Safety Comes First!

Satffg Cvuueslirsll Did RCers really chase chopper cant fly good traffic pattern either direc tion theres good rea son practice Pro pellers still finding ways bite modelers need fre quency monitor John Preston WE REPORTED incident November1982 issue involved Thear miss between model air plane full-scale helicopter incident apparently made head lines newspapers Chicago area follow-up report under title Chases Heli copters comes us via newsletter Chicagoland RC Modelers Inc written 1982 President Bob Berklcy No Chases Helicopters thats just what judge found trying case court past month bottom line pilot flew helicopter low altitude area knew model airplanes present What happened avia tion terms near mid-air collision heli copter pilot thought close model pilots ground never saw helicopter Such occurrences happen air time Im disappointed fellow RCers did see what helicopter pilot said pursued issue because feels need rules governing model airplanes Just far would go carry personal crusade actions comparable walking across expressway accusing motor ist trying kill Full-scale aircraft have right-of-way should always given right-of-way infers knowledge presence something travelling better 90 mph approaches before know itand thats know coming youre watching What about arent looking fact concentrating watching narrowed vision another object motion No sir too much credence given radio-hype personality air unfortu nate situation given carnival childish appear ance hope never happens again Yet helicopter company involved has responded letter asked meet clear up conflict unfortunate original inci dent received much publicity no mention court case receiving similar attention 12 Model Aviation media public therefore left impres sion modelers irresponsible should strive prove Are left-handed right-handed RC flier ambidextrous No talking about whether fly mode mode 2 nor whether aileronlelevator stick right left side transmitter among ranks have definite pref erence direction perform traffic pattern approach landing may have something full-scale convention counterclockwise circuit field before landing An article safety flying field written Dave Johnstone Propwash newsletter Covington KY RC club discusses landing approaches Dave states majority pilots club make left-handed landing approaches times Thats fine landing left right landing right left must fly behind pits order land Landing approaches should always done opposite side runway pits means sometimes right-handed land ing approach will order Lets make adjust ment name safety can recall back 1968 first started flying RC models fellow club simply could land model right left other respects very accomplished flier also Navy pilot innumerable carrier landings credit wind dictating landing right left flying field would cross active runway land model leftour right safe practice fact know flier sustained fractured arm struck model standing opposite side ofthe runway other pilots No matter flying field laid out goes saying pilots should stand same side active runway same side pits no flying should take place behind edge runway pilots standing rank among can land models right-handed approach thus avoid flying over pit area wind left facing runway really cannot consider self accomplished RC pilot club has flight training program beginning fliers should requirement before member permitted fly solo should demon strate successful landings either direction subject club flight training program let us ask club has club consists yourself half-dozen closest buddies perhaps dont need formal training program beginners ever hobby continues draw newcomers pretty soon club used have handful members will have grown point have no idea strangers flying field Are comfortable trust ing well-being assumed skill Continued page 14 gJS NOW YOU iJUST RELA THIS ISNT THE FIRST liME IVE SEEN iHIS SORT OF T141N0 HAPPEN AL-TEC PROdUCTS INc INTRODUCES NEW BUILDING CONCEPT unique Al-I-SpAR1 2 AlTSpARl& 2 [patent pending] integral component uni-structure membered light weight Alum inum beam T spar Specially planned total model aircraft world mind STRONG easyto use inbalsa foam wings tail planes Spar material Aluminum alloy 018 nominal thick ALISpAR 1 8 ozlft 1 I8 x 3/8 hollow flanges 718 overall height $200 per lineal ft available 2/2tt 3ft 4ff ALISpAR2 14 ozlft 1/8 3/8 hollow flanges 1 % oa Ht 1S21 5 per ml ftl available 4 ft AL-JOINTER x 339 6 2024 T6 Aluminum $100 ea TijOiNTER above Al-jointer dimensional grade 4 A/C titanium l$1 00 eal AI-T-Spars proportioned dimensions Al-I-Spars Price length same AL-rEc Product Inc PO Box 648 charlotte Ml 48813 Send $100 Building Guide nd Al-Tp Product list ldeducteo 1st order strangers unfortunate ranks increase number order retain some har mony within group have establish some formal rules operation two clubs belong recently approved flight training program beginners clubs membership passed 200 mark significant number essentially beginner fliers promote safety flying field believed desirable have some formal guidelines beginner reached level proficiency would permit him fly unaccompanied instructor exam ple half-dozen successful flights Sig Kadet qualify person handle piped 60powered Pattern model club already has training program beginners wed appreciate receiving letter explaining works Depending response request will publish future column summary what clubs doing help newcomers hobby achieve wings Never month goes reading sev eral accounts incidents involving injuries asso ciated whirling blade put front of models Sailplane fliers can skip paragraph month corres pondent Pat Greco wrote following Crosstalk newsletter San Jose Wavemasters RC club Since became three casualties club two-week period became com pelled write article first incident happened mem ber holding plane other taking rpm checdk full throttle holder pointed something stuck finger prop immediately jumped let go plane revving full throttle Fortunately person front plane stopped field box second incident occurred Air Show member holding Dog House evidently pushed down front Dog House prop hit ground broke stuck chest third incident occurred engine being revved up spinner came off hit yours truly face Fortunately three incidents injuries minor Weve letters readers criticized us reporting minor injuries associated props Others have criticized us saying enough about hazards props Its no-win situation long receive letters both sides feel must some close correct course Several months ago received letter reader wanted know explosive potential glow fuel compared gaso line unable quantitatively determine However August 1982 issue Transmitter newsletter Davenport RC Society John Haumersen editor wrote following have new fuel market now being introduced flying field has explosive power nine times dynamite can ignited spark cigarette distance 20 ft still day about 5 ft downwind light breeze flame temperature over 1500 degrees hot enough melt aluminum puddle way extinguish smother Just imagine getting stuff Continued page 84 14 Model Aviation DC LABS Helicopter Fuselage Kits True Scale Design Necessary Hard ware Lightweight Epoxyglass Highest Quality Bell 222 Hughes 500 D-60Fits Heliboy Competitor Kavan Kalt Hughes 500 D-40Fits Miniboy KaIt-20 Custom Fabrication & Tooling Available Manufacturers Dealer & Manufacturers Inquiries Welcome See Us MACS Show Under New Ownership Since June 1 1981 Ralph Roppo President DC Labs 207 SW 41st St Renton WA 98055 206-251-9553 Bell 222 /4 LML UrIIIIVIUIJI\ JIiS LML LII BRC Kits Mfg EdaUL 706 Easton NE IL Canton OH 44721 STEPHENS ACRO Discriminate Scale Fliers Demand Dave Platt m perfectionist.my kits prove reputation finest models RC scale has founded upon careful attention detail period over twenty years fact Im particular about kits theyre available personally make kit sign hold myself responsible reproductions genuine Dave Platt kit guarantee true outline combined force arrangement flies properly THE ULTIMATE legendary beauty efficiency Spitfire 1/5 scale Accurate last subtle curve Magnificient indeed just sitting simply awe inspiring flight Powered 90 120 gIn engine Maximizer ultimate Spitfire provide intense experience sophisticated R/C $ 47 -delerSpan 88 Length 78Weight 1520 lbs e%er%cjmnitt melO9% Grand bold flies great staying easily transportable 11/5 scale 7 span over 1000 sq ins gg engines Bucker Jungmeister regular direct drive engines 60 gg 65 span 11/4 scalel ace aerobatic biplane time Still fits car $139 $179 New 1/4 Scale Pilot &$139 Supplied unpaint- o ed comes in- Available struction booklet 1/5 116 scale WorldRetracting $3 War II Fighter Pilots full Conspietesysterri $t39 figure515heavie ships 110W TO ORDERDireci rnannfacturer mo markapi Write caliwe accepi check money order Master Charge Visa cards pay UPS anysshere ike USA fFforida residenis add 40 safes raxl Yes accept foreign orders yos pay freighi information ash modef send seff addressed envefope nave Dlatt iviodels inc 6940 NW 15th Street Plantation Florida 33313 Phone 305 587-4861 rporated 615 So Gallatin Rd son TN 371 615 868-6811 Mon thru Sat am 500 pm R/C SALES AND SERVICE SPECIALPURPOSE* BATTERIES & CHARGERS SALES RADIO SYSTEMS FUTABA ROYAL ACCESSORIES FOR MOST RADIOS J Safety/Preston Continued page 14 model buddys model buddy kind enough hold pride joy start tt ask would foolish use stuff favorite airplane Well new fuel shossing up costs about $132 gallon can hought filling station guessed its gasoline fuel used almost i i-scale models Quad ras etc conclude months safety column relate incident constant threat RC modeler no matter proficient well takes care equipment came us via Go/il Coast Flier edited Art Charlotte Johnson Delrav Beach FL happened Florida Air Show Team about perform Florida Atlantic University An incident ten minutes before show time gives pause thought sound model engine starting parking lot couple hun dred yards takeoff site unexpected check Airtronics frequency monitor revealed transmitter 756411 mHz turned out couple young fellows readybuilt bad given no thought conse quences operating radio could hope see Shots Team models ready takeoff ease irresponsible ignorance cooperative ssbcn explained problem invited watch show come Out regrilar club field later wanted help putting models away after show again heard engine startup short time later very loud thud model destroyed itself Sure bard get across some people RC models just toys incident sound engine alerted Show Team members pres ence other modelers However intruders out earshot team would still have learned presence radio signal Aictronics frequency monitor other teams have wisdom purchase frequency monitor An ounce prevention ts worth pound cure John Preston 70/2 EIrira Ci. Falls Church VA 22042 Fun/Winter Continued page 20 take same engine propelter put -scale J-3 airplane will fly slower will cause engine lug down somewhat less peak horse power rpm prop will inefficient will produce less thrust given horsepower output could install dif ferent prop give efficient prop/air plane match probably 18 20-in diam eter would lug engine down would produce less horsepower answer problem either chain saw engine turn larger prop directly belt drive Author gear drive will turn larger prop yet allow engine run its peak horsepower rpm What means Dick concludes engine/airplane/propeller combination compromise larger slower sport-type Continued page 116 84 Model Aviation REPAIR SERVICE FOR HOBBY LOBBY EK LOG ICTROL F UTA BA HOBBY SHACK ROYAL PRO LINE I