Safety Comes First!
WE START this month's column on a somber note. On Sunday, January 3, a 19-year-old RC Sailplane flier from Lakewood, CA was electrocuted after he climbed up a utility pole supporting a power line to retrieve his model that had become entangled in the wires. A number of readers sent us newspaper clippings that reported this incident through an Associated Press news release. A more detailed account appeared in the Long Beach Press-Telegram that ran the story on the front page.
Safety Comes First!
WE START this month's column by quoting the editorial by Ed Fitzwater from the February issue of the DCRC Newsletter. Its title was the same as this column-"Safety Comes First." "When John Preston first started writing a safety article for Model Aviation magazine, I thought it would last about three months then die for lack of copy. Boy! Was I wrong! Funny thing though-the more I read John's articles, the more I remembered about similar things that happened to me or around me over the years.
Safety Comes First!
AS WE WRITE this column (at the end of March), spring has just arrived in the Washington, DC area. Last night we attended a meeting of the Northern Virginia RC Club which featured the Annual Building Contest. This is held every spring, and members bring new models created during the winter months and have them judged by their peers for Best Finish, Most Unique, Best Scale, etc. In a week or so (when the soggy flying field dries out), these models will be making their first flights. Copies of the club's March newsletter were available at the meeting. Featured was an article by the president, Larry Parfitt, who had some interesting remarks about etiquette at the flying field. The following statements, extracted from Larry's article, will show you how being considerate of your fellow club members can also improve the safety of your field's operations.
Safety Comes First!
BEFORE readers jump to the conclusion that this month's photograph is going to suggest using your Sweet Stik to cut 2 × 4s, we will start with a word of explanation.
Safety Comes First!
EARLIER this year we had a letter from Col. Art Johnson, a good friend and a well-known Scale modeler from Delray Beach, FL. Art suggested that this column should consider publishing a tabulation of accidents involving model aircraft for which insurance claims were submitted to AMA HQ. The suggestion was triggered by an accident that occurred at Art's club flying field, in which the wing dowels on an Ugly Stik broke and the fuselage went through the hood of a club member's car in the parking lot.
