Safety Comes First
Heli News is an excellent newsletter forwarded to me each month by the members of the Cascade Model Helicopter Club, Everett WA. Dick McKenna is the editor. Grabbing my attention in the August 1997 issue was a peculiar and unfortunate story regarding a helicopter pilot who, while out shopping one day, caught his pants on fire, and had to remove them in a hurry. How does one catch his or her pants on fire while shopping? "Jumping" Jack Flash provides the answer: "My cordless Dremel tool recently died and I had diagnosed that two of the Ni-Cd cells were `toasted.' Unlike the fully plastic covered cells used in our RC battery packs, these batteries were the typical `cordless appliance' type, i.e. covered only with a thin cardboard tube around the outside, and crimped over on the positive end to afford a minimal amount of insulation protection.
Safety Comes First
Out Of Control: When I arrived at a nearby flying field recently, I saw modelers running for cover as an airplane went solo (no one was in control). The rather large model was on its fifth or so circuit of the field when the onboard battery went dead. After another 10-15 rounds with no one in control, the aircraft landed near some vehicles, but no one was injured. Discussion with the pilot while he picked up pieces indicated that he probably left the receiver battery on while driving to the field. He didn't check switch position or battery status with a voltmeter before flying-strike one. When asked by one of the people who dove for cover why he didn't check his battery before flying, the modeler responded, "What are you worried about? You're insured!" - strike two.
Safety Comes First
SINGLE-STICK vs. Dual-Stick: In my November 1996 and May 1997 columns I mentioned differences between single- and dual-stick radios, provided a few reasons why some modelers feel that single-sticks improve safety (decreased learning times, improved control accuracy), and asked for mail from readers who have had experience using both. One theme came in loud and clear from the single-stick crowd: Singles are much easier to use, are perceived to be safer because of effortless hand-eye coordination, offer decreased learning times, and feel better. Hence, when used exclusively, singles were associated with fewer mishaps because of the absence of cross-control requirements associated with duals (commonly known as "dumb thumbs").
Safety Comes First
SHORT ANTENNA: While I lived in Tennessee several years ago, I spent many Saturday afternoons flying with a group of guys at the Millington Barnstormers R/C Flying Club. It was an active club with many members who loved to fly, and several who liked build (but not fly) some of the oddest creations you could ever imagine. Anyway, we loved to get involved (heckle and cajole) whenever a new model was brought out to the field for its first flight. Being the good modelers that we were, it was fun to gather around, lend a few "constructive" comments, take a few pictures, offer to check trim, etc., then stand back to watch the aircraft's first flight. It was a time of great fun and many good memories.
Safety Comes First
SHORT ANTENNA: Several years ago I was fortunate enough to spend many of my Sunday afternoons flying with good friends at the Millington Barnstormers R/C flying field in Millington TN. It was fun to open a lawn chair, check out what others brought to fly, watch what flew well, and share comments about what didn't. An abundance of the club's members brought out steady streams of the oddest configurations I've ever seen-gyrocopters, flying disks, lawn mowers, witches, stop signs, etc. It seemed that if someone in the club thought of something, someone else would build it and bring it to the field. It's odd that almost everything brought out flew-sometimes exceptionally well. Strap about 1,000 horsepower on that "Round Tuit" and watch it go. After a few trim adjustments (tabs full left, rudder full left, fly with what's left of aileron), most things can fly well; however, arriving to describe what didn't fly well was a letter from longtime Barnstormer Jim Prilliman, who wrote to warn those who have aircraft with antenna protruding from the fuselage and attached to the vertical stabilizer; vibration and rubbing on the antenna at the point where it exits the fuselage can cause the receiver antenna to separate.
