Safety Comes First
OUT OF THE BLUE: "Come on, Trent! Grab some cover! The storm's almost over the field and you're out in the open with a lightning rod in your hands!" "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm landing the @#$% thing!" Trent growled over the sound of thunder in the distance. "Who does Ben think he's talking to, some dumb rookie?" he thought. "I've been flying at this field since I was knee-high to a grasshopper and I haven't lost one yet!" Small raindrops started landing on Trent's transmitter as he desperately tried to navigate his Ultra Sport through the heavy gusts of the approaching squall line. "Hurry, Trent! Line it up for a hot landing and get it down!" Sweat formed on Trent's forehead as he glanced over his shoulder at the approaching storm. "Jesus!" he spurted.
Safety Comes First
AS I WRITE THIS COLUMN it's early November. The daily temperatures have started to drop, and the trees are finally starting to take on an autumn-like appearance here in Florida. I guess I should thank hurricanes Erin and Opal for leaving a few behind. With the cooler air and a howling wind (courtesy of a passing cold front) it seems only appropriate to grab a cup of coffee and head out to the workshop to catch up on some projects that have been unfinished since last winter. Normally the number-one item on my list of things to do after an active flying season is a thorough safety check of my flight box. I say normally because I was gone so much that I really didn't have a flying season. While I was contemplating just how thorough the check should be (I'm naturally lazy) a copy of the Transmitter arrived from the Belleville RC Flyers of Mascoutah, Illinois. It contained a thorough checklist, written by modeler Ray Telican. Since Ray covered the subject rather nicely, I've included his list.
Safety Comes First
WHILE FLYING WITH A LOCAL MODEL CLUB a few weeks ago, I was once again made aware of the dangerous things that some of us do without much of a second thought. Leading the pack on this day was a pilot who started his airplane, laid his transmitter down, walked over to his vehicle to grab a pack of smokes, and walked back. No big deal, right? Well, it should be noted that during his short walk, the model was left unattended, running, sitting on smooth asphalt, and facing the pits. While the pilot was walking back, a stiff breeze pushed the model, and it began to move across the pavement toward him. When the model reached its pilot, he casually reached down, and turned it around. He let the model taxi back past the transmitter before he picked up the controls and proceeded to fly. Now tell me if I missed something here! An uncontrolled model rolling towards the pits? Even newcomers to the hobby should recognize the danger of an unattended, running (and moving) model at a flying field.
Safety Comes First
SECURE THOSE TAIL FEATHERS: While talking to a Giant Scale modeler recently, I was asked if I would again remind those who fly big models to make sure their craft are properly secured prior to starting. This particular appeal comes on the heels of an accident that occurred when a "secured" Giant Scale tail-dragger tilted forward onto the hands of the modeler who had started it on a flightline table. The front wheels of the craft had been sandbagged to prevent movement while the model was on the tabletop. However, once the model was started, the rush of air over the tailplane lifted the rear of the model into the air. The modeler had his hands resting on the table under the prop; when the model suddenly tilted forward, he wasn't able to move his hands away from the prop in time to avoid serious injury.
Safety Comes First
IT'S A CHALLENGE: As winter weather finally gives way to warm spring days, and favorable flying conditions become more and more common, it really becomes a challenge for me to sit at the computer and work on a column when I know all the folks are whooping it up at the flying field just a few miles away! Today is one of the few days I'll have off over for the next few weeks, and here I sit staring at my computer monitor instead of watching my airplane jump into some picture-perfect morning air! It's funny that I seem to find myself in such a predicament, although I know I only have myself to blame for having waited until the last moment to sit down and write my column.
