watch?v=twDBXiIEIoU
